The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-11-13
Meeting OF Grand Lodge on
Nlednesday TO- Be Fourth One
Here in History OF Masons

y
Gates that the lodge under dispen7
sation must have discontinued
work.
THE first lodge chartered by
the Virginia Grand Lodge In what
Is now West Virginia was Green
brier Lodge No. 40, at Lewisburg.
1t was chartered on December 5,
1895, or nearly one hundred and
nineteen years age. From this
period until the breaking out OF
the Civil war there were chartered
within what are now the boun-
daries Of West Virginia, fifty two
lodges with an active membership
of about 200. The number Of
lodges that had been chartered In
the mother state was 143, or a to-
tai Of one hundred and ninety five
lodges In all up to 1860.
"The war between the states
began about this period and Inn
paired communication between the
eastern and western portions Of
the state. II the Masonic spirit
and fraternity were not affected
the possibility Of meeting and coz
ferring In grand lodge was de-
Estroyed. and the lodges In West
Virginia after several years delay
began to work out plan by which
a Masonic Grand Lodge could BIO
secured for the new state which
had been admitted to the union as
a separate state on June 90, 1863.
But with tho sense of prcSriety
and loyalty that anlmates Masons,
neither the stress of war nor the
hostility 1t engendered invited
hasty action m tho formation OF
the new grand lo9ge.
at was not, therefore, until
about the beginning Of the next
year that action was takea to or
ganize the new grand lodge, AMI
then only after painstaking efforts
had been made to ascertain tSe
right Of the proposition. The rea
sons for the demand for the new
grand lodge are set out In the IN
PRODUCTION to the valume of pro.
ceedings in which is recorded the
organization of the new grand
lodge. 1t says:
"For nearly three years previous
70 the admission OF West Virg mia
into the union as a separate state
all communications between most
Of the subordinate lodges of West
Virginia and the Grams ,.odge OF
Virginia has been suspended. DIR
ing this time many OF Niese lodges
have ceased to work. The disturb
ed condition Of affairs growing out
OF the Civil War rendered i'm
proper and in some instances i'm
possible for them to hold meetings.
1t became necessary 4 emo cases
ITO remove furn ture, jewoiS. char
ters, etc. In soma instar.SJ they
were mislaid or lost.
Gradually the tide OF war was
transferred to the extreme bordes
and large districts Of the new state
were restored to tlmparative
tranquility. In these districts the
brethren were anxious to resiA ,e>
their Masonic relations and labors.
In several instances they found
themselves unable to do SO. with.
out the aid OF authority to be oh.
tatned only from a grand lodge
The working lodges themselves be-
gan to realize very sens!bly' the
want Of authority and d.Iipllpe Of
such organization.
Under the pressure OF such cir
cumstances began the discussion
OF the organization of the Grand
Lodge Of West Virginia. Cores
pondence upon the subject was
held with eminent brethren III
other states. Their responses
without exception were = ap-
proval Of the momenl. It was en-.
couraged and in accordance with
Masonic usages."
Present Session
The fifty eight annual communI.
cation Of the Most Worshipful
Grand Lodge Of Free and Accepted
Masons Of West Virginia will con-
veno in Masonic Temple at 1890.
O'Clock Wednesday evening. Off.
GERS will be chosen at that time,
and the annual address of grand.
master will he delivered by Sswuel
7. Spears, Elkins. Committees
will be at work during Thursday
morning and afternoon.
In the evening at 6 O'Clock, q
banquet will be rendered by Fair.
mont Lodge No. 0, and Acacia
Lodge No. 157, Of this city, to tho
Grand Lodge Of officers and re.
personalities. Masonic brethren
and sojourning brethren. 1t is ex-
pected that fully 500 covers will
u