Prince George Lodge No. 115, A.F. & A.M.
Prince George, Virginia
In 1854, a group of Master Masons living in the vicinity of Prince George Courthouse saw the need for a Masonic Lodge. They proceeded to draw up a request for a dispensation to meet and work as a Masonic body at Prince George Courthouse. After obtaining recommendations from St. Andrews Lodge No. 29 at City Point, Virginia, and Petersburg Lodge No. 15, Petersburg, Virginia, the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia granted the dispensation to these Brethren.
The first meeting under dispensation was held at Prince George Courthouse on September 5, 1854. At this meeting a committee was appointed to draw up the bylaws and report at the next meeting to be held on September 20, 1854. The bylaws were adopted on September 20, 1854, and the following officers were elected:
Samuel H. Jones Worshipful Master
Robert Gilliam Senior Warden
Theo A. Hall Junior Warden
William Jones Treasurer
S. Walsh Secretary
Nicholas Fenn Senior Deacon
William Wells Junior Deacon
Samuel Walsh Chaplain
William Bonner Tiler
Brother Thomas J. Young was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft and on December 6, 1854, became the first to be made a Master Mason by Prince George Lodge.
The Grand Lodge of Virginia issued a charter on December 13, 1854, for Prince George Lodge No. 115. On January 3, 1855, Right Worshipful P. B. Starke, District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. 5, installed the officers.
The original membership came from two different Lodges. Six members were from St. Andrews Lodge No. 29, City Point, Virginia and five were from Petersburg Lodge No. 15, Petersburg, Virginia. On April 15, 1856, the cornerstone was laid for a temple at Prince George Courthouse. It is assumed that the temple was completed at Prince George and that the Lodge held its meetings in this temple for some thirty-five years. A petition was presented on September 26, 1891, and voted on and approved on November 28, 1891, to move to Disputanta, Virginia, for twelve months. Then on February 25, 1893, it was voted to remain at Disputanta for another twelve months. On November 24, 1894, a motion was made to move back to Prince George Courthouse and this motion was carried on December 22, 1894. Brother William H. C. Spicer was appointed to move the furniture to Prince George for the January stated meeting.
It has not been determined whether the Lodge moved into the original building or some other structure at Prince George Courthouse. However, the Lodge held its meetings at Prince George Courthouse for thirteen years. On January 24, 1907, the membership voted to move back to Disputanta, Virginia, and held their next meeting on February 29, 1907 at Disputanta, Virginia. Further research might bring to light an interesting answer to the fate of the temple at Prince George Courthouse and also to the question as to how, when, and from what source the temple at Disputanta was obtained. It is conclusive that Prince George Lodge owned their temple at Disputanta, Virginia, for on March 1, 1928, the minutes record the purchase of the Lodge by a Mr. L. Grammar for the price of $1,200.00. The minutes also contain records of having rented the lower floor of the temple at Prince George to the Bland Township for the purpose of holding a school. Conceivably, Prince George Lodge could have, at one time, owned two temples. However, there does not appear to be any record of any work being done at Prince George Courthouse after January 24, 1907, except for a One-hundred Year Anniversary celebration, which was held at Prince George High School on September 3, 1954.
On July 3, 1930, Worshipful Albert G. Livesay presented a resolution to purchase the Farmers Bank Building at Disputanta, Virginia. This resolution passed and the building was purchased from the Bank or Southside Virginia, Prince George, Virginia, and the Lodge held its meetings in this building through March 2, 1978.
On October 5, 1967, the Lodge voted to purchase a lot located at the intersection of State Roads 106 and 644, near Prince George Courthouse. Several years went by and there were feelings that the purchase of that lot was about to be a dream rather than a reality for a new temple. However, every Worshipful Master kept the need for a new temple alive and on July 17, 1976, the cornerstone for a new temple was laid on the lot near Prince George Courthouse. The minutes of March 2, 1978, record the last meeting held in the old Farmers Bank Building at Disputanta, Virginia. The building had been sold to Whistle Stop Antiques, Inc. on February 15, 1978. The next stated meeting was to be held in the new temple at the intersection of State Roads 106 and 644 near Prince George Courthouse. Thus on this date, April 6, 1978,one hundred thirty-three years, seven months and one day, Masons in Prince George County have moved back to their beginnings.