Taylor Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M.

                                                             Centenary, Virginia

A dispensation was granted on April 17, 1874, for the formation of a Masonic Lodge at Well Water, Buckingham County, Virginia by the designation of “Taylor Lodge.” Officers designated in the dispensation were:

William H. Taylor                   Worshipful Master

John R. Agee                          Senior Warden

F. N. Maxey                            Junior Warden

The charter for Taylor Lodge No. 117 was issued on December 16, 1874.

The first communication of Taylor Lodge was held on May 14, 1874. Four petitions for membership were received at this meeting, accompanied by the fee of five dollars with each petition. On motion, it was unanimously resolved that the stated meetings of this Lodge shall be held at 10 oclock A. M. on the first Thursday after the second Monday in each month. It is noted in the minutes that there was a shortage of money, as often times members would pay ten cents, twenty-five cents or fifty cents at a time on their dues. Sometimes, when a bill was presented to the Lodge for payment, it was ordered paid as soon as sufficient funds came into the treasury. Though there was a shortage of money, we find that the members performed many acts of charity for other needy members and widows. We also note that attendance was stressed and if a member missed many meetings, he was cited to appear at the next meeting to show cause why he should not be suspended. In April 1879, the time of the monthly meetings was changed from Thursday to the second Saturday in each month at 7:00 P. M. In 1881 the meeting time was changed to Saturday before the first Sunday in each month at 1:00 P. M.

We find in the minutes, several instances where a member was called in for trial on unmasonic conduct. In some cases the member was reprimanded and in some he was expelled if he did not change his conduct. In 1889, the bylaws were changed to read that each member was to pay two dollars per year in monthly installments for dues. At the meeting in September 1892, the Lodge was free of debt with a cash balance of $85.31 and due by members for dues, $40.41. At the end of the twenty-year span of Taylor Lodge we find a slow but continued growth in membership and also a definite improvement in the financial condition.

At the September 1894 meeting, a committee was appointed to find a suitable location for the purpose of erecting a new Lodge hall. At the October meeting, the committee made a report on three locations: Well Water, Sharon Church and Centenary, which resulted in the site being chosen near Centenary Church. A committee was appointed to secure deed and title to the land on which to build. On September 28, 1895, the cornerstone of the new Lodge was laid in due and ancient form. Brethren from Scottsville Lodge No. 45 and Stonewall Lodge No. 300 assisted the Brethren of Taylor Lodge. The contract for the new building was awarded to L. F. Lightfoot for $545.00, and the building was to be completed by October 1895. A steady growth continued for Taylor Lodge for the rest of the 1800's. It is also noted that tight times were still there as the minutes of nearly every meeting state that members were given a certain number of days to pay their dues, yet through all of this we find many acts of charity were done.

Most Worshipful Harold R. Stephenson, a member of Taylor Lodge, served as Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 1949.