Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120, A.F. & A.M.

                                                             Alexandria, Virginia

As with most Lodges, there must be a need. So it was with Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120.  A dispensation was granted from the Grand Lodge of Virginia on December 6, 1853, for Andrew Jackson Lodge. The first officers were:

S. King Shay                                       Worshipful Master

George H. Markell                              Senior Warden

John T. Johnson                                  Junior Warden

All of these officers were members of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22.

On December 9, 1853, Worshipful Brother Shay informed the Brethren that he had sent a letter to Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 and Lafayette Lodge No. 67 thanking them for their assistance in organizing the Lodge. On March 3, 1854, Lafayette Lodge No. 67 surrendered its charter. Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120 was issued a charter on December 13, 1854.

During the Civil War, Andrew Jackson Lodge, for the most part, did not meet. On January 5, 1865, the Lodge was active again. On January 19, 1865, the Lodge had the largest attendance ever. For the next nine years much was going on.

The passing away of Worshipful Brother S. King Shay, the first Worshipful Master, on January 19, 1874 was a sad occasion.

When this Lodge was looking for a meeting place in 1879, Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 offered their Lodge hall. The committees met and agreed that Andrew Jackson Lodge would meet on the first and third Thursdays and Alexandria-Washington Lodge would meet on the second and fourth Thursdays.

On February 20, 1890, Brother Henry Knox Field was raised to the degree of Master Mason. On June 24, 1893, he was installed Worshipful Master of this Lodge. In 1900, Right Worshipful Henry Knox Field and twenty-nine other members of Andrew Jackson Lodge went to Cranford Church to take part in laying the cornerstone of that church.

On December 27, 1904, the first installation of officers was held in December, most of the time they had been installed in June.

On June 6, 1907, Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120 joined Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 in the laying of the cornerstone of the Masonic temple in Washington, D.C.

On March 15, 1917, the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Most Worshipful Henry Knox Field, made his official visit to his mother Lodge, and received honorary membership.

March 15, 1929 was the first mention of an annual Jackson Day celebration, which was for the 162^nd anniversary of the birth of Andrew Jackson. This was the beginning of a tradition. After the meeting to celebrate the birth of Andrew Jackson on March 15, 1932, an evening of dancing and fine food was held at the George Mason Hotel.

The first meeting held in the North Room of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial was held on December 15, 1949. This was the new home of this Lodge.

A history of Andrew Jackson Lodge, compiled by Right Worshipful William A. Brown, was presented to the Lodge on October 4, 1979.

On April 17, 1980, the Worshipful Master, James Amos Yancey, presented the Lodge a plaque, which had been found in an old house in Washington, D.C. The plaque was dated November 3, 1873, and was from the Mt. Vernon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. It was to thank the Lodge for allowing them to meet in the Lodge hall.

What could be written about this great Lodge, in no way could be put down on this brief page. There is so much more to tell of what was, and what we hope could be.