Temperanceville Lodge No. 121, A.F. & A.M.

                                                        Temperanceville, Virginia

If the history of Temperanceville Lodge No. 121 could have been written while it was being made, the task would have been easier. But, since the records show a limited amount of information, mostly the conferring of the three Masonic Degrees on various qualified candidates, it is impossible to give many of the “highlights,” that have occurred.

A dispensation for Temperanceville Lodge was issued on February 1, 1868 with the following officers:

J. O. Moss                               Worshipful Master

R. A. Strand                            Senior Warden

Henry Hall                              Junior Warden

The above officers were named in the charter, which was issued on December 15, 1869. A committee to draft bylaws was formed on July 24, 1868. The dues were seventy-five cents per quarter and the meeting was scheduled for the Tuesday evening on or before the full moon.

The first report of the Lodge to the Grand Lodge of Virginia was made in December 1870, listing the following officers:

S. A. Byrd                                           Worshipful Master

Henry E. Byrd                                                Senior Warden

A. S. Matthews                                   Junior Warden

Henry Hall                                          Treasurer

W. J. Bailey                                         Secretary

J. W. Broughton                                  Senior Deacon

L. J. Northam                                      Junior Deacon

W. H. Pruitt                                        Tiler

The total membership shown on the report was twenty-eight and there is no record of the amount of Grand Lodge fees listed.

By a remote tradition, the place of meeting from the date of dispensation to 1884 was over a Blacksmith Shop, near the location of the first building in Temperanceville, Virginia. This first building was conveyed to the trustees of Temperanceville Lodge No. 121 in 1884. It was a two-story frame building, with the lower portion leased as a general merchandise store for many years. The upper portion was used as a Lodge room.

During the early decade of the 30's, the lower floor of the building was vacated and that part was then converted to a recreation and dinning room, with help for the Temperanceville Chapter No. 80, Order of the Eastern Star.

In December 1981, a ground breaking ceremony was held at the present location of the Temperanceville Masonic temple, on U. S. Route 13, north of Temperanceville, Virginia. A cornerstone ceremony was held on April 22, 1982, by Most Worshipful Lloyd U. Jefferson, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, and the other Grand Lodge Officers. The first stated communication was held in the new temple on September 20, 1983. Temperanceville Lodge still meets on Tuesday on or before the full moon.

There has been one Worshipful Master who served for twelve years, one for six years, one for four years, three for three years, and eight for two years.  There is one instance of a son who conferred the degree of Master Mason on his father, one where the grandfather conferred the degree on his grandson and a few instances when the father conferred the degree on the son.

Many have knocked at the west gate and on being accepted, have received the three Masonic degrees. Many of these have passed to their reward and their works do follow them. In comparison to the many, the faithful few have applied themselves ritualistically to the task of carrying the torch, which keeps the Fraternity alive. But we must still remember, and have hope, that all of the many who have knocked and been admitted have, and will retain, that integrity which makes good men better.