Roman Eagle Lodge No. 122, A.F. & A.M.
Danville, Virginia
In 1820 Danville, was still “a small, struggling village” of less than four hundred inhabitants. The town labored under many financial adversities from time to time, but now stands as a monument to those who so nobly modeled the material, spiritual, moral and financial, into strong growth and true development, in which Masonry was a large factor.
Educational advantages were established; congregations from exceedingly small numbers, organized; and a few brave men and Masons, under the banner of “brotherly love, relief and truth,” conceived the idea of establishing a Lodge of Masons, “to help, aid and assist” their distressed worthy Brethren, widows and orphans.
In October 1820, an application for opening a Lodge of Freemasons in Danville, signed by John B. Roy, Stokeley T. Foster, Thomas W. White, Thomas Rawlings, Dabney P. Sneed, Edmund W. Cabell, James Conner and Mathew Sims, was made to the Grand Lodge of Virginia. A dispensation was at once issued appointing the following:
J. B. Roy Worshipful Master
Stokeley Foster Senior Warden
Thomas W. White Junior Warden
On November 11, 1820, the Lodge met under dispensation, and the labor began. John Bennett of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, and B. W. S. Cabell, an Entered Apprentice of Marshall Lodge No. 39, were received as members. This opening meeting of the Lodge showed the same working spirit that has in later days characterized this Lodge; for before it closed it had initiated, passed, and raised Warner L. Williams, James Lanier, Dr. Thomas G. Tunstall, Dr. George Craghead, Thomas H. Clark, Joshua Howerton and George Price; passed and raised B. W. S. Cabell and Reuben Hopkins; received the petitions of and initiated Walter Coles and James Lanier, of White Oak Mountain
On December 13, 1920, a charter was granted under the name and style of “Roman Eagle” Lodge No. 122, naming the above listed officers. On December 27, 1920, the Lodge was instituted and the officers were installed.
In 1826, the first step was taken for the erection of a Masonic Hall. In 1820, the Lodge had secured a small house for their meetings on a lot facing on Craghead Street, being in the rear of Johns Tobacco Company, a lot on Tunstall, now Craghead Street was given by Worshipful John B. Roy, and a lot in its rear, fronting on Water Street was purchased from the Honorable Walter Coles. The hall, therefore, was erected in the center of the two lots. This Lodge hall was a brick building, two stories high, about thirty feet square. The upper floor was fitted for a Lodge room, with a small ante-room. The lower floor was for the use of the town. Churches, a school and a court of law used it. After a time the place became so offensive at night in the hot weather, by the refuse of Johns Factory, that the Lodge decided to sell and build elsewhere. In 1851 this hall was sold to the town of Danville.
Worshipful Brother George W. Dame came to Danville in 1840 as president of the Danville Female Academy. He was a Past Master of Lebanon Lodge No. 41. Roman Eagle Lodge was in debt and had fallen in a bad way with the community at the time. The Lodge sent a committee to see Brother Dame, and he was asked to affiliate with the Lodge. He at first declined on grounds of sickness and debt that had incurred because of the sickness. He felt that since he was already a member of Marshal Lodge No. 39 and Lebanon Lodge No. 41, it would not be just to put any money where an actual necessity did not exist.
A committee returned again, with the proposal to Brother Dame, that if he would join the Lodge and help work it up and put it in good order, no affiliation fee should be charged and no dues should ever be entered up against him. He, however, paid during the year. The election was postponed until January 15, 1842. On that day Worshipful George W. Dame was elected Worshipful Master of Roman Eagle Lodge No. 122. He remained Worshipful Master until June 24, 1869, twenty-seven years, and served again in 1876, for a total of twenty-eight years.
Under the leadership of Brother Dame, the Lodge was again set straight. Many who had withdrawn again affiliated and the Lodge began to excite the attention of the people of the area.
In 1851, the Lodge had now progressed in the community and its strength and funds were such that it sold its building to the City of Danville and formed a committee, which was instructed to sell, buy and build. The Lodge moved from Craghead to Main Street. The new temple was dedicated on May 24, 1854. It was completed and turned over to the Lodge with a small debt, which was within the means of the Lodge to pay.
Roman Eagle Lodge played a large part in the laying of cornerstones in the City in this period. It also played a role in the War at this time giving many of its sons and assisting in giving brotherly love and care to the Masons from both armies. To understand this important part of its history and the complete, importance of the role that Worshipful George E. Dame played in the history of Roman Eagle Lodge and Virginia Masonry, a more in-depth study of the History of Roman Eagle Lodge is necessary and most interesting. The first History of Roman Eagle Lodge was written at the request of the Lodge by Worshipful George W. Dame, in 1895. He was then eighty-four years of age with a Masonic life of sixty-two years.
On July 16, 1900, the Lodge adopted a resolution accepting the recommendation of the trustees and finance committee to build a new temple at a cost of $43,000.00. In December the Knights of Pythias Hall was rented to use while the new temple was being erected. On February 11, 1901, the officers, stewards and deacons were appointed as a committee to take charge of all furniture and fixtures, or anything of value to the Lodge. These were stored in a factory on High Street. On June 24, 1901, Most Worshipful W. O. Kerns, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, laid the cornerstone of the new Masonic Temple. On July 1, 1902, the first meeting was held in the new Masonic Temple. Mortock Lodge No. 210, Ramah Lodge No. 70, Euclid Royal Arch Chapter and Dove Commandery all located in the new building. On December 27, 1902, the building committee officially turned the new temple over to the Lodge. On January 3, 1920, the Masonic temple burned.
Fire was discovered in Johnsons Department store about 9:00 P.M., burning the rest of the block to Union Street, including the Masonic Temple. A few articles were saved, among them the Altar, Right Worshipful George W. Dames portrait and apron, the Lodges charter and a few other items. The next meeting was held in the Elks Hall, which was rented for the purpose on January 12, 1920. The following resolution by Brother R. A. James, was read and adopted: “Resolved, that it is the sense of this Lodge that it retain the site of its destroyed building, and also that it is the desire of the Lodge that a new building to meet the needs of the Lodge and the city, and creditable to Roman Eagle Lodge be erected if found feasible.”
On April 2, 1920, the building committed recommended that a ten-story, modern, fireproof structure be erected. That said structure should have a basement, with a ground floor of stores, seven floors of office space, and two floors of Lodge rooms and quarters. This recommendation was adopted. The building was to cost approximately $500,00.00.
On December 10, 1921, at 2:30 P. M. the cornerstone for the new temple was laid with the assistance of the Grand Lodge Officers. On April 9, 1923, Roman Eagle Lodge held its first meeting in the new temple. During this period of time the Lodge grew in numbers and was active in the City. The Lodge participated in the laying the cornerstones for some of the most important buildings of the City.
The “History of Roman Eagle Lodge No. 122” has been written twice. They included the years of 1820 thru 1895, and 1895 thru 1938. Both histories were included in the latter volume. It is from this history that this report has been taken, and much credit has to be given to those who had the foresight to record it for our use today.