Independent Orange Lodge No. 138, A.F. & A.M.

                                                                Orange, Virginia

On January 24, 1825, a dispensation was issued to authorize the opening of a Lodge at Orange Court House, Virginia, by the name of >Orange Independent Lodge appointing the following:

Richard H. Field                                 Worshipful Master

Valentine M. Houseworth                  Senior Warden

Joseph Holloway                                 Junior Warden

On Tuesday, December 13, 1825, a charter was issued in the name of Orange Lodge No. 138, with the following officers:

Valentine M. Houseworth                  Worshipful Master

Joseph Holloway                                 Senior Warden

Ambrose Madison                               Junior Warden

In the Grand Lodge Proceedings for 1926, the listing of members has Worshipful R. H. Field listed as District Deputy Grand Master. It would appear that between the time that the dispensation was issued and the issuing of the charter, Brother Field was nominated and appointed District Deputy Grand Master. There were thirty-nine members listed in the 1926 Proceedings. The fee for initiation was $12.00; for passing $5.00; and raising $5.00. The Lodge met at Orange Court House on the fourth Monday in every month.

The last recorded Returns from the Lodge were for the year 1830. There were no Returns for the years 1831, 1832, 1833, or 1834. In 1835 the Lodge was declared dormant and remained so until 1846. In 1847, although the Lodge was dormant, the following officers were recorded:

William Roush                                    Worshipful Master

Phillip S. Fry                                       Senior Warden

William D. Clarke                               Junior Warden

There has been some speculation as to why a Masonic Lodge with fifty-one members would suddenly become dormant and cease to function as a Lodge. Was there such dissension in the Lodge that fifty-one members would give up Masonry and just walk away? This hardly seems possible in our fraternity. There is a possible and very probable explanation, however, that would fit into this time frame. It was the infamous so-called “Morgan Incident,” during which time Masonry faced its darkest hour in the United States. The “Morgan Incident” occurred in 1826, reached its peak in 1831 and declined the next year.

A dispensation having been issued to authorize the revival of Independent Orange Lodge No. 138, and all necessary requirements having been fulfilled, a charter was issued for Independent Orange Lodge No. 138 with the above listed officers, in 1847.

The early minute books of the Lodge from 1825 through 1856 are missing and have not been found. Therefore, much valuable information has been lost.

In the 1848 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge, Independent Orange Lodge No. 138 is listed as meeting at “Fulicia,” Orange County, on Tuesday before the full moon each month. Exhaustive investigation has failed to locate the place called “Fulicia” in or near Orange. Perhaps it may be located at some future time.

Records do not show where the Lodge met during the period from 1848 until after the War Between the States. The best information available is that it met in a building owned by R. S. Boulware situated on Main Street. Mr. Boulware owned property on the south side of Main Street up to the intersection of Caroline Street. There is a record that Mr. Boulware was paid sixty dollars for rent for the year ending June 24, 1868. He sold this building about 1872.

Records in the clerk’s office show that a parcel of land containing about one acre, situated on the old Gordonsville road, about a mile from Orange, was purchased from Charles P. Howard in 1851, for a Masonic Cemetery. This parcel of land was later sold and is now part of the Hill farm. In the minutes of June 16, 1858, it is recorded that a meeting of the Lodge was called for “Paying the last sad offices of respect to the memory of the late deceased William H. Evans. And there upon a record of the age and death of the said Brother was prepared and deposited in the archives of the Lodge, showing that he was thirty-eight years of age.”

In 1861, due to the War, there were no Returns to the Grand Lodge. Nor were any submitted in 1862 and 1863. In the Grand Lodge Proceedings for 1864, page 48, is recorded “Your committee regrets to report that so many of the District Deputy Grand Masters have failed to make reports and attribute it to the unsettled state of the Country.” Lewis B. Williams is listed as Worshipful Master in 1865.

On July 23, 1872, the Lodge assisted at the laying of the cornerstone of the Baptist Church. Also in 1872, a committee reported that the Lodge room had been sold and the Lodge would have to move. Brother Alexander Daley proposed that he build a building on the corner of Main Street and the railroad, and would add a third story to the building for a Lodge room. This room would be rented to the Lodge for one hundred dollars per year, with the option to buy within five years. The new Lodge room was moved into about April 1, 1873, and was occupied until about 1885. At a meeting on July 1, 1884, a committee reported that there was a nice lot of timber growing in the cemetery, and that the timber was suitable for posts, which could be sold for ten cents each. On August 5, 1884, a committee was appointed to look into the question of getting a suitable Lodge room. A committee was also appointed to see about selling the cemetery.

On March 10, 1884, this Lodge was visited by a number of Brethren of the Gordonsville Lodge, Waddell Lodge No. 228, and it cost this Lodge seven dollars to feed them. At a meeting on June 24, 1867, a petition requesting the charter for a Lodge in Gordonsville was approved by Independent Orange Lodge No 138. Waddell Lodge No 228 was chartered in 1867.

On September 2, 1884, a committee reported that the Hayes building could be purchased for $1,200.00. The committee was instructed to close the deal. The Hayes property is situated where the present building now stands. At that time the property consisted of about one acre of land with two buildings, one brick and one frame dwelling. The Opera House building was built in 1885, and the Lodge moved in about that time from the Daley building. The Opera House building was condemned in 1922, and the Lodge moved into the Levy building, which then stood on the corner of Main Street and the railroad, where the Daley building once stood. The Lodge remained in the Levy building until the present building was rebuilt in 1923.

In the minutes of the Lodge for December 1, 1908, is recorded the following:

“On motion, RESOLVED, that Independent Orange Lodge extends its heartfelt sympathy to Brother Emil Levy in the pecuniary loss sustained by him in the burning of his place of business; (this was the great fire in Orange of 1908) and RESOLVED, further, that the Lodge expresses its confidence in, and gratitude for his skill, virtue and fidelity to Masonry in general and his loyal self-sacrificing devotion to this Lodge in particular, and as an example of self-sacrificing devotion, there be entered on the records of this Lodge the fact: That while his store was wrapped in flames by which it was recently destroyed, he, before attempting to save his own imperiled property, first removed to a place of safety the records of this Lodge.”

Also in the above minutes “The secretary is instructed to replace the seal of the Lodge which was destroyed in the same fire.”

On July 21, 1873, charges of being drunk and insulting to several Brethren were preferred against Brother A. P. Routt. A committee was appointed to investigate the charges against Brother Routt. On September 22, 1873, the committee reported on charges against Brother A. P. Routt and recommended that he be censured in open Lodge. The following resolution was adopted:

“Whence from the report of the committee and from the evidence taken by them and the admissions of Brother A. P. Routt, as reported by said committee, he has been guilty of gross un-Masonic conduct; and be it further resolved that Brother A. P. Routt be, and he is hereby, suspended from all benefits of Masonry.”

The resolution was adopted and Brother Routt was suspended. On June 15, 1875, the petition from A. P. Routt for reinstatement was read and ordered to lay over. On July 13, 1875, the petition for reinstatement of A. P. Routt was rejected. On January 7, 1879, the petition for reinstatement from A. P. Routt was again presented. On February 4, 1879, the petition for reinstatement from A. P. Routt was accepted and he was made an Honorary member of this Lodge.

On August 26, 1879, a communication from Brother W. H. Ricketts was received:

“To the Master and Wardens and members of this Lodge: A difference having arisen between Brother P. P. Hiden and myself arising from language used by said Hiden of me in a certain bill of injunction which I consider very ungentlemanly and un-Masonic and might be very injurious to my character. I hereby request that the Lodge take steps to investigate the matter, as I cannot affiliate with said party without an apology from said party mentioned. And I furthermore request the Lodge to appoint a secretary to perform the duties pertaining to that office while the matter is under consideration.”

Signed: William K. Ricketts

The entry for November 25, 1879 notes that the above matter settled. Then on July 20, 1880, William K. Ricketts resigns from the Lodge. On May 2, 1882, the Past Masters degree is conferred on William K. Ricketts. And on May 30, 1882, William K. Ricketts is installed as Junior Warden.

Most Worshipful Lewis B. Williams, a member of this Lodge served as Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 1861 and 1862. He had held the office of Worshipful Master at different times for a span of about fifteen years.