Manchester Lodge No. 14, A.F. & A.M.

                                                             Richmond, Virginia

Few, if any of the Masonic Lodges in the State of Virginia possess a more comprehensive or well-documented history than that of Manchester Lodge No. 14. It encompasses the years from the Lodges first dispensation on March 2, 1786, through the year 1985. It was written during the tenure of three of its continuing line of Lodge Historians; the first 121 years by Right Worshipful Ben F. Owen, Jr.; the next 29 years by Worshipful Aaron L. Sampson; and the next 49 years by Brother Alfred D. Lynch. The material used in the histories include minute books, treasurers journals, and other important documents retained by the Lodge.

Many years have passed since March 4, 1786, when a handful of men along the sparsely settled southern bank of the James River met in Moses Tredways candle-lit tavern in the small, but recently incorporated, village of Manchester, Virginia. The group of sixteen was to be remembered more by their spirit, talents, and fortitude, than by their number. They arrived by all modes of transportation to celebrate the first dispensation and too more fully organize what was to become a well-established Masonic Lodge known throughout the State as “Possum Lodge No. 14.” This occurred only three years after the signing of the peace treaty with England and one year before the acceptance of the Constitution.

It is said by some that the original founders of this Lodge were mostly of Scottish descent. The recorded surnames of those in the old records do not necessarily suggest this.

This Lodge has nurtured three Grand Masters, Most Worshipful William A. Patterson, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 1839-1840; Most Worshipful Lloyd U. Jefferson, Grand Master in Virginia 1982; and Most Worshipful Branch T. Archer, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas.

Over the years the Lodge has shared its facilities with many and various fraternal organizations, schools and churches, for community, business and social affairs, and for municipal purposes.