Kerns Lodge No. 143, A.F. & A.M.

                                                            Crystal Hill, Virginia

Kerns Lodge No. 143 of Crystal Hill, Virginia was given permission to organize on June 5, 1889. Brother B. W. Conner loaned the Lodge the $25.00 needed to petition the Grand Lodge.

Kerns Lodge apparently received its name honoring Right Worshipful H. O. Kerns, who was District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District No. 37 when the petition was accepted.

This Lodge held its first stated communication on June 21, 1889, with eleven members present. The first officers were:

William A. Moorefield                        Worshipful Master

J. J Sparrow                                         Senior Warden

A. J. Smith                                          Junior Warden

The location of the first meeting is not recorded, however, Brother B. W. Conner was given the responsibility of locating a permanent place for future meetings. Brother H. W. Woodall was elected the first secretary. Before adjourning, it was agreed that the second meeting would be scheduled for the Friday before the second Sunday in July at 7:00 P. M

The second meeting was held on July 12, 1889. The meeting place secured by Brother Conner was an upstairs room in the home of Brother H. S. Covington. Bylaws were adopted, and agreement was made to schedule all regular stated communications for the second Saturday of each month at 7:00 P. M.  The first petitions received were from Mr. G. T. Cardwell, and Mr. H. C. Allen, which were read at the July 1889 meeting. The first Entered Apprentice Degree was held on August 10, 1889, the first Fellowcraft Degree on September 7, 1889, and the first Master Masons Degree on October 12, 1889.

A meeting was called for October 26, 1889, to discuss building a permanent Lodge hall, however, the meeting was postponed because of bad weather. The Lodge met on February 8, 1890, and voted to build a Lodge hall with the cost for construction not to exceed $400.00. The Lodge was completed at a cost of $362.81. On June 7, 1890, Kerns Lodge No. 143 held its first stated communication in its new facility. The furniture for the Lodge hall was all hand made and donated by Brother J. H. Smith.

Kerns Lodge No. 143 was granted its charter by the Grand Lodge of Virginia on December 11, 1889. The first cornerstone laid by the Lodge was on August 15, 1890 at Concord Methodist Church in Crystal Hill.

It was very important to the Lodge for all members to conduct themselves in a Masonic manner. On November 8, 1890, a committee was appointed to investigate charges when a Brother was believed to have committed unmasonic behavior. The member in question was required to come before the Lodge at a stated communication and answer to charges. The committee investigated any charges, and made a report to the Lodge. After all information was given, a decision of guilt or innocence was made by a vote of the Lodge. The first recorded meeting in which a Brother was brought before the Lodge to answer charges of unmasonic conduct was on July 20, 1895. At that time, a Brother was charged with improperly selling some tobacco. The Brother was found innocent of any wrongdoing. There is only one recorded instance of a Brother being expelled from the Lodge for unmasonic conduct, which occurred on August 15, 1896.

The Lodge hall was moved from its original location to a new lot in October 1891. Moving became necessary after a clear deed could not be secured for the original lot. Improvements were made throughout the years. One notable improvement was the addition of hitching posts for the members horses at a cost of $2.20, which was done in August 1896.

All through its history, this Lodge was always available to aid a distressed Brother, and the community. Some situations of assistance that were noted included formation of a committee on March 11, 1911, to attempt to persuade a member of the Crystal Hill community to stop making illegal whiskey. At the Stated communication of March 2, 1912, a collection was taken by the Lodge to buy a horse for a needy family in the community. There were numerous other instances when the Lodge aided distressed Brothers, their widows and orphans. On July 8, 1916, a charity fund was established to help when there was a need.

Worshipful A. J. Smith died in office on April 2, 1897. Right Worshipful L. C. Anderson holds the honor of serving this Lodge as Worshipful Master on eleven different occasions, ranging from first serving in 1929 till his last term of office in 1943

In November 1906, the Lodge changed its regular stated communication from the second Saturday of each month to the Monday after the second Sunday. In February 1908, the date was changed again to Saturday before the second Sunday of each month.

There is one recorded instance of a petition not laying over the required thirty days before a vote was taken. In July 1917 Brother Harry Palmer was given special dispensation to be initiated an Entered Apprentice immediately. The reason for this action was a result of Brother Palmers military obligation. As soon as Brother Palmer was raised a Master Mason, he left to enter World War I.

In April 1952, construction was begun on the present Lodge hall. Later in the same year, construction was complete, and Kerns Lodge moved into its new facility.