Burke Lodge No. 147, A.F. & A.M.

                                                             Burkeville, Virginia

Prior to 1874 there was no Masonic Lodge in the town of Burkeville, however, there were a number of Master Masons living in the town and adjoining areas. These Masons were members of Lodges in nearby towns and communities. In order to attend their respective Lodges it was necessary for them to travel by horse and buggy or on horseback. This made regular attendance very difficult, especially in bad weather. For this and perhaps for other reasons, eight Master Masons met and decided to petition the Grand Lodge of Virginia for a dispensation granting them the right to form a new Lodge in the town of Burkeville, in the county of Nottoway. As a result of that meeting, a letter was sent to the Grand Lodge of Virginia, dated May 4, 1874, requesting dispensation to form a Lodge and name it Burke Lodge. The letter recommended the appointment of the following officers:

George H. Ray                        Worshipful Master

W. T. Gray                              Senior Warden

A. T. Foster                             Junior Warden

W. T. Gray, A. T. Foster, G. W. Fowlkes, A. J. Randlett, Samuel D. Burke, J. H. Harris, George H. Ray, and H. G. Thweatt signed the letter.

Farmville Lodge No. 41 cheerfully concurred with the request.

The dispensation was granted for the Lodge to meet at Burkeville on Tuesday evening before the full moon in each month, and on the festival of St. John the Baptist. The Lodge was named Burke Lodge No 147, because of several prominent families by the name of Burke lived in the community. Three of the charter members were named Burke. This is also how the town got its name.

It is unfortunate and regrettable that there are no records of the Lodge for the first fifty years. All minutes of the Lodge meetings were lost when a fire destroyed the building in which meetings were held.

During the depression years, members were permitted to pay dues in installments if they so desired, and many requests were made for extra time to pay. It is to the credit of the members that no one was suspended for nonpayment of dues; however, one member requested that he be suspended because he could not pay his dues. The Lodge voted to give him more time and he came through with the money.

Fairfax Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was organized in 1933, and cooperated with the Lodge in an excellent manner. When visitors comment on the beautiful floor covering, the desks, and the attractive appearance of the Lodge room, credit is given to the “womans touch” of the Eastern Star.

The Lodge purchased the building it now occupies in 1956.