Rich Valley Lodge No. 172, A.F. & A.M.

                                                                Saltville, Virginia

A dispensation was issued to Rich Valley Lodge on May 16, 1872. On June 1, 1872, a Lodge assembled for the purpose of organizing, at which time Most Worshipful Robert E. Walters, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, appointed the following officers to govern the Lodge until such time as a charter might be granted:

H. C. Stevens                          Worshipful Master

John Goodman                        Senior Warden

W. T. Davis                             Junior Warden

The Lodge met at Chatam Hill and was given the name of Rich Valley Lodge. Nine Master Masons were raised in the ensuing twelve months, and several affiliations were approved for membership. The dispensation was read by Right Worshipful John Dove, Grand Secretary, after which the Master appointed the subordinate officers and ordered the first Friday of each month to be the regular meetings of the Lodge. A petition was read and ordered held over for thirty days by the Master. The Lodge, having no charter, hence no bylaws, agreed to use the bylaws of Marion Lodge No. 131 as a guideline until such time as a charter might be granted. The Charter is so wrinkled and faded that the date it was granted cannot be determined nor can it be found in the ledgers, but we know that on November 1, 1872, the following were designated as officers for the charter:

D. T. Duke                  Worshipful Master

R. D. Hufford             Senior Warden

W. S. Davis                 Junior Warden

Apparently the charter was granted previous to the December meeting. The above names are listed as the stationed officers of the Lodge in the minutes of the December stated meeting. Most Worshipful Donald Maynard Robey, Past Grand Master, in his publication “Masonic Lodges Chartered by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Virginia,” lists the charter date as December 11, 1872.

Total fees for the degrees were set at $7.00 and annual dues at $1.00. At the November 1, 1872, meeting, the Master ordered the secretary to call a roll of the craft at each stated meeting apparently for the purpose of assessing fines on members for non-attendance, as minutes of later meetings record assessments for that reason.

On June 20, 1874, the Lodge voted to hold its meetings in a room provided by D. T. Davis, rent free, and would remain in Chatham Hill. The Lodge would meet on the third Saturday of each month.

Peace and harmony was interrupted on July 3, 1875, when charges of un-Masonic conduct were filed against Brother H. G. Franke, who was accused of taking, without the knowledge or permission of its owner, lumber from a sawmill, and attempting to conceal it in a building on his own property. The Master ordered the information forwarded to Marion Lodge No. 31, of which Brother Franke was a member. Also to be forwarded was a list of his accusers who expressed their willingness to travel to Marion, give testimony, and present other evidence, which they contended, would prove him guilty. There was no further record of the incident.

The first Grand Lodge dues of record were paid on August 11, 1878, in the amount of $11.00.

The first property owned by the Lodge was a house and lot at Chatam Hill purchased from Mrs. M. F. Goodwin, wife of Dr. Goodwin. On August 18, 1877, a proposal was approved that the Lodge hold its meetings at Olympia, by the courtesy of Brother J. B. Whitehead, he proposing to furnish suitable rooms at no cost to the Lodge. On October 20, 1883, a committee was appointed to find a more suitable and convenient place for the Lodge to meet, Brothers G. W. Hayes and G. W. Pratt being appointed for that task, and were temporarily successful, as a house and lot were purchased from M. Nester for the sum of $200.00, and the Lodge moved into the building which was located in Chatam Hill. Four years later the house and lot were sold by decree of the court, and the Lodge, of necessity, moved back to Olympia. No further information is available.

On May 19, 1887, unmasonic conduct charges were filed against Brother R. D. Hufford. He was charged with attempting to seduce Susan B. Whitehead, wife of Brother John B. Whitehead. Mrs. Whitheads testimony was presented in the Lodge in the form of a letter, and after hearing the evidence and, after a second ballot, he was found guilty and expelled. The expulsion was appealed and Mr. Hufford opted to act as his own council and defend himself, asking many questions of Mrs. Whitehead, but he could not prevail and the penalty was upheld.

The year 1880 was among the Lodges most successful years in growth, if not the most successful. Sixteen petitioners were initiated, passed, and raised. Two others were initiated and passed. There were also several affiliations, which were approved.

On June 17, 1893, a proposal was approved that any member being found guilty of being intoxicated shall be reprimanded for a first offense, suspended for a second offense, and expelled for a third offense. There is no record of such a penalty being imposed nor is it clear if it was meant to be restricted to the Lodge or to be applicable in public.

Lodge dues were increased to $2.50 in 1933; to $4.50 in 1936; to $10.00 in 1960 and $25.00 in 1984. On December 20, 1919, all members were assessed fifty cents for the years 1919 and 1920. Reasons for that assessment are not explained. Fees were set at $20.00 for all three degrees. On April 8, 1933, the bylaws were again changed and the fees for the degrees increased to $30.00.

In 1920, the Lodge moved back to Chatham Hill, remaining there until July 29, 1929, when it moved back to Olympia.

On August 10, 1935, the Lodge voted unanimously to expel Brother J. F. Hughes for violation of Article 2.93 of the Methodical Digest.

On November 9, 1946, an amendment to the bylaws was approved; no explanation was given, but it can be assumed with a degree of accuracy that the change was for the purpose of increasing the fees for the degrees as at the next stated communication a petition was received for initiation, accompanied by $20.00 instead of the usual $15.00.

Apparently the Lodge moved to Nebo, Virginia on November 6, 1951, as the minutes of the meeting on that date refer to Nebo as their meeting place. The Lodge purchased a one-room school building from the Smyth County School Board, known as “The Newcome School,” for the sum of $100.00. The deed was dated March 9, 1958, with the condition that, if ever the building should cease to be used as a Masonic Lodge it was to become the sole property of the Methodist and Presbyterian Church located next door to the Lodge. Brother John Hilt donated his time and the material to make the interior suitable for the Lodge to occupy, and the Lodge moved into the building as soon as Brother Hilt had finished this task.

In 1988 the dues were $25.00, fees for degrees were $75.00 and on August 6, 1988, the Lodge voted to expended $1,800.00 for maintenance of the building. This emptied the treasury, and the secretary was ordered to contact the members, and ask for each to contribute $25.00 to help defray the cost of repair.