Wakefield Lodge No. 198, A.F. & A.M.

                                                             Wakefield, Virginia

The first meeting of the Wakefield Masonic Lodge was held at its hall on Friday, October 28, 1859, according to the record of its minutes. The Lodge had received dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and at this meeting the officers were elected as follows:

T. J. Drumright                                    Worshipful Master

William E. Cobb                                 Senior Warden (elected on March 2, 1860)

Dr. William H. Edwards                     Junior Warden

Dr. John E. Nicholson                         Treasurer

Benjamin C. Drew                              Secretary

John C. Morris                                    Senior Deacon

Albert D. Goodrich                             Junior Deacon

A. A. Drewry                                      Chaplain

Minutes of the Lodges meetings were recorded for a year through November 16, 1860. In that year the Lodge lost two officers by death, Dr. William H. Edwards and Dr. John E. Nicholson.

Records of the Grand Lodge of Virginia reveal that the dispensation was revoked when no report was received from the Lodge in 1861. The reason for the Lodges lack of activity is obvious; the men of the community were in the service of the Confederate States of America, the War Between the States had begun.

Minutes of the Lodge resumed on October 7, 1865. The Lodge was again under dispensation. Officers were elected to fill vacancies. The 1865 officers were:

T. J. Drumright                        Worshipful Master

Dr. O. H. Baird                       Senior Warden

John C. Morris                        Junior Warden

S. E. James                              Treasurer

Benjamin C. Drew                  Secretary

A. W. Holt                              Senior Deacon

T. W. Atkinson                       Junior Deacon

James P. Gay                           Tiler

In June 1867, B. C. Drew was elected the second Worshipful Master. Dr. J. W. Wilson was elected Worshipful Master in June 1868. The Reverend Aurelius W. Holt, who had been chosen Senior Deacon when the Lodge was reactivated after the War, and was by this time a Methodist minister, died at his fathers residence on December 2, 1868, in the 28^th year of his age. The Lodge adopted a resolution of respect.