Dale City Lodge No. 319, A.F. & A.M.

                                                              Dale City, Virginia

In 1972, a Group of Masons in Dale City formed a Square and Compass Club in hopes of getting a Masonic Lodge formed in Dale City. They would meet once a month at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. After several months of meeting it was determined, that most of them being out of state Masons and not familiar with Virginia ritual, no one could be Worshipful Master of a new Lodge and could not obtain a dispensation required to form a Lodge.

Right Worshipful John H. King, a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Development and Extensions, and Worshipful Elbert Rufus Turner never gave up. The Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Most Worshipful Charles E. Wallace was desirous of having a new Lodge in Dale City.

Right Worshipful Brother King began work again. Several organizational meetings were held in Lorton, Virginia, at Worshipful Brother Charles H. Braners home in hopes for a Lodge in the Lorton area, and not being able to get a Lodge started in Lorton, it was decided to try again in Dale City. In a meeting held at Worshipful Brother Braners home in late May 1980, an election of officers was held for a new Lodge.

The officers elected were:

Elbert Rufus “Bud” Turner                 Worshipful Master;

Donald Jay Rhodes                             Senior Warden

Donald Lavergne Solomon                 Junior Warden

Robert J. Schiffelin                             Treasurer

Charles H. Braner                               Secretary

Robert Johnson                                   Senior Deacon

Joseph H. Praetz                                 Junior Deacon

Walter B. Wiley                                  Chaplain

Kenneth H. Martin                              Senior Steward

Harold Easter                                      Junior Steward

Edgar Bruce Holley                            Tiler

After several meetings held at Mount Vernon Lodge No. 219, Dale City Lodge was instituted on July 18, 1980, in Mount Vernon Lodge building with thirty-six members.

Worshipful Brother Turner and Brother Joseph Praetz arranged for the first meeting hall located in the Hillendale Baptist Church, 13135 Hillendale Avenue, Dale City, Virginia. In February 1983, the Lodge decided to move. Acting on the suggestion of Brother Kenneth Martin, Worshipful Brother Turner obtained permission from the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church to meet in their facility.

The first meetings were on the fourth Friday of each month at Hillendale Baptist Church. Meetings were changed to the first Thursday of each month because Good Shepherd United Methodist Church was not available on Fridays.

Dale City Lodge No. 319 was chartered on February 10, 1981. At the first election of officers held in December 1981, Brother Donald Jay Rhodes was elected Worshipful Master.