Catlett Lodge No. 35, A.F. & A.M.

                                                              Gate City, Virginia

Catlett Lodge No. 35 met in the town of Estilville in Scott County, Virginia on July 11, 1843, under the terms of a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Virginia bearing the date of March 8, 1843. There were present: S. S. Waterman, Acting Worshipful Master; E. D. Kessau, Senior Warden Pro Tempore; Charles A. Brickers, Junior Warden Pro Tempore; John A. Martin, Treasurer Pro Tempore; William Morrison, Secretary Pro Tempore; Jonathan Draper, Senior Deacon Pro Tempore; George A. Bass, Junior Deacon Pro Tempore; and William Messick, Tiler Pro Tempore.

The dispensation was read for a new Lodge to be formed and the officers were elected. Brothers Waterman, Kessau, Brickers and Bass were Past Masters and members of Abingdon Lodge No. 48. Brother Waterman “Bore the Credentials of the District Deputy Grand Master, Elias Ogden, who was sick and unable to attend.”

The following officers were elected:

James Draper                                       Worshipful Master

Jonathan Morrison                              Senior Warden

Henry Morrison                                   Junior Warden

John A. Martin                                    Treasurer

William Morrison                                Secretary

Jonathan Draper                                  Senior Deacon

Jacob Fulkerson                                  Junior Deacon

William Messick                                  Tiler

The first meeting was held in what is now the Town of Gate City, County Seat of Scott County. The record speaks to the Masonic origin of the Brethren from Abingdon Lodge No. 48; however, it is unknown from the minutes where the other Brethren actually received their degrees. The first Masonic Funeral was conducted on September 17, 1843 to pay the last offices of the dead to a Brother Thompson George Martin.

At a stated communication held on June 10, 1844, the Lodge voted to send a letter to the Grand Lodge of Virginia that Brother Nelson Preston and others were desirous of forming a Lodge in the Town of Jonesville, Virginia, and that this desire was a “most laudable undertaking.” This gave rise to what is now Preston Lodge No. 47, named for Nelson Preston, then a member of Catlett Lodge No. 35

On March 10, 1844, Right Worshipful Elias Ogden presented a charter to Catlett Lodge No. 35 bearing the date of December 12, 1843.

A called communication was held on “the forenoon of July 2, 1849,” to draft the appropriate “Resolution of Respect” for our late friend and Brother James K. Polk, the former President of the United States.

In 1953 a new temple was erected at its present location of 128 Kane Street, Gate City, Virginia.