Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M.

                                                         Fredericksburg, Virginia

The first Grand Lodge was established in England in the 1700's and spread to Scotland, Ireland, France and the whole European continent. Military regiments had their own Masonic Lodges and it is believed that one such Irish regiment stationed in Fredericksburg granted a warrant to the local settlers to establish Lodges and warrant others. The Masonic Lodge was named the Lodge at Fredericksburg,” and functioned in that capacity until it finally helped to form the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 1778, but it refused to join until 1787, and was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Virginia on January 30, 1787, as Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4. It was difficult for the Lodge to give up the authority that it had.

Botetourt Lodge No. 7, warranted by this Lodge, also joined the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Several other Lodges were warranted by this Lodge and may be in existence today because the membership of the Lodge at Fredericksburg was scattered over the developing territory.

This Lodge was granted a charter by the Grand Lodge of Scotland on July 21,1758, with the following officers:

Colonel John Thornton                       Worshipful Master

John Neilson                                       Senior Warden

Robert Halkerston                              Junior Warden

George Washington was initiated an Entered Apprentice in this Lodge on November 4, 1752, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on March 3, 1753, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on August 4, 1753. He served as Worshipful Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22 in 1788. The Lodge has a very valuable painting of Worshipful George Washington, which was painted by Gilbert Stuart and keeps it in a secure vault. Contrary to some statements, George Washington was NEVER Grand Mater of Masons in Virginia.

This Lodge has provided eight Grand Masters of Masons in Virginia. They are:

James Mercer                         1784-1786

Robert Brooke                        1795-1796

Silvanus J. Quinn                    1907

Philip K. Bauman                    1914

Edward H. Cann                     1962

Oscar W. Tate                        1986