McPherson Lodge No. 99, A.F. & A.M.

                                                            Blackwater, Virginia

McPherson Lodge No. 99,of Blackwater, Virginia was organized on June 8, 1907, under a dispensation granted from Most Worshipful S. J. Quinn, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, dated May 22, 1907. The first officers were:

C. F. Steele                             Worshipful Master

A. N. Joyner                            Senior Warden

C. F. McPherson                     Junior Warden

E. S. McPherson, for whom the Lodge was named, was Treasurer. These officers were members of Duffield Lodge No. 257, Duffield, Virginia. Brother E. H. Jennings, a member of Fairview Lodge No. 132, was installed as secretary.

Stated meetings were set for the second Saturday after the first full moon in each month at 1:00 P. M. A fee of $5.00 was charged for conferring each degree, and the dues were set at $1.50.

The first Lodge hall was over Blackwater Lick Church, which was shared with the Odd Fellows. McPherson Lodge occupied this building until 1955, in which year the present hall was built over Robinettes Funeral Home.

The charter was granted to McPherson Lodge No. 99 on May 15, 1909, with the following officers:

C. F. Steele                             Worshipful Master

A. N. Joyner                            Senior Warden

C. F. McPherson                     Junior Warden

E. S. McPherson                     Treasurer

C. B. Stidham                         Secretary

W. C. Fannon                          Senior Deacon

J. B. Wallen                             Junior Deacon

W. S. Osborne                         Chaplain

R. P. Neely                              Chaplain

E. M. Robinson                       Tiler

John Burchette                        Steward

T. J. Stewart                            Steward

The treasurer was ordered to pay $1.50 for cloth and expenses to have aprons made. On December 9, 1908, the Worshipful Master ordered money to be paid for a charter and officer jewels.

At its first meeting under its newly received charter, the Lodge voted to purchase a seal, treasurer receipts, flags and also for Brother W. S. Osborne to print one hundred applications at the cost of eighty-five cents.