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Should we remember our 421 lost lodges?
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Solomon Lodge in Masonboro was North Carolina’s first Masonic lodge. It was chartered by England in 1735. But after 20 years of activity, it ceased work and became extinct in 1754.
About that time North Carolina’s second lodge, also chartered by England, took form in nearby Wilmington. This time history was truly made. St. John’s 1 is still an active lodge today, setting a record for success and longevity.
There is a cemetery, so to speak, for NC lodges that have passed into eternity. It’s a document called “Historic table of lodges which founded the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, extinct lodges, and lodges created by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina since its organization 1787.”
Like individual Masons, lodges come and go. But there is no indication that Masons try to honor the memory of their lost 421 lodges—a total that exceeds the number of active lodges in the NC Grand Lodge today.
Ponder the fate of thousands of brother Masons who were raised in those 421 now-extinct lodges, whose Masonic life once blossomed there, who developed lifelong friends there, and who had wonderful memories of events there.
It all depends on whether we perceive our lodges as if they were buildings that outlive their usefulness and get torn down. Or whether we treat them like precious brethren who live and breathe, prepare candidates, celebrate veterans and enjoy lodge growth the way we enjoy the growth of our children.
It might be thoughtful if we select one night each year to stand for a moment of silent respect for our 421 lost lodges and all their members. There are too many to recite their names. Here they are, earliest first, from 1754 to today. (Keep in mind many names were used again in later petitions from other locations. We have avoided reporting names more than once).
Solomon, First in Pitt, Blandford-Bute, Dornoch, Royal William, Old Cone, Independence, Rutherford Fellowship, Washington, Saint Tammany, King Solomon, Franklin, Union, Raleigh, Democratic, Laurel Hill, Malta, Hiram, Pansophia, Davie-Glasgow, Columbian, Saint Tammany, Freeland, Shallowford, Unanimity, Beaufort, Saint John’s, Sandy Run, Jerusalem, Friendship, William R. Davie, Rising Sun, Polk, Federal, Williams, Social, Taylor, Young Eagle, Newport, Saint Andrews, Union, Camden, Neuse, Temple, Taylor, John L. Taylor, Eagle, Western Sun, Rising Sun, Blakeley, Golden Fleece, University, Mount Moriah, LaFayette, Line, Enfield, Eastern, Asheville, Clinton, Warren, Star in the East, Shoco, Barton’s Creek, Belmont, Wentworth, Germanton, Palestine, Logan, Fraternal, Conoho, Alamance, Black Rock, Wilson, Marion, Mount Energy, Carolina, Cane Creek, Faith Hope and Charity, Whiteville, Mount Carmel, Rolesville, Mount Pleasant, Rocky River, Beaumont, Emmaus, Mount Airy, Deep River, Saint Pauls, Pleasant Hill, Shallow Ford, George Washington, Pollocksville, Marlboro, Siloam, Caldwell, Townsville, Center Grove, Jordan, Sandy Creek, Pine Forest, Taylorsville, Burnsville, Cape Fear, Mount Olivet, Falkland, Cherokee, High Point, Pisgah, Eagle Rock, Pasquotank, Berea, New Salem, Industrial, Crane’s Creek, New Light, Rockingham, Bethlehem, Jefferson, Stokesburg, J. E. Avery, Zeb B. Vance, Vance Brothers, 3rd NC Cavalry, Chicamauga, J. C. McDowell, Lenoir, Webster, Tabernacle, Country Line, Haw River, Jonesville, McCormick, Gunter, Anchor, Cokesburg, Mount Zion, Atlantic, Nahunta, Oscilla, Loch Lomond, New Bern, Elmwood, Mount Hermon, Shiloh, Rockford, Holly Grove, Mount Bethel, Oaks, Trinity, Center Hill, Coble, Durbin, East Bend, Builder’s, Saint Patrick’s, Manuel Fetter, Colesville, Sapona, Richard Watt York, Flat Creek, Castalia, Blue, Eureka, Richland Creek, Bladen, Belle Voir, Little River, Edgecombe, Evergreen, Patterson, Randolph, Hatcher, Prospect, Notla, Kinston, Monatau, White Hill, Danbury, Falling Creek, Winton, Fayetteville, Black Creek, Kernersville, Goldsboro, Lock’s Creek, Roman Eagle, Ashpole, Good Samaritan, Ionic, Silver Run, Palmyra, Rock Spring, Cedar Fork, Snow Creek, Trap Hill, Mount Mourne, Apex, Mount Moriah, Enfield, Moravian, Euno, Dellaplane, Leasburg, Mayou, Acacia, Iredell, Cumberland, Mill Bridge, Craighead, Jachin, Mount Pisgah, Mars Hill, Olive Branch, Bethel, Life Boat, Shawnee, Statesville, Scottsville, Temperance, White Rock, Tally Ho, Cape Fear, Oxford, Center, Newfoundland, Dobson, Ivy, Wilton, Oak Grove, Bellview, Charleston, Greenwood, Boonville, Yadkin Falls, Hyssop, Eastern Star, Rockyford, Walnut Cove, Clingman, Pleasant Mount, Waxhaw, Roper, Mountain Park, Ingold, Lone Oak, Polenta, Ashler, Grifton, Pineville, Rusk, Grapevine, Blowing Rock, Mill Creek, Boiling Springs, Columbia, Gulf, King Hiram, Healing Springs, Millingport, Sanford, Scotland Neck, Big Lick, Eagle Springs, Four Oaks, Spring Hope, Brasstown, Buggaboo, Lucia, John A. Graves, Buie’s Creek, Lake McGlaughan, Unaka, Roberdell, Lattimore, Caroleen, Barnardsville, Lone Hickory, Sylva, Scotland, Aulander, Shoal Creek, Warsaw, Winterville, Pendleton, Oak Grove, Grassy Branch, Sulphur Springs, Ronda, Wentworth, Mount Pleasant, Orange, Roaring River, Cliffside, Bynum, St. Timothy, Columbia, Biscoe, Summit, Macclesfield, Lilesville, Alexander Turner, David Bell, Evening Star, Colerain, Gulledge Memorial, Roaring Gap, Rockwell, Minneapolis, Oval, Laurel Branch, Vaughan, Dothan, Grand View, Glendon, South River, Fuquay, Sunrise, Castilia, Bonlee, Coats, Mount Pisgah, Woodsdale, Perfection, Seven Springs, Unionville, Bailey, Hollister, Mill Springs, Army Lodge A, Richland, Warren, Ashe, Ellerbe, Victory, Lewiston, Pensacola, Plumtree, Goldston, Harmony, Cameron, Black River, John C. Britton, Fleetwood, Banner Elk, Paw Creek, Bladenboro, Meadow, Aurora, NC Lodge of Research, Ashe, Manteo and Ahoskie.
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Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com
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