Making good men better
1600 West Main Street, P.O. Box 207
Waynesboro, Virginia, 22980-0154
[email protected]
540 942-1400
Lee Lodge No. 209 A.F. & A.M.
Waynesboro, Virginia
A Brief History
Freemasonry had flourished in Augusta County and Staunton since the days of the American Revolution. In an early attempt to establish a Lodge, Waynesborough Union Lodge No. 103 was chartered in 1817, existed a few years, and was declared dormant by the Grand Lodge of Virginia in 1826.
Waynesboro was fertile ground for its own Masonic Lodge following the American Civil War, with many soldiers returning home and many veterans choosing to remain in the Shenandoah Valley. On January 19, 1867, the first meeting of Lee Lodge No. 209 was held under its new charter, granted by the Grand Lodge of Virginia on December 12, 1866.
This new Lodge in Waynesboro was begun by a group of Masons from Staunton Lodge No. 13 in Staunton, Va. Dr. Samuel Kennerly was elected the first Worshipful Master; Clinton G. Miller, Senior Warden; and Joel S. Wallace, Junior Warden. Worshipful and Dr. Samuel Kennerly, Jr. was made a Master Mason in Staunton on November 27, 1863. He was a resident of the New Hope area and was active in the Staunton Lodge until the organization of Lee Lodge No. 209. He was also active in the Royal Arch Chapter of Staunton, serving as High Priest of Union Royal Arch Chapter No. 2 from 1872 to 1873. Dr. Kennerly was one of the original petitioners to the Grand Commandery for dispensation to establish a Commandery in Staunton in 1869, and served in this organization for many years.
Lee, the name chosen for the Waynesboro Lodge was one of great importance in that period. The Lodge requested and received permission from General Robert E. Lee to use his family name. It was the only time that General Lee gave permission for his name to be used for any such purpose.
There is believed to be a direct connection between the current Lee Lodge No. 209, and the Lee Lodge No. 209 chartered as a traveling Confederate military Lodge in December of 1863 and issued to Wickham’s Brigade, Virginia Cavalry.
The first meeting place of Lee Lodge No. 209 was in the second story of a brick home located at 1011 New Hope Road owned by Charles Hanger. The period of time the Lodge met in this building is unknown. The early deeds only show that the house was called “Mason’s Hall” and that it was never owned by the Lodge. The house, now known as the Arnold House, at the corner of New Hope Road and Ohio Street, still stands and is owned by the City of Waynesboro.
The Lodge moved to North Wayne Avenue and occupied a building known as “The Masonic Hall and Opera House.” The second floor was used by the Lodge and the ground floor was a theater, or place for meetings, which was rented to the general public, usually for a fee of five dollars per meeting.
Very little is known of the early history of the Lodge because of a fire which destroyed all the records. The record of this unfortunate day begins the written history of the Lodge and was recorded by Brother T. W. Alexander, Secretary. The first record states: “At 2 o’clock A.M. on February 23, 1898, the Lodge building was discovered to be on fire, but although heroic work was done by the Waynesboro and Basic fire companies everything belonging to the Lodge was consumed.”
Frequent entries in the Lodge records refer to a time-honored Masonic custom – that of laying cornerstones. Those most worthy of note in which Lee Lodge No. 209 participated were the laying of the cornerstones of the Court House in Staunton on December 27, 1900; the Presbyterian Church on Wayne Avenue in Waynesboro, February 23, 1911; Port Republic Methodist Church, November 10, 1915; the Methodist Church in the village of Fishersville on June 27, 1922; and the Evangelical United Brethren Church on Highland Avenue on November 20, 1948.
Probably the most amusing controversy in which the members as a whole became involved was between the tobacco users and the abstainers of the habit. In November 1922, a heated debate arose as to whether the use of tobacco should be permitted in the Lodge Room. There were more non-smokers present, as a resolution to remove the cuspidors and not to permit smoking was passed. This resolution remained in effect until January 1, 1926, when the smokers and chewers marshaled their forces and gained access to the south side of the room for indulgence of their habit.
Again fire brought hardship to the Lodge when Secretary H. H. Roden wrote: “Our Lodge room and building, No. 209 and 211 Wayne Avenue was destroyed by fire on December 21st and 22nd, 1924. The fire started in the corner building occupied by J. W. Morris operating a restaurant, the fire spread rapidly to adjoining buildings. Fire started about 10:50 P.M., December 21st and burned until about 2 A.M. under the roofs of the building. Our members who were present at the fire removed the furniture and fixtures from the main Lodge Room to a safe distance, they also saved the pictures of Bro. John T. Smith and our deceased Bro. George W. Wright, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. We lost the furniture and fixtures in the dining room and kitchen. We carried $2,200 on building and furniture and fixtures which was paid us by the Insurance Companies.”
This second and most devastating fire destroyed the building beyond repair, and there was no choice but to rebuild. It was decided to rebuild on the same site.
The corner stone was set on May 26, 1925, a happy beginning as the Secretary wrote: “The Master stated the meeting was called for the purpose of laying the cornerstone on our new Lodge building on Wayne Avenue. District Deputy Grand Master of District 19, Brother Harold Gibson of Staunton Lodge No. 13, conducted the ceremonies. Lodge formed line at corner First Street and Walnut Avenue led by the Fishburne Military Cadet Band marched to the new Lodge building No. 209 Wayne Avenue and laid the corner stone on the North East corner of the Lodge room with Masonic rights.”
In 1958 the Lodge added to its property by purchasing the fire house, a building adjacent to and north of the Lodge Hall. The newly purchased property had been owned by the City of Waynesboro and was purchased for the sum of $13,600. The top floor of the new building was made into a new and very attractive Lodge Room. It was somewhat smaller than the Main Lodge Room, but ideal as a meeting place for the appendant bodies and occasionally, the Blue Lodge. This building served the Lodge and appendant bodies for many years.
In 1995, The Lodge moved to its current prominent location at 1600 West Main Street. This beautiful stone building was purchased from the Seventh Day Adventist Church who were seeking larger facilities.
On April 8, 1995, the cornerstone for the new Lodge was laid with Masonic ceremony and honors by the Lee Lodge officers and the Lodge was dedicated the same day by Most Worshipful Thomas Frederick May, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, and the Grand Lodge officers.
Many appendant Masonic bodies currently enjoy meeting at the new location. Waynesboro Union Royal Arch Chapter No. 2; Stevenson Commandery No. 8; Waynesboro Chapter No. 105, Order of the Eastern Star; Valley Council No. 56, Allied Masonic Degrees; and ACCA Shrine Center Hillbilly Unit, all call the Lodge home. Bethel Chapter No. 23, Job’s Daughters, organized in 1951, and the John T. Smith Chapter, Order of DeMolay, organized in 1955, were sponsored by the Lodge but fell to inactivity in the 1970’s and 80’s.
Many are the members who have contributed to the common good of our community in the past century. Waynesboro Freemasons continue to carry on this heritage in their personal lives, their families, their churches, the community and nation as we move into the 21st century and beyond.
Masonry has flourished in Waynesboro. The real story of Lee Lodge is best told not in the story of its meeting halls or in the triumphs of the exceptional few, but in the lives of the hundreds of Brethren who have been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Some were wealthy and prominent, others were strong in character and modest in means, but all were rich in that Brotherhood that serves mankind and enriches the years and souls of the initiated with light sublime.
Information source: http://www.grandlodgeofvirginia.org/lodges/209/history.asp
If you are not a Mason but are interested in becoming one or if you are just looking for information, email the Lodge at [email protected].
