Grand Lodge of Virginia
Encyclopedia
The Grand Lodge of Virginia, formally known as "The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M., of the Commonwealth of Virginia", is the oldest independent Grand Lodge of Freemasonry
established in the United States
.
The plans for the creation of the Grand Lodge took root in a convention held on May 6, 1777. The Grand Lodge was formally constituted on October 30, 1778, with its headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia
. The Grand Lodge relocated to Richmond, Virginia
in 1784, where it remains to this day.
The Grand Lodge of Virginia was formed by the union of nine chartered Lodges: Norfolk, at Norfolk
; Port Royal in Caroline County
; Blandford at Petersburg
; Fredericksburg at Fredericksburg
; Saint Tammany at Hampton
; Williamsburg at Williamsburg
; Botetourt at Gloucester Courthouse
; Cabin Point in Prince George County
and Yorktown at Yorktown
. Three other Virginia Lodges in the colonial era chose not to participate in the Grand Lodge’s establishment.
George Washington
was invited to be the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, but he was unable to accept the honor due to his military duties in the war for American independence
.
Today, the Grand Lodge represents more than 300 Lodges throughout Virginia, with more than 39,000 total members.
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
established in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The plans for the creation of the Grand Lodge took root in a convention held on May 6, 1777. The Grand Lodge was formally constituted on October 30, 1778, with its headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
. The Grand Lodge relocated to Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
in 1784, where it remains to this day.
The Grand Lodge of Virginia was formed by the union of nine chartered Lodges: Norfolk, at Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
; Port Royal in Caroline County
Caroline County, Virginia
Caroline County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 28,545. Its county seat is Bowling Green. Caroline County is also home to The Meadow stables, the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and...
; Blandford at Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
; Fredericksburg at Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
; Saint Tammany at Hampton
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
; Williamsburg at Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
; Botetourt at Gloucester Courthouse
Gloucester Courthouse, Virginia
Gloucester Courthouse is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Gloucester County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,269 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gloucester Courthouse is located at ....
; Cabin Point in Prince George County
Prince George County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,047 people, 10,159 households, and 8,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 10,726 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
and Yorktown at Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
. Three other Virginia Lodges in the colonial era chose not to participate in the Grand Lodge’s establishment.
George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
was invited to be the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, but he was unable to accept the honor due to his military duties in the war for American independence
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Today, the Grand Lodge represents more than 300 Lodges throughout Virginia, with more than 39,000 total members.