A torn clipping was found that was published on February 26, 1926 of The Warren Sentinel on page 3 with the following:
…ne following interesting clipping was sent to the Sentinel by Mr. Joe L. …rson, taken from his scrip book:
Masonic History of Front Royal
The following letter dated June 8th, 1899 was received from the Grand Secretary of Masons of Virginia by Geo. W. Forsyth, at that time Worshipful Master of Unity Lodge of this town and will be read by the Brethren with interest.
Dear Bro. Forsyth:
In compliance with your request I have made a careful examination of the record of this office in regard to the Masonic Lodges which have existed in Front Royal, and get the following information.
Chester Lodge was chartered December 11th, 1799. The record as found in the Grand Lodge Proceedings of that year is as follows: A petition having been presented, signed by John Hickman, William Reynolds and Moses Payne, residents in or near the town of Front Royal, in the county of Frederick, praying for a charter to hold a Lodge in the said town, and the said petition being accompanied by a certificate from the Winchester Lodge No. 12, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and also a recommendation signed by several members of the Grand Lodge:
Resolved, that a charter do issue, to establish a Lodge in the town aforesaid, by the name of Chester Lodge, No. 61, appointing John Hickman, Master; William Reynolds, Senior Warden; and Moses Payne, Junior Warden.
The petition is not in our archives and I am therefore unable to give the names of the other signers. The officers reported to the Grand Lodge of 1800 were; John Hickman, Master, William Reynolds, Senior Warden; Moses Payne, Junior Warden; Abner Pollard, Secretary; Original Wroe, Treasurer; Edmund Newman, Senior Deacon; Samuel Turner, Junior Deacon; Robert Simpson, TIler. This Lodge made its last return to the Grand Lodge in 1804 and became “dormant” in 1809. It was never revived. Front Royal Lodge No. 102 was chartered December 10th, 1816. The Record is as follows:
“A dispensation having been issued, signed by the Deputy Grand Master, to authorize the opening of a Lodge at Front Royal, in the name of Front ROyal Lodge, county of Frederick, by the appointing Cyrus B. Baldwin, Master; James B. Rice, Senior Warden and Henry Van Meter Junior Warden; dated February 14, 1816; and the said dispensation being returned, accompanied by the other necessary documents or mothion.
Resolved that a charter do issue for the permanent establishment of said Lodge. No. 102 appointing the …me … ther … af …who … dispen… signers of the … n for the dispensation were Cyrus W. Baldwin, James B. Rice, Henry Van Meter, Thomas Hatcher, John Latham, P. Sensoney, William Monroe, G. Tutt. Isaac Overall, James Hill, William Wroe, and one other whose name I cannot decipher. The officers reported to the Grand Lodge of 1817 were, Cyrus W. Baldwin, Master, Wm. M. Robertson, Senior Warden, and Wm. B. Brown, Junior Warden.
I am unable to give you the other officers, as the names of the stationed officers only appear in the printed proceedings of that year, and the original returns are not in our archives. This Lodge became “dormant” in 1826, and was revived by the Grand Lodge, December 15th 1840.
The record is as follows:
“A petition was received …m sundry Brethren resid… Warren County, pray… the revival of Front … No. 102, and … the petition be… with the … of Wor. … ton, D. … t No. … ic …
Resolved That …harter do issue for the …val of said Lodge appo….g Wm. R. Ashby, Master; Wm. V. Henry, Senior Warden, and Morgan Johnson, Junior Warden. A name, title and designation aforesaid, upon the payment of twenty dollars in full of all dues to this Grand Lodge inclusive, and the Grand Secretary’s fee.” The petition referred to is not in our archives. Front Royal Lodge, No. 102, made its last return to the Grand Lodge in 1852, and became extinct in 1857. It was never revived.
There was no Lodge in Front Royal from 1857 to December 13th, 1870, when Unity Lodge, No. 146 was chartered, and no Lodge except those above mentioned ever met there.
I hope this is just the information you want, but if I can help you further in the matter I shall be glad to do so.
Truly and fraternally yours,
Geo. W. Carrington,
Grand Secretary.
Richmond, Va.
February 26, 1926
| Newspaper | Warren Sentinel |
| Published | February 26, 1926 |
| Volume | 57 |
| Number | 48 |
| Article | Masonic History of Front ROyal |
| Page | 3 |
Unity Lodge No. 146 
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