GEORGE LODGE 32 AF&AM

1791 - April 13: Petition presented to the Grand Lodge of Virginia for a charter "to hold a Lodge in the town of Warminster, and county of Amherst". (This is the first reference to George Lodge in the Grand Lodge records. Warminster is now located in Nelson County. The following facts are worthy of note: First, no dispensation from the Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master preceded the granting of the charter - a written petition direct to Grand Lodge was the only formal preliminary step taken in this instance; second, the petitioning group had not previously worked as a Lodge in the Masonic quarries; third, this particular date happened to be the 48th birthday of Thomas Jefferson, who had been born just 20 miles away on April 12, 1743 and was then in the prime of life.)

1791 - April 14: Charter authorized by Grand Lodge "by the name and designation of the George Lodge No. 32". Immediately following this action, the Deputy Grand Master, John K. Read, presiding in the temporary absence of the Grand Master, installed Isaac Darnell as the Master of the Lodge and presented him with the charter of the Lodge. Thus, George Lodge had the additional distinction, so to speak, of being set to work within the body of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

1791 - 1815: George Lodge located at Warminster and actively at work until about 1815

1816 - 1819: Lodge became dormant for reasons not altogether apparent from surviving records.

1820 - December 12: Grand Lodge, upon the request of the surviving members of George Lodge, authorized them to transfer their labors from Warminster to New Market (later Norwood) in Nelson County. This was accomplished early the year following.

1820 - 1823: Lodge continued its activities at New Market but with only moderate success. It became again dormant in 1823 and was later declared extinct by Grand Lodge.

1822 - 1824: Charles Yancey, only member of George Lodge ever to serve in that office (honorary members excepted), was Grand Master of Masons in Virginia.

1823 - 1846: Lodge extinct, but its number (32) was never reassigned during these 23 years. Hence, George Lodge is the only Lodge which has ever held this number in the annals of the Grand Lodge of Virginia.

1846: Lodge received its second charter and authorized by Grand Lodge to move from Norwood, Nelson County to Howardsville, Albemarle County (December 15th). The Grand Master at that time was Sidney S. Baxter. Its first meeting was held in the hall, which is still standing and which has been its home for more than a century.

1861 - 1865: Period of the War Between the States. In spite of Sheridan's raid through the James River Valley the Lodge hall does not seem to have been damaged and meetings were held relatively regularly during those four years. Dues for members serving in the Confederate forces during this period were remitted.

1902 - 1903: Agitation for the removal of the Lodge to Schuyler. Matter finally resolved by recommending certain of the Schuyler Brethren for a new Lodge, while George Lodge voted to remain at Howardsville.

1917 - 1918: World War I. Six of the present members of the Lodge served in that conflict.

1930: The first record of the now famous "watermelon feasts", which are an annual occurance, is to be found in the minutes of September 6th of this year.

1937: Jordan B. Wells and William Mosely Brown elected to honorary membership on February 20th.

1941 - 1945: World War II. Seven of the Lodge's members served in the armed forces during this period.

1947: Harold R. Stephenson elected to honorary membership on August 30th.

1950: Publication of the first authentic history of George Lodge in book form.