THE SCOTTISH RITE HAS BEEN A FORCE IN VIRGINIA SINCE 1824

In the Scottish Rite, each state constitutes an “Orient,” and each city with a Scottish Rite Temple is known as a “Valley,” or separate Scottish Rite organization consisting of four “Bodies” – “The Lodge of Perfection,” which confers the “Ineffable Degrees” (4th through 14th), the “Chapter of Rose Croix” which confers the “Historical and Religious Degrees” (15th through 19th); the “Council of Kadosh” which confers the “Chivalric and Philosophical Degrees” (19th through 30th); and the “Consistory”, which confers the “Official and Ceremonial Degrees” (31st and 32nd). After experiencing all of these Degrees, one becomes a Scottish Rite Mason, or Master of the Royal Secret.

This grand order is more than merely a fraternity of good men engaged in benevolent practices of friendship and relief. In Virginia, it is a particularly aggressive and active order, a modern knighthood, and as such is devoted to the cause of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. To establish righteousness and ordain mercy, to protect the weak and combat all dogmas or doctrines that would imprison the human spirit. This is the mission of Scottish Rite Masonry.

Scottish Rite seeks to refine within the hearts of men, personal morality and the sentiments of tolerance and fraternity. What has been said in this mission statement is quite vividly portrayed in the conferral of its several Degrees, and the Scottish Rite Mason has devoted his efforts to making the spirit of Masonry prevalent in today’s society.

The Beginning

May 31, 1801, the first Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree, the Mother Council of the World, declared its existence with a motto of “Ordo ab Chao” (Order from Chaos). It announced a new 30-degree system of higher degrees that incorporated all 25 of the Order of the Royal Secret, and added eight more, including that of the 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General. This new organization declared control of higher-degree Masonry in America.

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was introduced into Virginia shortly after the organization of the Mother Supreme Council, at Charleston, S.C. in 1801.  The various degrees composing the Rite were communicated to several prominent Masons in Virginia from time to time, but it was not until the year 1824 that the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., gave a formal charter to a Virginia body. John Dove, writing about this event, says:

In 1761, being desirous to diffuse the teachings of this ritual, he (Frederick the Great) summoned a meeting of the Princes of the Royal Secret (thirty-second degree) at Paris, then commissioned Bro. Stephen Morin, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the West Indies, and vested in him authority to appoint one for the North and one for the South of the United States and imparting under his right the power to establish two Consistories.

Accordingly, Morin, on his arrival in St. Domingo, appointed Bro. M. M. Hayes, Deputy Inspector General of North America, with power to appoint others. Bro. Hayes appointed Bro. Isaac Da Costa, Deputy Inspector General for the Southern part of the United States, and proceeded to Boston, where he took that office for the Northern Jurisdiction. Da Costa arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, where, in 1783, he opened a Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection, but shortly afterward died. Bro. Hayes then appointed Bro. Joseph Myers the successor of Da Costa, who quickly traveled as far as Richmond, Virginia settled there in business, and imparted all or as many of these degrees of the Rite Ecossais to such Master Masons as he deemed worthy. In this manner, detached degrees of the Rite Ecossais, were spread through the Southern States. 1

Dove adds this comment a few pages farther on in his discussion:

 Bro. Mackey, in his "Miscellany (vol. 2, p. 2) enumerates the thirty-three degrees of which the Scotch Rite is composed, but neither the Royal Arch, Holy Royal Arch, Select Master, nor Royal Master are found among them; yet Bro. Joseph Myers, while in Virginia, taught and practiced these degrees apparently by virtue of his power as Sovereign Grand Inspector General, and in this way assured that those degrees gained circulation throughout the Southern States. 2

The Grand Consistory of Virginia

It was most likely the presence of a number of brethren in Lynchburg, who had already received the degrees in this manner, which led them to petition for the right to organize a formal body in order to confer the degrees of the Scottish Rite in Virginia. 3

Their request was granted, and, on November 16, 1824, the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A, chartered the Grand Consistory of Virginia, with its seat at Lynchburg. 4 The leader in the movement to establish the Scottish Rite in Lynchburg and in the State at large was James Penn, who, in some circles has been designated as the “father of Scottish Rite Masonry in Virginia.” His career was such an unusual and distinguished one that extracts from Judge Lobingier’s sketch of him are given below: 5

James Penn was born in Amherst County, Virginia, on September 22, 1794, and may have been related to John Penn, born in Caroline County, Virginia in 1741, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Engaging first in mercantile business James studied law, and in 1825 located in Madison County, Alabama, which he represented in the state Legislature, serving three years as speaker of the lower house. He then became a banker at Huntsville and in 1845 at Memphis, Tennessee. Stricken with paralysis in 1861, he lingered as an invalid for almost a decade, passing finally on July 21, 1870.

Brother Penn was made a Mason as early as 1817 in Marshall Lodge No. 39 of Lynchburg, Virginia, and later was its Master for several years and District Deputy Grand Master in 1820 and 1821.  Exalted in Richmond Chapter No. 3, R.A.M., in 1819, Brother Penn soon became a member of Euclid Chapter No. 15, at Danville, Virginia and in 1819 was Grand High Priest of Virginia Royal Arch Masons.

Brother Penn appears to have received the Scottish Rite Degrees, Fourth-to-Thirty-second, as well as the Cryptic Degrees, from James Cushman, a Deputy of the Supreme Council, and the time must have been antedated November 16, 1824, because on that date, he was named as one of the charter members of the Virginia Grand Consistory at Lynchburg. While admitted as an Active Member of the Supreme Council in 1859 he did not really take his seat (being excused from the session of 1860) until 1861 when he was appointed Grand Standard Bearer and later in the same session elected Lieutenant Grand Commander. He was present in 1862 or 1865 and in 1866 he resigned both office and membership and was transferred to the Emeriti List and voted a pension of one hundred and fifty dollars as part of the annuity raised by the Memphis Masons.

The Virginia Grand Consistory, however, remained active for less than a score of years, but was revived by the Supreme Council on May 19, 1845. 6 Yet no great progress was made in the dissemination of the Rite during the ensuing three decades. The War Between the States also intervened, and it was not until after 1870 that the Virginia Consistory showed signs of enlarged activity. During this period (1845-1870), the mainstay of Scottish Rite Masonry in Virginia was John Robin McDaniel, who was for thirty-one years an active member of the Supreme Council. He likewise presided over all of Virginia’s Grand Bodies. Judge Lobingier writes of him: 7

John Robin McDaniel was born at Lynchburg, Virginia, July 9, 1807. With but a very limited education he attained marked success in business, becoming president of a savings bank, an insurance company and a railroad company, besides serving as member of the Lynchburg City Council for fifteen years and presiding for a decade over the local college board of trustees. He lost heavily as a result of the Civil War.

 Brother McDaniel received the Symbolic Degrees in 1843 in Marshall Lodge No. 39 at Lynchburg, of which he was Master most of the time for the quarter-century preceding 1873 and was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in 1861. He also received the Capitular Degrees in 1843 in Eureka Chapter No. 10, R.A.M., and was High Priest of it most of the time from 1844 to 1868, meanwhile serving as Grand High Priest in 1853. He was Knighted in DeMolay Commandery No. 4, K. T., in 1844, was its Eminent Commander from 1850 to 1878, and Grand Commander in 1869. He received the Scottish Rite Degrees in Virginia Consistory on May 19, 1845, and the following year was elected its Commander-in-Chief. He was made an active Member in 1847, and in 1870 was elected Lieutenant Grand Commander. He died in Washington, on May 14, 1878, just after the close of the Supreme Council session.

The revival of 1878

In 1878, McDaniel’s report to the Supreme Council contained a résumé of the facts concerning the early years of the Rite in Virginia. In the same year Libertas Lodge of Perfection No. 5, in Richmond, was chartered by the Grand Consistory of Virginia.

 The following extracts from Brother McDaniel’s report are of interest: It is with much regret I have to state, Virginia, in common with most if not all the Southern States, is still laboring under financial embarrassments, tending much to retard the progress of Masonry generally, but particularly the propagation of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. It is gratifying, however, to see that wherever it obtains a foothold, and has been worked, it is highly appreciated, and its beauties and influences acknowledge, because it gives to greater extent true Masonic information, much of which is not attainable elsewhere.

On November 16, 1824, the Supreme Council chartered the Grand Consistory of Virginia at Lynchburg, in the names of James Penn, Benj. F. Owen, M.D., George W. Woodson, William Diggs and F. F. Bowers. On January 16, 1825, Ill. Bro. John Baker, 33°, Deputy Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Supreme Council at Charleston, conferred or communicated all the degrees from the 4th to the 14th on the following brethren: Joshua R. Holmes, Thomas McKenney, Samuel Garland, R. H. Gray, Howell Davis, M.D., and Rev. F. G. Smith.

The Rituals were all in manuscript, not very legibly written, and being a bad translation from the French, did not excite much interest. No other meeting occurred until May 12, 1845, when R. H. Gray, Howell Davis, M.D., and Thomas McKinney, under authority of the aforementioned charter, held a meeting in the Masonic Hall at Lynchburg and communicated the several degrees from 4° through the 32°, on several brethren.

The Grand Consistory of Virginia now has of its obedience three Lodges of Perfection, a Chapter of Rose Croix, a Council of Kadosh, and there is a well-founded hope during the year 1878 to add three other Lodges of Perfection, another Chapter of Rose Croix, and another Council of Kadosh; and, in 1879, a Particular Consistory, if it be the pleasure of the Supreme Council, to authorize the establishment of the same.

There are now some evidences of success, the result of efforts to establish the Rite on a firm basis, in Richmond, Petersburg, Portsmouth, Fredericksburg, Alexandria, Front Royal, Charlottesville, and Danville. Through the efficient services and hearty cooperation of Ill. Bro. John L. Roper, 33°, the Rite was, in 1874, first established in Norfolk, Virginia. Grand Commander Albert Pike, in his allocution for 1878, made this comment on the Virginia situation:

 In Virginia, like results have been achieved by the untiring zeal of our venerable brother, the Lieutenant Grand Commander, and the energy and ability of our Brother Roper. The Lodge of Perfection at Norfolk is in a flourishing condition; one that gives promise of good works has been established at Deep Creek, and it is quite certain that others will be established at several places in the state. It should be stated that a Lodge of Perfection had been established in Lynchburg in 1869, and this, together with the Lodges at Norfolk and Deep Creek, constituted the three Lodges of Perfection, to which McDaniel referred in his report quoted above. The Lodge of Perfection located in Deep Creek, County of Norfolk, was called the Albert G. Mackey Lodge of Perfection and was established around February 1877. 8

The transactions of the Supreme Council for 1878 indicate that the Grand Consistory of Virginia reported two initiates for the year, with a total membership of 35 and total receipts of $55. Beginning with the establishment of a Lodge of Perfection in Richmond in 1878, however, the center of Scottish Rite influence shifted in time from Lynchburg to the capital city. John F. Mayer, 33°, and Charles A. Nesbitt, 33°, for many years Inspector General and Deputy of the Supreme Council, respectively, in Virginia, resided in Richmond, and the Richmond Bodies grew gradually, showing the largest membership of any of the Virginia Valleys at the time. Nine years before the establishment of the Lodge of Perfection in Richmond, however, a reference to the local situation is found in the Balustre of the Grand Consistory of Virginia, meeting at Lynchburg on December 27, 1869. The following resolution was adopted at that meeting:

Certain Brother Masons residing in the City of Richmond, and within the jurisdiction of this Grand Consistory, have received from Ill. William S. Rockwell, 33°, S.G.I.G. of the State of Georgia, the Degrees of the A.A.S.R. up to and including the 32°, on certain conditions to us officially unknown, but believed to be conflict with the statutes and institutes of the Supreme Council aforesaid. And whereas a particular Consistory, a Chapter of Rose Croix, and a Lodge of Perfection were said to be established in the city of Richmond, Virginia., without an application to or the knowledge of this Grand Consistory, etc. Accordingly, a committee of the Grand Consistory was appointed to confer with the Richmond brethren concerned.

On January 12, 1870, the committee submitted its report and was discharged. The Grand Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Consistory was instructed to correspond with Grand Commander Pike in reference to the matter, but little else was done until 1878. In that year, it will be recalled, John Robin McDaniel, 33°, S.G.I.G., reported to the Supreme Council on April 15, that the situation in Richmond looked promising for the establishment of a Lodge of Perfection before the end of the year. This prophecy was indeed fulfilled.

On December 18, 1878, the degrees from the 4° through the 14° were communicated to more than 30 Master Masons of Richmond by Grand Commander Albert Pike, assisted by William Morton Ireland, Secretary General of the Supreme Council. No minutes seem to have been kept, unfortunately, either of this meeting or of those which immediately preceded it. The first recorded minutes are dated December 30, 1878. John L. Roper Lodge of Perfection No. 5 was instituted on December 20, two days after Brothers Pike and Ireland had invested the brethren with the degrees as mentioned above. St. Albans Hall, which was the Masonic Center of Richmond in those days, was also the scene of the early Scottish Rite activities in that city, though, on January 5, 1879, it was voted by the Lodge of Perfection to move to the Masonic Hall, home of Richmond Randolph Lodge No. 19, A.F. & A.M., and of Richmond Royal Arch Chapter No. 3.

A time of controversy among the Brethren

 About 1882, the Grand Consistory of Virginia seems to have discontinued its work and from that time, the administration of the Scottish Rite in Virginia has been directly under the supervision of the Supreme Council, acting through its Sovereign Grand Inspector General or the Deputy of the Supreme Council. During the same period the activities of the Cerneau Rite in Virginia were at their height.

Named after Joseph Cerneau (1763–1845), “Cerneauism” was a rival and generally deemed an illegitimate form of Scottish Rite Masonry that challenged the SJ and NMJ during most of the 1800s. Cerneau, a Frenchman and resident of Havana, Cuba, was a jeweler and Secretary of a Pennsylvania Lodge, La Temple des Virtus Theogalis. In 1806 he was appointed Inspector of the 25-degree Order of the Royal Secret (Rite of Perfection), with absolute authority to create one new 25° Mason each year in Cuba. His patent is in the archives of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J. Cerneau bodies had been established in Richmond, Bristol, and other Virginia cities, and the ensuing contest between them and the bodies under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council was a long and bitterly fought one. Many of the members of the latter did not consider it a violation of their obligation or allegiance to accept membership also in the Cerneau groups. Hence, it is not surprising that Grand Commander Pike found it necessary to expel certain Virginia Masons from the Richmond Bodies in 1883, and at the same time he “black-listed” a number of Master Masons (not members of the Pike rite) for affiliating with the Cerneau bodies. The Grand Commander took similar action in other Virginia localities as well.

In 1884, Pelican Chapter of Rose Croix No. 2 was chartered, and the St. Omar Council, Knights Kadosh No. 1, followed in 1889, both being located in Richmond. In the latter year the total membership of the Richmond bodies was but 31, while that of other Virginia bodies was correspondingly small. Dalcho Consistory No. 1 was chartered in Richmond in 1890 and, in the same year, the name of the Lodge of Perfection was changed from “John L. Roper” to “Libertas.” The next ten years constituted a “lean” period for the Virginia bodies. Albert Pike died in 1891, and his passing affected the Rite adversely in almost every State under the jurisdiction of the Southern Supreme Council. John F. Mayer, S.G.I.G., Charles A. Nesbitt (Mayer’s Deputy), James M. Clift (all 33° Masons), and other devoted members throughout Virginia had a vision of the future, however, and continued their efforts for the success of the Scottish Rite bodies.

The Rite moves forward

The Supreme Council meeting in 1911, issued the charters, dated October 16, 1911 to the Valley of Alexandria for the formation of: Washington Memorial Lodge of Perfection, Randolph Chapter Knights Rose Croix No. 3, Lafayette Preceptory of Knights of Kadosh No. 2 and Virginia Consistory No. 2.

 In 1912, the Valley of Newport News became the 7th active Valley in the Orient of Virginia. Their first meeting place was the Masonic Hall, 2701-04 Washington Avenue in Newport News. In 1923, the Lodge of Perfection moved to the Masonic Temple, Washington Avenue and 33rd Street, and held the first regular meeting there in February. The Charter was issued for the Newport News Chapter of Rose Croix on October 26, 1923. In July 1976 the Newport News Bodies moved to the Masonic Temple on West Queen Street, Hampton, until the completion of their current Temple in 1987.

Richmond was the first city in Virginia to have a Scottish Rite temple, the result of planning and efforts lasting more than twenty years. It was occupied for the first time in 1921, being dedicated by Grand Commander George Fleming Moore. The Alexandria bodies have owned for some years a building used for a Scottish Rite club, but no other Virginia Locality possessed quarters owned exclusively by the members of the Rite.

On the death of John F. Mayer in 1919, Robert S. Crump, 33°, was appointed Deputy of the Supreme Council in Virginia. In 1921, he was elected an Active Member of the Supreme Council and Sovereign Grand Inspector General. He passed away in 1949. The fifteen years preceding 1936 was an era of great progress for the Scottish Rite in Virginia, and in 1928 the Richmond Scottish Rite Masons celebrated the golden jubilee of their Lodge of Perfection. Charles A. Nesbitt, 33°, Grand Cross, a member of the original group which received the charter in 1878, was the guest of honor on that occasion.  Scottish Rite Masonry was organized in Danville, Virginia in April 1923 when 36 Scottish Rite Brethren signed an application for Letters Temporary requesting the formulation of the Danville Scottish Rite Bodies. This application was presented to Illustrious Robert Shields Crump, 33º, Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Virginia by Brothers J. Edward Wagner of Danville and C. Fisk White of Greensboro, North Carolina and was subsequently approved on May 7, 1923.

According to available records the first instance of the Council of Kadosh and Consistory Degrees being conferred in Danville was April 27, 1927. These Degrees were conferred by teams from the Richmond, Virginia Bodies under special dispensation issued by Robert S. Crump, S.G.I.G. in Virginia at that time. The Council of Kadosh and Consistory were chartered in Danville on October 22, 1929.

During 1929, the Valley of Alexandria approved its first set of comprehensive bylaws. The Fall Reunion, held Oct. 15-18, was the first conferral of Masonic degrees by any group in the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. The meetings of the Danville Bodies were held in the Blue Lodge room of the Masonic Temple in Danville. Eventually the Scottish Rite auditorium was built on the 11th floor of the Masonic Temple. A Dedication Ceremony for the new auditorium was held on October 4, 1947, with Mt. Wor. Harold Stephenson delivering the keynote address. This coincided with the opening session of what was then known as the Scottish Rite Council of Virginia, which was meeting in Danville for the first time.

In 1949, Robert Shields Crump, 33°, died and Robert South Barrett, 33° (1942 Grand Master of Masons in Virginia) was appointed Deputy of the Supreme Council in Virginia. At the following Biennial Reunion, he was made an Active Member of the Supreme Council and S.G.I.G. of the Supreme Council in Virginia. The Valley of Newport News received their Charters for the Council of Kadosh and Consistory on October 22nd. Seeing this and predicated upon the large ratio of Portsmouth Brethren that were members of the Norfolk Scottish Rite and realizing the leadership and enthusiasm that existed among these members, the idea of forming the Rite in Portsmouth had been seriously considered for some time and on November 17, 1953, fourteen of these leaders met and planned to obtain the necessary signatures requesting Scottish Rite Bodies in Portsmouth.

Within three weeks 593 Portsmouth Brethren were signed up. Thirty more than were already members of the Norfolk Bodies. Fifty-nine signatures were obtained in the neighboring counties. The next month, December 19, 1953, the four Bodies were organized. The request for Letters Temporary, containing 652 signatures, was forwarded to Ill. Robert S. Barrett, 33° Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Virginia on December 28, 1953.

In deference to his vision, devotion to Masonry in all forms, and his untiring efforts in this present endeavor, Ill. Clifford V. Schooler, 33° IGH, was elected to head the four Bodies. Ill. Rudolph R. Cooke, 33°, IGH, was elected Secretary-Registrar and Brother Frank Raymond DeGraw, 32°, KCCH, Treasurer. Ill. William L. Sterling, 33°, was appointed Director of Work. The first Stated Meeting authorized under Letters Temporary was held February 12, 1954. The four Bodies were chartered on October 20, 1955. The charters were presented on March 5, 1956 by Ill. Charles E. Webber, 33°, the Deputy to the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Virginia. Robert South Barrett, 33°, died in 1959 and Charles E. “Ted” Webber, 33° (1948 Grand Master of Masons in Virginia) was appointed Deputy of the Supreme Council in Virginia and was subsequently made an active member of the Supreme Council and S.G.I.G. in Virginia in 1961.

Also in 1959, the Supreme Council requested that the Valley of Norfolk change the names of their bodies from McDaniel Lodge of Perfection, Frederick Webber Chapter of Rose Croix, John Moncure Council of Kadosh and Auld Consistory to Norfolk Lodge of Perfection, Norfolk Chapter of Rose Croix, Norfolk Council of Kadosh, and Norfolk Consistory.

In 1961, at the request of the SGIG and the Supreme Council, the names of all fours bodies of the Valley of Alexandria were changed to Alexandria Lodge of Perfection, Alexandria Chapter of Rose Croix, Alexandria Council Knights Kadosh and Alexandria Consistory. The same request was made to the Valley of Richmond which had their names changed from Libertas Lodge of Perfection, Pelican Chapter of Rose Croix, St. Omar Council of Kadosh and Dalcho Consistory to Richmond Lodge of Perfection, Richmond Chapter of Rose Croix, Richmond Council of Kadosh and Richmond Consistory. Finally, the Valley of Newport News was requested to change the name of their Veritas Lodge of Perfection to the Newport News Lodge of Perfection.

On June 24, 1969, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Valley of Alexandria Temple which was to be built on West Braddock Road. On September 27, the cornerstone was laid. Henry Knox Field Lodge was the host lodge with Ill. Charles E. “Ted” Webber, 33° S.G.I.G. in Virginia, serving as Worshipful Master Pro Tem. George Washington’s silver trowel was once again brought into service during this ceremony. Most Worshipful H. Bruce Green, a Valley member, gave an inspiring address.

In 1981, Charles E. “Ted” Webber, 33°, became an Emeritus Member of the Supreme Council and L. Douglas Delano, 33° (1976 Grand Master of Masons in Virginia) was appointed as the Deputy of the Supreme Council in Virginia. He held this office for only two years, because in 1983, David Kruger, 33°, was appointed as the Deputy of the Supreme Council in Virginia. In 1985, David Kruger, 33°, was made an Active Member of the Supreme Council and S.G.I.G of the Supreme Council in Virginia. In honor of “Ted” Webber, 33°, the Valley of Roanoke named their Temple after him.

The Ground-breaking Ceremony for the Valley of Newport News’ Temple took place on November 30, 1985, and the Cornerstone was laid by Most Worshipful Oscar Wood Tate, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, on January 10, 1987. The first meeting in their new Temple was the stated meeting on April 22, 1987. It was finally dedicated on November 14, 1987. In an innovative move during 1998, the Valley of Danville decided to take Scottish Rite "on the road" during the months of July and August when no Stated meetings are held in accordance with their by-laws. These meetings were held in locations, which are distant from Danville in order to allow their members in these areas to fellowship with Officers of the Lodge of Perfection without having to travel to Danville.

The Richmond Valley's principle charity is the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center at Richmond, co-located on the Valley's campus on Hermitage Road in Richmond. Incorporated in 1989, the Center was completed in 1991. Since its inception, the Childhood Language Center has helped well over 10,500 children with speech and language disorders.  Through this Center, the Scottish Rite has helped children process auditory information which has helped them speak and understand the spoken word.

During the 1999 Masonic year, The Orient of Virginia participated in a Statewide Spring Reunion named in memory of Valley of Alexandria member, Ill. Charles A. Sinclair, 33°. This reunion was the first conferral in the Southern Jurisdiction of the five obligatory degrees using the Revised Pike scripts. The Valleys of Portsmouth, Norfolk, Roanoke, Richmond and Alexandria were the Valleys honored to confer the degrees.

The Danville Scottish Rite Bodies along with Roman Eagle Lodge No. 122, Morotock Lodge No. 210, and the other Appendant Bodies of Masonry in Danville have entered into a joint venture with the purchase of the former Post Office facility off West Main Street in Danville near Ballou Park. The high cost of maintaining the Masonic Temple, the lack of interested tenants for the rental space in the building not used by the Masonic Bodies and several other factors contributed to this move.

© 2016 Valley of Richmond Scottish Rite Bodies

Researched and prepared by Douglas M. Messimer, 32°, Valley of Richmond, in part from the following sources with some edits courtesy of Ill. David A. Burkus, 33°, IGH:

1  John Dove, Royal Arch Text Book, Richmond, 1853, pp. 90 and 91.

2  Dove, op. cit., p. 83.

3  This and much of the following information is from the writings of R∴W∴ Robert D. Ford, 33°, at the time, Grand Senior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Virginia and Secretary of the Richmond Scottish Rite bodies.

4  The Supreme Council, 33°, A. & A. S. R., Southern Jurisdiction, U. S. A., Washington, 1931, p. 140. 5 The Supreme Council, 33°, A. & A. S. R., Southern Jurisdiction, pp. 195, 196.

6 The Supreme Council, 33°, A. & A. S. R., Southern Jurisdiction, pp. 171, 434, 437.

7 Ibidem, pp. 176, 177.

8  William L. Fox, Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle – Two Centuries of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in America’s Southern Jurisdiction, 1997, p. 100.

9  Richmond Lodge of Perfection minutes, 1878-2000.

Photos with credit to Wikipedia and the City of Richmond archives.