Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21 A.F. & A.M. Records

1589 THL

Inventory created by Archives Staff 05/88. Last revised 11/2021.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Collection is open to all researchers.

USE RESTRICTIONS:  Restrictions may apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a member of the archives staff for information concerning these restrictions. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. Note: Permission to make copies or publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21 at the following address: Secretary, Winchester Hiram Lodge, No. 21, P. O. Box 1488, Winchester, Virginia 22604.

EXTENT:  6.18 linear feet

CREATOR: Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21 A.F. & A.M.

DATES: 1768 - 2015

SCOPE AND CONTENT: This collection is comprised of the records of Winchester Lodge No. 12, A.Y.M. ("Antient York Masons") of 1768 to 1807 and Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21 A.F. & A.M. of 1810 to 2000. These records contain charters, bylaws, account ledgers, reports, obituaries, and Masonic sponsored programs and events. Also included are ephemera and an historical sketch of the lodge.

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: Organized Freemasonry did not appear in Winchester until 1768 when a group of Masons residing in Frederick County applied to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. On October 1, 1768, a charter or "warrant," was issued to form Winchester Lodge No. 12, A.Y.M. ("Antient York Masons"). In December 1777 the Winchester Masons ceased meeting because of a lack of attendance but began to meet again in 1785. The Masons established a permanent meetinghouse in 1810. In 1807, Lodge No. 12 surrendered their charter to the Pennsylvania Grand Lodge and received a new charter from the Virginia Grand Lodge to become Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21 A.F. & A.M. This enabled the Winchester Lodge to participate in activities with other Virginia lodges. The Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21 is still active in the community.

CITE AS: Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21 A.F. & A.M. Records, 1589 THL, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA.

ACQUISITION INFORMATION:  Loan.

ORGANIZATION:

BOX 1 Record Books

1768-August 5, 1802—Begins with a copy of the warrant granted by the grand lodge of Philadelphia to the “Town of Winchester in the County of Frederick and Colony of Virginia.” Dated October 1, 1760 and the Year of Masonry 5760. Also included in the 1768 records are the bylaws and a list of members. Included are records of minutes and accounts of other years.

June 24, 1799-March 4, 1822—Account book with one or more names per page. At the end of the ledger is a treasurer’s report signed by Peter Lauck

BOX 2 Record Books

1799-1826—Account book with one name per page. At the front of the ledger is an index of names.

Oct. 3, 1808-Oct. 6, 1828

BOX 3 Record Books

April 6, 1812-Aug. 1, 1814

Nov. 5, 1828-June 12, 1863

Nov. 9, 1836-March 1, 1853

BOX 4 Record Books

March 5, 1853-June 22, 1868

Dec. 12, 1864-June 24, 1865

July 6, 1868-June 1, 1874

Box 5 Record Books

June 23, 1868-April 30, 1877

March 5, 1877-Dec. 13, 1887

Box 6 Record Books

Jan. 10, 1888-May 15, 1900

Aug. 8, 1893-July 31, 1937

Feb. 1, 1895-July 25, 1904

Box 7 Record Books

June 12, 1900-Dec. 14, 1909

Box 8 Record Books

Jan. 11, 1910-Dec. 30, 1920—many posted inserts: some reports and many obituary letters.

1911-1924

Box 9 Record Books

Jan. 11, 1921-Dec. 10, 1929—many posted inserts: reports, obituary, and program for corner stone of First Baptist Church P357

1925-1937

Box 10 Record Books

Jan. 14, 1930-June 30, 1942

1938-1952

Box 11 Record Books

July 13, 1942-March 9, 1954

Dec. 3, 1952-Nov. 26, 1954

Box 12 Record Books

March 30, 1954-Nov. 13, 1962

Nov. 13, 1962-June 16, 1970

Box 13 Record Books

June 30, 1970-Dec. 11, 1979

Jan. 8, 1980-Nov. 24, 1987

Box 14 Record Books

Jan. 12, 1988-Dec. 20, 1994

Jan. 3, 1995-Dec. 19, 2000

BOX 14a Record Books

Jan. 9, 2001 – Jan. 5, 2006

Jan. 10, 2006 – Dec. 18, 2007

Box 15 Record Books

2004 Minutes (large ring binder on shelf)

BOX 15a Record Books

Jan. 8, 2008 – Nov. 24, 2009

May 1, 2009 – Dec. 10, 2011

BOX 15b Record Books

Jan. 10, 2012 – Nov. 12, 2013, Nov. 26, 2008

Dec. 10, 2013 – Dec. 12, 2015

BOX 15c Record Books

Jan. 12, 2016 - Dec. 12, 2017

Box 16 Record Books

Roster-Winchester Hiram Lodge—blank book

Record of Memorials—blank book

Box 17

Jackson Night—March 15, 1940; 1 item, 4 pages, printed

Masons—Founder’s Day History; 12 cards, typescript

Knights Templar - correspondence and booklets, 1951-1958, typescript

Richmond Royal Arch Chapter (folder includes the following):
By-Laws for the Government of Richmond Royal Arch Chapter, No 111, 1860
Digest of Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Forms, 1946, 2 items printed

Masonic District No.14 - correspondence, manuscript (folder includes the following):
Appointment of Washington G. Singleton as District Deputy Grand Master, 1839, 1 page
Petition for Masonic candidate - I. M. Baker, c. 1840, 1 leaf
Petition for Masonic candidate - Moses Hockspringer c. 1840, 1 leaf
Petition to form a lodge in Berryville, 1840, 2 leaves
Letter pertaining to Berryville lodge, 1840, 2 leaves
Letter to W. G. Singleton from George Murphy, 1840, 2 leaves
Letter to W, G, Singleton from William Wigginton - final disposition of Grand Charity Fund, 1842,  2 leaves
Letter to W. G. Singleton from L. Heiskitt regarding expenses for delegate, 1842, 2 leaves
Invitation to public celebration, 1845, 2 leaves
Report of Royal Arch Chapter 12 to Grand Convocation, 1846, 2 leaves
Letter to W. G. Singleton, 1846, 2 leaves
Petition to revive Union Lodge No.66, 1847, 2 leaves
Letter to W. G. Singleton, 1848, 1 leaf
Letter regarding revival of Lodge No.66, 1848, 1 leaf
Circular - rejections, suspensions, expulsions of Masonic members, 1848, 2 leaves
Letter to W. G. Singleton from John Dove, 1848, 2 leaves 
Letter to John Dove from W. G. Singleton, 1848, 2 leaves 
Letter to John Dove from W. G. Singleton, 1848, 3 pages
Letter to W. Barton (?) from W. G. Singleton, 1848, 3 pages
Letter to John Dove from W. G. Singleton, 1848, 2 pages
Receipt for 3 yards of ribbon, 1848, 1 leaf
Letter regarding meetings, 1849, 2 pages
Letter of Masonic activities, 1849, 2 pages
Letter regarding un-Masonic activity, 1849, 2 pages
Letter regarding suspension of charter of Lodge No. 66, 1849, 2 pages

Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21 (folder includes the following):
Correspondence - 1847-1849, manuscript
Booklets - 1820-1952, printed

Winchester Hiram Lodge No.21 (folder includes the following):
Extracts - minutes, 1756-1785, typescript
Bicentennial celebration, October 5, 1968, booklet, printed

Winchester Hiram Lodge 225th anniversary, October 4, 1993, printed booklet, news article

Grand Council correspondence, 1943-1951

Mid-Atlantic Shrine Association—Faith of Our Fathers, “Extension of Remarks of Hon. Harry Flood Byrd of Virginia in the Senate of the United States, Monday 28, 1952. This speech was presented by George E. Stringfellow before the annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Shrine Association, Richmond, Virginia Sept. 29, 1951. Pamphlet, 4 pages, printed

Box 18

Anniversary of Winchester Hiram Lodge No.21, 1 item, printed

Christmas Cards—not delivered, 1950, 1952, 6 items, printed

Corner Stone Laying, 8 items, printed

Listing of 1813 membership – uncovered in 1900 when Market House was torn down, 1 item, printed

Rouss City Hall—May 15, 1900, 5 items

Winchester Memorial Hospital—Nov. 1, 1901, 3 items

Historical Sketch, 1894, 1 item, printed

Masonic Home of Virginia—21^st Annual Report, 1911, 1 item, printed

News Articles—unnumbered, printed (photocopy)

The Virginia Masonic Herald Official Grand Lodge, AF&AM of Virginia, March , 1937, 1 booklet, printed

An Update for Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21, A.F. & A.M. (1979-1992), Freemasonry in Winchester, Virginia, by William Mosely Brown, prepared by Jeffrey G. Burcham, 38 pages, typescript

An Update for John Dove Chapter No. 21, R.A.M. (1979-1992), Freemasonry in Winchester, Virginia, by William Moseley Brown, prepared by Jeffrey G. Burcham, 15 pages, typescript

An Update for Winchester Commandery No 12, K.T. (1979-1992), Freemasonry in Winchester, Virginia, by William Moseley Brown, prepared by Jeffrey G. Burcham, 11 pages, typescript