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Staunton River
Lodge No. 155, A.F.&A.M.
Brookneal, Virginia
HISTORY 1856 -1988
The Lodge was Chartered December 10, 1856. The petitioners were from Laurel Lodge No. 112, Red House (now extinct). There were twenty-three Charter members. The Charter Master was John W. Poindexter, Charles Walker, Charter Senior Warden and William E. Smith, Charter Junior Warden.
The first two years of minutes of the Lodge proceedings were apparently destroyed by fire in 1858 when the Lodge burned. There is no other explanation mentioned in later records. Most of the minute books since 1858 are in two safe deposit boxes in Central Fidelity Bank, Brookneal. The first actual records in possession of the Lodge record the Communication on Friday, October 15, 1858 and list fourteen Master Masons present. A committee had purchased new jewels for the Lodge and presented them for inspection. On motion, the report was received and the bill amounting to $ 33.17 was ordered paid. The secretary reported that he had obtained a new charter and it was handed to the Master. At this same Communication a committee reported that the building of the Lodge room was completed as far as contracted for and in accordance with the contract and recommended that the Lodge receive the house, which was adopted.
The Lodge continued on through the trying years of the War Between the States, gaining in strength of members, however; we find many pro tems for the officers during these years. The records reveal that two members paid the supreme sacrifice, brothers Charles Scott and Matthew W. Puckett, who fell while nobly battling for their country's rights.
Twice in March 1865, two brethren were initiated, passed and raised all in one evening. In 1868 at one of the communications, the Worshipful Master and Secretary paid fines of .25 cents each for spitting on the floor. As an outcome of these disgraceful episodes one dozen stone spit boxes were ordered purchased.
The Lodge downstairs fellowship hall has been the home of many and varied organizations, such as privileges granted to ministers of the Gospel to hold Sunday religious services, the Woodmen of the World, and the Odd Fellows and school masters have used it for their meeting places. The lower floor has also been used for general merchandise store and a teen-age center. The Boy Scouts have used the room on several occasions.
Staunton River Lodge on two occasions in its first 100 years summoned the members to discuss whether to relinquish or retain their charter. It has been even considered by one Master in recent years.
Rt. Wor. B. F. Ginther, Sr. stands out as one of Brookneal's most prominent citizens. He was publisher of the Brookneal weekly newspaper, the "Union Star". He served as an officer in the Lodge for thirty-two consecutive years and served as Secretary for twenty-four consecutive years.
In the annual report to Grand Lodge in 1906 there were reported 17 members. In 1916, 42 members. In 1926, 78 members. In 1936, 66 members. In 1946, 76 members and in 1956 96 members. 1956 was probably the highest number of members the Lodge ever had. We closed 1988 with 40 members.
Officers for 1988 - Master - Leon A. Cook, Senior Warden - Norvell F. Vandegrift, Junior Warden - Carl T. Clark, and Treasurer -William P. Guthrie, Secretary - B. Glenn Shutt. Jr. Senior Deacon - Thomas J. Saunders, Junior Deacon - Gregory Bellinger, Chaplain - W. S. Wallace and Tiler - Bailey J. Monroe.
Most Worshipful Archer B. Gay was the first Grand Master to ever make an official visit to Staunton River Lodge in 1957.
The Lodge has three Past Grand Masters as honorary members. They are MW William T. Watkins, MW William Conway Vaughan and MW G. Hunter Jones, Jr.