Kingston Masonic Lodge #315

 

MASONRY IN MADISON

This article was taken from “The Richmond Daily Register” dated December 1, 1967

Masonry came into Kentucky with the first settlers and the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, F.&A.M., was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of Virginia shortly after 1800.

Twenty four  (24) lodges had been chartered by the summer of 1812 with the Grand Lodge having an office in Lexington.  On August 27th of that year nine men from Richmond petitioned for a Charter U.D. ( Under Dispensation ).  The request was granted, naming Dr. Anthony W. Rollins, Master, Thomas C. Howard, Senior Warden, and David Christopher Irvine, Junior Warden.  A year later the lodge was fully chartered and Howard was installed as Master.

A series of other lodges were then formed in Madison County;  Irvine Lodge # 69, chartered 1821, first Master, John Tribble;  Madison Lodge # 183, chartered 1840, first Master, Allen R. Patterson;  Moss Lodge # 254, chartered 1853, first Master, John Kinnard;  Kingston Lodge # 315, chartered 1855, first Master, John W. Parks;  Waco Lodge # 338, chartered 1856, first Master, General Green Clay Smith;  Daniel Boone Lodge # 454, chartered 1867, first Master, Ben T. Gentry;  J.D. Hamilton Lodge # 578, chartered 1867, first Master, Webber H. Sale;  Berea Lodge # 617, chartered 1882, first Master, N. D. Wilmot;  Pilot Knob Lodge # 779, chartered 1906, first Master, Thomas J. McKeehan;  Valley View Lodge # 792, chartered 1906, first Master, John W. Moore.

Only Richmond # 25, Madison # 183, Kingston # 315, Waco # 338, and Berea # 617 still exist.

Richmond Chapter Royal Arch Masons was chartered in 1865 and Richmond Council # 71 was chartered in 1908.  Berea Council # 95 was chartered in 1926 and was consolidated with Richmond Council in 1941.  Richmond Commandery # 19, Knights Templar, was chartered in 1875.

Madison County has been continuous in its service to the Grand Bodies of Freemasonry in Kentucky, having provided the Grand Lodge with seven Grand Masters, the first being John Speed Smith of Richmond Lodge # 25.  He was elected in 1824.  Six Madison Masons have served as Grand High Priests .


  Designed by Bobby Griggs
© July 11, 2006