Nestled in Southwestern Virginia is a staple of York Rite Masonry in Virginia. Lynn Commandery is truly one of a kind and unlike any other in our Commonwealth. W. H.H. Lynn Commandery No. 9 was formally organized on July 19, 1887, under the authority of dispensation of William Henry Harrison Lynn, Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Virginia. It was attested by William B. Isaacs, Grand Recorder. Shortly after, on November 24th, 1887, the Charter was approved and issued. The Sir Knights met on Broad Street, and shortly after on Cherry Street in Marion, VA. The First Commander of W. H. H. Lynn Commandery No.9 was R. M. Goodell, who served in 1887-1888. At the same time, Lynn Commandery had its first Grand Commander of Virginia, Right Eminent Benjamin Franklin Buchannan, who served the Grand Commandery from 1887-1888.

The first recorded record of the name change from W. H. H. Lynn Commandery to Lynn Commandery was recorded in the minutes of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Virginia in 1894. The name still stands to this day.

Marion Lodge No. 31 was first chartered on December 11, 1849, and was reissued a Charter in 1859 due to long periods of non-communication or activity. In 1908, the Lodge began building at its current location and was constructed at a cost of $13,606.43. (In today’s funds in 2022, that would be the cost of $444,564.43) Of that amount, $8,624.47 was paid initially. The Commandery assumed the debt to finish construction of $6,000.00. The Lodge agreed to give ownership of the Building to the Commandery for the completion, as it still stands to this day. Lynn Commandery is the only Asylum in Virginia to be owned by the Commandery. The third floor of Lynn Commandery is dedicated to Benjamin Franklin Hill, REPGC, with an extensive Library that he donated to Lynn Commandery.
Over the years, Lynn has had the privilege of having Past Grand Masters, Grand High Priests, and Grand Commanders as members. Most Worshipful James Clark Padgett, Past Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, was a member of Lynn Commandery having received his Orders on April 8, 1911. Lynn Commandery also had the privilege of hosting the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Virginia in May of 1939.

Past Grand Commanders of Lynn Commandery
R.E. Willie Addison Wolf 1939
R.E. Ralph Richard Repass 1953
R.E. Robert Hale Harrington 1960
R.E. Joseph Bayard Cole 1971
R.E. Jack Thomas Parsons 1980
R.E. Benjamin Franklin Shearwood 1988
R.E. Roy Braxton Henderson, Jr. 2017
R.E. Benjamin Franklin Hill 2019

Honorary Past Grand Commanders
John Robert Wigglesworth, Jr. 1999
Edwin Richard Carpenter 2001
Robert Lee Price, Jr. 2002
Jay L. Cotner 2004
James Arthur Fields, Jr. 2006
WIlliam Thomas Hargrove 2012
Benjamin Franklin Hill 2019

Appointed Grand Officer
Sir Knight J. Brandon Hale, KCT
Assistant Grand Recorder and Deputy Grand Inspector General 2020 – Present

Sir Knight D. Cole David, KCT
Grand Aide-de-Camp Southwest 2022-Present

Past Grand High Priests
M.E. John Grigsby Eggleston 1982
M.E. Daniel Hufford Surface, Jr 2016

Current Grand Line Officers of The Grand Royal Arch
James Paul Nunn, Grand Scribe

Past Grand Master of Masons in Virginia
MW James Clark Padgett 1911

Lynn has also had members who have received high honors in Masonry, as well as the York Rite. Daniel
Hufford Surface, Jr. was bestowed the John Dove award from the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia in 2020. William Dean Robinson was also bestowed the John Dove Award from the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia in 2021. For the Commandery, we have been blessed to receive honors as well.

Knight Templar Cross of Honor
William Copenhaver 1978
J. Richard Rowe, Jr. 1986
Ronald E. McCord 2006
Benjamin F. Hill 2012
Daniel H. Surface, Jr. 2021

Charles A. Grice Merit Award
B. Franklin Shearwood 1986
John G. Eggleston 1989
R.B. Henderson 2010
J. Brandon Hale 2018

Knight Commander of the Temple
Jay L Cotner, REPGC
J. Brandon Hale, PC
R.B. Henderson, REPGC
B. Franklin Shearwood, REPGC
John Robert Wigglesworth, Jr., REPGC
Edwin Richard Carpenter, REPDC
Robert Lee Price, Jr., REPGC
Jay L Cotner, REPGC
James Arthur Fields, Jr., REPGC
William Thomas Hargrove, REPGC
Benjamin Franklin Hill, REPGC
D. Cole David

Meritorious Service Medal
James W. Quiesenberry
Daniel H. Surface, Jr.
Robert A. Bruce
J. Brandon Hale

Honors are not what we strive for, however, we have been blessed at Lynn Commandery. We have conferred Orders in house and had the privilege of seeing many Sir Knights join our ranks over the years.

Lynn Commandery is the Crown Jewel of Southwestern Virginia Masonry. We are proud of our home, and we will continue to labor to ensure it stays strong for many years to come!