James Hubert Price

James Hubert Price Brother James Hubert Price(1878 – 1943) James Hubert Price was born on September 7, 1878, near Organ Cave in Greenbrier County, West Virginia to Charles William Price and the former Nancy C. Boone, both of Lewisburg, West Virginia. His parents moved to Staunton, Virginia where he was raised and where his closest relatives lived. He attended and received a business degree from Dunsmore Business College in 1898 after which he taught accounting at the college and established his own accounting practice. He was also an active member of the Virginia National Guard where he reached the rank of Captain. In 1907 he began legal studies at the Washington and Lee Law School and graduated in 1909. Upon admission to the Virginia bar, Price began legal practice in Staunton, but soon moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1910, where he practiced corporate law. In 1916, he won the first of what became seven terms in the Virginia House of Delegates as one of five delegates representing Richmond. On October 2, 1918, about a month after the 37-year-old registered for the draft, he married Lilian Martin in Washington, D.C. They had two children: James Price and Lillian Price Eberle. At the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929, James H. Price was elected the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. In the 1937 general election, he won 83% of the vote and became Virginia’s 53rd Governor. When his governorship ended in January of 1942, Price actively sold war bonds as the United States of America had entered World War II following the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack in Hawaii. He was an active Mason his entire adult life, which continued until he suffered a stroke and later died in Richmond on November 22, 1943. He (and four months later his wife Lilian) was buried at Staunton’s Thornrose Cemetery. James Hubert Price was one of ten Masons in the State of Virginia who presided over the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, and Grand Commandery. In chronological order, he was first the Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia, then the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, and then the Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in Virginia. 1918: Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia Most Excellent James Hubert Price was a member and Past High Priest of Union Royal Arch Chapter No. 2 which was in the 15th District. He was elected and installed as the Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia on November 27, 1918. Approximately 18 months earlier on April 6, 1917, Congress declared war on Germany. World War I officially ended on November 11, 1918. During Most Excellent Price’s year as the Grand High Priest, the Grand Chapter of Virginia had the largest increase in membership in the history of Royal Arch Masonry in Virginia at the time. They gained 1101 new members and lost 135 for a net gain of 966 which put overall membership at just under 10,000. Additionally, he made several recommendations during his year. He recommended that the Grand Chapter’s Digest reflect the Grand Lodge Methodical Digest (at the time) to allow that Subordinate Chapters exempt their secretaries (and Treasurers) from dues payment. He also recommended that there be some way to evaluate the proficiency of Royal Arch Masons as they progress through the Degrees as Conferred in the Chapter. This became a concern as the result of discussions to allow Master Masons to petition Commanderies without regard to the Chapter Degrees. He believed this to be due in large part to “the lack of knowledge of the beautiful lessons and the impressive symbolism of the several Capitular Degrees.” 1922-1923: Grand Master of Masons in Virginia Most Worshipful James H. Price was a member and Past Master of Staunton Masonic Lodge No. 13 which was in the 19th District. He was elected and installed as the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia on February 16, 1922. Most Worshipful Price experienced some situations that he felt were not able to discuss. Here are but a few. He felt strongly against publishing information regarding the status of balloting on membership, the advancement of candidates, and similar information. He also strongly believed that the officers of a Lodge should not only be proficient in ritual, but also a working knowledge of Masonic Law, particularly of the provisions of the Methodical Digest. Finally, he had concerns about the fairness of Masonic Trials, especially as the issues surrounding them are always the source of discord and strife. His issues were specific to Masonic Law (at the time) requiring that no matter how bad the situation and negative emotion that resulted, an offender, except a Past Master, was required to be tried in their own Lodge. He compared it to the vilest criminal having the guarantee of an impartial trial with regard to venue. He made several notable recommendations to modify the Methodical Digest. One of those was to appoint an Auditing Committee in November which would report its findings in December prior to election and installation of new officers. Another was to include the time of the monthly Stated Communication in addition to the day and location. Another recommendation of the note was to allow Lodges to confer Degrees at Called Communications (but only in emergency situations). Also of note, on February 13, 1923, during the first day of the proceedings of the 145th Grand Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted of the Commonwealth of Virginia, both Brother E. Lee Trinkle, Governor of Virginia, and Brother William Howard Taft, Chief Justice of the United States of America (later to be the 27th President of the United States of America) were in attendance, introduced, escorted to the East, and saluted. 1931-1932: Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in Virginia Sir Knight James Hubert Price, Right Eminent Grand Commander,

William Baylor McChesney

William Baylor McChesney William Baylor McChesney Grand High Priest 1908, Grand Commander 1910-1911, Grand Master 1910-1911 William Baylor McChesney was one of the no less than a dozen men in Virginia, who presided over all three of Virginia’s grand bodies. His name is still remembered by a great number of Brethren in our own Blue Lodges, Chapters, and Commanderies. His love for the Fraternity, and mankind in general, made him well known among Men and Maison’s, thought Virginia. William McChesney was born in Staunton, Virginia on July 7, 1849. At the age of 14, after the outbreak of the Civil War, he joined the 14th Virginia Cavalry in Churchville Virginia, with several of his relatives. He served until the end of the War and returned to Staunton to finish school. He attended Washington College in Lexington Virginia, where General Robert E. Lee was president of that institution where he made his proudest boast in the fact that he had served as a member of the honor guard at General Lee’s burial. Being a Confederate Army Veteran, he was naturally a man of great patriotic convictions. He was raised in Rockingham Union No. 27 0n July 29, 1879, and moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Staunton some years later in 1885, where he affiliated with all the Staunton Masonic Bodies. He was the Master of the Lodge in 1887-1889, and the Secretary from 1898-1918. In 1885 Brother McChesney was appointed to the committee to lay a cornerstone at the building of the monument to the Confederate Dead in Thornrose Cemetery, in Staunton. On June 9, 1885, at which all the other masonic bodies were largely represented at the laying of the cornerstone. In 1889 while serving as Master of Staunton No. 13, Brother McChesney and the other members voted to purchase the property which would become the Masonic Hall for years to come, located at 13 Beverly Street in Staunton. Under the direction of William H. H. Lynn, Master of the Lodge, Brother McChesney was appointed to the building committee, where the members bought Bonds to pay for the construction of the Masonic Hall. On its completion of the building on June 6, 1895, all the bonds were retired, and the building paid for in full. The cornerstone of the temple was laid by Staunton Lodge on June 6, 1895, and the stretcher was dedicated, and occupied the following year. The first three floors were to be rented. The fourth floor was the Chapter and Commandery rooms. The fifth floor was the spacious Lodge room for Staunton Lodge No. 13, and the adjacent banquet hall. The Eastern Star also met on the fifth floor. Companion William B. McChesney was exalted in Rockingham Chapter No.6 in Harrisonburg in 1880, then resided in Aberdeen South Dakota, until relocating in Staunton in January of 1885 where he remained until the end of his days. In February 1885 he affiliated with Union Chapter No.2 RAM, were took an active part in degree work. In 1887 the Grand Chapter adopted a resolution to the effect, that the work in the Capitular degrees as exemplified by Grand Lecturer William H. H. Lynn was confirmed as the work of the Grand Chapter of Virginia and “that he be requested to teach the subordinate Chapters”. William Lynn was Past Grand High Priest of Virginia (1882-1883), Past High Priest of Union No.2, was gratifying to the Companions of Union No. 2. In 1888 William H. H. Lynn, J. Howard Wayt, Jacob Bumgardner, E. Louis Ide, and William B. McChesney all held offices in the Union Chapter. On October 16, 1891, William B. McChesney served as High Priest for the year. During his reign as High Priest the Chapter room was under construction on the fourth floor of the Staunton Masonic Temple, were he laid out the designs for the Chapter room. He also formed a committee to see about furnishing the Chapter for the future time when the building was to be completed. In January 1869 Levi L. Stevenson, along with eight others (the minimum number permitted), petitioned the Grand Commandery of Virginia for a dispensation to form a new Commandery in Staunton. The Grand Commander John Robin McDaniel, of Lynchburg, issued the dispensation authorizing the opening of Stevenson Commandery. On May 11, 1869, the Charter of Stevenson Commandery No. 8 Knights Templar was issued. The Commandery started its career with a membership of nineteen knights. The Commandery immediately became a sort of “institution” in Staunton just as were the Lodge and Chapter before it. The fact the War Between the States were still very much alive made the simi-military character of the Knights Templar appeal greatly to the people of the community generally. Written invitations for the Knights Templar to appear in full uniform on public occasions. One such occasion was Memorial Day in both Staunton and Charlottesville, on June 9, 1871. After the morning celebration in Staunton, they hoped for a train for Charlottesville for the afternoon service. On June 9, 1885, was Memorial Day again and the Commandery was invited as usual to attend the exercises in full uniform. On this particular occasion the cornerstone to the Confederate dead in Staunton, was laid by Sir Knight William B. McChesney. William B. McChesney, who was Knighted in Harrisonburg Commandery No. 10, was elected a member of Stevenson Commandery. When the Grand Encampment of the United States met in Washington in 1890, Stevenson Commandery was represented by a considerable number of members, to include William B. McChesney Generalissimo. In 1891 to 1893 he was the Commander of Stevenson Commandery. Sir Knight McChesney at that time would go on to be the second Grand Commander of Knights Templar of Virginia (1910-1911) from Stevenson Commandery. Grand High Priest (1908-1909) In 1908 Most Excellent William Baylor McChesney was elected and installed the Grand High Priest in the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Virginia. In his address of the One Hundred and Second Grand Annual Convocation, much

Thomas Williamson Hooper

Thomas Williamson Hooper Thomas Williamson HooperBorn: November 2, 1880 (Selma, Alabama)Died: October 15, 1954 (Richmond, Virginia) Background Brother Thomas “Tom” Williamson Hooper was born in Selma, Alabama to the Rev. Thomas Williamson Hooper, D.D. and his wife Miss Letitia Johnson. While not born in Virginia, both of Tom’s parents were originally from the State with his father being from Hanover County and his mother being from Bedford. The family would relocate to Christiansburg, Virginia when he was 8. He attended a private school in Christiansburg until 1987 when he began studies at Hampden-Sidney College where he received his B.A. Degree in 1900 and the Degree of Bachelor of Science in 1901. Following this he was a Fellow in the college for the session of 1900-1901. Upon completion of this part of his formal education Brother Hooper taught in Hoge Military Academy at Blackstone, Virginia from 1901-1902. Remaining involved in the profession of teaching, he was on the staff at Fredericksburg college from 1902-1904. However, during the Fall term of 1904 he entered Union Theological Seminary, in Richmond, and received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree by 1907. He was licensed and ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church by Montgomery Presbytery in 1907 and continued that calling until the time of his death in 1954. Start of his Masonic Career Brother Hooper was initiated as an Entered Apprentice on 12/27/1904, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft 12/29/1904, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason’s in McDaniel Lodge, No. 86, at Christiansburg, VA, on December 30, 1904. Thereafter he withdrew from McDaniel Lodge around 1907, but affiliated with Fairfax Lodge, No. 43, on 2/14/1908 and also Stevens Lodge, No. 169, Brandy Station, Virginia, 10/8/1908 and was elected as Worshipful Master of that Lodge in the same year. He was elected from the floor under a dispensation issued by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brother Jos. W. Eggleston. He was also affiliated with Haymarket Lodge No. 313 on, or around, 1912, and withdrew in 1917. He was made an honorary member of both Haymarket Lodge, 1911, and McDaniel Lodge, 1934. Brother Hooper was made a Royal Arch Mason in Fairfax Chapter, No. 13, at Culpeper on May 15, 1911, and was elected High Priest of that Chapter the same year. He was created a Sir Knight in the commandery at Fredericksburg on March 23, 1911, and served as Commander of Fairfax Commandery, of Culpeper in 1914. Military Career In 1917 Brother Hooper entered the United States Army and achieved a notable military record as a Captain of Infantry in command of Co. K, 319th Infantry. He took part in the St. Mihiel Offensive and one phase of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive as company commander and in the second and third phases of that offensive as commanding officer of the Third Battalion of the 319th Infantry. His period of military service began in August 1917 and terminated in July 1919. Most Worshipful Grand Master Brother Hooper was elected to the office of Grand Master of Masons in Virginia on February 14, 1935, and installed into that high office by Most Worshipful Ed. N. Eubank, being presented by members of Fairfax Lodge, No. 43, of Culpeper, McDaniel Lodge, No. 86, of Christiansburg, and Stevens Lodge, No. 69, of Brandy Station. Wor. E.J. Nottingham, on behalf of Stevens, presented him with his official hat, Rt. Wor. R. Milo Taylor, McDaniel, a traveling case, and Rt. Wor. Robert E. Mill, Fairfax, a case of silver. A few highlights of his year as Most Worshipful Grand Master: June 10, 1935, assisted by Grand Lodge, he laid the corner-stone of the Administration Building of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI aka Virginia Tech), in the presence of a very large gathering. May 31, with the assistance of Reedville Lodge, he laid the cornerstone of Afton Methodist Protestant Church. June 22, the Second Annual Masonic Home Day was held. While the attendance was not very large, everybody seemed to have enjoyed the occasion. Our Grand Master, MW TWH was present and helped in many ways to make the day a success. December 7, called to lay the foundation stone of the infirmary building which was being erected at the masonic home of VA. MW, assisted by the Grand Officers, laid the stone after the ancient manner of freemasons using the same trowel that was used by President George Washington when he laid the foundation stone of the national capitol building in Washington, 9/18/1793. A picture of MW TW Hooper breaking ground 11/25/1935 was placed in the cornerstone along with other items. One other notable accomplishment by Brother Hooper came during his year as Deputy Grand Master when he designed what we now commonly refer to as the Veteran Button for 50-year members. At the time it was only for Masons who were created in the State of Virginia, but quickly encompassed any Mason in the State regardless of where they were made a Mason. Right Eminent Grand Commander Brother Hooper was appointed to the position of Grand Warder in 1936 by SK Fitzhugh Lee Grimstead. At the Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Virginia, held in Lynchburg in 1943, Brother Hooper was elected and installed as Grand Commander of that body, serving it with distinction. A few notable highlights of his year as Grand Commander: Visited every Commandery; extended wise and constructive counsel. Decision 2, balloting on more than one petition at a time to receive the Orders. Sent special letters to 286 newly created knights Conferred the orders at Malta No. 24 with assistance of Grice Commandery 16. On his way out of Office as Grand Commander the Jurisprudence Committee had the following remarks: “Grand Commander Thomas Williamson Hooper can long enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that his Grand Conclave, held during a year of world conflict and great trials and sacrifice, has added something of real and lasting spiritual value to the Order of the Christian Knighthood in Virginia and the Nation.” -Chalmers Lowell Pancoast, PGC

Marvin Edward Fowler

Marvin Edward Fowler Most Eminent Marvin Edward Fowler1904-2001 49th Grand Master of the Grand Encampment1988-1991 Sir Knight Fowler was born on October 12, 1904, in Salisbury, Missouri. He earned an A.B. degree from Central College, Fayette, Missouri, in 1926 and an M.A. from George Washington University in 1931. Employed as a plant pathologist for the U.S. Forest Service for thirty-four and a half years, he was the author of over 75 scientific publications, including A Guide to Forest Disease Research in the Northeast, published by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Marvin Fowler entered government service with the Division of Forest Pathology in 1929. He conducted research on a wide range of forest tree diseases, including chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease, and organized and conducted the first airplane survey for forest tree disease in the United States. He became Chief of the Division of Forest Disease Research at the Northeastern Station in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania in 1956. He lived in the Washington area from the 1920s until 1956. He returned to the area from Pennsylvania in 1963 and settled into retirement in Alexandria with his wife, Roberta. He was active in community affairs and was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. From 1965 to 1985, he was Secretary/Treasurer of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association in Alexandria. Sir Knight Fowler was Raised in Hebron Lodge No. 354, Mexico, Missouri, and in 1927 served as Worshipful Master. He later became a member and Past Master of Lafayette-Dupont Lodge No. 19, District of Columbia, where he also served as Lodge trustee. In 1950 he served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. He then served on the Grand Lodge Jurisprudence Committee and was president of the Masonic Foundation of the District of Columbia. He was Exalted to the Holy Royal Arch degree in Mexico Chapter No. 27 in Missouri. He subsequently held memberships in the District of Columbia’s Columbia Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons and Adoniram Council No. 2, Royal & Select Masters. He served as Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of the District of Columbia and was its Grand Secretary from 1963-1983. In the General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons, International, he served as General Grand Principal Sojourner and Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs from 1978 to 1981. Sir Knight Fowler was knighted to the Order of the Temple in Crusade Commandery No. 23, Mexico, Missouri. He became a member of Columbia Commandery No. 2, in the District of Columbia. He served the Grand Encampment as Chairman of the Easter Sunrise memorial Service Committee from 1967-1979. Sir Knight Fowler was appointed Right Eminent Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar, on March 6, 1980, following the death of William P. Wilson, R.E. Grand Generalissimo was elected R.E. Grand Generalissimo, August 18, 1982, at Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas; was elected R.E. Deputy Grand Master, August 13, 1985, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was elected Most Eminent Grand Master, August 9, 1988, at Lexington, Kentucky. In addition, he was Past Sovereign of St. Simon Stylites Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine; Past Prior of Francis Scott Key Priory No. 14, KYCH; Past Grand Master General of the Convent General, KYCH; Past Grand Master, Allied Masonic Degrees; Past Grand Chancellor, Grand College of Rites; Past Grand Preceptor, HRAKTP; and Past Great Chief, Knight Masons. He was also a Past Illustrious Grand Master, and a Past Grand Commander of the Grand York Rite Masonic Bodies in the District of Columbia. In 1953 he was installed as Provincial Grand Master of the Royal Order of Scotland in the U.S. and served for more than 40 years. Sir Knight Fowler was a Senior DeMolay and an active member of the International Supreme Council of DeMolay. He was also a past presiding officer of the four Scottish Rite Bodies in the Valley of Washington in the Orient of the District of Columbia. and was coroneted as an Inspector General Honorary, 33°, in October 1943. Other honors he received include the Distinguished Service Medal of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia; the Henry Price Medal of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts; the Henry Johnson Medal of the Grand Lodge New York; the Joshua Hayden Drummond Award of the Grand Lodge of Maine; the Albert Gallatin Mackey Medal of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina; the Daniel Cox Medal of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey; and the Thomas J. Shryock Medal of the Grand Lodge of Maryland. Sir Knight Fowler passed away from cancer on December 11, 2001, at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington. He was 97 years, 1 month, and 29 days. He was survived by his wife of 47 years Roberta, and two daughters India Bell Davin of Annapolis, Maryland, and Terri Almacy of Frederick, Maryland. Another daughter, Marcia Statler, predeceased him. He had seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The following Eulogy was presented by Most Worshipful Brother Stewart W. Miner, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia and Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, F.A&.A.M. of the District of Columbia, at the Masonic Services for Past Grand Master Marvin E. Fowler. William Shakespeare once wrote that some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. At the time he penned those words, Shakespeare must have had in mind someone like Marvin Fowler, a man who by word and deed achieved unusual Masonic greatness; in this achievement, he also made the Fraternity great. To be born great is an act of providence, and it is clearly providential that Marvin Fowler was endowed by his Creator with unusual intellect, physical stamina, an inquisitive mind, a pleasant personality, and an extraordinary appreciation of his personal obligation to use all of these gifts of God properly. Indisputably, Marvin Fowler was born to be great. Also, it is indisputable that Marvin achieved greatness, not because of his endowment but because

Charles Vernon Eddy

Charles Vernon Eddy Charles Vernon Eddy(1877 – 1963) A decade after the Civil War, a time when Winchester, Virginia was still rebuilding from six major battles in the War Between the States, Charles Vernon Eddy was born to Florence Alberta “Bertie” Snapp Eddy and James Clarkson Eddy, a millwright. (virginia.gov) His father passed when he was only 11 years old. At 15 years of age, he and his brother established a printing business while studying at the Shenandoah Valley Academy, prep boarding school. (Ridgeway, 2021) The business eventually grew to be the largest printer in the state of Virginia with an office in New York City. They sold the business in 1904 due to financial troubles, but Eddy stayed on until 1907. During that time, he married Katharine Graham Kurtz and eventually moved to Philadelphia to be the assistant manager at a large printing house. In 1913, he moved his family back to Winchester to take charge of the Handley Library, a position he held for 46 years. The library and a high school both, bearing the Handley name, were built at the bequest of John Handley, a Pennsylvania judge. Librarian of the Hadley Library Eddy’s forty-six-year tenure as the head librarian of the Handley library was highly successful. Not only was the head of the library, but he also served as the secretary to the Handley Fund’s board of trustees from 1920 to 1960, and as treasurer from 1931 to 1960. He scouted out and encouraged the donation of family manuscripts and collections, established an archive, and expanded the library with historical reference collections. Through two World Wars, he collected and donated books to soldiers off fighting in the wars. Notable among his successes was the collection of maps of Jedediah Hotchkiss, who during the Civil War, served as cartographer and topographer for Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson and Robert E. Lee. For over a decade, Eddy worked to ensure that these invaluable maps were available to researchers. In 1948, the Library of Congress purchased the entire collection. The Hotchkiss’ granddaughter was so thankful to Eddy for his efforts, that she gave three Hotchkiss maps to the Handley Library. Eddy’s work as a librarian wasn’t exclusive to the Handley Library. He served as president of the Virginia Library Association, and the Virginia representative to the American Library Association’s governing council. For thirty years, he also served as the secretary of the local Red Cross chapter. He was the founding director of the Winchester Rotary Club and was also the founding secretary of the local historical society. Early in his professional life, at twenty-one years old, he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21. Freemasonry Vernon Eddy served as Grand Commander in 1925-1926, Grand Master of Masons in 1937, and Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons in 1941. His complete Masonic resume is quite extensive and is included as a supplementary addendum. SK Eddy was initiated, passed, and raised in Winchester Hiram Lodge No. 21, served as Master from December 1906 to November 1907 and was secretary from 1918 to 1953 (35 years). He was a member in both the York Rite and Scottish Rite, attaining Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar of USA and Coroneted Inspector General Honorary, 33°. Grand Lodge of Virginia In 1936, the year before being elected Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, SK Eddy attended the 200th Anniversary of the AF&AM Grand Lodge of Scotland. During the evening, as the haggis was served, he jokingly commented on the screeching of the bagpipes accompanying the presentation of the haggis. The humorous comment ensured good-natured banter between the Scottish and Virginia Grand Lodges would continue in his year as Grand Master. Grand Chapter of Virginia Most Excellent Eddy served a 21-month tenure as Grand High Priest, due to the untimely death of the elected Grand High Priest, Most Excellent Albert S. Burnham, three months into his term. During the 1941 Grand Royal Arch Chapter Annual, his fellow Companion from his home John Dove Chapter No. 21 in Winchester, was quoted in the 1941 Proceedings of the Grand Chapter saying, “…for the benefit of those who do not know C. Vernon Eddy, I would like to say to you that he is one of the outstanding citizens of Winchester, and that he is in reality the soul of his city, a gentleman of the very highest type, a companion of the highest order; and this evening it is indeed a great pleasure and privilege for me to be thus honored, to try to express to you, in behalf of John Dove Chapter, our appreciation of the fine service you have rendered to the fraternity in its various branches.” Grand Commandery of Virginia Alike his tenure as Grand High Priest, he served as Grand Commander for almost 2 years due to the untimely death of the elected Grand Commander, Rt. Em. Sir Sol Cutchins. It is better, sometimes, to explain a man by quoting his own words. SK Eddy writes prophetic words in his report in the 1925 Proceedings of the Grand Commandery. He writes what we might today take heed, “Twelve Commanderies report to the Inspector that they have made no special effort in the way of social functions to increase attendance and interest in their members. It is significant that practically all Commanderies so reporting also report unusually low averages in attendance at conclaves and a poor showing at Inspection. It is my opinion that a Commandery that has good attendance and interest in its work is a better Commandery than one that has money in a bank. I venture to suggest to those Commanderies that really want a revival of interest that they have an occasional ladies’ night, notifying each Sir Knight that he will be expected to pay for his own supper, but that the Commandery will pay for the supper of his wife or lady accompanying him. This pulls two ways. Stag

William Lee Davis, Sr.

William Lee Davis, Sr. William Lee Davis, Sr.1865 – 1941 William Lee “Bill” Davis, Sr. son, and the youngest of three children, born to Joshua Allen Davis and Lauretta Edwina Tillage Davis on October 6, 1865, at Williamsburg, Virginia. At the age of 11, Bill and his family relocated from Williamsburg to Portsmouth, Virginia. Bill met and married Nancy A. Eppes Davis and fathered four daughters and one son. He was employed by the Portsmouth Water Department and was baptized becoming a communicant of the Forth Street Baptist Church. While Mr. Davis was not a native of Portsmouth, having been born at Williamsburg, yet for the major portion of his life was so closely associated with that city and its affairs that he had become recognized as one of Portsmouth’s “very own.” His affiliation with Portsmouth began with his employment by the Old Portsmouth Berkley and Suffolk Water Company, which connection continued fourteen years from July 1, 1904, to April 30, 1918. With one year intervening he was a shop superintendent in the Norfolk Navy Yard. He was there appointed on January 1, 1919 as Superintendent of the present Portsmouth Water Company, a position he held continuously for twenty-two years. The record of his administration of this office stands as a monument to his precise efficiency. As a communicant of the Forth Street Baptist Church, he and his family attended church regularly and continued their affiliation through the years. As a churchman his sound counsel and active participation not only in the affairs of the church of his affiliation but in all matters pertaining to the religious activities of the city, was of incalculable value.  The one thing in his life that stood out, and which he probably held nearer and dearer than all others, was his Masonic affiliations. At the age of Twenty-five, Mr. Davis petitioned and was initiated into the Masonic Order through St. John’s Lodge No. 36 then located in Richmond, Virginia on August 12, 1890. Brother Davis was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on September 9, 1890 and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on October 14, 1890. Brother Davis affiliated with Seaboard Lodge No. 56 on May 3, 1893, and withdrew his membership from St. John’s Lodge on July 11, 1893. In the course of but two years in 1895 he became Worshipful Master of that lodge. Brother Davis served as Secretary of Seaboard Lodge No. 56 for a period of some thirty-four years, from 1897-1899, 2 years, and then again from 1909 – 1941, 32 years. His rise in the ranks of the Masonic Order carried him from the first chair through all of them to the exalted chair of Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Virginia in 1928. In the interim he also served consecutively as District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 34. Brother Davis was exalted to the sublime degree of a Royal Arch Mason and in 1908 served as High Priest of Mt. Horeb Royal Arch Chapter No. 11. Excellent Companion Davis in 1916, served as District Deputy Grand High Priest of District No. 2. and was elected to serve as Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Masons in Virginia in 1930. Sir Knight Davis served as Eminent Commander of Portsmouth Commandery No. 5 in 1909 and was elected to serve as Right Eminent Grand Commander Knights Templar of Virginia in 1916-1917. Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the United States of America Most Eminent Grand Master Sir Knight Lee Stewart Smith, Pittsburg PA. World War I, Liberty Bonds and contributions to the Red Cross Fund Most significant was General Order No. 7 – “It is earnestly desired by the Grand Master, Most Eminent Sir Lee S. Smith, that the Templars of the United States contribute an amount equal to one dollar per capita for an emergency fund for war relief work. This is distinctly a Templar effort and the order of the Grand Master, also a circular letter from your Grand Commander, has been sent to Commanderies in Virginia”. On October 14, 1940, Brother Davis celebrated his 50th anniversary as a Master Mason. Locally, “Bill” Davis as he was popularly and affectionately known, was the “Grand Old Man of Masonry.” He was also a member of Khedive Temple, Mystic Shrine of Norfolk. At the age of 75, William Lee “Bill” Davis, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 1928, Most Excellent Grand High Priest of Masons in Virginia in 1930, and Right Eminent Grand Commander Knights Templar of Virginia in 1916-1917, residing at 948 Naval Avenue, on Wednesday, April 2, 1941, at 10:30 in the evening was pronounced dead at a Norfolk hospital after an illness of two weeks. Mr. Davis was survived by his wife, Nancy Eppes-Davis, four daughters, Laura Woodward, Mary Peters, Ruth Lee Davis, and Mrs. William E. Seaton, one son, William Lee Davis, Jr. and three grandchildren. His interment is at the Oak Grove (aka: Portlock) Cemetery located at 291 Peninsula Avenue, Lot #514, Avenue “E”, space #9, Portsmouth, Virginia. Portsmouth City Manager, Charles F. Harper said of his death, “I sincerely regret losing Mr. Davis. He was a very competent city official and a very honorable man.” The passing of William Lee Davis, Sr. has taken from Portsmouth and this community a man held most high in the esteem of his neighbors and friends. His private life was as notable for its probity as was his public career. He never knew the meaning of compromise with any problem where there was involved the questions of right and justice. In his fraternal affiliations he was a pillar of strength and a never ceasing source of inspiration to those who admired and respected him for his high ideals and human fellowship. There has passed to his reward a Most Worthy Master now to serve the All Highest Master, the Great Creator and Architect of the universe and all mankind.

Solomon “Sol” Cutchins

Solomon “Sol” Cutchins Solomon “Sol” Cutchins August 14th, 1854 – May 14th, 1925 Solomon “Sol” Cutchins was born in Nansemond Country, Virginia on August 14th, 1854. Brother Cutchins was wed to Caroline Robertta (Berta) Oppenheimer (1862-1930), daughter of Abraham Oppenheimer and Sarah Eliza Jones, in 1883. Sol and Berta were blessed with five sons, Colonel John A. Cutchins, Coleman Cutchins, Louis E. Cutchins, William S. Cutchins, and Frank Cutchins. Major Cutchins served as commander of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues. He was the Commander of the original company, which had become Company A and was elected to major and the first battalion commander until 1901. He also served on the staff of Governor Andrew Jackson Montague from 1902 to 1906. Sol graduated with honors from Richmond College, where he received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts and immediately began practicing law in Richmond. His son John A. Cutchins followed in his footsteps, and they worked in the firm Cutchins & Cutchins. Sol served as a member of the Richmond bar for many years. He had a long and successful career of over half a century serving the community of Richmond, Virginia. Sol was initiated as an Entered Apprentice at Joppa Lodge, No. 40 in Richmond, Virginia on November 17th, 1879, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on August 17th, 1886, and became a Master Mason on December 6th, 1886. He progressed through the chairs and became Worshipful Master of Joppa Lodge from 1896 to 1898. For his dedicated service to the Grand Lodge of Virginia he was made an honorary member of Joppa Lodge No. 40 on January 6th, 1921. Sol was elected to the office of Grand Junior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Virginia on February 12th, 1914. In faithfully serving the offices during progression he was elected as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Virginia 1919-1920 on February 13th, 1919. He served on the committee of Finance, Education, and was the Grand Representative to Nebraska for the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Brother Cutchins began his York Rite journey by receiving the Mark Master and Past Master’s Degree in Washington Royal Arch Chapter No. 9 in Richmond, Virginia on September 30th, 1891. The Council and Most Excellent Master’s degrees were conferred upon him on October 30th, 1891, and the Royal Arch Degree on July 18th, 1892. Companion Cutchins was elected and installed as High Priest of Washington Royal Arch Chapter No. 9 from 1898 to 1901 and was made an honorary member on October 29th, 1916. Sol was elected to the office of Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons in Virginia for 1912-1913. For the Capstone of the York Rite, Sol started his Knight Templar journey on September 22nd, 1893, at St. Andrew Commandery No. 13 by receiving the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross and on February 23rd, 1984, he received the Order of Malta and the Order of the Temple. Sol was elected to the office of Commander of St. Andrew Commandery from 1906-1908. During the Grand Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery on October 30th, 1919, Sol was elected to the office of Grand Junior Warden for the Grand Commandery of Virginia. At that time, the elected line began at the Grand Junior Warden’s office. The Standard Guard were appointed positions at the will and pleasure of the Grand Commander. As the years continued, he progressed in line and on October 30th, 1924, he became the Right Eminent Grand Commander of Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Virginia. Sr Knights Cutchins was able to make three visitations after being installed as Grand Commander: the Official Visits of St. Andrew Commandery No. 13, Appomattox Commandery No. 6 and Dove Commandery No. 7. Shortly after that, he fell ill and had to decline invitations that had been extended. He had been battling the health condition of a weakened heart and his health had been impaired for a short time. On May 14th, 1925, at the age of 71, that morning coming home after a meeting of the Board of Governors at the Masonic Home of Virginia, Brother Cutchins carried on to that undiscovered country, from whom, no traveler returns. To my knowledge, Sir Knight Cutchins is the only Grand Commander of Virginia to carry on while serving as the Grand Commander. His funeral services were held on Saturday, May 16th, 1925, at 11 am in the Second Baptist Church, with Reverend Dr. Frank T. McFaden, Right Eminent Past Grand Commander, officiating the services. He was laid to rest in the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA with Joppa Lodge No. 40 performing his Masonic Rites. References: Proceedings of the 140th Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Virginia. Everett Waddey Co, Richmond, Virginia. 1918 Proceedings of the 141st Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Virginia. Everett Waddey Co, Richmond, Virginia. 1919 Proceedings of the 97th Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Virginia. Brown Print Shop, Richmond, Virginia. © 1919 of the 98th Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Virginia. Brown Print Shop, Richmond, Virginia. © 1920 Proceedings of the 99th Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Virginia. Brown Print Shop, Richmond, Virginia. © 1921 Proceedings of the 100th Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Virginia. Brown Print Shop, Richmond, Virginia. © 1922 Proceedings of the 101st Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Virginia. Brown Print Shop, Richmond, Virginia. © 1923 Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Virginia. Brown Print Shop, Richmond, Virginia. © 1924 Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Virginia. Brown Print Shop, Richmond, Virginia. © 1925 By Sir Knight J. Brandon Hale, KCT, Eminent Past Commander

William Moseley Brown

William Moseley Brown William Moseley Brown Grand Master of Masons in Virginia 1934 Grand Commander of Knights Templar of Virginia 1935-1936 Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia 1936 This article was taken from a research paper by Baldwin G. Locher, Jr, entitled William Moseley Brown – The Man and His Masonry, presented to Virginia Research Lodge No. 1777 on December 14, 2022. William Moseley Brown was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on February 27, 1894. He received his education in public and private schools in Danville and graduated from Danville High School in 1911. He entered Washington and Lee University that fall and received his A. B. Degree in 1914 and his M. A. Degree in 1915. He served as an instructor in German and Biology for two years before entering Centre College of Kentucky for a short time before entering military service during World War I. He returned home to Danville during December 1918 as an assistant principal and later as principal of the Danville High School. He was married to Gloria Graham, and they had two sons; David Graham Brown who has joined our ranks, and William Graham Brown. In 1920 he returned to Washington and Lee University as an Associate Professor of Education and Psychology, organizing this department and became a full Professor in 1923. During this time, he attended Teachers College, New York City, from which he received an M. A. Degree in 1922. The next year he received an M. A. and Ph. D. Degrees from Columbia University Graduate School. In 1929 he resigned from Washington and Lee and ran unsuccessfully for Governor. Sometime after that he founded and organized Atlantic University in Virginia Beach but this endeavor only lasted three years and the closing was attributed to the depression. He then left education and pursued a business career and became Personnel Director of the Vick Company in 1937. He achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel after being recalled to active duty in the Army in 1942. He received decorations from the United States, France, Luxembourg, and Belgium. He served for ten years as Professor of Social Sciences at Elon College and held membership in many scholastic and professional societies both here and abroad. Of major interest to ourselves, his Masonic record is one that is seldom accomplished, especially in this day and time. He petitioned Mountain City Lodge No. 67, A.F. & A.M., Lexington, Virginia, on October 3, 1921, and received his Entered Apprentice Degree on November 21st. He was examined on December 5th and passed to the Fellow Craft Degree on December 19th. He was examined on the Fellow Craft Degree and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on January 2, 1922. He was elected Junior Warden of this Lodge December 17, 1923, Senior Warden in December 14, 1924, and Worshipful Master on December 21, 1925. He served as District Deputy Grand Master of the 20th Masonic District for two terms, 1926 and 1927. That was followed by an appointment to the Jurisprudence Committee of the Grand Lodge of Virginia on which Committee he served until he was elected Grand Junior Deacon in 1929, becoming Grand Master by regular succession in 1934. He traveled approximately 57,000 miles during his year as Grand Master, traveling throughout the United Stated and Europe as well attending the Grand Lodge of England on September 7th. It was during this year that he was elected an honorary member of Mountain City Lodge No. 67. He wrote some fifteen books on Masonry and allied subjects including: Freemasonry in Virginia; Templary in the Old Dominion; The Making of a Mason; George Washington, Freemason (Bicentennial volume of the Grand Lodge of Virginia); and others. He served for a time as Editor of The Masonic Herald. Brother Brown was the second Worshipful Master of Virginia Research Lodge No. 1777 and a member of Lodge of Antiquity No. 2, London (one of four Lodges forming the Grand Lodge of England in 1717). He held honorary membership in eight Virginia Lodges, two Lodge in other states and two out of the country, in addition to his involvement in various Research Lodges. He received medals and awards from the Grand Lodges of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, and Germany. Thus far I have not attempted to keep his Masonic titles in order, nor will I attempt to throughout the rest of this paper. It has long been my understanding that once we have become a member of the Craft and become a Brother that we cannot receive a higher Degree as we travel in Masonry; however, there are many titles to which some become entitled. Companion Brown was an active member of Rockbridge Royal Arch Chapter No. 44, Lexington, serving as High Priest and later as Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia during the years 1936 and 1937. He was an honorary member of two other Virginia Chapters as well as a member of three other Grand Royal Arch Chapters. He was a member of the Grand Council of Anointed High Priests, Virginia, and the Grand Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters, Virginia, as well as an honorary member of the Grand Council of Anointed High Priests, District of Columbia, Texas, and North Dakota. He was an Honorary Grand High Priest of Ireland. His memberships in Councils included Royal and Select Master, Solomon of the Silver Trowel Council No. 24, Monroe, North Carolina, and an honorary member of Field Council No. 12 in Red Bank, New Jersey. He held the Super Excellent Master’s Degree in Tennessee and Missouri. Sir Knight Brown was an active member of Moomaw Commandery No. 27, Knights Templar, Lexington, as well as an honorary member of three other Virginia Commanderies. He served as Commander of Moomaw Commandery and as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1935 and 1936. Brother Brown joined the Scottish Rite in Richmond in 1922, receiving the

Richard Burditt Baldwin

Richard Burditt Baldwin Richard Burditt Baldwin(1935-2009) 55th Grand Master of the Grand Encampment (2006–2007) Sir Knight Richard Burditt Baldwin was born in Concord, Massachusetts on October 28, 1935, the son of David Samuel Baldwin and Hope Elizabeth Whiney Baldwin. He grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, graduating from the public schools of that town in 1953, and was the second President of the School Council of the school system. He attended the University of Massachusetts where he majored in Business Administration and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Artillery in the United States Army, after successfully completing the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He entered Active Duty on Flag Day, June 14, 1957. He was to spend the next thirty years in service to his country. He commanded Air Defense Artillery Units from Platoon through Battalion, saw combat in the Republic of South Vietnam, and had foreign service in the Federal Republic of Germany, and in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, he held staff assignments from Brigade level through the Department of the Army as well as in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). He graduated from all the career service schools and colleges from the Basic Course through the Army War College and received a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration from the George Washington University in 1974. Early in the 1970’s, he had responsibility for the production funds for the Army’s Anti-Ballistic Missile Program, and his final assignment was as Comptroller for the Army’s portion of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), derisively nicknamed the “Star Wars program” after the 1977 movie, announced on March 23rd, 1983, by President Ronald Reagan. SDI represented Reagan’s rejection of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD). MAD had fostered an uneasy peace during the Cold War as neither the U.S. nor the USSR attacked the other knowing that it would in turn be the target of a massive nuclear retaliation annihilating it (and much of the planet). He held combat and meritorious service decorations from the Army Commendation Medal through the Legion of Honor, together with the appropriate service ribbons for his overseas duty. Following retirement in 1987, he served on the Defense Secretary’s Commission on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). His Fraternal work began at the Age of fourteen (14) when he became a member of Sudbury Grange No. 121, Patrons of Husbandry, and was taught the Master’s part in the Second Degree of that Order by his father a year later. He was a member and Past Ruler of Minuteman Junior Lodge No.2 Independent Order of the Odd Fellows (IOOF). Sir Knight Baldwin was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Bezaleel Lodge No 100 (now Dark) in Hannover, New Hampshire while serving on the faculty of Dartmouth College, on June 5, 1967, receiving his Scottish Rite degrees the same year at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He later became a Shriner following his return from Vietnam in 1969. He affiliated with Elmer Timberman Lodge No. 54, Annandale, Virginia in 1969, became a Royal Arch Mason in 1971 and was created a Knight Templar in Arlington Commandery No. 29 on April 14, 1973. He served as Commander of Arlington Commandery in 1983, being appointed Eminent Grand Warder the preceding year by Sir Knight Neville M. Hindman, Grand Commander, at Danville, Virginia. In 1989, he was appointed General Chairman of the Easter Sunrise Memorial Service Committee for the Grand Encampment, Knights Templar, of the United States of America (USA) and served in that position until 1999. He served as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Virginia in 1989-1990 and was appointed an Honorary Past Department Commander in 1991, by the Most Eminent Grand Master, William Henry Thornley, Jr., GCT. In August 1997, he was elected Right Eminent Grand Captain General of our Grand Encampment from a field of five extremely qualified candidates. On August 16, 2006, he was installed as Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America in Houston, Texas. He was a staunch supporter of Commandery drill teams. As Grand Captain General of the Grand Encampment, published an article in the May 1999 Edition of the Knight Templar Magazine promoting the drill team as a program and activity that will create and promote interest of the members. Additionally, the purpose of his article was to renew the interest of Grand Commanderies in drill teams as well as promote esprit de corps within Commanderies. Unfortunately, due to deteriorating health, he resigned as Grand Master on August 27, 2007. During his one year as Grand Master, his achievements were many. Templary is in his debt as many of the programs and plans he proposed came successfully to fruition. He passed to the Supreme Architect of the Universe on February 5, 2009, and on February 8, 2009, over one hundred uniformed Knights Templar paid their last respects at his Knight Templar service held in Burke, Virginia. He is interred in Arlington National Cemetery. The Baldwin-Brown Fellowship, “Building Today for a Better Tomorrow” is named for two outstanding Past Grand Commanders of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of the Commonwealth of Virginia, SK Richard Burditt Baldwin and SK Fitz Allen Brown. Realizing all Masonic organizations in Virginia were experiencing an increase in operating costs, which were causing the necessity of increasing amounts of assessments, added to decreasing levels of membership dues, Sir Knight David Graham Mathews, Jr., Right Eminent Past Grand Commander in 1999, created this award to help provide financial stability by assisting expenses and to off-set harsh financial deficits. The existing Grand Commandery Knights Templar Permanent Fund is an interest earning Endowment Fund from which only the interest amounts are used for the day-to-day operating expenses of The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sir Knight Baldwin had three children: Julia B. Harris, Jodie B. Galliland, and Richard

Portsmouth Commandery No. 5

Portsmouth Commandery No. 5 Current Events Chartered January 27, 1827 On January 16th, 1827, three Sir Knights (James Cushman, Charles Cassell and Mark L. Cheevers), hailing from three different Commanderies, and acting under a lawful warrant (dispensation) from the Grand Encampment Knights Templar of Virginia did on that date conferred the Orders of Knighthood upon the following Royal Arch Masons from Mount Horeb Chapter No. 11: Charles A. Grice | Robert B. Butt | Mordicai K. Cook | James JarvisGeorge Reed | Henry Singleton | John Williston | William BishopJ. W. Murdaugh | John Linn | John Reed | James B. Foster All of whom, after useful, honorable, and well-spent lives, entered the asylum, where the Captain of Salvation forever reigns. Those twelve Sir Knights received a Grand Encampment of Virginia dispensation, dated January 16th, 1827, and proceeded to organize “Portsmouth Encampment, No. 5,” after which they elected Sir Knight Charles A. Grice its first Eminent Commander. The Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of Virginia chartered Portsmouth Encampment, No. 5 on January 27, 1827, at Portsmouth, Virginia. Sir Knight Grice was re-elected annually thereafter until the year 1866, when by reason of this declining years, he declined a further re-election, and made the mantle of office fall upon the shoulders of Eminent Sir Charles R. McAlpine. We cannot let the occasion pass without mentioning that Sir Knight Charles A. Grice occupied many exalted positions during his years in the Masonic Fraternity: Raised in Portsmouth Naval Lodge No 100 in 1818, he served Worshipful Master, Portsmouth Naval Lodge 1820-1821, 1835, 1839, 1859-1860, and District Deputy Grand Master, District No. 1 (Portsmouth) 1864-1867. Exalted in Portsmouth’s Mt. Horeb Chapter No. 11 and served as its High Priest for many years Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Virginia in 1841-1843 Instrumental in forming Portsmouth Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar January 6, 1827, and served as first Commander of Portsmouth Commandery from 1827 and served as Commander for thirty-eight years. Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templars of Virginia from 1830-1839 when he declined re-election and was succeeded by E. Sir John Pollard, of Petersburg, Virginia. On the reorganization of the Grand Encampment of Virginia, December 11th, 1845, Sir Knight Sir Charles A. Grice, was elected Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Virginia, and filled the office until December 13, 1849, when he was succeeded by Sir Knight Edward H. Gill of Richmond, Virginia. On June 7, 1855, the Steamer Benjamin Franklin sailed into the Chesapeake Bay bound for repairs. Hampton Roads experienced Yellow Fever plague in 1795, 1802, 1821 and 1826, but the pestilence of 1855 claimed a third of the populations of Norfolk and Portsmouth. It took a heavy toll on the members of Portsmouth’s Masonic Family – the Fraternity’s many of most zealous Masons, skillful in the art of the Craft and active to a fault and left an additional eighteen widows and sixty-one orphans to care for: that in addition to fifteen widows and thirty-eight orphans from previous epidemics. At 4:30 AM on April 12, 1861, Fort Sumter was fired upon, and Virginia became a prominent part of the Confederacy when it joined during the American Civil War on April 17, 1861. Portsmouth Commandery had thirty-three knights on its rolls at the start of the Civil War. Around noon March 8, 1862, the CSS Virginia sailed down the Elizabeth River from Gasport Shipyard; two months later on May 10, the Gasport Shipyard was burned, and Portsmouth evacuated Confederate forces to Suffolk. That was the beginning of eight years of Federal occupation of Portsmouth. There were no records for the years 1863 and 1864, but in 1865 there were fifty-seven knights on Portsmouth Commandery’s rolls. Portsmouth Commandery’s second Commander, Sir Knight Charles R. McAlpiner was elected Eminent Commander in 1866 and served until March 18th, 1872, when he resigned and demitted from the Commandery. During his administration, the Commandery enjoyed an era of prosperity and success, and several notable events took place and in which this Commandery participated: Membership in Portsmouth Commandery rose to fifty-seven in 1865 as Confederate Veterans returned to Hampton Roads. Then membership dropped to forty-six in 1866 with the charter of Grice Commandery No. 16 in Norfolk. And membership rose to fifty-six in 1872. June 13, 1869, the Commandery, by invitation from St. John’s Commandery No. 4 of Pennsylvania, proceeded to Philadelphia and participated in the celebration of their Semi-Centennial Anniversary. In March 1870, Portsmouth Commandery had a serious controversy with Grice Commandery No. 16 with Commanderies claiming jurisdiction over Old Point and Hampton. The matter was being laid before Right Eminent Grand Commander Sir John Robin McDaniel, who decided that the disputed territory was within the jurisdiction of No. 16. Not satisfied with this decision, Eminent Commander Sir Knight McAlpine appealed from the decision of the Grand Commander to the Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of the United States. Sir Knight McDaniel promptly suspended Portsmouth Commandery’s charter for insubordination, but Sir Knight McAlpine, having made the proper apology, the charter was promptly restored on June 20, 1870. June 22, 1870, the honored and well-beloved Frater, Sir Knight Charles Augusta Grice, Right Eminent Past Grand Commander, at the age of seventy-eight, set aside his sword and his Craftsman’s tools. He was buried on June 22 with Masonic honors and ceremonies and interred in Portsmouth’s Cedar Grove Ceremony. The Knights of Portsmouth Commandery No. 5 and Grice Commandery No. 16 escorted the funeral and Masonic ceremonies. Portsmouth Commandery celebrated its 44th Anniversary on January 16, 1871, with Grice Commandery No. 16 as its guest. The ceremony included a street parade, drill and inspection, an oration by Portsmouth Commandry’s Prelate Rev. Sir Knight J.S. Lindsay, and a splendid evening banquet was enjoyed by all. On April 18, 1871, Portsmouth Commandery assisted Grice Commandery No. 16 in escorting the Symbolic Blue Lodges of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and other Hampton Roads at the ceremony