Lodge History for
Mariner Lodge #215, A.F. & A.M.

In writing the history of Mariner Lodge, it would be improper to set down the exact date when the idea of a new Lodge was first conceived. Certainly it went back well beyond the 1950's, when it was discussed then among several men. It seemed that all of these discussions ended in the opinion that the time was not right, of there was something else which boded ill for a new Lodge. Therefore in trying to be entirely accurate, the dates herein given are definite dates and do not intend in any way to take away from anyone who might have been a part of the original discussions.

Shortly after the turn of the year of 1956, several Master Masons, members of Warwick Lodge No. 336 A.F. & A.M., conceived the idea of a new Lodge in what was then the City of Warwick, Virginia. They being of sound mind and desirous of furthering the Masonic Fraternity in the State of Virginia, started some inquiries among their Brethren to ascertain how far this plan would proceed with a probable chance of success. After several months of talking and friendly discussions, they discerned that there was a good chance for the establishment of a new Lodge within the jurisdiction of Warwick Lodge. Consequently, they brought together a group of interested Masons and on July 26, 1956, a preliminary meeting was held in the Banquet Hall of the Warwick Lodge Temple to take more positive action on the matter of a new Lodge. At the outset it should and must be understood that this was not the outcome of dissention on the part of anyone. It was a true belief that Masonry could be furthered by this action. After much discussion and much planning it was decided to bring the matter before the membership of Warwick Lodge No. 336 and Transportation Lodge No. 337 for their approval. The name of Mariner Lodge was agreed upon because of the close proximity to the Mariner's Museum and also the connection that this community has with the "Men Who Go Down To The Sea In Ships".

More planning was required and a petition was prepared and signed by the interested Brethren. This was presented at the Stated Communication of Warwick Lodge No. 336 held on Thursday, September 6, 1956, for their approval. At the same time, a duplicate petition was presented to Transportation Lodge No. 337 for their approval.

These petitions were ordered held over until the next Stated Communication for action. As required by the Methodical Digest, the membership was notified. At the Stated Communication of Warwick Lodge, held on Thursday October 4, 1956, it was passed with no dissenting votes, to recommend to the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Virginia , the granting of a Dispensation to Mariner Lodge to operate as a Masonic Lodge. It should be noted that a recommendation also had come from Transportation Lodge. On October 16, 1956, the petition for a Dispensation, along with the report of Right Worshipful Frank L. Fox, District Deputy Grand Master for the 14th Masonic District, was presented to the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Willis V. Fentress.

Because of an error of mind and not of heart, the first petition was returned because the Grand Master felt that there were not enough Past Masters on the petition. In his letter to Rt. Wor. Bro. Fox, he stated that although he was sure that the petitioners were possessed of zeal and energy, it was felt that they should have more Past Masters on the petition to season this zeal for Masonry. That this error was of the mind and not the heart is evidenced by the fact that several Past Masters had signed the petition but had not put the title with their names. They readily did this and it was returned to the Mt. Wor. Grand Master.

On November 6, 1956, a letter addressed to Mt. Wor. James N. Hillman, Grand Secretary, from Mt. Wor. Willis V. Fentress. Grand Master, requested that a Dispensation be granted to Mariner Lodge to open and hold meetings in accordance with the Virginia Methodical Digest. The Dispensation was granted on November 10, 1956 and was personally delivered to the Lodge by Rt. Wor. Bro. Fox on November 16, 1956.

The institutional Meeting of Mariner Lodge U. D., was held on Friday, November 16, 1956 in the Masonic Temple, Warwick, Virginia at 7:30 P.M. After reading the Dispensation, Rt. Wor. Bro. Fox turned the meeting over to Wor. Bro. John Franklin Mullen, the first Worshipful Master of Mariner Lodge. This meeting was well attended and several required orders of business were conducted. Among these were the adoption of resolutions regarding our Stated Communications, fees and dues, and the appointment of the officers to assist the Worshipful Master and the Wardens in the performance of their duties.

The first Stated Communication of Mariner Lodge U. D. was held in the Masonic Temple, Warwick, Virginia on Tuesday November 20, 1956. An important matter of business to come up at this meeting was rescinding of the appointments of the Senior and Junior Deacons. There was a misunderstanding in the petition for Dispensation. These good brethren thought their names were on the petition but after examination, it was found that they were not. Therefore, the Worshipful Master had to rescind their appointments. There were presented at this meeting, seven petitions for affiliation, among them being the petitions of the Senior and Junior Deacons. Formal permission was granted at this meeting for the Lodge to use any and all paraphernalia belonging to Warwick Lodge.

Mariner Lodge started with a few dedicated men to learn the ritual and confer the three degrees in "Blue Lodge Masonry". Diligent effort on their part and a deep-rooted Faith in the future of this embryonic Lodge evidenced itself when Grand Lodge convened on February 13th and 14th, 1957. The Grand Lodge issued a Charter for Mariner Lodge No. 215 A.F. & A.M. on February 14, 1957 and this Charter was brought back to the Lodge. Wor. Bro. John F. Mullen had asked if it would be possible to bring the Charter back to the Lodge. Wor. Bro. Mullen went to pick up the Charter but the grand Secretary was not in his office. Wor. Bro. Mullen, anxious to obtain the Charter, sat down to wait. After a very long wait, Mt. Wor. Archer B. Gay, Grand Master, came in and asked Wor. Bro. Mullen what he could do for him. Wor. Bro. Mullen told him and the Charter was picked up from the desk and handed to him. It had been within ten feet all the time and anyone in the Grand Secretary's Office could have given the Charter to him. However, the long wait was over, the Charter was on its was, and the first Worshipful Master of this Lodge was a very happy man.

At a called Communication of Mariner Lodge U. D. held on April 2, 1957, this Lodge was constituted under Charter and will henceforth be known as Mariner Lodge No. 215 A.F. & A.M. Mt. Wor. Archer B. Gay, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia was present on this occasion and brought several distinguished guests to constitute this Lodge in full and impressive form. Our guest list on this occasion included many distinguished Masons from the 14th Masonic District as well as other Districts in the State. This meeting and its full meaning was the culmination of a long cherished dream for many of the Brethren gathered in the Lodge room.

From its beginning in 1956, Mariner Lodge No. 215 was not faced with any serious problems until 1962, when it became evident that Warwick Lodge No. 336 would soon see the culmination of their dream of a new temple. This presented Mariner Lodge No. 215 with the problem of its future home. The question of continuing to rent from Warwick Lodge No. 336 or attempting to buy a home of our own was foremost in the minds of its members.

After Warwick Lodge No. 336 had settled on a building plan and a definite course of action, the membership was presented a motion to extend to Mariner Lodge No. 215 an invitation to use the new Lodge Room at a tentative rental fee or a sale price of $6,500.00 for the old building. Either plan was a big and important undertaking for Mariner Lodge No. 215. Sensing the importance of the decision, both for the present and for the future, the Worshipful Master presented both plans to the Lodge and asked that the members think about them and discuss them among themselves and action would be taken at our next Stated Communication. The membership was notified by letter that at the Stated Communication of Mariner Lodge No. 215 to be held on Tuesday, April 16, 1963, action would be taken on the matter of housing for this Lodge. At this meeting, there were 56 members present and the matter was frankly and openly discussed. After a very thorough discussion, which saw many questions asked and answered, the vote was taken and resulted in a vote of 54 to 2 to purchase the present building for a sum of $6,500.00.

This was an important step in the forward movement of Mariner Lodge and an important event in the history of this Lodge. It meant several big things would have to be done to provide for the proper operation of this Lodge as a Masonic body. The Worshipful Master appointed building, paraphernalia, and finance committees. These committees began to function at once. The finance committee began to get pledges for money to purchase the building, and after much talking and listening they contracted to borrow the money at a very good interest rate. The paraphernalia committee began to get the necessary equipment together to confer the degrees and operate the Lodge. Some of this was purchased, but by their efforts a good portion was donated by interested parties.

The building committee through necessity had to hold back until the actual sale was completed. On October 1, 1963, the sale was consummated and this committee went to work. the general overall picture looked good but several things needed repairing immediately, so this was done. The pride of ownership and the knowledge that we are not now dependent upon someone else makes it evident that the course of the Lodge may change in the future.

The next important event in the history of Mariner Lodge occurred on June 6, 1967, when residential property adjoining the Lodge property was offered to the Lodge for a sum of $6,400.00. The membership, looking toward the future, and rea-lizing that the Lodge building in its present location on the property could be jeopardized by the changing whims of the local city government made a counter offer of $5,500.00. The counter offer was accepted on September 5, 1967 and the Lodge borrowed money at a low interest rate to complete the purchase.

Another important event occurred in July 1969, when the Lodge was apprised that the decrepit building and lot adjoining the Lodge property might be for sale. The Lodge Trustees were instructed to keep abreast of this matter as this property would tend to square off the existing Lodge property and would provide sufficient space to build a new Lodge building if the need ever arises. In November the Lodge decided against borrowing the necessary funds to purchase the adjoining property if the membership would give the funds with a no interest Lodge Note, payable on demand. On December 2, 1969, it was announced that the adjoining property would be sold at public auction on December 17, 1969 and that sufficient funds were available to bid on the property. On January 6, 1970, it was announced to the Lodge that the property had been purchased for $2,350.00. The total amount of land now owned by Mariner Lodge is approxi-mately 0.5 acres. During the year 1970, the decrepit house and out-buildings were torn down and the lot cleared of debris.

It is not written in the minutes of Lodge communications, but the Lodge mortgage was paid at the Stated Communication on December 2, 1975 and the signed notes were returned to the Lodge by the lender. The only indebtedness on Lodge property at this time is the demand notes obtained for the purchase of the third parcel of land. Several of the demand notes have been turned in without collection and one note has been paid.

Over the years, many of the Masters have undertaken repairs, as necessary, and refurbishment of the Lodge to increase the comfort of the members and the aesthetic value of the building. The general pride in ownership has dictated the course of action of the membership as the years have gone by.

While the Lodge is few in number, 32 charter members, it has grown steadily and we now have 126 members. However, the interest of our members is evident by the fact that the Lodge won the attendance plaque at the C.S. Revell School of Masonic Instruction for seven straight years and our officers have been active in the Masters and Wardens Association. The general Lodge attendance has been good and the fellowship enjoyed has been delightful. The past leaders of this Lodge have felt the Lodge should have Church Night, Ladies Night, and Family Picnics, and have gone to great lengths to hold these affairs regularly. Founders Night has been held annually and contributions made to the Masonic Home.

With the past leadership as a guide and the membership in general as an incentive, this Lodge conceived in unity, born in friendship, and nurtured in fellowship shall be a Lodge dedicated to the cause of Masonry. May we ever be upholders of the art and promoters of the Fraternity, that the principles of Freemasonry on this Virginia Peninsula and in this State shall not go unnoticed and unheralded.