RICharity23
Contents
LODGE
Location: X
Chartered By: X
Dispensation Date: date
Charter Date: date
Current Status: status
NOTES
Meeting Date: Thursday on or before the full moon.
PAST MASTERS
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
ANNIVERSARIES
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
BY-LAW CHANGES
HISTORY
Early in December, 1865, seven master Masons, members of different Lodges and all residing in the vicinity of Hope Valley, united in a petition to the Grand Master of Masons in Rhode Island, asking for a Dispensation to form a new Lodge, to be designated, “Charity Lodge, No. 23, Hope Valley.” The request of the petitioners was granted, and the desired Dispensation issued by Most Worshipful Brother Thomas A. Doyle, Grand Master, who appointed Brother John F. Jencks first master of Charity Lodge. The Dispensation was dated November 27, 1865.
The first meeting of Charity Lodge, No. 23 U. D., was held December 28, 1865, in a room then occupied by Mechanics Lodge of Odd Fellows. At this meeting all petitioners were present. The Lodge was opened in due form, and six applications for the degrees were received.
On Friday, November 9, 1866, the Grand Lodge was convened in Barber’s Hall in Locustville, for the purpose of Constituting, Consecrating, and Dedicating Charity Lodge, No. 23, and installing the officers of said lodge.
In the fall of 1867, a larger hall was fitted up in John G. Arnold’s new block expressly for the accommodations of Charity Lodge. This new and more commodious hall was formally dedicated by very interesting exercises held December 10, 1867. As on the former occasion when the Lodge was constituted, the exercises of dedication were public and were numerously attended. To illustrate the spirit that prevailed at that time in the community in regard to Freemasonry, it is worthy of mention that the ladies presented each officer with appropriate new regalia and also gave a set of alarms for the Lodge room. Besides there expressions of sympathy, they furnished refreshments and served the same at the banquet. The village church choir also rendered acceptable aid on the occasion of dedicating the new hall.
Charity Lodge has had no very eventful experiences but has gone forward in a steady and pleasant way, fulfilling the objects for which a Masonic organization is suppose to exist. It has cultivated peace and harmony among its members and sought to extend in every way possible the benign influences of Masonic principles and teachings. That it has exercised a useful ministry throughout the jurisdiction cannot be questioned by any who have watched its course with attention.
