RILafayette47
Contents
LODGE
Location: X
Chartered By: X
Dispensation Date: date
Charter Date: date
Current Status: status
NOTES
Meeting date: First Wednesday
PAST MASTERS
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
ANNIVERSARIES
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
BY-LAW CHANGES
HISTORY
Almost 50 years after the thirteen colonies had declared themselves independent of Great Britain, on August 31, 1825, sixteen brothers of the Masonic fraternity met in Cumberland, Rhode Island, for the purpose of establishing a Masonic Lodge. Grand Lodge was petitioned for Dispensation and Lafayette Lodge No. 19 was duly constituted on October 5, 1826. It met regularly until the summer of 1831. During the anti-Masonic period, it became inactive and the Grand Lodge voted forfeiture of its charter and in September of 1843. History closed on Lafayette No. 19 in 1849.
On October 30, 1959, the possibilities of starting a Masonic Lodge were discussed by Leon Carpenter, Past Master of Bristol Lodge, Robert Simpson, Past Master of Unity Lodge No. 34, and Kenneth W. Jenks, a member of Morning Star Lodge and at present Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Rhode Island. Lafayette Club was formed on May 18, 1860. Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 8, having endorsed the petition of Lafayette No. 19, was requested to endorse the current petition. Endorsement was given on October 28, 1960.
Dispensation was granted and Most Worshipful Grand Master Irving L. Tucker, on February 1, 1961, installed the officers of Lafayette Lodge U. D. The charter was presented on October 4, 1961.
On April 25, 1965, ground was broken for a Temple, and Grand Lodge dedicated it on May 23, 1971. The building of the Temple was made possible through the generosity and dedicated interest of Miss Margaret Stearns who has been largely responsible for preserving the heritage of the Arnold Mills community.
