Lodge History - Washington Lodge #4

The first meeting of Washington Lodge No. 4 (then No. 22) was held in the Hayden Building at Fifth and Franklin Streets on October 31, 1857, under dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon Territory.

The genealogy of the Lodge has bee traced back through the Grand Lodges of Oregon, California, Missouri, Tennessee, and North Carolina to the Grand Lodge of England, and through the Grand Lodges of Oregon, California, District of Columbia, and Virginia to Kilwinning Lodge of Scotland. Kilwinning Lodge has minutes dated back to 1642, and records dated back to 1598, the oldest known to be in existence.

A charter was received from the Grand Lodge of Oregon Territory, dated July 18, 1858, and the Lodge was duly constituted and dedicated to the Holy Saints John on August 4th of that year by acting Grand Master Rev. Bro. McCarty. Brothers from the four lodges in the newly formed Washington Territory met in Olympia on December 6th, and the formation of a Grand Lodge was accomplished. Olympia Lodge No. 8 became No. 1; Steilacoom Lodge became No. 2; Grand Mount Lodge No. 21 became No. 3; and Washington Lodge No. 22 became No. 4.

An updated paper, Council Bill Number 1, was issued sometime in 1864 naming Wm. H. Troup as Worshipful Master and Theo. J. Eckerson as Secretary. This bill limits the amount of real estate holding to $30,000 and personal property to $20,000. Permission to borrow no more than $1,000 at no more than 20% interest was also granted. The Lodge met once each month on the Saturday of or, next preceding, the full moon.

The next Temple site was acquired by purchase on April 18, 1873, and the title was cleared by a quit-claim deed from the Bishop of Nisqually on payment of $29.20. Foundations for the building were begun in August, 1884, Louis Sohns, W. M. The first communication was held on May 15, 1886, and the Temple was officially dedicated on St. John’s Day, June 24, 1886, by M. W. Grand master Louis Ziegler of the Grand Lodge of Washington. The Middle Chamber columns have been in use for several generations. The candlesticks (now electrified) were brought around Cape Horn and presented to the Lodge.

The Temple was remodeled and a third story added in 1925 under W. M. Forrest H. Gay. A second remodeling in the summer of 1954, under W. M. Clarence W. Olson, greatly added to the beauty of the two upper stories and to the usefulness of the second floor.
In 1959, under W. M. Roland F. McKennett, the Lodge room was remodeled to provide theater seats, a new carpet and drapes.

In January 1966, under W. M. Franklin H. McClung, the building was sold to Seattle-First National Bank, Vancouver Branch, for $135,000, and the building was razed to make way for a new bank building.

The Lodge then moved its meeting place to the Sons of Norway Hall, 24th and Grant Streets, Vancouver, WA until such time as a new hall could be constructed.

In 1967, the Lodge voted to purchase stock in Vancouver Masonic Temple, Inc., and joined Mt. Hood Lodge #32 and all other Concordant Bodies in a joint effort to build a new Temple. Washington Lodge No. 4 and Mt. Hood Lodge No. 32 are equally and jointly the controlling stockholders in Vancouver Masonic Temple, Inc. Other organizations are stockholders on a lesser basis. After many organizational meetings and site explorations, the present Temple location was purchased on November 14, 1967.

The year of 1968 was a year of much joint planning and on August 29, 1968, Ground Breaking Ceremonies were held for the new Temple. The remainder of the year was spent in construction.

The first meeting in the New Temple was held by Washington Lodge No. 4 on February 6, 1969 with W. M. H. A. Benedict presiding. Lodge was opened by R. W. Bro. Milton V. Poe, Junior Grand Warden. Laying the Cornerstone and Dedication of the Temple was held April 12, 1969 by the Grand Lodge Officers with Most Worshipful Brother Robert L. Gilmore, Grand Master, presiding.