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Most
Worshipful James Evans, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, granted a
dispensation for Mackey Lodge on July 1, 1851.
Officers
were:
Lewis
Page- Worshipful Master
George
W. Clements- Senior Warden
Robert
E. Withers- Junior Warden
A
called communication was held in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of
Campbell County, the first county owned office building which had been erected
in 1830, on Monday evening July 14, 1851, for the purpose of organizing and
commencing work as a regular Lodge. Officers were duly elected and installed. A
committee was appointed to draft a set of bylaws. These bylaws, after being read
and amended, were approved on July 26, 1851.
On
Monday evening, October 13, 1851, the regular communication was held at the
Temperance Hall and Union Chapel. Prior to this all meetings had been held in
the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Campbell County.
Records
state that “Sometime in the year 1850, an organization known as the Sons of
Temperance purchased suitable land, erected a building and formed Division No.
159.” It is interesting to note that the minutes of Marshall Lodge No. 39
state that a cornerstone was laid for “Temperance Hall and Union Chapel” on
August 30, 1850. The Masonic bodies of Lynchburg did this almost two months
before Deed Book No. 28, Page 234 of the Campbell County Records state that this
one-sixth acre is conveyed from German Jordan on October 3, 1850.
At
a communication held on Monday evening, January 12, 1852, a committee was
authorized to offer to Rustburg Division of Sons of Temperance, the sum of $2.50
per communication for permitting the Lodge to meet in their hall until further
notice.
This
Lodge is proud to bear the name of an eminent Mason, Dr. Albert Gallatin Mackey.
Dr. Mackey was born in Charleston, SC on March 12, 1807, and died at Fort
Monroe, Virginia on June 20, 1881. He is buried in Washington DC. He was raised
in St. Andrews Lodge No.10, in Charleston in 1841. His contributions to the
literature and science of Freemasonry are unsurpassed in the annals of American
Masonry. He has twelve published works on Masonry.
Division
No. 159 of the Sons of Temperance became extinct about 1855. It was then
determined that a lien against the building could not be paid, so a Chancery
Suit was filed for the balance due in October 1855. E. R. Page, a member and
Past Master of Mackey Lodge No. 69, purchased “Temperance Hall and Union
Chapel”. This was to be conveyed to the trustees of Mackey Lodge No. 59 and
trustees of the Episcopal Church of Campbell Courthouse, with joint title being
held by these organizations.
At
a special communication of Mackey Lodge No. 69 on June 1, 1940, Most Worshipful
Thomas J. Traylor, Grand Mater of Masons in Virginia, presided at the raising of
five Fellow craft to the sublime degree of Master Mason.
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