The oldest organization in the Town of Urbanna is not the Town of Urbanna government (1902); not the Middlesex County Woman’s Club (1929); not Middlesex (Urbanna) Volunteer Fire Department (1940); not Urbanna Baptist Church (1888); and not Urbanna United Methodist Church (1880).
The oldest ongoing organization in the Town of Urbanna is Urbanna Masonic Lodge #83 A.F. & A.M., founded in 1872. On Thursday, Dec. 11, the lodge conducted an open installation of officers to the public at the lodge building in Urbanna, the first open meeting of its kind in more than 25 years.
After the Civil War, free-masonry spread throughout this region and was an avenue for men as a group to rebuild their lives and to help the less fortunate families to rebuild their lives.
Freemasonry is the world’s oldest fraternal organization, evolving from medieval stonemasons’ guilds into brotherhoods focused on self-improvement, moral development and community service.
The first lodge meeting in Urbanna was conducted on July 3, 1872 on the second floor of an old brick building, located on the corner of Virginia and Cross streets, where the current Virginia Street Cafe is located.
Early Urbanna lodge records indicate most of the lodge’s funds were raised by charging for meals prior to meetings and the collection of dues from members, which in turn were then distributed to charities and for maintaining the lodge building.
Records from 1891-1895 show the lodge contributed to help the Methodist church in West Point rebuild after a fire, gave to Brother Robert Rogers, who lost his house in a fire; to Northampton Lodge N.234 for the relief of a brother, and numerous contributions to the relief of Civil War widows throughout the county.
Today, the lodge continues to contribute by offering scholarships to local college students; relief to those with charitable needs; and to other charities. For the first time in more than 25 years, the local lodge opened its doors for a public installation of officers.
Worshipful Master Richard Lewter said that more and more lodges are opening up installation ceremonies to the public for family and friends to participate. After each officer was installed, a member of their family came and put the masonic emblem around their necks.
“This is the first open installation in Urbanna in my 25 years as a mason,” said Lewter. “We feel that it is a good thing to let the community know us better and we are glad that we did it.”
