Lodge History

In Brief

Under date of September 14, 1868, seven Master Masons, residing in Uniontown (now Anacostia), D. C., formally requested an endorsement from Naval Lodge, No.4, of their petition to Grand Master B. B. French, for a dispensation to form a new lodge in that suburb, but, for some reason which the kindly mists of the years has veiled, No.4, although conceding the petitioners to be Master Masons in good standing, refused a recommendation.

Through the good offices of M. W. Bro. French, however, a later petition, dated December 17, of the same year, met with better success, whereupon the Grand Master issued a dispensation in form, dated December 22, 1868, authorizing the formation in Uniontown of a lodge to be known as Anacostia Lodge, U. D., and appointed "our trusty and well beloved brother" William F. Farish, as Master; Bro. George H. Martin as S. W., and Bro. Charles S. Wheeler as J. W. This dispensation being returned at the communication of the Grand Lodge December 28, 1868, accompanied by a regular petition signed by Brothers Wm. F. Farish, John R. McConnell, Charles S. Wheeler. Wm. H. Wheeler, Jno. Cruikshank, and B. F. Wilkins, a charter was the same evening ordered to issue, with the title of Anacostic. Lodge, No. 21.

The institution took place March 8, 1869, at· the lodge room in Uniontown, the occasion being made memorable by the presence of R. W. Bro. A. G. Mackey, the noted Masonic writer and jurist, and M. W. Bro. W. F. Saunders, Grand Master of Montana Territory, the former, on invitation of Grand Master Donaldson, conducting the ceremony and installing the officers.

The Fowler History - A Detailed Historical Account

See this page for a detailed history of Anacostia Lodge, written by Walter L. Fowler