Staunton History of African American Freemasonry

Staunton History of African American Freemasonry. Mount Zion Lodge #18 at 815 North Augusta Street. Through the development of mutual aid societies, churches, and fraternal organizations, African Americans looked to build permanent foundations capable of both supporting and encouraging a sense of community. The first African Lodge of Freemasons was established in Boston, Massachusetts in 1784 by Prince Hall, a free black man, abolitionist, educator, and Revolutionary War figure. After the Civil War, African American benevolent, charitable, and fraternal organizations laid the foundation for African American citizenship, education, and the improvement of the condition of blacks. Freemasons, who were mostly Black businessmen and landowners, played a major role in providing humanitarian aid during this time. Their purpose was to assist widows, help with funeral expenses, provide food and clothes, and help with education., Mount Zion Lodge #18 is the oldest Prince Hall Lodge west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was originally organized under a Warrant of Constitution on October 21, 1867 as Mount Zion #12. According to records available, there were eighteen (18) charter members. The Lodge number was changed from Mount Zion #12 to #18 in the year 1875 when the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia in Petersburg was organized. Brother J.B. Gaskins was the first Worshipful Master of the Mount Zion Lodge., The Mount Zion Lodge purchased property at what is now 140 E. Beverley Street jointly with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Brown in 1873. The Browns occupied the first two floors and the Lodge room was on the third floor. After the death of the Browns, the Lodge purchased their share from the family. The Lodge sold the Beverley Street property in 2020 and purchased and renovated the former Kenneth L. Jones Funeral Home located on North Augusta Street., (captions) , As the first black society in American history devoted to social, political, and economic improvement, the Black Masons had a tremendous impact on the wider community, involving themselves in every battle for the liberty and rights of blacks. Mount Zion Lodge dispenses charity, promotes family values, and endeavors to significantly aid in the uplifting of humanity., The Order of the Eastern Star is a Masonic appendant body open now to both men and women. It was established in 1850 for women by lawyer and educator Rob Morris, a noted Freemason, but was only adopted and approved as an appendant body of the Masonic Fraternity in 1873. Staunton had an Order of the Eastern Star., The Mount Zion Lodge occupied this East Beverley Street building from 1873-2020.