Meetings of the CWLR 1865
1995
May 6, 1995 Highland Springs – first meeting – Allen E. Roberts, WM, unable to attend because of illness
May 4, 1996 Highland Springs – elected new officers – Keith A. Hinerman new WM
1996
October 26, 1996 Meeting at Lodge in Richmond, and tour of Richmond battlefields
1997
May 3, 1997 Highland Springs – elected new officers – Paul M. Bessel new WM – Tribute to the late Allen E. Roberts, our Charter Master
October 11, 1997 Masonic Home of Virginia, in Richmond, Virginia – living history demonstration at Grand Lodge family day
December 6, 1997
Winchester Hiram Lodge in Winchester, Virginia – Speaker: Michel Brodsky from Belgium, Past Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge – also Civil War Tour of Winchester – elected officers on new schedule (December instead of May) – Paul M. Bessel reelected WM
1998
April 18, 1998 Fredericksburg Lodge – 2 speakers on Civil War and Masonic research
July 3, 1998 Gettysburg – CWLR meeting in the open field at dusk, during the 135th Reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg
July 11, 1998 George Washington Masonic National Memorial, together with officers and members of Quatuor Coronati Lodge #2076 from London – filled the auditorium, with about 350 attendees – Paul M. Bessel presented a paper on “Civil War Political and Philosophical Issues from a Masonic Perspective”
October 10, 1998 Antietam – Pry House – followed by tour of the Battlefield
December 5, 1998 Highland Springs – elections – David J. Roberts new WM
1999
March 6, 1999 Wellsburg, West Virginia – meeting of CWLR in W.V. lodge celebrating 200th anniversary
July 10, 1999 Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, with brass band during lunch, followed by tour of Harpers Ferry and Charles Town, West Virginia
August 28, 1999 Visited Bentonville, N.C., Battlefield, in Newton Grove, N.C. – tour conducted by site manager John B. Goode
October 30, 1999 Presentation on Battle of Ball’s Bluff by Kim B. Holien, historian with the Department of the Army, followed by a tour of the Ball’s Bluff Battlefield, near Leesburg, Virginia
December 4, 1999 Fredericksburg Lodge #4 in Fredericksburg, Virginia – elections – Robert E. Schindler, Sr., new WM – medical display by Bruce Nelson and tour of old town Fredericksburg and the Masonic cemetery
2000
April 1, 2000 Presentation by Kathryn Kleiman, Friends of Point Lookout Society, on the U.S. prison at Point Lookout, Maryland, for Confederate prisoners, followed by a tour of the prison
July 8, 2000 Arlington Masonic Lodge – talk by Brian Pohanka on the 5th N.Y. (Duryea’s Zouaves) at 2nd Manassas (Bull Run) – followed by tour of Bull Run (Manassas) Battlefield
October 7, 2000 Presentation by Peter Gross on the burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, followed by a tour of the destroyed area – meeting in the Masonic lodge that was saved from the burning
December 2, 2000 Highland Springs – elections – Michael E. McCabe new WM – also a tour of Cold Harbor battlefield
2001
April 7, 2001 Gettysburg – Good Samaritan Lodge – followed by a Masonic tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield
July 14, 2001 Delaware City, Delaware – Jackson Lodge – tour of Fort Delaware, Union prisoner of war camp, with living history show.
September 15, 2001 Lodge meeting in the field at Laurel Hill in Ararat, Virginia – birthplace of J.E.B. Stuart
October 20, 2001 Winchester Hiram Lodge #21 in Winchester, Virginia – same weekend as Cedar Creek reenactment – in evening Unity Lodge #146 (WM is CWLR Treasurer Marty Zuckerman) table Lodge
December 1, 2001 Election and installation of new officers – Babcock Lodge #322 in Highland Springs, Virginia Charles R. Joseph new WM – tour of the Museum of the Confederacy and the Confederate White House after meeting
2002
April 13, 2002 Charleston SC — Presentation on Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, and tour of the Hunley Museum; Masonic walking tour of historic Charleston; tour of Fort Sumter
July 13, 2002 Gettysburg PA — Met at Good Samaritan Lodge. Walking tour of battlefield by National Park Service tour guide.
September 15, 2002 Called meeting in the field at Laurel Hill in Ararat VA, J.E.B. Stuart’s birthplace
October 5, 2002 Meeting at Mt. Nebo Lodge No. 91 in Shepherdstown WV. Presentation on Shepherdstown and the Civil War. Walking tour of the historic old town, followed by a visit to Antietam National Battlefield in nearby Sharpsburg, Maryland.
December 7, 2002 For the first time, there was a public, rather than private, installation of CWLR officers. It was held at Babcock Lodge #322 in Highland Springs, Virginia The Installing Officer was MW George H. Chapin, who was Grand Master of Virginia in 1999. John Shroeder, Jr., was installed as Master. Afterwards, there was a tour of Chimborazo Civil War Hospital Visitors Center in Richmond.
2003
March 13, 2003 Meeting at Endview Plantation, main house, at the annual reenactment in Newport News, VA.
April 12, 2003 Meeting in Henry Lodge #57, Fairfax, Virginia. Program by Don Hakenson, noted Civil War author and lecturer, on John Singleton Mosby and some of his exploits in Fairfax city (capture of Union Brigadier General Stoughton), plus a guided walking tour of some historic sites and the cemetery where some of Mosby’s men are buried.
August 9, 2003 Gettysburg – CWLR meeting in the open field at dusk, during the 140th Reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg
September 11, 2003 Visit with Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 in London, returning their visit to the CWLR in July 1998
October 4, 2003 Meeting in Fredericksburg Lodge #4, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Tour and presentation on the Battle of Chancellorsville
December 6, 2003 Meeting at Babcock Lodge #322, Highland Springs, Virginia. Election and installation of officers of the CWLR for 2004.
2004
July 31, 2004 Alexandria, Virginia – Joint meeting with A. Douglas Smith, Jr., Lodge of Research #1949, at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial – presentation by an imitator of President William McKinley
October 2, 2004 Lisbon, Ohio – visit to the monument to John Hunt Morgan – reenactors from the 10th Ohio Volunteer regiment
December 4, 2004 Election and Installation of Officers. Spurmont Lodge #98, 135 John Marshall Highway, Strasburg, VA.
A number of the Brethren and their guests took the opportunity to make the short drive to Appomattox National Battlefield Park to see the annual luminaria display of 23,000 candles — one for each casualty of the single day’s battle. All who saw it were moved and impressed by the simplicity of the display, and the graphic way of showing just how large a number 23,000 really is. 15 folks then headed off to the Bavarian Inn in nearby Shepardstown, WV for a fine dinner.
2005
April 8, 2005 Appomattox – CWLR meeting in the open field at dusk, during the 140th Reenactment of the final events before the surrender of Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.
April 9, 2005 Stated Communication. 10th Anniversary of the Civil War Lodge of Research. Location: Appomattox, VA, at the lodge room of Monroe Lodge #301. Time: 10am. Theme: “The Day Two Masons Began the Healing”, focusing on the reported actions of Bros. Chamberlain and Gordon at the surrender. Program will include a first-person portrayal of Federal General Brother Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The day’s events will include an observance of the chartering of the Civil War Lodge of Research and its first meeting in May 1994, with special recognition of the Lodge’s Past Masters.
July 2005 Baltimore, Maryland. Looked at some historical areas of Baltimore with a connection to the Civil War, including Federal Hill, B&O RR Station, Fort McHenry.
September 24, 2005 Called communication. Joint meeting with the Delaware Lodge of Research. Empty Chair Degree, crated to honor Masons who died in service to their country.
October 1, 2005 Stated meeting at Takoma Masonic Center in Washington DC, followed by lunch catered by Denise J. Mann. Then, program by Paul M. Bessel, using the lodge room to demonstrate the strategic and tactical details of the battle of Gettysburg. Afterwards, members attended the Octagon Museum exhibit of paintings relating to Freemasonry in the architectural history of Washington DC.
December 2006
Highland Springs, Virginia – Elections & Installation
April 8, 2006 Fort Gaines, Alabama, hosted by McCormack/Mobile #40. Brothers Bob Houston and Wayne Sirmon
July 8, 2006 Concord Lodge #307, Vienna, Virginia. Writer and Brother David Moore, guest Speaker on the Raid of Lawrence, Kansas in 1863.
October 14, 2006 Dentsville Lodge #398, at 6604 Shakespeare Road, Columbia, South Carolina. The South Carolina Masonic Research Society acted as host, along with Dentsville Lodge #398, and held their meeting at 9am and the CWLR meeting began after the conclusion of the SCMRS. The program was by Don Burbidge and there was a visit to SC Archives in the afternoon.
December 2, 2006 George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria VA – Elections & Installation, and program by Jari Villanueva on “The History of Taps”
2007
April 2007 Stated meeting in Hampton, Virginia
July 14 2007 Stated meeting in Arlington, Virginia. Met at Arlington Glebe Centennial Lodge. Brother David Price of Delaware was the guest speaker on the subject of the sculptor Brother Moses Ezikiel. In the afternoon, a tour of Arlington National Cemetery and the laying of wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Confederate and Union Memorials. Brother Ezikiel was the sculptor for the Confederate Memorial and a survivor of the famous VMI battle at NewMarket, VA in 1864.
October 2007 Stated meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 2007 Stated meeting in Richmond, Virginia
2008
April 2008 Stated meeting in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
July 12 2008 Stated meeting in New Bern, North Carolina
October 18 2008 Stated meeting in Winchester, Virginia
December 13 2008 Stated Annual meeting at Spurmont Lodge #98, 135 John Marshall Hwy, Strasburg VA
Stated Meetings 2009
April 4 2009
Stated meeting in Lexington VA, at Mountain City Lodge #67, in downtown Lexington, Virginia, followed by a tour of Lexington.
July 11 2009
Stated meeting in Martinsburg WV
October 3 2009 Stated meeting in Lynchburg VA, near Appomattox Court House
December 5 2009 Stated meeting in Fredericksburg VA
Stated Meetings 2010
April 10 2010 Stated meeting in Ashville NC
July 10 2010 Stated meeting in Strasburg VA
October 2 2010 Stated meeting in Lyndhurst NJ
December 4, 2010 Stated meeting in Culpepper VA
Stated Meetings 2011
April 9, 2011 Stated meeting in Petersburg VA
July 9, 2011 Stated meeting in Winchester VA
October 1, 2011 Stated meeting in Saltville VA
December 3, 2011 Stated meeting in Yorktown VA
Stated Meetings 2012
April 14, 2012 Stated meeting in Franklin TN
July 14, 2012 Stated meeting in Frederick MD
October 6, 2012 Stated meeting in Hampton VA
December 1, 2012 Stated meeting in Leesburg VA
Stated Meetings 2013
April 13, 2013 Stated meeting in Camp Spring MD
July 5, 2013 Called meeting in Gettysburg PA
July 6, 2013 Stated meeting in Hagerstown MD
October 5, 2013 Stated meeting in Delaware
December 7, 2013 Stated meeting at Spurmont Lodge in Strasburg, VA
Stated Meetings 2014
April 12, 2014 Stated meeting in Chambersburg,PA
July 12, 2014 Stated meeting in Richmond VA
October 4, 2014 Stated meeting at Spurmont Lodge #98, Strasburg VA
December 6, 2014 Stated meeting at Henry Lodge #57 in Fairfax VA
Stated Meetings 2015
April 11, 2015 Informal meeting at Appomattox VA
May 9, 2015 Stated meeting at Best Farm on the Monocacy Battlefield, Frederick MD
meeting at 7:15pm
July 11, 2015 Stated meeting at Manasseh Lodge #182, Manassas Battlefield, Manassas VA
October 3, 2015 Stated meeting at Blenheim Civil War Center, Fairfax VA
December 5, 2015 Stated meeting at Henry Lodge #57, Installation of Wo. Christopher Chrzanowski
Stated Meetings 2016
April 2, 2016 Stated meeting at Bremond Lodge #241 Newport News, VA. Tour of the Mariner’s Museum and special tore and presentation of the CSS Hunley.
July 2, 2016 Sated meeting at Howard Lodge #101 Elk Ridge, Md. Brother John McKee gave presentation on the boiler explosion on the USS Chenawgo.
October 1, 2016 Stated meeting Alexandria National Cemetery-Program given about the cemetery established in 1862 for US troops killed at battle of Manassas. Most original buildings still stand.
December 12, 2016 Stated meeting at Manasseh Lodge #182 Manassas VA- Installation of Wo. Bennett Hart
Stated Meetings 2017
April 8, 2017 Stated meeting at Monroe Lodge #301 Appomattox, VA. Presentation on the surrender of CSA General Lee to US General Grant, toured the battle fields and toured the history center.
July 5, 2017 Stated meeting at Winchester Hiram #21 Winchester, VA. Toured the Winchester Civil War Museum, toured the Stonewall Jackson headquarters, made a visit to the Stonewall Jackson Confederate Cemetery and had a wreath laying ceremony on the graves of Col. Turner Ashby and his brother.
October 7, 2017 Stated meeting at Fredericksburg Lodge #4, Fredericksburg, VA. Presentation of the battles of Fredericksburg with troop movements throughout the battle, killed and wounded figures and why this was strategic battle.
December 5, 2017 Stated at Manasseh Lodge #182, Manassas, VA – Installation of W. Bennett Hart.
Stated Meetings 2018
April 2, 2018 Stated at Lodge # 182 Stated was opened “In the Field” at Manassas National Battlefield Park.
July 14, 2018 Stated at Annapolis Lodge #80 in Annapolis, Md. Tour of the US Navel Academy
October 6, 2018 Stated at Henry Lodge #57, Fairfax, VA.
December 1, 2018 Stated Meeting at Arlington Centennial Glebe #81 – Installation of Wo. Richard Berkman.
Stated Meetings 2019
April 13, 2019 Stated
Columbia Lodge #58 Frederick MD
Program: Civil War Medical Museum
July 12, 2019 Stated
Jackson Lodge #19 Delaware City DE
Program: Pea Patch Island-Union Prisoner of War Prison
September 28, 2019 Stated
Day Lodge #58 Louisa VA
Carbine Display and Lecture
Tour of Battle of Trevilian Battlefield
December 7, 2019 Stated
Arlington Centennial Glebe #81
Installment of Wo. George Andrew Martinez
Stated Meetings 2020
April 2020- Cancelled due to COVID-19 epidemic
July 2020- Cancelled due to COVID-19 epidemic
September 26, 2020 Stated
Richmond-Randolph Lodge # 19 AF & AM
Program “The Masonic Hall” Historical notes of the hall during the Civil War.Presented by W Michael Joyner, PM.
December 5 2020-Stated
Spurmont Lodge #98
Tour of Battle of Hupps Hill
Stated Meeting 2021
April
July 10, 2021 -State
Perseverance Lodge # 21 Harrisburg PA
National Civil War Museum
September 18, 2021- Stated
Fredericksburg #4 Fredericksburg VA
Fredericksburg Battlefield (Hollowed Ground Tour)
December 4, 2021 Stated
Olive Branch #118 Leesburg VA
Installation of Officers
Stated Meetings 2022
April 9, 2022-Stated
Fairfax Lodge #43 Culpepper VA
Carbine Display
Tour Brandy Station Battlefield
July 9, 2022-Stated
Petersburg Lodge #15 Petersburg VA
Tour Petersburg National Battlefield & Crater
October 17, 2022-Stated
Antietam Lodge #197 Keedysville MD
160th Anniversary Battle of Antietam
December 3 2022-Stated
Williamsburg Lodge #6
Installation of Officers
Tour Williamsburg Battle Field
Stated Meeting 2023
April 1 2023-Stated
Fredericksburg #4-Fredericksburg VA
Tour Battlefield of Spotsylvania Court House
Tour Fredericksburg Battle Field
July 8, 2023-Stated
Good Samaritan Lodge #336 Gettysburg PA
Battlefield Tour
October 20 2023-Stated
Hamilton Thompson Lodge 36 Purcellville VA
Tour and program of Harpers Ferry WV.
December 2, 2023-Stated
Farmville Lode #41
Installment of Lodge Officers RW John Butler WM
Tours : Battle of Cumberland Church
Farmville Confederate Cemetery
Battle of Highbridge
Sailors Creek Battlefield
Stated Meetings 2024
Bingham Lodge #272
309 E Center St, Mebane, NC 27302
Bennett Place Farm, the former
farm and homestead in Durham, North Carolina, which was the site
of the last surrender of a major Confederate army in the American
Civil War, when Joseph E. Johnston surrendered to William
T. Sherman. For everyone, the Tangier Outlet Mall is located
nearby for things to do.
Jackson Lodge #19
406 4th Street
Delaware City, Delaware 19706
Program: Fort Delaware -Pea Patch Island-Confederate Prisoner of Ware Camp
History was presented by Michael Rodgers, SW of Iconic Lodge #31 New Castle DE,
WM of the Delaware Lodge of Research and Aide to the GM,MW Ronald Phillip Ferreao.
(see presentation page)
A tour was taken by members and spouses of Fort Delaware arriving on the island vis ferry.
One petition voted: CLEAR and five petitions received
Lee Lodge #Waynesboro VA
Program: History of Lee Lodge
LEE LODGE NO. 209 A.F. & A.M.
CHARTERED DECEMBER 12, 1866
CELEBRATING OVER 150 YEARS OF FREEMASONRY
IN WAYNESBORO, VIRGINIA
(See Presentation)
Battlefield Tour
The Battle of Waynesboro
On the way to Petersburg, at the Battle of Waynesboro, March 2, Custer (1,5000 trapped the
remainder of Early’s army and 1,600 / 2,500 soldiers surrendered.
(See Presentation)