As can be seen on our “History” page, Dover Lodge has had a rich history throughout the 136 years since it was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Dover Brethren have spent countless hours researching and retelling our storied past. But what of the many documentaries and films so prevalent in our world today which endlessly tell the tale of the first Grand Lodge in England? One cannot but hear of the forming of this first Grand Lodge in the year 1717 by four London Lodges already in operation and desiring an over-arching organization.
Fast-forward a full 91 years from that momentous June 24th day in London and you find the creation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. With nearly a century passing, might it be possible to trace Dover Lodge’s roots through those mists of time? Could we possibly follow our lineage back to those days nearly 300 years ago?
The answer is a resounding “YES” – read on…
Let us work our way backward through time. As has already been stated, Dover Lodge was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1874.
The Grand Lodge of Ohio, now located near Columbus Ohio, was formed in 1808 in the city of Chillicothe Ohio by six founding Lodges operating in our state. These six Lodges’ heritage can be broken into four family lines. Click here if you’d like an illustrated (PDF) family tree of Dover Lodge.
Family #1 – Connecticut
Family number one consisted of two Lodges chartered by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut. These were Erie Lodge #47 in Warren Ohio, and New England Lodge #48 in Worthington Ohio (the city where the Grand Lodge of Ohio is currently located). Both of these Lodges were chartered in 1803, only 5 short years before agreeing to found the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
The Grand Lodge of Connecticut was formed in the city of New Haven. Originally Hiram Lodge #1 which operated under a charter issued in 1750 by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, it became the official Grand Lodge of the state of Connecticut in 1789.
Family #2 – Massachusetts
Two of the six Lodges that formed the Grand Lodge of Ohio were chartered directly by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. These were American Union #1 in Marietta Ohio, and Scioto #2 in Chillicothe Ohio. American Union #1 was chartered in 1776 and was originally a traveling military Lodge until settling in Marietta. Scioto #2 was chartered in 1805, just three years before the forming of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
The descent of these two Lodges, like the Lodges in Group #1, both come from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The only difference is that Group #1 chartered through the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, which is a descendant of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, originally known as Saint John’s Grand Lodge, was warranted in 1733 by the Premier Grand Lodge of England. As history readily informs us, the Premier Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717 in London at the Goose and Gridiron Ale House. Many mistakenly believe that the United Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717. This is simply not so – it was the PREMIER Grand Lodge of England. But more on this subject later…
Family #3 – Kentucky
Only one of the six Lodges that formed the Grand Lodge of Ohio descend from this family. Cincinnati Lodge #13 in Cincinnati Ohio was chartered in 1806 by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.
The lineage of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky is somewhat difficult to trace as one reaches through this family line. Originally Lexington Lodge #25 (in Lexington, KY) chartered in 1788 by the Grand Lodge of Virginia, it later broke away and became the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in the year 1800.
The Grand Lodge of Virginia was formed in 1778 in Williamsburg VA by nine founding Lodges. These Lodges, although their names and locations are known, were chartered by three different Grand Lodges prior to their merge into a new Grand Lodge: The Grand Lodge of Scotland (1736, Edinburgh), The Grand Lodge of Ireland (1725, Dublin) and the Antient Grand Lodge of England (1751, London). Research continues into which of these nine Lodges belonged to which Grand Lodge.
It is interesting to note that the Grand Lodge of Virginia traces its descent from the Antient Grand Lodge of England (as well as Scotland and Ireland), as opposed the the prior two families outlined above who descend from the Premier Grand Lodge of England. As said before, more on this later…
Family #4 – Pennsylvania
The sixth of the six founding Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Ohio is Lodge of Amity #105 located in Zanesville Ohio. This Lodge was chartered in 1805 by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was formed in 1786 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania from the earlier Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was founded in 1761 under warrant from the Antient Grand Lodge of England. It is interesting to note that there was an antecedant Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania warranted in 1750 by the Premier Grand Lodge of England, but this Grand Lodge and its chartered Lodges were soon eclipsed by the Antient Lodges in the later 1700s. Eventually this provincial Grand Lodge chartered by the Premier Grand Lodge of England ceased to operate. Therefore the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania warranted by the Antient Grand Lodge of England is the true ancestor of today’s Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
Moderns and Antients
The history of the so-called “Modern” and “Antient” (or “Ancient”) Grand Lodges of England is a long and interesting one which warrants further study outside of the scope of our current endeavor. Let it suffice for us to know that the “Modern” Grand Lodge (the Premier Grand Lodge of England, 1717) and the “Antient” Grand Lodge (the Antient Grand Lodge of England, 1751) were long at odds over the practice of Freemasonry. During the course of their six-decade-long dispute, both Grand Lodges warranted numerous other Grand Lodges and chartered countless new Lodges as Masonry spread.
Fortunately, in the year 1813 both the Moderns and the Antients agreed to unite. This was the formation of the current United Grand Lodge of England. Although only truly established in 1813, the United Grand Lodge of England traces their roots to 1717. This is rightfully so, as the Antients were actually a splintering away from the original Premier Grand Lodge of England formed in 1717.
Summary
Thus we reach the goal of our study – Dover Lodge can be clearly traced back to the year of the forming of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1717. Let us not lose sight however of this most important fact: the United Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717 by four Lodges who were already in existence prior to this year. There are also other Lodge meeting minutes showing Freemasonry operating in 1599 currently archived in the Grand Lodge of Scotland, with mention of aspects still practiced today in our Craft within poetical works dating from the 16th century.
We may even speak of the Regius Manuscript, a Masonic document from the year 1390. It would sometimes seem that nobody truly knows the distant origins of our Craft, but of this much we can be certain – Dover Lodge continues a tradition that at the very least echoes through time from the words of documents over six centuries old.
We are proud of what we do at Dover Lodge, and we are proud of our Fraternity, because we are aware of our past. We are legendary. Our Craft is not for everybody.
