‘Founding of Semiquincentennial Lodge 250’

    

Rhode Island might not come to mind immediately when contemplating the Revolutionary War*, but their Grand Lodge has devised the novel way of celebrating America250 by chartering a “lodge of commemoration” to be at labor for the coming year.

From the publicity:

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250

Reflect on the Past

Celebrate the Present

Hope for the Future

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 is chartered as a commemorative lodge dedicated to the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence.

The tenets of Freemasonry have influenced the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and courage that are the foundation of our nation.

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 celebrates the universality of Freemasonry and the importance of the tenets of our Craft to people throughout the world. It is a lodge that is open to and welcomes, both literally and figuratively, Freemasons wheresoever dispersed.

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 will be opened officially with the presentation of the charter at the Grand Lodge Annual Meeting on May 18, 2026. All attending the Annual Meeting will receive a copy of this keepsake document.

Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 will be called to recess, but may be called to labor any time during the year at the will and pleasure of its Worshipful Master. The lodge will be officially closed at the Grand Lodge Annual Meeting in May 2027.

Program for May 2

Open Semi-Public

Occasional Grand Lodge

Rick Baccus

Most Worshipful Grand Master

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

Prologue and Guiding Principles

Stephen E. Mitchell

Past Grand Master

Reflect on the Past

Raymond A. Geer

Grand Historian

Celebrate the Present

Timothy L. Culhane

Director of Masonic Education

Hope for the Future

Joshua A. Irizarry, Past Master

St. Johns Lodge 1

Providence

Three Voices, One Spirit

Stephen E. Mitchell

Past Grand Master

Formal Presentation of the Petition

to Establish Semiquincentennial Lodge 250 

Gilbert J. Fontes, Jr.

Deputy Grand Master

Introduction of Grand Lodge Officers

and Guests

Benediction

Close Lodge

Rick Baccus

Most Worshipful Grand Master

Petition for charter

May 2, 2026A.D. | 6026A.L.

To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations:

Bro. Rick Baccus, M∴ W∴ Grand Master

The undersigned, petitioners, being, Free and Accepted Master Masons, having the prosperity of the Fraternity at heart, and willing to exert their best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Masonry, respectfully represent,

That, to Honor the Contributions of Freemasons to the Prosperity of our State and Nation and for other good reasons, they are desirous of forming a Lodge of Commemoration within this jurisdiction, to be named Semiquincentennial Lodge No. 250, F. & A. M.

Therefore, they pray for letters of dispensation, or a warrant of constitution, to empower them to assemble as a legal Lodge, to discharge the duties of Masonry in a regular and constitutional manner, according to the original forms of the order, and the regulations of the Grand Lodge.

Scheduled Events

May 2 - The Founding of Semiquincentennial Lodge 250

May 18 - Grand Lodge Annual with issuing of Charter of Semiquincentennial Lodge 250

August TBA - Grand Lodge Picnic and Flag Ceremony

September 27 (tentative) - Time Capsule and Liberty Tree Planting

September 30 - Collegium Luminosum: Speaker on Rhode Island Masonic History

November 14 - Revolutionary Table Lodge

* In all fairness, it is said Freemasons from St. John’s Lodge in Providence were key to the destruction of the HMS Gaspee on June 10, 1772, a dangerous act of tax rebellion a year and a half before the Boston Tea Party.

     

‘Buy these books to celebrate Virginia’s 250th’

    

In addition to what, I’m sure, will be many 2026 Masonic festivities for the 250th anniversary of the Founding of the United States via our Declaration of Independence, and many more 250th commemorations of more Founding events, there will be Masonic milestones too. The Grand Lodge of Virginia, the oldest independent Masonic grand lodge in the country, was organized on this date in 1778. (I’m not talking about provincial grand lodges and other embryony that date to the 1730s. I mean specifically post-Declaration grand lodges in the United States.) Now, the Virginia brethren have allied with Macoy Masonic Supply Co. to contribute to the fundraising for a suitable semiquincentennial celebration.

Books are for sale!

From the publicity:

We are already getting prepared for 2028 when the Grand Lodge of Virginia will be celebrating its 250th anniversary. To keep the costs down so all members can participate, we are creating new ways to raise funds and still serve the Craft in a meaningful way.

The Grand Lodge of Virginia has proudly partnered with the oldest Masonic publisher and supplier—Virginia’s own Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc.—by offering Virginia Masons an exclusive opportunity to be the first to purchase a small piece of Masonic history. 

Over the years, the estates of brethren who have passed to the celestial lodge above donate the books from the departed brethren’s libraries. Some of these books are bought and sold by rare book collectors because they date back to the 1700s and 1800s. Other books are more valuable because of the Masonic knowledge they have within their pages. Many have signatures in the front from brothers who were members of lodges all over the state.

Click here.

Periodically, this collection will be refreshed and additional books will be added to the site. If you would like to receive updates and get more information on the books that are available, please click here and Macoy will send you emails as new items are added to the site.

All proceeds of these book sales will go directly to the 250th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Thank you for your time and consideration, and we hope you enjoy this exciting opportunity!

1778 Society

In addition, Grand Lodge has created the 1778 Society to streamline fundraising for the semiquincentennial festivities. At this time, orders are being taken for breast jewels to be given in recognition of gifts to the Society. Donor levels are Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, and you can read more about that here.

Magpie coverage of Saturday’s meeting of Civil War Lodge of Research 1865 in Richmond is forthcoming, but it was a great day and I’m glad I made the trip.

     

‘Charge your cannons for Fort Ticonderoga’

    

Click to enlarge.

New York Freemasonry loses no time in celebrating the semiquincentennial year of the American Founding. The, I think, first initiative is to be a statewide blanket of festive boards in May to commemorate the Continentals’ victory over His Majesty’s troops at Fort Ticonderoga, way up in Essex County.

Talk about charging your cannons. Vivat!

Mount Defiance Lodge 794, constituted back in 1888, is at labor in Ticonderoga, and I’m sure the brethren will party in high style. Here in Manhattan, I’m curious to see how many lodges under the same roof will try to host similar events at around the same time. At The American Lodge of Research, I’m already working on a festive board for June to mark a different anniversary, so will avoid those potential clashes.