History of Lovelady Lodge #670

On Sunday, July 10, 1932 thirty Master Masons met in the Colonial Theater, in Valdese, NC for the purpose of forming a Masonic Lodge in the town of Valdese. The first order of business was to form an organizational committee consisting of, Frank Pascal, Chairman, W. K. Sawyer, Secretary, J. V. Benfield, Reverend John Pons, Horace Goode, and Lee Ribet, Members.

On July 11, 1932, the Committee met with the town officials of Valdese, to propose that a second story be added to the Fire Station, which was in the process of being built at that time. The added expense of the second story would become the responsibility of the Masonic Lodge. After much debate the town agreed to the proposal.

On July 12, 1932 the Committee traveled to Charlotte, NC and met Grand Master H. C. Alexander, the Grand Master of Masons in NC, concerning forming a new lodge. On Wednesday July 13, 1932, 25 members met in the Band Room of Valdese High School and were told that the Grand Master was interested in forming a new lodge, and for them to begin to formulate their organization. J. V. Benfield reported that the money was available for the addition to the Fire Station. A committee on by-laws was chosen, consisting of D. W. Alexander, L. P. Guigou, and Reverend John Pons.

On July 25, 1932, the first elected officers of the Lodge were, Frank Pascal, Master, Dr W. H. Vander Linder, Senior Warden, Horace Goode, Junior Warden, J. V. Benfield, Treasurer, and W. K. Sawyer, Secretary. The first appointed officers appointed on August 9, 1932 were, Reverend John Pons, Senior Deacon, P. A. Meytre, Junior Deacon, Lee Ribet, Tyler, F. H. Pons, Senior Stewart, and Ben Grill, Junior Stewart. Dr W. H. Vander Linder presented the Lodge its first Holy Bible to be used on the altar.

On September 6, 1932, the first meeting in the new Lodge was held with twenty-three brethren present, for the purpose of naming the new Lodge. The lodge was initially named the A. M. Kistler Lodge, but that name was denied by the Grand Lodge. The name Lovelady Lodge was then proposed and approved.

On November 1, 1932, the first meeting Under Dispensation was held. The Officers were installed by Brother Jeff Nelson, who was appointed by the Grand Master to conduct the ceremony.

On February 7, 1933, the Order of the Eastern Star requested permission to use the lodge for their meetings on the first and third Mondays of the month. Permission was granted.

On April 20, 1933, the Grand Lodge of NC granted Lovelady Lodge #670 its charter. The first person to be initiated into the lodge was Paul W. Sherrill.

In 1953 the Lodge moved to its present location on East Main Street, and the Lodge building was dedicated also.

CHARTER MEMBERS

E. S. Abernathy                     D. W. Alexander                     M. C. Bernard        J. V. Benfield                         J. E. Bolick                              Phillip Bounous

W. E. Davis, Sr                     Louis Ferrier                           A. F. Garrou            Francis Garrou                     Harley Goode                          Horace Goode

A. Grill                                    Benjamin Grill                         Henry Grill Jr            L. P. Guigou                         J. P. Hatley                               Dr C. H. Hemphill

J. J. Hurst                             J. U. Ledbetter                         W. B. Lowder          M. P. Lowman                     Rev W. G. McFarland               Peter A. Meytre

Edward Micol                       Frank Pascal                          Henry J. Pascal       Julius Pascal                       Ben Pons                                   Frederic H. Pons

Rev John Pons                    John A. Pons                           O.H. Pons Sr           Lee Ribet                             W. K. Sawyer                            Ben Shytle

L. S. Weaver