February History Fact of the Month

Barristers Lodge No. 48​

Looking Back 75 Years to Barristers Lodge No. 48
In the year that World War II ended, on December 5, 1945, Brother Kennedy C. Watkins ascended to the East to assume his place in the Oriental chair of Barristers Lodge No. 48 of the Free and Accepted Masons of the District of Columbia for the 1946 Masonic year.  As explained in the minutes, "[t]he newly elected Worshipful Master and Senior Warden were impressively installed by the first Master of Barristers Lodge, Worshipful Brother Warren W. Grimes, our faithful installing officer."

Barristers Lodge had a busy Masonic year.  It held numerous Special Communications to confer degrees upon Brethren--ultimately raising five Master Masons. It also provided a number of programs for the Brethren, including an address by Admiral O.S. Coclough, Judge Advocate General of the Navy, on National Security and an address by General Paul R. Hawlye, Chief Medical Officer of the Veteran's Administration (VA), on medical activities of the VA.

After a successful year, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the District of Columbia, William E. Schooley, "commented very favorably on the activities of the Lodge and on its status as of the end of the Masonic Year."