Cassia Lodge No. 142, A.F. & A.M. Woodstock, Virginia.
Our history - A dispensation was issued to Cassia Lodge, appointing Samuel Ott - Worshipful Master Samuel Anderson - Senior Warden George Snapp - Junior Warden
The charter for Cassia Lodge No. 142 has the date of January 25, 1825.
According to the minutes, the business of the Lodge was conducted in the Entered Apprentice Degree in 1827; also motions were seconded. In 1844, it was noted that the Lodge conducted its business in the Master Masons Degree. In 1844 it was reported that Cassia Lodge gave Shenandoah Royal Arch Chapter No. 17 permission to meet in the Lodge hall. Shenandoah Royal Arch Chapters charter is dated December 15, 1868. It had been declared extinct in 1866 and was revived in 1868. In 1848 the fee for joining Cassia Lodge was $20.00. At a meeting held on March 31, 1849, a petition was presented and signed by ten members requesting a recommendation from Cassia Lodge to the Grand Lodge of Virginia to establish a Lodge in New Market, Virginia. This Lodge, Central Lodge No. 38, was chartered December 12, 1849, became inactive in 1861, rechartered in 1867, and extinct in 1886. From 1833 until 1867 John Hass was Worshipful Master for sixteen years. There were no returns submitted to the Grand Lodge in 1852, 1853, and 1854. In 1855, Cassia Lodge No. 142 was declared extinct. It was rechartered on December 10, 1856, with the same number.
There are no records from June 26, 1852, until March 30, 1863. On March 30, 1863, a motion was passed to offer a $20.00 reward for information leading to the detection of the person or persons who broke into the Lodge hall and stole the candlesticks and pitcher. On April 25, 1864, a committee was appointed to wait upon Captain Ross and request him to return two candlesticks stolen from the Lodge by his command, while encamped here. It is not known which Army, North or South. On March 27, 1865, petitions were read from six soldiers and all were elected.
In 1868, a motion was passed that if a committee does not make its report, at the next meeting each member of the committee would be fined one dollar, also a committee was appointed to investigate three questions, 1.) Who owns the property that the Lodge now occupies? 2.) By what right does the Lodge occupy the property? and 3.) Does anyone have a claim to the property? No record exists of a report from this committee. The meeting place is unknown.
In 1881, it was reported that the Lodge room was unsafe to occupy, and the Lodge moved into a new Lodge hall. In 1882, new carpet was installed for $127.43, and chairs were purchased for $18.50 a dozen. In 1883 the old Lodge room was sold for $25.00.
In 1889, Cassia Lodge rented the Lodge hall to the “Good Templars” for $32.00 a year.
Cassia Lodge No. 142 assisted the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Most Worshipful Thomas N. Davis, in the laying of the cornerstone of the Methodist Episcopal Church on August 23, 1905.
In 1915 a discussion was held on having a public installation of officers, but a telegram was read from the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in which he stated he did not approve of open installations.
On July 8, 1918, Mr. Earl Brandt was balloted on and it being in his favor, the Lodge requested a Lodge in Charlottesville, Virginia to confer all three degrees in one day. The Lodge had a special dispensation from the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia. On September 23, 1918, Mr. R. W. Stoneburner received all three degrees, special dispensation having been received from the Grand Master. The Lodge did not meet in September, October, or November, because of the flu.
An unusual meeting occurred on May 14, 1923. Four brothers were raised the same evening. They were B. F. Borden, Jr., Gilbert L. Borden, C. D. Borden and O. G. Borden. Another unusual fact was that four other Borden brothers, who were cousins of the candidates, were also present. It was reported that twenty-seven Brethren attended the cornerstone laying of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia on November 1, 1923.
In 1966, Cassia Lodge purchased the present Lodge site from Mrs. Mary Gregory for $3,000.00. In December 1970 construction was started on the Lodge hall. The first communication was held in the new Lodge on April 12, 1971. The cost of the building and lot was $32,914.50.