History of Holland Lodge No. 256
Founding Of The Lodge (1927)
On October 27, 1927, twenty-eight young men from the rural farming community of Holland, Virginia, sought membership into the Masonic fraternity. They applied for membership through Mineral Springs Lodge No. 105 in Whaleyville, Virginia. Recognizing both the geographical distance between Whaleyville and Holland, and the large number of men seeking admission, Mineral Springs Lodge No. 105 recommended to the Grand Lodge of Virginia that a new lodge be established in Holland. The Grand Lodge agreed and began planning the formation of a new lodge for the men of Holland and the surrounding area.
"The Grand Master's Visit"
The candidates were informed that the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the jurisdiction of Virginia, the Honorable Hamlin Nelson, together with his Grand Lodge officers, would travel from Hampton, Virginia, to Holland to begin the work of setting up the new lodge. Because there were no suitable facilities in town for this type of operation, a small, dilapidated frame building was rented from the Sons and Daughters of Peace on Railroad Avenue, just west of the town of Holland, for this purpose.
Initiation Night - November 30, 1927
On the evening of November 30, 1927, the candidates assembled in the preparation room of the building awaiting the arrival of the Grand Lodge initiation team. Once the team arrived, little time was wasted in getting down to business. During the roll call of candidates, it was noted that three men—J.T. Cross, S.T. Walden, and B.S. Boone—failed to answer. Further investigation revealed that they had backed out and did not appear. After roll call, the doors to the building were secured, guards were posted, and the initiation began. On that night, Holland Lodge No. 256, Free and Accepted Masons, Prince Hall Affiliated, was set up as a Masonic dispensed lodge. A total of 25 men were initiated, passed, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, becoming the first brethren and charter members of Holland Lodge No. 256.
First Officers of Holland Lodge No. 256
Following the completion of the work, elections were held and the first officers of the lodge were chosen and installed:
Worshipful Master: Bro. J.H. Holland
Senior Warden: Bro. A.J. Holland
Junior Warden: Bro. W.B. Lewis
Treasurer: Bro. J.B. Goings
Secretary: Bro. E.E. Baker
Senior Deacon: Bro. D.N. Holland
Junior Deacon: Bro. H.W. Artis
Chaplain: Bro. O. Scott
Tyler: Bro. W.J. Wiggins
Senior Steward: Bro. T.K. Walden
Junior Steward: Bro. W.E. Wiggins
These officers were instructed in their duties and responsibilities to the lodge and to the community and were told they would serve in office for at least one year.
Dispensation and First Meetings
The lodge was informed that it would operate for one year under a Masonic dispensation. At the end of that period, it could be consecrated and granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of Virginia. In December 1927, Holland Lodge No. 256 held its first meeting with its own officers presiding, marking the beginning of nearly a century of Masonic labor and service in the Holland community.
