History of Sharon Lodge No. 327

Masons have always lived in McLean. The first record is that of Crescent Lodge No. 236. It was granted dispensation on August 10, 1891, and was located in the southwest corner of the intersection at Lewinsville. Included among the members were such names as Storm, Carper, McGarity, Cockrell, Kenyon, Money, Williams, and Peacock. Crescent Lodge moved to Tysons corner, then to Vienna to the present location of Concord Lodge No. 307. Crescent Lodge became inactive on March 10, 1909. On February 10, 1910, Concord Lodge No. 307 was charted.

Sharon Lodge No. 327 was granted a dispensation on February 11, 1916 by Most Worshipful James Alston Cabell, Grand Master of Masons of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lodge nominated “Brother J.A. Lehew to be the first Master, Brother Tom E. Billingsley as Senior Warden, and Brother George L. Beard as Junior Ward “.

The first meeting was held on the second floor of Storm’s Store located at the point of Elm Street and Old Dominion Drive. Business meetings were held at the store and degree work was performed at Franklin Sherman High School, then located behind the now Sunoco station on Chain Bridge Road. The one year Under Dispensation period being over Sharon Lodge No. 327 received its charter on February 14, 1917. In 1919, all activities moved to the high school.

In 1921 the Lodge agreed to exchange a lot, owned by J. A. Storm, for a lot on Fairfax Highway (now Chain Bridge Road) and Emerson Street, and construction for a white frame building was begun on September 21, 1921, and the cornerstone laid seventeen days later with the new Sharon Masonic Temple dedicated on November 30, 1921, just two months later.

During the early 1920’s the Lodge laid the cornerstone for St. John’s Parish House and attended the cornerstone laying, and parade, for the new George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. By 1930 the Lodge had sixty-three members and dues were $2.50 a year.

Sharon Chapter No. 63, Order of the Eastern Star, was formed in 1922 and still meets at Sharon Masonic Temple. Bethel No. 9, International Order of Job’s Daughters, was formed in 1940 in Vienna and in 1943 moved to Sharon. Bethel No. 65 was formed out of Bethel 9 in 1969. Harold K. Lind Chapter, International Order of DeMolay, was formed in 1955. All three of these youth groups met at Sharon, but all have since been disbanded.

In 1972 the old frame building was considered unsafe and inadequate and it was sold to the American Oil Company next door for $ 70,000. The Lodge continued to rent the building until it was required to vacate in 1977. The Lodge moved to the American Legion Hall on Balls Hill Road, and later, in 1980, moved to Concord Lodge in Vienna. The Lodge bought three acres on Balls Hill Road for $ 90,000 and began planning to build a new temple. These three acres were part of the original property owned in the early 1800’s by Commodore Thomas Catesby Jones, noted for his exploits in the War of 1812. The Commodore called his farm and home Sharon. The Carpers (all members of Sharon Lodge) bought a portion of the farm in 1911 and retained the name Sharon. In 1916 Sharon Lodge No. 327 chose the same name.

In 1973, with the money for the sale of the old building, minus the purchase of the three acres, and a mere $45.00 in the Temple Corporation toward construction, the Lodge began the task of raising monies. In 1974 we initiated once-a-month Sunday breakfasts. In that same year we began selling Christmas trees. Individual contributions of members were phenomenal. Others, not members, contributed greatly to the building program, including members of other Lodges. Our Masonic family and friends supported us with loans to avoid securing a loan from a bank. The total project, including the land, cost nearly $450,000.

When we opened the new Sharon Masonic Temple for our first meeting in December 11, 1986, we had an indebtedness of only $77,000 – truly a miracle. Another bright star shown on us when Worshipful Samuel Ralph Pearson, Past Master of Sharon, left us $406,000 in his will, and a little later Worshipful Carlyle Emory Hall, another Past Master of Sharon, left us more than $200,000. There are currently 120 names on the thousand-dollar club plaque.

There were a lot of people responsible for the success of the new Sharon Masonic Temple. I won’t attempt to name them all, but I name the officers of the Temple Corporation, who in turn labored countless hours in the construction of the building:

Brother Harry Lofink, Chairman and General Contractor, and Junior Warden
Right Worshipful C. Bruce Palmer, Vice Chairman, later Chairman, and “Job Boss” Right Worshipful Denzil O. Evans, Secretary Brother Frank DeCruz, Treasurer Worshipful Albert R. Conlon, member and former Chairman
Right Worshipful Rodney F. Riddle, member and Senior Warden
Worshipful Robert L. LaFayette, ex officio member and Worshipful Master
Right Worshipfuls Evans and Palmer headed up the money raising Financial Committee

There were so many that contributed money and labor and those who could not. We bless them all. The Lodge is now able to contribute regularly (and does) to the Masonic Home, to offer thousands each year for scholarships, to conduct many Child I.D. programs, and many more benevolent activities. Above all we thank the Supreme Architect of the Universe for letting our light to shine so brightly on this hill.

By: C. Bruce Palmer, PDDGM, Historian