St. John's Lodge No2, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Delaware

Important Dates

September

9/05 - Officer Practice
9/05 - School Of Instruction
9/12 - Officer Practice
9/12 - School Of Instruction
9/14 - Regular Communication
9/19 - Officer Practice
9/19 - School Of Instruction
9/26 - Officer Practice
9/26 - School Of Instruction
9/28 - Possible Degree (check website)

Upcoming Activities

10/10 - Annual GL Rehoboth Beach
11/26 - Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser

also see Calendar page

St. John's Shout Out!

Waverly Lodge #51

Waverly Lodge No. 51 Free and Accepted Masons was organized April 25, 1854 under the dispensation of Grand Master Henry L. Palmer and was officially Chartered June 14,1854. This was only nine years after the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin was formed and 137 years after the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717. Lodges in Wisconsin at this time were charted as Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, however this is no longer the case today. As Waverly still maintains its original charter from that period, it is something of an odditiy in modern times under the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, as most other lodges from this time have received new charters as they consolidated operations with other lodges.

In the early 1840's there were three separate settlements in this area: Lawsburg, Appleton, and Grand Chute. Records show that J. Kip Anderson and

six other masons living in Grand Chutepetitioned the Grand Lodge to form a Lodge in Grand Chute. This was two years before Lawsburg merged with Appleton. Dispensation was granted on March 15, 1851 and the Grand Chute Lodge was formed. J. Kip Anderson was Worshipful Master. However after a few months the Master and several members took up residence in other communities. A request was made to the Grand Lodge by Henry S. Baird on behalf of the petitioners to annul the Dispensation and return the $30.00 fee.

But the seed had been planted and the desire for a lodge in the area grew strong. So it was that James Washington Murray, M.D. McGrath, John Kohler, M. Burroughs, Perry H. Smith, Amos Story, and Elias Smith, all Master Masons, made a second and this time successful attempt to establish Masonry in the Appleton area. A petition was made again to Grand Master Henry Palmer who appointed James Washington Murray Worshipful Master, Perry H. Smith Sr. Warden, and M.D. McGrath Jr. Warden.

The first Communication of the Lodge was under Dispensation and was called to order Tuesday evening April 25, 1854 at 8:00 PM. In attendance at the meeting were members from Green Bay's Washington Lodge: Henry S. Baird, and J. Kip Anderson then Master of Washington Lodge No. 21. These men were appointed the principle officers Pro‐Tem and this the 3rd meeting of Waverly Lodge to receive the reports of the first five petitioners. Freemasonry was now firmly established in the settlement of Appleton.

The first meeting of Waverly Lodge was in the original Adkins Hall located over a store building on the north side of College Ave. The building was destroyed by fire, and Adkins Hall was relocated to a building on the southwest corner of College Ave., and Morrison Street. The Masonic Hall was then moved to Harts Hall, located on the southwest corner of College Ave and Oneida Street.

Eleven years later it was moved again to Crawford Hall, which was above a shoe store on the southeast corner of College Ave. and Appleton Street.

In 1881, the Wisconsin Grand Lodge and Waverly Lodge placed the cornerstone in a ceremony for the Commercial National Bank building, located on the grounds of the current Zuelke Building. This building when completed in 1882 was considered the finest building in Appleton. Its third floor had been specially designed for Waverly Lodge, where it met for the next 42 years.

In 1924, a new Masonic Temple was built on the corner of College Avenue and Drew Street. Today it is called the "Castle", home of the Outagamie County Historical Society.

In 1949 lodge membership grew to over 500 members. Due to this great number a second lodge was formed in 1950 called Appleton Lodge No. 349. This lodge continues in operation today.

In 1986, due to financial burdens of maintaining the large Masonic Temple on College Avenue, the lodge moved again. This time it moved to Grand Chute in December of 1986, where it is currently located.

Members of Waverly Lodge have always been business, civic, industrial workers and city leaders. One has only to review the pictures of the Past Masters and others on display to recognize familiar names related to the history of Appleton. Many of these men were instrumental in the formation of several local service clubs, the YMCA, and the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), as well as major industries and businesses.

Waverly Lodge meets at 315 South Bluemound Drive, Appleton, WI. Our meetings are on the first and third Tuesdays monthly starting at 7 P.M. The Lodge currently meets year round at these dates and times.

Waverly Lodge #51
315 South Bluemound Drive
Appleton, WI, 54914