Since 1850, the Masonic Temple at 55 East State Street has been the central hub of York Rite Freemasonry in Bucks County. With over 550 members, Doylestown is one of the largest and most active fraternal lodges in the state of Pennsylvania. As the old saying goes: “My boy, if you are not a Doylestown Freemason, you are strictly NOT IN IT.”
COVID-19 Update
Per direction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, all onsite lodge events in PA are suspended until July. For more information please visit:
https://pagrandlodge.org/coronavirus-covid-19/
An Abridged History of Doylestown Lodge
Doylestown Lodge as we know it is actually the second Masonic Lodge in the borough of Doylestown. It was a descendant of Benevolent Lodge No. 168 which was constituted in 1829. That lodge met at “Temperance Hall” between Church and Broad for eight years, but for reasons unknown, the lodge failed and was vacated in 1837. Without Benevolent Lodge, the need for a local Masonic meeting place remained as the next closest lodge was in Bristol.
Thus on August 27th, 1850, Doylestown Lodge No. 245 was created, and the first meeting was held by its ten Charter Members on Monday, September 16, 1850 (the Monday preceding the full moon) at Temperance Hall. Before electricity, lodges would meet around a full moon as there was the most light available at night – and many members were traveling through darkness by carriage.
Cardinal Virtues – Fortitude
In Freemasonry, the cardinal virtue of Fortitude is defined as the noble and steady purpose of the mind whereby we are enabled to undergo any pain, peril or danger, when prudentially deemed expedient. The word is borrowed from Old French, from Latin fortitūdō (“bravery, strength”), from fortis (“brave, strong”). In the traditional sense, Fortitude embodies the quality of character which gives a person strength to withstand temptation and to bear their suffering in silence when all other remedies fail.
The Craft in photos
Sarah Richards, a photographer from Norwich, stitched together up to 45 photos to capture the grandeur of the United Grand Lodge of England in a single image known as a vertical panorama.
Grand Master Whiskey
First there was Grand Dad, now there’s Grand Master. Please see attached form to order your own bottle of Grand Master whiskey. The proceeds go to charity… so win/win!
2020 Scholarships Now Available
The Doylestown Masonic Lodge annually awards scholarships of $500 to graduating high school seniors from local schools who have been involved in community activities including volunteer service and have demonstrated a dedication to their high school academic experience.
About the Master’s Medal 2020
170 Years of Doylestown Lodge. Embossed in the center is a flaming torch, figuratively representing energy, transformation, enlightenment, and problem-solving. Embossed on the handle is a triangle (or Delta) indicative of the manual carriage of light by humankind and the transformation it thus creates. The Latin phrase “Quaerimus Usque In Sempiternum” below the torch means “Forever Seeking” while the blue, white, and yellow striped ribbon represents the ongoing journey to enlightenment as illuminated by the Sun and Moon.
2020 Bro. Matheu C. Wilson, W.M.