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      • Past Masters of Ashlar Lodge No. 98 F & A M
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      • History of Freemasonry in Florida
    • When Do We Meet?
    • How Do I Join?
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    • News >
      • Friends and Family Night to Kick Off the Holiday Season Together
      • Recognizing Outstanding Young Adults
      • Ashlar Hastings and Middleburg Lodges Visit Bunnell
      • Ashlar and Cabul Lodges Visit Pineland Lodge
      • Three New Master Masons Receive Their Aprons
      • Ashlar Lodge Honors First Responders
      • Ashlar Lodge Welcomes Newest Master Masons
      • Ashlar Lodge Honors Their Widows with Annual Sweetheart Luncheon
      • W. Jim Carrick and RW Oscar Patterson Receive Perfect Attendance Awards
      • Ashlar Visits Cabul
      • W Jim Carrick Presents Bro Justin Buxton With His Apron
      • W Jim Carrick Presents Masons of the Year Awards
      • Ashlar Lodge Supports Horse Play
      • W. Maultsby and Bro. Carrick Earn Gold Cards
      • Newest Master Masons - 2019
      • New Lodge Parking Lot Layout
      • The Traveling CunningHammer
      • Dan Holiday's 60th Anniversary
      • Honoring Boy Scout
      • Installation of Officers - 2018
      • Honoring Law Enforcement Officers
      • Annual Pilgrimage to Pineland Lodge - Ashlar Lodge No. 98 F. & A.M.
      • Flag presented to the Florida School for The Deaf and the Blind by Ashlar Lodge No. 98 F. & A.M.
      • Ashlar Lodge No. 98 Recognizes Past Master and Senior Members
      • Ashlar Lodge No. 98 Free and Accepted Masons Present Scholarships to Five St. Johns County Students
      • Recognizing Outstanding Educators
      • Rainbow Girls Initiate Randilicious
      • Bozards New Family Member
      • JROTC Recognition
      • Rainbow Girls Share Work
      • Visit Ribault Lodge No 272
      • Sweetheart Luncheon
      • Outstanding Explorers
      • Installation of Officers - 2017
      • INTERPRETING MASONIC RITUAL
      • Honoring First Responders and an Outstanding Teacher
      • Billy Tatel Turns 100
      • Honoring First Responders
      • Visit to Lodge in Jamaica
      • Outdoor Degree
    • Photos
  • What is Freemasonry?
  • Contact Us & Map
  Welcome to Ashlar Lodge No. 98 F. & A. M. website. We are located in downtown St. Augustine, FL.

The History of Freemasonry in St. Augustine


Early Years: 1565 - 1763

There may have been Traveling Lodges or Military Lodges in and around St. Augustine during the early years (1565 – 1763). 
These Lodges were not permanent and few records were kept. They were not under a Grand Lodge System, therefore there were no proceedings or Grand Lodge records available.
The 14th Regiment of Foot received a warrant for Military Lodge No. 58 in January 1759. The regiment and Lodge is recorded as being there in 1776.

British and Spanish Periods: 1763 - 1821

In 1763 Florida was ceded to Great Britain and in 1768 the first of the recorded Lodges appeared. Grant’s East Florida Lodge was warranted under the G.L. of Scotland, with James Grant being the first W.M.. This Lodge became extinct in 1786 during the second Spanish period.
Also on March 15, 1768 Brother James Grant, Governor of East Florida, was appointed the Provisional Grand Master over the Lodges in the Southern District of North America. His seat was in St. Augustine. 

In 1771, the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of East Florida William Drayton signs a charter for St. Andrews Lodge in St. Augustine.  The 29th Regiment of Foot, with their Military Lodge named the Glittering Star Lodge No. 322, arrives in St. Augustine.
They stay until September 1773 when they return to England. 

From 1778 until 1780 “Lodge No. 204” was active in St. Augustine. It was warranted under the G.L. of England. 

In 1806, the St. Fernando Lodge No. 28 was warranted under the G.L. of Georgia with Samuel Betts Worshipful Master.
This Lodge was closed by a mandate of the Spanish Government on 1811. 

Later in 1820, Lodge No. 30 was warranted by the G.L. of South Carolina and was closed by a decree of the King of Spain in 1820. 

Floridian Virtues Lodge No. 28 was warranted by the G.L. of South Carolina in 1820 with John Giger Worshipful Master.
Squire Streeter, Antonio Alvarez and John Walton were also principal officers of the Lodge.
This Lodge closed in 1828.

U.S. Territorial Period: 1821 - 1845

Florida became a possession of the United States in 1821 and a U.S. Territory in 1822. 
Lodge No. 30 which was closed in 1820 was revived in 1824 as Montgomery Lodge No. 30 by the G.L. of Georgia.
However, this Lodge forfeited its charter in 1827 because of N.P.D.s.

A Mark Masters Lodge, named Union Mark Lodge, was established under the authority of DeWitt Clinton, Grand High Priest of the General Royal Chapter of the United States. The charter was dated March 25, 1822. 

La Esperanza Lodge No. 47 was warranted by the G.L. of South Carolina in 1824 and surrendered its charter in 1827. Their work was all done in Spanish. The Lodge was closed after one year because most of the members moved to Havana, Cuba.  

The Grand Lodge of Florida Free and Accepted Masons was formed in 1838. 

Clinton Lodge No. 7 existed between 1838 and 1840 warranted under the G.L. of Florida. 

On January 12, 1842, St. Johns Lodge No. 12 was chartered under the G.L. of Florida but this lodge surrendered its charter before 1869.
The lodge lost all their property and records in a fire. 

Florida Becomes a State: 1845

St. Johns Lodge No. 55 was chartered on January 16, 1867, but surrendered its charter in 1869. 

On January 13, 1876, Ancient City Lodge No. 76 was chartered under the G.L. of Florida and surrendered its charter in November 1886. 

In 1882 the Knights of Columbus was chartered in St. Augustine. 

On January 18, 1887, Ashlar Lodge No. 98 was opened under dispensation of the G.L. of Florida and was chartered in January 1888. Our Lodge continues to this day.
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Location

4 M L King Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Founded in 1888, Ashlar Lodge No. 98 is part of a long history of Freemasonry in St. Augustine, FL.

We have our regularly scheduled Stated Communications on the First and Third Thursday of each month.  Dinner starts at 6:30pm and the meeting starts at 7:30pm.  

Click here for a link to the Ashlar Lodge Calendar.

Click here for a link to the Elite 11th District's Calendar.

Click here for the Elite 11th District's website.

Click here for a link to the Elite 11th District's Lodge Locations.

Contact Us

  • Home
  • Our Lodge
    • Our Officers
    • Our History >
      • Past Masters of Ashlar Lodge No. 98 F & A M
      • History of Freemasonry in St. Augustine
      • The Monumento De La Constitucion
      • History of Freemasonry in Florida
    • When Do We Meet?
    • How Do I Join?
    • Calendar of Events
    • Trestleboard
    • News >
      • Friends and Family Night to Kick Off the Holiday Season Together
      • Recognizing Outstanding Young Adults
      • Ashlar Hastings and Middleburg Lodges Visit Bunnell
      • Ashlar and Cabul Lodges Visit Pineland Lodge
      • Three New Master Masons Receive Their Aprons
      • Ashlar Lodge Honors First Responders
      • Ashlar Lodge Welcomes Newest Master Masons
      • Ashlar Lodge Honors Their Widows with Annual Sweetheart Luncheon
      • W. Jim Carrick and RW Oscar Patterson Receive Perfect Attendance Awards
      • Ashlar Visits Cabul
      • W Jim Carrick Presents Bro Justin Buxton With His Apron
      • W Jim Carrick Presents Masons of the Year Awards
      • Ashlar Lodge Supports Horse Play
      • W. Maultsby and Bro. Carrick Earn Gold Cards
      • Newest Master Masons - 2019
      • New Lodge Parking Lot Layout
      • The Traveling CunningHammer
      • Dan Holiday's 60th Anniversary
      • Honoring Boy Scout
      • Installation of Officers - 2018
      • Honoring Law Enforcement Officers
      • Annual Pilgrimage to Pineland Lodge - Ashlar Lodge No. 98 F. & A.M.
      • Flag presented to the Florida School for The Deaf and the Blind by Ashlar Lodge No. 98 F. & A.M.
      • Ashlar Lodge No. 98 Recognizes Past Master and Senior Members
      • Ashlar Lodge No. 98 Free and Accepted Masons Present Scholarships to Five St. Johns County Students
      • Recognizing Outstanding Educators
      • Rainbow Girls Initiate Randilicious
      • Bozards New Family Member
      • JROTC Recognition
      • Rainbow Girls Share Work
      • Visit Ribault Lodge No 272
      • Sweetheart Luncheon
      • Outstanding Explorers
      • Installation of Officers - 2017
      • INTERPRETING MASONIC RITUAL
      • Honoring First Responders and an Outstanding Teacher
      • Billy Tatel Turns 100
      • Honoring First Responders
      • Visit to Lodge in Jamaica
      • Outdoor Degree
    • Photos
  • What is Freemasonry?
  • Contact Us & Map