History
The History of Phoenix Lodge No. 8
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
Fayetteville, North Carolina
During the colonial period of our nation, warrants and charters were issued by the several grand lodges of Europe and England to selected individuals in America for the purpose of operating as a Provincial Grand Lodge. Some colonial territories had as many as four of these grand lodges in operation. Historical references and documentation indicate that two of these Provincial Grand Lodges organized by England and Scotland were operating, independently, within the North Carolina territory.
A commission from the Grand Lodge of England was issued in 1771 to Colonel Joseph Montfort of Halifax to be Provincial Grand Master of and for America. Also during that period, a charter was granted to a Scottish military lodge later known as Union Lodge. There were also a number of other military and irregular lodges organized in the state by the Scots and Europeans who had settled in those areas.
There were a number of stories about one of the regular lodges established in the territory which was a Highland Scottish Regimental lodge established around 1736 in the colonial settlement of Cross Creek known as Union Lodge, although this was not the original lodge's name. Since the Grand Lodge of Scotland was organized in 1736, Union Lodge would have been one of the earliest overseas lodges to have been granted a charter by this hallowed institution if this could have been proven; but any documentation to verify that fact has long been lost or was not properly recorded.
Notes and references from early Union Lodge Past Masters do indicate; however, that Union Lodge was originally granted a provincial charter by the Grand Lodge of Scotland on February 19, 1764. One of the practices conducted by many of the Scotch and Scandinavian lodges then and today is that much, if not all, of the work and business was conducted in the Entered Apprentice, or First degree. Because of this many of the brethren from Union Lodge received only the Entered Apprentice, or First Degree, and much of the lodge business was conducted in that degree; a practice that continued well into the early 1800's. Additionally, the different rites or ceremonies practiced in the various lodges along with the language barriers made visitation between colonial lodges most perplexing; and in some cases, impossible.
At the time that Union Lodge and other military and naval lodges were in operation, it was not necessary to obtain a registered charter to form such a lodge, and seven or more masons would have been sufficient to establish one. Before the military regiment was to move on the lodge master would receive a sort of dispensation from the regimental master to continue to meet and conduct work as a lodge; until such time as they could register in a grand lodge. It should be noted that the Highland Scots who settled in that part of North Carolina would certainly not pay allegiance to a British provincial grand lodge so remained loyal to their country until they could be granted their own charter.
