The Grand Lodge of Virginia, formally known as "The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M., of the Commonwealth of Virginia", is the oldest independent Grand Lodge of Freemasonry established in the United States.
The plans for the creation of the Grand Lodge took root in a convention held on May 6, 1777. The Grand Lodge was formally constituted on October 30, 1778, with its headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Grand Lodge relocated to Richmond, Virginia in 1784, where it remains to this day.[1]
The Grand Lodge of Virginia was formed by the union of nine chartered Lodges: Norfolk, at Norfolk; Port Royal in Caroline County; Blandford at Petersburg; Fredericksburg at Fredericksburg; Saint Tammany at Hampton; Williamsburg at Williamsburg; Botetourt at Gloucester Courthouse; Cabin Point in Prince George County and Yorktown at Yorktown. Three other Virginia Lodges in the colonial era chose not to participate in the Grand Lodge’s establishment.
George Washington was invited to be the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, but he was unable to accept the honor due to his military duties in the war for American independence.[2]
Today, the Grand Lodge represents more than 300 Lodges throughout Virginia, with more than 39,000 total members.[3]