A Brief History of
Magnolia Lodge No. 53, F.A.A.M.
Magnolia Lodge No. 53, F.A.A.M.
Magnolia Lodge No. 53 is a unique Masonic Lodge composed entirely of men who are alumni of the Kappa Alpha Order college fraternity. While Magnolia Lodge was chartered on December 21, 1996 in the City of Washington, the initial idea of Magnolia Lodge was fermented in the Masonic friendship of Kappa Alphas who met annually at KA meetings.
Over the years, these friendships developed and in 1992 at a KA Convention, a group informally gathered in a hotel room in Mobile, Alabama to discuss Masonic ideas from their various jurisdictions around the country. Following this meeting, Worshipful Brother Harry E. Echols, Jr. embraced this concept and in October 1994, brought to action this idea and proposed that a chartered official Lodge be constituted. Work then began to obtain a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia as there were a number of KA Masons already in the area. Throughout the fall of 1994 and into 1995, work was done to organize a core of charter members and to complete the requirements to form a new Lodge. This work was completed and a dispensation to work was issued on October 2, 1995. The petitioning members of the |
Lodge were: MWBro. C. David Haacke (Past Grand Master of Maryland) as the first Master, Joseph M. Van Name as the first Senior Warden and Earl Fain IV as the first Junior Warden. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer were occupied by our founder WBro. Harry E. Echols. The other petitioning members were Brothers Darron E. Franta, Richard Engler, Philip Noftsinger and John T. Winkler II.
From the date of dispensation until December 21, 1996 Magnolia Lodge worked diligently to organize itself and to obtain the necessary proficiency to operate as a constituent Lodge. During this time, the Lodge received its first petitions and performed its first work. The first class of brothers to be raised was Jonathan C. Kurrle, F. David Barlow and Robert B. Higgins. They were raised on June 29, 1996 having received all of their degree work in Magnolia. On the date of our chartering the Lodge again raised three men (Bros. Speck, Fisher and Pool) to the sublime degree of Master Mason and so the tradition continued of Magnolia Lodge’s diligent work on the ritual of the craft. The Lodge received its Charter from the Grand Lodge on December 21, 1996, which was doubly special as it was the same day as the anniversary of the founding of Kappa Alpha Order. Following the Chartering an official Consecration program was held on April 27, 1997 with the full Grand Lodge and many friends and guests. Since that time, the Lodge has grown to 68 members from 14 different states. We are proud to have raised men every year in our history with the exception of one. This has allowed for a steady growth of members and the diffusion of Masonic principals around the country.
Magnolia has continued to participate in Kappa Alpha activities when possible. At each convention or national event, if the schedule permits, Magnolia will open a special Lodge to visit with fellow brother Masons from lodges around the country that have traveled to the event and also to expose those who are interested to Masonry to an example of brotherly friendship in a post college setting.
Magnolia has sought throughout the years to bring back some of the lost traditions of Masonry. As first Lodge to bring back proper festive boards, Magnolia has helped to reinvigorate both the practice and enlighten others to the joys of a quality night of fellowship.
Within the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, Magnolia has had the pleasure in 1999 of vouching for the Masonic abilities of several Masons to form a new Masonic lodge. In continuation of the works by our late founder Worshipful Brother Echols, Magnolia was please to put forward Fraternity Lodge for Dispensation. This new lodge, now Fraternity Lodge No. 54, F.A.A.M., expanded the fraternal reach beyond Kappa Alpha to encompass all Greek letter college organizations. Two members of Magnolia were among the petitioning Masons.
Through the years, Magnolia's Past Masters have led a Lodge of dedicated men who have embraced the principles of Masonry which has only strengthened their ties to our beloved Kappa Alpha Order. Magnolia has always worked with an eye towards the traditions of the past and view towards the future of Masonry.
From the date of dispensation until December 21, 1996 Magnolia Lodge worked diligently to organize itself and to obtain the necessary proficiency to operate as a constituent Lodge. During this time, the Lodge received its first petitions and performed its first work. The first class of brothers to be raised was Jonathan C. Kurrle, F. David Barlow and Robert B. Higgins. They were raised on June 29, 1996 having received all of their degree work in Magnolia. On the date of our chartering the Lodge again raised three men (Bros. Speck, Fisher and Pool) to the sublime degree of Master Mason and so the tradition continued of Magnolia Lodge’s diligent work on the ritual of the craft. The Lodge received its Charter from the Grand Lodge on December 21, 1996, which was doubly special as it was the same day as the anniversary of the founding of Kappa Alpha Order. Following the Chartering an official Consecration program was held on April 27, 1997 with the full Grand Lodge and many friends and guests. Since that time, the Lodge has grown to 68 members from 14 different states. We are proud to have raised men every year in our history with the exception of one. This has allowed for a steady growth of members and the diffusion of Masonic principals around the country.
Magnolia has continued to participate in Kappa Alpha activities when possible. At each convention or national event, if the schedule permits, Magnolia will open a special Lodge to visit with fellow brother Masons from lodges around the country that have traveled to the event and also to expose those who are interested to Masonry to an example of brotherly friendship in a post college setting.
Magnolia has sought throughout the years to bring back some of the lost traditions of Masonry. As first Lodge to bring back proper festive boards, Magnolia has helped to reinvigorate both the practice and enlighten others to the joys of a quality night of fellowship.
Within the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, Magnolia has had the pleasure in 1999 of vouching for the Masonic abilities of several Masons to form a new Masonic lodge. In continuation of the works by our late founder Worshipful Brother Echols, Magnolia was please to put forward Fraternity Lodge for Dispensation. This new lodge, now Fraternity Lodge No. 54, F.A.A.M., expanded the fraternal reach beyond Kappa Alpha to encompass all Greek letter college organizations. Two members of Magnolia were among the petitioning Masons.
Through the years, Magnolia's Past Masters have led a Lodge of dedicated men who have embraced the principles of Masonry which has only strengthened their ties to our beloved Kappa Alpha Order. Magnolia has always worked with an eye towards the traditions of the past and view towards the future of Masonry.