The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Virginia, commonly known as "Grand Lodge of Virginia", claims to be the oldest independent masonic grand lodge in the United States with 27,000 members in over 276 lodges. Both the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts dispute this claim, each claiming to be the oldest Grand Lodge in the United States. The Grand Lodge of Virginia was constituted on 30 October 1778, with headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia. The grand lodge relocated its offices to Richmond, Virginia, in 1784, where it remains to this day.
John Marshall, a leader of the Federalist Party and Chief Justice of the United States, was an early Grand Master of Virginia Freemasons.
Robert Brooke, a Governor of Virginia, was an early Grand Master of Virginia Freemasons.
William Terry, a commander of the Stonewall Brigade during the American Civil War, was a Grand Master of Virginia Freemasons.
James Hubert Price, known as the "New Deal" Governor of Virginia, was a Grand Master of Virginia Freemasons.
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, officially The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdictions Thereunto Belonging, sometimes referred to as Freemasons of Pennsylvania, is the premier masonic organization in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Grand Lodge claims to be the oldest in the United States, and the third-oldest in the world after England and Ireland, having been originally established as the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in 1731. This claim is disputed by both the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and the Grand Lodge of Virginia.
The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia in 1873; James H. Windrim was the building's architect.
Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father of the United States who played a leading role in the American Revolution, was an early Grand Master of Pennsylvania Freemasons.
George M. Dallas, the 11th Vice President of the United States during the presidency of James K. Polk, was a Grand Master of Pennsylvania Freemasons.
Henry Myer Phillips, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and alumnus of the Franklin Institute was Grand Master of Pennsylvania.
