Phoenix Lodge No. 8 A.F. & A.M.'s Charter of 1796

    In 1796 Phoenix Lodge's original charter of 1793 from the Grand Lodge of North Carolina Free and Accepted Masons was replaced with a new charter from that same grand body.  The circumstances behind this change are unknown at this time.

    Phoenix Lodge still holds the original vellum copy of this charter.  A transcript of this charter follows: 

William Richardson Davie                 GRAND MASTER

To all and every our Right Worshipful and loving

No 8

~ BRETHREN ~  

WE, the Most Worshipful William Richardson Davie Esquire, Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS in the State of NORTH-CAROLINA, SEND GREETING:

Know Ye, That WE, at the Petition of our Right Worshipful and Well Beloved Brethren, John Winslow     Robert Donaldson     Samuel Murley and and several other Brethren, residing at or near Fayetteville in the said State, DO hereby constitute the said Brethren into a regular LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, to be opened at Fayetteville by the name of the Phoenix Lodge AND DO further, at the said Petition, and of the great Trust and Confidence reposed in the above-named three Brethren, hereby appoint John Winslow Master, Robert Donadson Senior Warden, and Samuel Murley Junior Warden, for opening the said Lodge, and for such further Time only as may be thought proper by the Brethren thereof, it being our Will, that this our appointment shall in no wise affect any future Election of Officers of that Lodge, but that the same shall be according to the Regulations of the Lodge, and consistent with the general Laws of the Society contained in the Book of Constitutions. AND WE DO hereby require you the said John Winslow, Robert Donaldson, and Samuel Murley to take special Care, that all and every the said Brethren are or have been regularly made Masons, and that they do perform, observe and keep all the Rules and Orders contained in the Book of Constitutions, and also such as may from Time to Time be transmitted to you by US. AND further, that you do from Time to Time cause to be entered in a Book, to be kept for that Purpose; an Account of your Proceedings in the Lodge, together with such Regulations as shall be made for the good Government thereof, a Copy of which you are in no Wise to omit laying before the Grand lodge once in every Year, together with a List of the Members of the Lodge: That you annually pay into the Grand Treasury the Sum of Ten Pounds towards the Grand Charity. AND moreover WE hereby will and require you the said John Winslow, Robert Donaldson, and Samuel Murley as soon as conveniently may be, to send an Account in Writing, of what shall be done by Virtue of these Presents.

GIVEN at Fayetteville under our Hand and Seal of Masonry, the (unreadable) Day of DEC       A.D. 1796    A.L. 5796

ATTESTED,

R (unreadable)                                  GRAND SECRETARY

William R. Davie                                 D. G. M

(unreadable)                                     S. G. M.

(unreadable)                                     J. G. W