Lodge History
Link to PDF of Lodge History for 25th Anniversary.
In the Beginning.....
Ernie Lavorini worked at jobs where he came into contact with lots of people. He noticed that many of them were Masons like himself. In the early 1950’s he began talking to them about forming a lodge in Federal Way. There was interest, but not enough to really get it going.
Ernie persisted. Eventually the Grand Lodge granted a dispensation for a Pyramid Lodge, UD and work began. The Grand Lodge required the new Lodge to have $2,500 in the bank and be able to do all of the ritual from memory. Each ritual part had to have at least two people who were proficient, from memory.
In those days, Lodges had sovereign territory and in order for a new lodge to be established in Federal Way, each of the surrounding Lodges had to give up a bit of their territory. That proved to be a problem, but eventually Ernie was able to overcome the objections.
It was long rumored that MW Frank Fulton, the centennial Grand Master, told Ernie that he was not sure he could recommend a Charter for a Lodge named Pyramid, but that he certainly would recommend a Charter for a Lodge named Thornton F. McElroy. McElroy had been the first Master of Olympia Lodge, the first Lodge in Washington Territory and later the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington. Fulton was a Past Master of Olympia Lodge No. 1, and always denied saying that. Some evidence has surfaced that it was in fact how the new Lodge got its name.
The Lodge was Chartered by vote of the Grand Lodge in June 1959, and has enjoyed uncommon success ever since.
Since all of the first members were already Masons and had developed diverse traditions in their home Lodges, many traditions were blended in the new Lodge. This proved to be a strength that has served us well.
History courtesy of MW William R. Miller
In August of 2009 Thornton F. McElroy 302 celebrated 50 years.
In the Beginning.....
Ernie Lavorini worked at jobs where he came into contact with lots of people. He noticed that many of them were Masons like himself. In the early 1950’s he began talking to them about forming a lodge in Federal Way. There was interest, but not enough to really get it going.
Ernie persisted. Eventually the Grand Lodge granted a dispensation for a Pyramid Lodge, UD and work began. The Grand Lodge required the new Lodge to have $2,500 in the bank and be able to do all of the ritual from memory. Each ritual part had to have at least two people who were proficient, from memory.
In those days, Lodges had sovereign territory and in order for a new lodge to be established in Federal Way, each of the surrounding Lodges had to give up a bit of their territory. That proved to be a problem, but eventually Ernie was able to overcome the objections.
It was long rumored that MW Frank Fulton, the centennial Grand Master, told Ernie that he was not sure he could recommend a Charter for a Lodge named Pyramid, but that he certainly would recommend a Charter for a Lodge named Thornton F. McElroy. McElroy had been the first Master of Olympia Lodge, the first Lodge in Washington Territory and later the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington. Fulton was a Past Master of Olympia Lodge No. 1, and always denied saying that. Some evidence has surfaced that it was in fact how the new Lodge got its name.
The Lodge was Chartered by vote of the Grand Lodge in June 1959, and has enjoyed uncommon success ever since.
Since all of the first members were already Masons and had developed diverse traditions in their home Lodges, many traditions were blended in the new Lodge. This proved to be a strength that has served us well.
History courtesy of MW William R. Miller
In August of 2009 Thornton F. McElroy 302 celebrated 50 years.