GA-25-008 Solomons Lodge No. 1 F. & A. M. Savannah Georgia

Marker text: Solomon's Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M. Savannah, Georgia - Organized as a Masonic lodge February 21, 1734, It's first worshipful master was general James Edward Oglethorpe, English soldier, statesman, humanitarian and founder of Georgia, who raised the flag of England at Savannah on February 12, 1733. Chartered by the grand lodge of England in 1735 as "The lodge at Savannah in Ye province of Georgia." Solomon's is the oldest continuously operating English constituted lodge in the western hemisphere. In 1786 the independent grand lodge of Georgia, F. & A. M., was created and proclaimed by concerted action of Solomon's and the one other lodge then existing in the state. Solomon's was chartered as the first lodge of Georgia. From its beginning in 1734 brethren of Solomon's lodge have served with distinction in vital positions of leadership in public and fraternal affairs of city, colony, state and nation. The lodge produced the first grand master of Georgia, F. & A. M., William Stephens, who governed the Georgia craft from 1786-1788 and 1793-1813. Solomon's lodge, one of Savannah's greatest historical institutions, is honored and revered by the nearly 100, 000 freemasons of this state as the mother lodge of Georgia, free and accepted masons. Marker placed by the educational & historical commission Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A. M., 1969