History of St. Andrew's Lodge No. 56, F. & A.M.
							2006
			1848
	st. Andrew's Lodge No. 56 was formed by eleven members of St. John's Lodge No. 1. They were: George W. Towle, Past Master of St. John's and first Master of St. Andrew's Lodge; Thomas L. Pickering, John S. Locke, Hanson M. Hart, John E. H. Barnes, Joseph Parry, Benjamin Weeks, Ebenezer Runnells, Aaron L. Rand, Joseph M. Edmonds, and Jethro Locke. Jethro Locke was the first Tyler and also the first to depart this earth for he died September 23, 1848. Masonic Services were held for him September 25, 1848.   St. Andrew's Lodge No. 56 was duly consecrated and constituted June 24, 1848 by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire with M.W. John Christie presiding. The Masonic Hall was then located in Franklin Block on the northwesterly corner of Fleet and Congress streets. After Grand Lodge was opened, a procession was formed consisting of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, members of the new lodge, a large number of Masons from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts comprising several Masonic bodies, Royal Arch Chapters, Encampment of Knights Templar and the Portsmouth Ineffable Grand Lodge of Perfection, the latter being the only constituted Scottish Rite organization in New Hampshire on this date. The procession accompanied by the Boston Cornet Band and the Portland Band marched through several principal streets of the town to the North Church in Market Square, built in 1712, demolished 1854, for the erection of the present North Church. The principal address on this moring was by Reverend Brother Thomas R. Lambert, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire.