In the summer of 1904, a club was formed

of several men who desired to become Master Masons. They met at the house of Richard H. Jones of 916 E. Street S.W., Washington, DC.

The club grew and partitioned the Grand Master W.H. Malvin for permission to meet as a lodge under dispensation (UD), which was granted. Thereafter the lodge met in the Masonic Temple at 5th Street and Virginia Avenue, S.E. The Grand Master appointed officers of various lodges to instruct and initiate the lodge under dispensation with Past Master John S. George presiding as Worshipful Master.

The lodge under dispensation

later petitioned Grand Master

John T. Layton for a charter under

the name of Ionic Lodge No.17 F.& A.M.

The charter was granted on Friday,

October 6,1905.  After the usual ritualistic ceremonies, the Grand Master declared

Ionic Lodge No. 17 a duly Constituted

Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of

the District of Columbia.

A Brief History