Lodge History
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. MillerIn August of 2009 Thornton F. McElroy 302 celebrated 50 years.