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Non Profits > Kearsarge Lodge #81
Kearsarge Lodge #81 Free & Accepted Masons was founded in 1866 by resident men of the Town of Andover and surrounding towns and has provided a place for good men to become better since. The tenants of Freemasons of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth have been in action in Andover continuously for 141 years. Masonry has been in existence in NH since 1736 with the charter of St. John's Lodge in Portsmouth which is the oldest continuous Masonic Lodge in the Americas. There is much misunderstanding about Masonry due primarily to ignorance and Masonry's tradition of quietly doing good things for the community and society in general, without advertisement or self-aggrandizement and often times in private. Fourteen United States Presidents have been members of the craft; the first being Bro. General George Washington, the most recent being Bro. and President Gerald Ford. Many of our nations founders were active Freemasons.
Meetings are held at the Lodge in Potter Place at 38 Cilleyville Road, which is also offered for use to the general public for gatherings at very reasonable rates. Stated meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm for any Freemason with the exception of July and August when the lodge is dark for the summer. Typically dinner is served at 6:30, but please call one of the numbers below for confirmation.
Masonry is the basis for many quality organizations in the world. Demolay for boys, Rainbow for girls, The Eastern Star for men and women are associate organizations to Freemasonry. The Shrine is a Masonic body. Shriners in North America provide approximately 2.5 million dollars per day for the support of their Shrine Burn Centers across the country where cutting edge critical care is offered to any and all children absolutely free of charge. The next time you see one of those old guys with a funny hat marching in a band or driving a little clown car in a parade, realize that these are all Freemasons who are giving of their time and resources to raise money to support these amazing charities.
Some of Kearsarge Lodge's past and current local charitable works include the Andover DARE program, a meeting place for weekly AA meetings, donations to the restoration and care of The Cilleyville Bog Covered Bridge, and Christmas charity to Andover families in need.
Freemasonry does not as a rule advertise for membership. "Ask 1-2B1" is the general rule to become a Freemason. All Masons within a Masonic Lodge "meet upon the Level". Freemasons "regard no man for his worldly wealth nor honors" and welcome any man of at least 18 years for membership who possesses a "belief in a supreme being".
If you have an interest in learning more about Freemasonry in general or about Kearsarge Lodge, please feel free to contact one of the brothers below.
