About North Star Lodge No. 8
Lancaster, New Hampshire · Established 1797
Our History
North Star Lodge No. 8 was formed in 1797 by fifteen Masons — three of whom lived in Lancaster, the others living along the Connecticut River from Canada to the White Mountains — and granted a charter by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire on 18 December 1797. The first lodge chartered after the Grand Lodge voted to number lodges according to seniority, it was given the number eight.
The surrounding country was an almost unbroken wilderness, and the roads were frequently only passable on foot or horseback. Due to these traveling conditions, the Lodge met for more than a century on "the Tuesday of the week in which the moon fulls in each month" — meeting in the afternoon so that the light of the full moon could assist the men in finding their way home. The lodge met in Northumberland only until 1800, when it was given permission to move to Lancaster, meeting in a variety of locations until 1884, when it purchased the "old meeting house" at the corner of Main St. and Mechanic St. That building was destroyed by fire around the turn of the century. The present town hall building was constructed and jointly owned by the town and the North Star Corporation, formed by the various Masonic bodies using the building. It was dedicated on 17 July 1901, and a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone in the northeast corner.
North Star Lodge has been the "mother" to eight other lodges, in Colebrook, Lisbon, Littleton, Gorham, Whitefield, and Groveton, NH, as well as St. Johnsbury and Island Pond, VT. On January 1, 2000, the members of White Mountain Lodge (Whitefield) rejoined their mother lodge. On November 19, 2011, the members of Gilkey Lodge (Groveton) rejoined, and in 2023 the members of the former Parker Lodge in North Woodstock joined North Star Lodge. Today the Lodge meets on the first Thursday of the month — electricity and automobiles having eliminated the need to meet by the phase of the moon. But none of the modern conveniences have eliminated the value of good men meeting together, in friendship and fraternity, to serve God and their fellow man.
Our Pillars
Brotherly Love
Every Mason is taught to regard the whole human species as one family — to aid, support, and protect one another, and to cultivate the social virtues.
Relief
Masons are bound to relieve the distresses of a worthy brother Mason, and to extend charity to all who are in need, regardless of creed or circumstance.
Truth
Truth is a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue. To be good and true is the first lesson we are taught in Masonry.
Lodge Officers
Contact us to learn more about current lodge leadership.
Want to Learn More?
We'd love to tell you more about our lodge and the history of Freemasonry in Lancaster. Reach out to us anytime.