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 Benevolent
Lodge No. 3 has a long and prestigious history here in Milledgeville,
Georgia. In 1827 the Benevolent Lodge was No. 9 in the list of Georgia
Lodges. In December of 1829 the Grand Lodge constitution was amended
and Benevolent Lodge No. 9 became No. 6 on the list until November 17,
1938 when the number was changed to No. 3. In 1827 there were
two Blue Lodges in Milledgeville, Benevolent No. 9 and Fraternal No.
20. In October of 1828, by mutual agreement of both Lodges, they merged
into one, Benevolent No. 9. In November of 1828 it was decided
by the Lodge members to undertake the raising of funds to build a
Masonic Hall by lottery. At the time the Lodge met in the Darien Bank
Building. The State authorized the Lodge to raise, by lottery, the sum
of $25,000 for construction of the Masonic Hall in the town of
Milledgeville on December 9, 1828. The cornerstone for the
Masonic Hall was laid June 25, 1832 by R. W. Samuel Rockwell, and
assisted by William Davis, Thomas Greene, E .H. Pierce, P. Wright, John
Miller, Drury Murphy, John Mitchell, and William Hill. In June
of 1834 the building of the Masonic Hall was complete and ready for
occupancy. Judge I. L. Harris was the first Worshipful Master to serve
in the new Lodge building.
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