a brief history
On October 27, 1852 Roswell Lodge No. 165 was chartered under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Georgia. Its chartering officers were, H.W. Proudfoot, Elihu Hembree, and John Dunwoody. For anyone living in Roswell, these names are quite familiar. As are the names Holcomb, Milton, and Mansell. These prominent names grace the pages of the lodge rolls from the very beginning of the lodge. But it is not through association with prominent families that the brethren of Roswell Lodge #165 garner such respect. It is through their actions, and the unselfish way in which each member serves the community that the brethren of the lodge have gained the respect and admiration of the community. Throughout its long history, Roswell Lodge #165 has been an integral part of the Roswell community. As it is one of the longest lasting continuous organizations within the city, it has gone through a multitude of changes. Within the pages of this paper the depth of the lodges generosity and caring shall be revealed. Appendix A. illustrates the “family history” of the lodge, but it is also a snapshot of those who have served the fraternity and the community with their hearts and souls.

Early on in an initiates “Masonic journey”, he is informed that “brotherly love morality and relief, the most important tenets of Freemasonry are contained between the points of the compasses.” How the brethren of Roswell Lodge have implemented this charge throughout the years will be the focus of this study.

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