After the war, John Darling became a businessman in the Mercantile Industry.  In 1854, 
a number of citizens decided to incorporate the town of Tampa.  an election was held and 
John Darling was elected the first President of the Town Council and the Village of Tampa. 
On the 15th day of December, 1854, Tampa officially became a town.

    John Darling's Masonic History is as follows:

            He made application to Hillsborough Lodge #25 and initiated and entered apprentice 
on December 17th, 1853.  A dispensation was granted by the grand lodge of Florida and he 
was passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft and raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason 
on the same day, December 19th, 1853.

    In 1887 Br. Darling left Tampa for the home of relatives in the North.  five years later, 
on September 11, 1892, at the age of 84, he died, in Nashua, New Hampshire and was buried 
there with Full Masonic Honors.

    Since the first Master of John Darling Lodge #154, there have been 95 Masters of the lodge, 
with Worshipful Master Paul R. Gallo Jr. as the present master.  Of those, there are 22 masters 
of the lodge still alive and attending meetings on a regular basis, some giving lectures and others 
serving as mentors.

    Being 102 years old, this lodge has seen many changes in history and in the city of Tampa. 
The lodge is active and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.  If you 
would like to know more about our lodge or retain a book of its more than one hundred year 
history, contact:

c/o Paul Gallo, Worshipful Master
4601 N. Habana Ave.
Tampa, Fl. 33614

or e-mail me at  lodge154@hotmail.com
 

# # # History, courtesy John Darling Lodge # 154 F. & A. M. 
# # # Centennial, L. Alan Austin, P.M. Historian.