Moses Paul Lodge was the third Lodge to be established in the city of Dover, NH. On October 24th, 1792, a Charter from the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire named Federal Lodge No. 5 the first Masonic Blue Lodge in Dover. After a period of some difficulty it's CHarter was returned to the Grand Lodge on April 25th, 1798, during a quarterly communication, with a request that it be canceled, which was done. On July 23rd, 1817, the Grand Lodge issued a Charter to the second Lodge, Strafford Lodge No. 29, and except for the years between 1833 and 1848, it sustained the practice of the craft in Dover up through the present day.
On December 20th, 1889, the Most Worshipful George W. Currier granted this third group of petitioners dispensation to meet as Moses Paul Lodge. These Masons assembled from their home cities of Somersworth, Farmington, Hillsborough, Dover, Newmarket, Rochester, Union and Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Two petitioners were from China, Maine and Danvers, Massachusetts, respectively. All came together to form a new lodge and on May 21st, 1890, at the Annual Comminucation of the Grand Lodge of NH, Moses Paul Lodge U.D. (Under Dispensation) was designated number 96 and assigned to District 1. Since that time and in an uninterupted fashion, Moses Paul Lodge No. 96 has practiced the craft of Free and Accepted Masons in the City of Dover, New Hampshire.
Moses Paul, the man, was as important a Masonic citizen as he was to the city of Dover. He was born on March 28th, 1797, in Waterborough, Maine and died in Dover on July 9th, 1860. He served as Worshipful Master of Strafford Lodge No. 29 during 1827 and as Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New Hampshire during 1858 and 1859.
Moses Paul was active in the growth and prosperity of Dover during a time when the city served as an important port of call for ocean going vessels carrying cargo essential to the growth an development of the city and surrounding area. He served as a director for the shipping syndicate in 1835 called the Dispatch Line of Packets. This syndicate was formed to compete with the railroads for carrying freight cargo during the initial introduction of rail service to the area.
Moses Paul served for over thirty years as an agent of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company. He joined with prominent Dover citizens, sea captains and businessmen to further the contribution of the sea port and shipping business. He was known in Dover as "Captain Paul", through his militia service.