It is a Masonic Lodge. It was founded on February 3, 1867, and in its rooms the melody and lyrics of what would later become the Dominican National Anthem were performed for the first time on August 17, 1883. José Rufino Reyes Siancas, Venerable Master of this lodge, was the author of the music of this song to the country. The full name (with its honorary titles) is as follows: BENEMERITA AND RESPECTABLE HOPE LODGE NO. 9, CRADLE OF THE DOMINICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM. The honorary titles of Meritorious and Respectable were granted to them by the Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic, while the title of "Cradle of the Dominican National Anthem" was granted by the Dominican Congress of 1982-86, as a very high Honor, for having celebrated 100 years of the first interpretation of the Dominican Anthem, and was later endorsed by the Grand Lodge of the Dominican Republic