Masons in the Line

[Yankeeboy]

Gents
Does anyone know of any good reference books or research about Masons In the Civil war?

Thanks
1st Corp. Gregory J. Dodge
Co. A 7th Ky Vol. Inf U.S.

[BrianHicks]

House Undivided: The Story of Freemasonry & the Civil War by Allen E. Roberts

"Befriend and Relieve Every Brother" Freemasonry during Wartime by Richard Eugene Shields, Jr.

"Freemasons at Gettysburg" by Sheldon A. Munn

"Confederate Veteran" by Samuel Roberts, Sr.

"The Mystic Sign" Masonic Sketches, by F. P. Strickland

"Friend to Friend" The Scottish Rite Journal, by M.W. Samuel E. Cowan

"Masonry Under Two Flags" Masonic Service Assoc. 1983 by Allen E. Roberts.

http://jason.burkins.net/civil.html

http://www.mastermason.com/thedaythewarstopped/

http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry/Reports/cw.html

http://www.mastermason.com/falmr/mascw.htm

http://docsouth.unc.edu/masonry/masonry.html

[Canton Zouave]

Mr. Dodge,

A good source for some local information about Mason's in the War is to take a look inside your local lodge, assuming you have access (& your lodge is old to have such records like mine). My Lodge, has been a great source of local CW Information for my Masonic Studies, especially related to the early years. Some good letters, and other little tidbits.

[Paul J. Hadley]

Friend Dodge,

Brian has given you great references from which to begin, but I'm told that a couple of those books were penned by a man who is not a Mason nor a friend of the Masons -- he apparently would rather profit from revealing "truths" about the "secret" organization without the benefit of solid inside information about the fraternal group.

Your mileage may vary, but I would suggest you look up Brother Tim Kindred's address (should be in the Into the Woods event news or in the members list) -- he is very knowledgable re the Craft and should be helpful in your search.

My apologies to Mr. Hicks if you also have journeyed to the East. With your military and reenacting background, that would give yet another layer to your impressive pedigree.

Hope this helps.
Paul Hadley
2 B 1, Ask 1

[BrianHicks]

I am a Travelling Man.

Arabian Lodge #882, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
My Mother Lodge is in the Noble Ninth District, of the American and Candian Grand Lodge, AF & AM within the United Grand Lodges of Germany.

I am also a 32d in the SRSJ in good standing in the Valley of American Military, Orient of NATO Bases.

Of interest are the Masonic Civil War Lodges of Research:

Civil War Lodge of Research #1865
C/O William E. Copenhaver, Secretary
107 Columbia Circle Stephens City, VA 22655
Email: amexcope@mnsinc.com
http://www.bessel.org/cwlr/

Confederate Military Lodge of Research (Alabama)
C/O Clifton W. Crisler, Secretary/Treasurer
PO Box 776 Alexander City, AL 35011-0776
Email: papclif@wwisp.com
http://www.lakemartin.net/~comilor/

Frontier Army Lodge of Masonic Research #1875
C/O Jim Acker, WM
1401 25th Avenue South Suite #303 Fargo, ND 58103
Email: james_acker@yahoo.com
http://www.mastermason.com/falmr/

Armistead - Bingham Lodge # 1862 F&AM of WI
C/O Doug Morisset, Secretary
300 Hendricks Street Waterloo, WI 53594
Email: prd1fam@ixperts.com

[NY Pvt]

Brian has given you great references from which to begin, but I'm told that a couple of those books were penned by a man who is not a Mason nor a friend of the Masons -- he apparently would rather profit from revealing "truths" about the "secret" organization without the benefit of solid inside information about the fraternal group.

Hope this helps.
Paul Hadley
2 B 1, Ask 1


Mr. Hadley,

I know how the subject of Free Masonry can be as opinionated and as hot of topic as it was during the 1830's through the Civil War. Just because someone is not a Mason does not disqualifying them from writing a book on them, or the Masons during a certain time period.

I assume you are talking about Allen Roberts when you said,

"revealing "truths" about the "secret" organization without the benefit of solid inside information about the fraternal group."

Well good thing for him he is not a Mason or they would have cut out his tongue, possibly done other hideous things to him, and maybe even thrown him into the St. Lawrence near the Niagara Falls like they did to Morgan. Oh wait, the masons don't do that sort of thing anymore?!? :D

I would however like to ask a serious question, although I question whether I can get an unbiased answer from a Mason since I am not sure whether the Masons knowledge the "Morgan Affair" ever happened, and even then, everyone has their sides. Would the "Morgan Affair" still be a hot issue during the Civil War even though it happened some 30 years earlier?

[1stMaine]

Comrade Dane,
The Morgan Affair was much discussed amongst members of the craft for many years. Even today we are still refuting the story, which is all it is. There is sufficient evidence to prove that the entire "affair" was promulagted with the intent of generating anti-masonic fervor and removing Masons from political offices in New York and elsewhere because of perceived influence amongst them.
Although a "secret" society, it was more of an open secret about who was actually a member, as it was not awfully hard to find out who belonged to the local lodge. In fact, there were actually quite a few lodges formed in the field amongst members of the various regiments.
What was not openly worn were the various insignias that seem to be so profligate amongst reenactors these days. It's a touchy subject for me, as I have only seen a handful of actual CW images where there was an identifiable Masonic emblem openly worn, and none of these were ever on a coat or hat/cap. In fact, there was only one inage of a square and compasses being worn, and that was on the lapel of a vest, which would have been covered up by the soldier's coat.
Commonly worn insingia would have been restricted to rings, watchfobs, and shirt studs. Items that were inconspicuos at best, and easily concealed if so desired. In fact, it was the masonic shirt studs that were the identifying symbol of General Barksdale's body at Gettysburg. But I digress.
Freemasons have always been accused of one thing or another. Mostly it involves being in league with satan, or establishing a secret government, or running the "new world order" or any combination of these things.
I'd be happy to help out in any way that I can with specifics, and I'll see what I can come up with for you regarding the "Morgan Affair".
respects,
Tim Kindred
Polar Star Lodge #114
Bath, Maine
www.7thmaine.com

[Canton Zouave]

Pards.

Tim & Brian have both provided good insight into many Masonic topics, and resources. After ready them & various other post's over the past forums...I felt it would be a good idea to throw in a statement that was given to me as I worked to be raised through my degrees.

So here goes:

"The Masonic order is not a "Secret" Society, but meerely a "Society" with secrets."

Just my two cents worth.

[va-yank]

I always felt the big pewter masonic badges and fobs were overdone, along with the tam-o-shanters and shillelaghs. Its hard to debunk something like that, but Tim gets credit for trying in a credible balanced review of the only evidence available.

Here's a thought, and correct me if I am wrong. Masonry and lodges, IOOF, Elks, G.A.R. etc. had their heyday in the late 19th century, post Civil War. Membership in lodges swelled, and became more open to the rank and file, working men, middle and lower middle class. Before that national and international lodges were mostly elite organizations, for the rich and aristocrats etc. So during the ACW we might have seen a Mason among the officers here and there, but probably none in the ranks.

[tomarch]

I belive fraternal societies were popular with the everyday man before the C.W. as well. Out here in the Gold Rush country, there isn't a Gold Rush town that doesn't have a Masonic bldg. with an 1850's date on it. B.T.W. another fraternal order with a large following out here (and that still exists) is the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus which can be traced to what's now West Va. in 1845.

Tom Smith,ECV
Credo Quia Absurdum

[Canton Zouave]

I always felt the big pewter masonic badges and fobs were overdone, along with the tam-o-shanters and shillelaghs. Its hard to debunk something like that, but Tim gets credit for trying in a credible balanced review of the only evidence available.

Here's a thought, and correct me if I am wrong. Masonry and lodges, IOOF, Elks, G.A.R. etc. had their heyday in the late 19th century, post Civil War. Membership in lodges swelled, and became more open to the rank and file, working men, middle and lower middle class. Before that national and international lodges were mostly elite organizations, for the rich and aristocrats etc. So during the ACW we might have seen a Mason among the officers here and there, but probably none in the ranks.


On the contrary: Fraternal organizations were very popular amongst the common man and the common soldier. The first masonic lodge in Ohio, was a military lodge that was organized by the soldiers stationed in and around Marietta Ohio in the late 18th century. In adidition, many of the members of my own lodge filled the ranks of companies in 4th Ohio,19th Ohio, 76th, & 107th Ohio. However, it does seem that many of the members who held higher positions in the lodge were prominent community figures, to this I will agree.


As for gigantic bullion emblems, and huge chunks of pressed brass on ones unifrom to designate any sort of affiliation just merely baffles me. As Mr. Kindred mentioned, small discreet emblems were much more common. In addition, even the use of a fraternal symbol in ink upon the inside of a garment seems to be another method of indication ones affiliation, along with embroidery, and of course ones own knowledge of the craft, and its symbolism.

[BrianHicks]

Before the previous forum crashed, I had posted a rather lengthy post which detailed numerous incidents (all drawn from period source documents) which described men of opposing sides, coming to the aid and relief of a fellow Mason, solely because they had seen some sort of masonic badge, ring or emblem on the other person.

I did a study about two years ago in which I compared the numerical values of the consolidated reports of the States Grand Lodges (the ones that indicated an annual membership number, and were available) from the late 1850's and compared that to the ederal Census reports of men over the age of 21, and found that it appeared that statistacly speaking, about 1 in every 10 to 12 men were members of a Masonic Lodge. Now... my study definately was not a scienitficaly based study, but merely a comparison of available numbers from Grand Lodges, matched against the avaialable Census numbers.

[styler]

There may have been regional differences between how appropriate it would have been to wear some overt sign of Masonry. Dane raised the "Morgan Affair," and it would have probably been unlikely that Masons from Western NY would have displayed their affiliation openly even decades later. The same, though, may not be true for men from other parts of the country. It depended on where anti-masonry was rampant and where it was not.

FWIW, don't forget the connection between Thurlow Weed (who played up the Morgan story) and Seward.
http://www.rochester.lib.ny.us/~rochhist/v2_1940/v2i2.pdf

[va-yank]

" from the late 1850's and compared that to the ederal Census reports of men over the age of 21, and found that it appeared that statistacly speaking, about 1 in every 10 to 12 men were members of a Masonic Lodge."

So your survey concludes that 10-12% of men over 21 living in all of Ohio belonged to the Masons during some period in the late 1850s?

That is pretty astounding. Far more than I would have expected.

I did some research in the midwest years ago. I did not get any counts on members as such, just the number of lodges of different sorts and the locations throughout western Missouri and Eastern Kansas. Of course that area was not settled very heavily in the 1850s, so it stands to reason that lodges & memberships would develop later.

What sort of numbers are we looking at for the Masons today?

[Canton Zouave]

No I think what Brian is saying that you did a comparison of annual reports from the Grand Lodges of each State, that maintained suitable records for his study.

[Dale Beasley]

Brothers,
I have wanted to add my thoughts on proper-period wearing of tokens.....I am....... by no means an expert on this subject....however I believe Brother Pat Craddock has done homework on this ....If he would.......give us proper guidelines on proper wearing of our tokens....... I am of,

J. M. Wesson Lodge #0317

[BrianHicks]

No I think what Brian is saying that you did a comparison of annual reports from the Grand Lodges of each State, that maintained suitable records for his study.

You are correct sir.

[Bushrod Carter]

Bro. Beasley,

I will be happy to post that again...but will have to pull out all the old notes. Too many other things going through the old noggin right now.

This is my new favorite topic of authentic discussions.

Also, all Brothers will be interested in a very special announcement that I hope to make within the next few weeks...something none of you will want to miss!

Patrick Craddock

[Bushrod Carter]

Wish I had that thread we had on the old AC site...some good info there.

Patrick Craddock
Me, just to lasy (or without enough time) to rewrite

[BrianHicks]

Bro. Patrick,

I concur sir. If memory serves me correctly, that thread had grown to about 7 pages in length, and had an enormous amount of information pertaining to Brethren in the ranks.

Is it possible for Mr. Calloway to recover selective threads from the old forums?

[Barry Smithson]

Bro. Beasley,

I will be happy to post that again...but will have to pull out all the old notes. Too many other things going through the old noggin right now.

This is my new favorite topic of authentic discussions.

Also, all Brothers will be interested in a very special announcement that I hope to make within the next few weeks...something none of you will want to miss!

Patrick Craddock

Brother Patrick,

Now I feel like I waiting for the 11 o'clock news after this tease! I anxiously await your announcement!

Nathaniel Greene Lodge No. 45, F. & A.M.

[Matthew.Rector]

Bro. Beasley,

I will be happy to post that again...but will have to pull out all the old notes. Too many other things going through the old noggin right now.

This is my new favorite topic of authentic discussions.

Also, all Brothers will be interested in a very special announcement that I hope to make within the next few weeks...something none of you will want to miss!

Patrick Craddock

Pat,

Did that research get posted again? I wanted to make sure I didn't miss it in another thread or link! I'm very interested in reading it!

Morrison Lodge #76

[Possum Skinner]

Gentlemen,

I am not a member, but I have been considering it for a while. I have my grandfather's, great-grandfather's, and great-great-grandfather's aprons, rings, and other such items tucked away in a little cedar chest, including dues slips paid all the way back to 1883. (Dues were $2.00 a year that year.)

I also ran across an interesting account in Confederate Echoes by Albert T. Goodloe. ISBN 0-89201-105-x Originally copywritten in 1893.

This incident occurred when capturing a company of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry near Decatur, Alabama in April of 1864.

" It seemed that in our hurry to get back across the river we were about to go away without the captain, when Col. Ives learned that he and one or two other officers were quartered in the family residence. Taking a small guard with him, Col. Ives, lantern in hand, rushed into the room where they were, finding them still asleep, notwithstanding what had just transpired in the barn lot. He aroused them from their slumbers and dreams of conquest and Rebel scalps to the wakeful consciousness of the fact that they were in the gentle grasp of chivalrous Southrons. The captain made the Masonic sign of distress, thinking that his life was in immediate peril. Col. Ives answered that he was in no danger of personal violence, but that his prescence was needed instanter within the Rebel lines.
While in Northern Alabama, quite a number of us were members of the Buford Lodge of Masons, for which a special army dispensation had been granted, took the Chapter and several degrees at Courtland, where the chapter was of which Mr. Baker was High Priest. We regarded this as a rare opportunity of advancing in Masonry, and Mr. Baker, a very thorough Mason, in assisting us in our preparation for the several degrees, which had to be taken in unusually quick succession, as we were not long in Courtland. Besides taking the Chapter degrees myself, I also took the following side degrees offered by Mr. Baker: Monitor, Knight of Constantine, and Holy Virgin. These last were taken April 19. The Chapter degrees- Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch- were taken April 21 and 22.
We enjoyed out army Masonry very much, and frequently had meetings of our Lodge. Capt. Martin was our Worshipful Master, and could conduct the work of the Lodge as well as anyone I ever saw. We could always get the use of a Masonic Hall when we were camped near where one was, and the local members took special delight in meeting with us; the war, however, had scattered most of the Lodge members.
It was a very frequent occurence with wounded soldiers on both sides, who were Masons, to give the signal of distress, and doubtless it often secured help when it could not have been otherwise obtained. Yankees and Rebels were on common ground when they met as Masons. Of the Yankees, we heard that a great many of them joined the Masons upon their enlistment in the army, for the protection and attention it might afford them when taken prisoners by us, or when left wounded on the battlefield after their line had been driven back. If their were Southern soldiers who were thus moved to become Masons, it never came to my knowledge."

Goodloe was 1st Lt. of Company D, 35th Alabama Infantry.

He wrote these memoirs after the war and he has a very decided Southern bias on many things, and his book tends to be very choppy, but I thought you might be interested in that section.

[Bushrod Carter]

Brothers and interested parties,

Here are a few passages from "House Undivided" about how and where Masons wore identifying badges:

Pg 49: “…he pointed to a Masonic pin in Colonel Raynor’s shirt-bosom.”

Pg. 54: “…observed a Masonic pin on the bosom of Colonel Wood….” This I am assuming to also mean on his shirt, as the colonel had been wounded and was being treated by a “enemy” doctor.

Pg 58: “…the coat-sleeve of one of them was torn during the struggle, and her eyes fell upon a breast-pin that he had fastened upon his shirt sleeve, perhaps for concealment and safety.” This is an interesting story about a young lady who, while struggling with Federal soldiers in an attempt to protect her recently captured brother, say the token and then gave the grand hailing sign! The account continues, “During the early part of the evening, there was a meeting of the Masonic members of the company at the captain’s quarters. Where the girl was examined, and found to have passed all the degrees in masonry, to that of Master Mason. Where or how she had acquired these degrees, she declined to say. She and her brother had been in the United States but about ten weeks, having come from Ireland for the purpose of purchasing a farm, intending when they had done so, to send for their mother and younger brother. The boy did not know that his sister was a mason, and only knew that his father, when living, was a Master of a lodge in their native town in Ireland.” Sounds like a poorly tiled Lodge to me!

Pg. 79: “I wore on the lapel of my coat, a small Masonic breast-pin, merely to be fashionable with (other) Masons.…”

Pg. 105. The Major of the 3rd R.I. Infantry, while meeting a Confederate officer under flag of truce, noticed something on the “enemy’s” uniform that caused him to remark, “I suppose by the tools you carry I have the honor of meeting a Craftsman, as well as an enemy in war?”

Pg. 118: “While adding him he noticed a Masonic emblem on the shirt of…”

Pg 125: After the fighting at Antietam, a picket from the 5th N.H. Infantry was called by a wounded Confederate soldier just outside his post. The wounded soldier was “handed a little slip of paper, on which he had evidently with great difficulty, succeeded in marking some mystic sign with a bit of stick wet in blood. The soldier begged to hand the paper to some Freemason as soon as possible, and he took it to….”

And these from “Befriend and Relieve every Brother: Freemasonry during Wartime” by Richard E. Shields, Jr.

Pg. 13: “…he saw that he wore a Masonic emblem on his coat.”

Pg. 24: “The major wore a small Masonic breast-pin which was the fashion of the Masons in the Northern Army at that time.”

Pg. 38: “The Mason spied the square and compass emblem on his attackers breast.”

Pg. 41: “,,,after awhile one of them noticed Bosang’s Masonic ring.”

Pg 43: “…he noticed the Masonic square and compasses on his watch chain.”

Pg 48: “Early in his Masonic career the patient had had painted (tattooed?) on his arm the square and compasses designating his Masonic affiliation.”

Pg. 51: “…noticed a Masonic ring on a portrait of the plantation’s owner’s son.…”

[CaptainUCSB]

Maybe this has already been posted and I missed it, but what exactly DO the Masons do? All we ever hear are the bad things they are accused of and the arguements that these were conspiracies.

I want to know, what positive things did Masons do in the 19th Century and what positive things do they do now? Do they raise money for charities? Do they help society in any way other than a bunch of guys getting together to have fun?

Nobody ever seems to talk about what the Masons really do or really did during the 19th Century. Maybe some of you can shed some life on it for me.

Thanks.

[BrianHicks]

Let us start with a quote...
"To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but particularly on Freemasons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in view. On this basis we form our friendships and establish our connections."
- from Illustrations of Masonry, p. 72, William Preston, (1772)

Grasping the subtle nuances of the interlocking relationships of Masonic organizations is a simple task compared to cataloging their expenditures. As Professor Lipson observed, "Masonic charity was secret unlike civic charity whose administration made the entire town privy to the needs of each recipient." Thus a researcher can only capture the data from formally organized and public Masonic activities, but even this doesn't tell the whole story.

For example, the Masonic Service Association quietly oversees a Hospital Visitation Program with a goal that every V.A. Hospital in the United States have a Masonic volunteer working with patients. How can a value be placed on the more than 500,000 hours a year spent on this work? It just can't be done! The best that can be achieved is to catalog that fraction of Masonic philanthropy that happens to be administered on a formal basis and to rest content in the knowledge that Masons today, as always, are seeking to provide relief for suffering humanity.

In 1990 American Masonic Philanthropy was $525 million or $1.4 million per day. It has been estimated that for 2000, formal American Masonic Philanthropy will probably exceed $2.00 million per day!

In finishing the list below, I find myself overwhelmed with the size of the list, so I will summarize it first. If you need help or knowledge in any of the following areas, then consult the list below for the location of the place to help you.

Childhood language disorders
Treatment for birth defects
Scholarship and direct grants to children and grandchildren of Scottish Rite Masons as well as to members of DeMolay, Job's Daughters, Rainbow for Girls, and other Masonic youth groups
Research on diabetes
A summer camp for underprivileged children
Arteriosclerosis research
Christmas Day Dinner for the Des Moines community
Cancer research
Training awards for religious leadership and those making religious work their career
A museum and monument to our first President (a Mason,by the way)
Grants to students at in Schools of Government and Business
Administration and International Affairs
Dental care for handicapped children
Scholarship assistance to nursing students
Geriatric research
Child development for good citizenship and sound character for boys and girls
Out-patient services for cancer treatment
Low cost education loans
Eye surgery and prescription glasses
Treatment for cancer patients and cancer research support
Masonic Hospital Visitation Program for V.A. Hospital volunteers
Research in heart disease, cancer, aging, hypertension, and blood substitutes
Meeting and performance facilities at the International Peace Garden
A clearing house on Masonic information
Education of youth about drugs and alcohol
Ohio Special Olympics
A non-denominational chapel for mediation and religious services
at the International Peace Garden
Research into the causes and treatment of schizophrenia and related disorders
Research into auditory perception disorders in children
A Georgia children's medical Center
A museum and library focusing on our American heritage as well as Freemasonry's role in the history of our country
The first public library in the District of Columbia
Scholarships and fellowships for Ph.D. candidates in Public School Administration
Support for students seeking degrees in fields associated with service to country and humanity Orthopedic services to children through a network of 22 hospitals and treatment for burns victims at four burns centers
Support for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
A provider of new shoes for needy Tennessee and Alabama children
An orthopedic, neuralgic, and child development hospital in Texas
Operates a clinic for dyslexic and aphasia disorders in children
Provides needy homeless children in the school district with clothing and toiletries

The following is a listing of these American Masonic Charities included in the above:

Abbott Scottish Rite Scholarship Program
Provides direct grants to children and grandchildren of Scottish
Rite masons, as well as members of DeMolay, Job's Daughters, Rainbow Girls,
and other Masonic youth groups.

Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, N.M.J.
P.O. Box 519
33 Marrett Road
Lexington, Massachusetts 02173
(617) 862-4410


Amaranth Diabetes Foundation
(Supports research on diabetes)
The Supreme Council, Order of the Amaranth
Mrs. Ethel B. Fry, Supreme Secretary
2303 Murdoch Avenue
Parkersburg, West Virginia 26101
(304) 485-0423 or (304) 428-1565


Camp Chicota
A summer camp for underprivileged children
Grand Lodge of Louisiana, Prince Hall Affiliation
1335-37 North Boulevard
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821
(504) 387-0996


Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation
Supports arteriosclerosis research
Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation
Marion K. Crum, Executive Secretary
Route 4, Box 301
Nashville, Indiana 47448
(812) 988-8655


Des Moines Masonic Christmas Day Dinner
Provides Christmas Day Dinner for the community
Masonic Christmas Day Dinner
Masonic Temple
1011 Locus Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
(515) 244-6011


Eastern Star Cancer Research Project
Supports cancer research
General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star
1618 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-2578
(202) 667-4737


Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership
Supports those who are making religious work their career
General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star
1618 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-2578
(202) 667-4737


General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star
Supports the Peace Chapel at the International Peace Garden which
provides a non-denominational chapel for meditation and religious
services
General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star
1618 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-2578
(202) 667-4737


George Washington Masonic National Memorial
A museum and monument to our first President (and a Mason)
George Washington Masonic National Memorial
101 Calahan Drive
Alexandria, Virginia 22301
(703) 683-2007

George Washington University Grants
Provides grants to students in the Schools of Government and
Business Administration and International Affairs and matching
grants for graduate students
Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, Southern Jurisdiction
1733 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-3199
1-800-SR MASON

Grotto Dentistry for the Handicapped Program
Provides dental care to handicapped children
Supreme Council, M.O.V.P.E.R.
34 N. Fourth Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 463-9193

Illinois Scottish Rite Nursing Scholarships
Provides scholarship assistance to nursing students throughout
the State of Illinois
Illinois Scottish Rite Fund
Illinois Council of Deliberation
915 N. Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
(312) 787-7605

Indiana Masonic Home Foundation
An endowment which supports the Indiana Masonic Home, a retirement
and convalescence center. Located on 360 acres, is home for over
400 residents.
P. O. Box 44210
525 North Illinois Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46224-0210
(800) 277-4643

Indianapolis Scottish Rite Foundation
Supports geriatric research at the University of Indiana Medical School
Indianapolis Scottish Rite Bodies
650 N. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1294
(317) 635-2301

International Order of Job's Daughters
A organization for girls between the ages of eleven and twenty who
are relatives of Master Masons
Supreme Guardian Council, International Order of Job's Daughters
233 West 6th Street
Papillion, Nebraska 68046
(402) 592-7987

International Order of Rainbow for Girls
A organization for girls between the ages of eleven and eighteen
who are daughters of Masonicor Eastern Star families
or friends of such girls
International Order of Rainbow for Girls
P.O. Box 788
McAlester, Oklahoma 74502
(918) 423-1328

Kansas Masonic Oncology Center
Provides out-patient services for cancer treatment
Kansas Masonic Foundation
320 West 8th Street
P.O. Box 1217
Topeka, Kansas 66601-1217
(913) 357-7646

Knights Templar Educational Foundation
Provides students with low-cost education loans
5097 Elston Ave, Suite 101
Chicago, Illinois 60630-2460
(312) 427-5670

Knights Templar Eye Foundation
Supports eye surgery and prescription glasses
P.O. Box 579
Springfield, Illinois 62705-0579
(217) 523-3838

Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center
Provides treatment for cancer patients and supports research
Masonic Cancer Center Fund, Inc.
1700 West Highway 36, Suite 120
Roseville, Minnesota 55113
(612)639-8433

Masonic Hospital Visitation Program
Provides Masonic volunteers to work with patients at Veterans
Administration and military hospitals
Masonic Services Association of the United States
8120 Fenton Street
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
(301) 588-4010

Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, New York
Supports research in heart disease, cancer, aging, hypertension,
and blood substitutes
2150 Bleeker Street
Utica, New York 13501-1787
(315) 735-2217
(website)

Masonic Memorial Auditorium, International Peace Garden
Provides meeting and performance facilities for visitors
Grand Lodge of North Dakota
201 14th Avenue North
Fargo, North Dakota 58102
(701) 235-8321

Masonic Services Association of the United States
Serves as a clearing house for Masonic information

National Masonic Foundation for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol
Abuse Among Children
Supports education for youth about drugs and alcohol
1629 K Street N.W., Suite 606
Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 331-1933

Ohio Special Olympics
The Masonic Grand Lodge of Ohio sponsors every Ohio Special Olympian at these games
Grand Lodge of Ohio
P.O. Box 629
Worthington, Ohio 43085-0629
(614) 885-5318

Order of DeMolay
A fraternal organization for boys between the ages of thirteen and
twenty-one; its purpose is the encouragement and development of good
citizenship and sound character
International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay
10200 N. Executive Hills Boulevard
P.O. Box 901342
Kansas City, Missouri 64190-1342
(816) 891-8333

Research In Schizophrenia
Supports research into the causes and treatment of schizophrenia and related disorders
Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, N.M.J.
P.O. Box 519
33 Marrett Road
Lexington, Massachusetts 02173
(617) 862-4410

Royal Arch Research Assistance Program
Supports research into auditory perception disorders in children
General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons International
111 South 4th Street
Danville, Kentucky 40423-0489
(606) 236-0757

Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center in Georgia
Provides generalized and specialized services to children
Scottish Rites Children's Medical Center
1001 Johnson Ferry Road, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30363
(404) 256-5252

Scottish Rite Museum of Our National Heritage
A museum and library focusing on our American heritage as well as
Freemasonry's role in the history of our country
Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, N.M.J.
P.O. Box 519
33 Marrett Road
Lexington, Massachusetts 02173
(617) 862-4410

Scottish Rite Supreme Council Library
The first public library in the District of Columbia which today
serves the general public as well as international Masonic scholars
Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, Southern Jurisdiction
1733 Sixteenth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-3199
1-800-SR MASON

Shepherd Scholarship
Supports students seeking degrees in fields associated with service
to country and humanity

Shriners Hospitals for Children and Shriners Burn Institutes
Provides orthopedic services to children through a network of 22
hospitals and treatment for burns victims at three burns centers,
also provides specialized medical services for spinal cord injuries,
and cleft palates.
Direct phone to Shriners Hospitals for Children (USA) 800-237-5055
Shriner Headquarters
2900 Rocky Point Drive
Tampa, Florida 33607
[USA - (800) 282-9161 ] [Canada - (800) 361-7256] [All other areas
call collect - (813) 281-0300]

Tall Cedar Foundation
Supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Supreme Forest, Tall Cedars of Lebanon
2609 N. Front Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
(717) 232-5991

Tennessee and Alabama Scottish Rite Shoe Program
Provides new shoes for need Tennessee and Alabama children
Chattanooga Scottish Rite Bodies
510 Uptain Building
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37411-4031
(615) 855-0175

Birmingham Scottish Rite Bodies
400 Valley Avenue
Birmingham, Alabama 35209-3899
(205) 942-2687

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
Provides orthopedic, neuralgic, and child development services to
children in Texas
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
2222 Welborn Street
Dallas, Texas 75219-9982
(214) 521-3168

Masons Assisting Children (MAC)
Provides needy homeless children in the school district with
clothing and toiletries
Masons Assisting Children
2200 West Mesquite
Las Vegas, Nevada 89106

Scottish Rite Foundation
Operates a clinic for dyslexic and aphasia disorders in children
Scottish Rite Foundation
2200 West Mesquite
Las Vegas, Nevada 89106

[BishopLynch]

Mr. Hicks,
I was wondering if you had any information about the Alta Vendita. Since you are a 32nd Degree Mason, I was just curious.

[BrianHicks]

The previous post didn't even mention the Shriners and their many Hospitals.

As one Shriner put it, "We can't put a price on what we do for these children so we do it for free!"

For those living in Mexico, the US or Canadian, these hospitals are pretty well known. What is not always known is that all Shriners are Masons! There are 22 hospitals throughout the United States: three for treatment of burns and 19 which address crippled children's medical problems.

The first Shriners Hospital opened in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1922 and the first Burns Institute opened in Galveston, Texas in 1966. To date, the Shriners have spent over $3 billion dollars on hospital operating costs and over $7 million on construction and renovation.

The number of children helped to date is nearing 550,000 and all care is free! The one department which is never found in a Shrine Hospital is a billing department. Funds for this come from gifts, bequests, income from the endowment fund, hospital fund-raising events, and the annual hospital assessment paid by every Shriner (of which there are approximately 600,000).

[BrianHicks]

Re: the Alta Vendita:

All I know of it, is what I just found via a quick on-lin search. Prior to this, I'd never heard of it before. At first glance, it appears to be yet another of the several documents that appeared in that era, which obviously discredit Freemasonry.

Another quick search through the Anit-Masonic web sites and I found a few other referances to it.

I give little credence to such items, as I consider myself to be a rather diligent Christian, and in my Masonic experiances I have never encountered anything that has given me reason to pause, nor have I ever encountered anything Masonic that is in opposition to my Christian upbringing, and my personal Christian beliefs.

Contrary to what some say, Freemasonry is not a Religion. It does not teach any religious doctrine, and certainly doesn't have anything within it that is in opposition to Christianity.

Now... there are many nay-sayers and anit-masonic people out there. Their websites are easy to find, and they can be very persuasive. But as one who is involved in Masonry, I can only tell you from my personal experiances, I have never seen, heard, learned or encountered any of the anti-Christian stuff attirbuted to Masonry by many of its critics.

[Tenthtexas]

Brother Hicks,
one of the questions asked was what significance did the Masons provide to the 19th Century. Everything given so far is all of their recent and current activities. This being a historical forum, would yoiu please offer some history to the forum on Mason of the 19th Century, particularly during the War of Northern Arrogance.
On the forum we want to maintain its historical integrity and the focus of this forum.

Thank you.

Art Milbert
Co. G, 10th Texas
www.westernindependentgrays.org

[Dale Beasley]

Brothers,....and others,

This is what I believe Brother Hicks was trying to say: Free Masons have come to the distress of other Masons and other people in need for hundreds of years. He has listed the contributions of what Masons do today. Is it any different than what we have done over the past thousand years? I really dont think so.......Just recently when my family was involved in a car accident...a Brother Mason...stayed with my family until I arrived. When...on our farm..... our tractor broke-down and we needed a tractor then or lose thousands of dollars in concrete..... a Brother Mason came to help us. 140 Years ago when a Private in the 6th Mississippi Infantry wrote his wife and told her that Mr. Beasley ( my GGGrandfater, who at the time was in his late 50's and had a son off in the war).......would help her in items she needed around the Farm....and he did. Her husband and my GGGrandfather were of the same Lodge......If you want to be part of a group of men who help others....... then ask one to be one. That is what we are about.....and one more thing.....George Washington, Robert E. Lee, and Jeff Davis were all Free Masons.........

[2RIVB]

I myself was involved in DeMolay, and I am in the process of joining my local lodge. I know, from my limited knowledge from DeMolay, there is much the Masons do for the community, for which they seek no recognition. The list of charities grows each year. Even in DeMolay, we sponsered a chapter charity, as well as a state, and national charity, each year.



Past Senior Counseler, Junior Deacon, Senior Deacon, & Sentry
Clifton Chapter, Order of DeMolay

[BrianHicks]

Brother Hicks,
one of the questions asked was what significance did the Masons provide to the 19th Century. Everything given so far is all of their recent and current activities. This being a historical forum, would yoiu please offer some history to the forum on Mason of the 19th Century, particularly during the War of Northern Arrogance.
On the forum we want to maintain its historical integrity and the focus of this forum.

Thank you.

Art Milbert
Co. G, 10th Texas
www.westernindependentgrays.org


Art,

In the previous incarnation of this Forum, there was a thread on Masonic Impressions. In that particular thread I had posted a rather exhaustive and legthy treatise on Masons during the conflict. As we know, those posts are no longer available.

In this thread, I posted immeditatey available information in response to Mr. Furies inquiry. Yes, it only covers modern charitable activities vice 19th Century, which is only half of what he asked about.

While my answer covers only modern information, it is none the less, indicative of the many charitable works Freemasonry has conducted since the first Lodge became known to the public in 1717. Masonic relief is not a new concept. Unfortunately I do not access to the lodge records of the 19th century in which the records would indicate what type of charitable activities the lodges were involved in 140+ years ago.

If my posting of modern, vice 19th century information has troubled some you, my appologies.

[BrianHicks]

George Washington, Robert E. Lee, and Jeff Davis were all Free Masons.........

Not meaning to dispute Bro. Beasely, but while George Washington was indeed a Mason, there is no solid evidence that either Robert E. Lee or Jeff Davis ever entered into the Masonic Fraternity.

Please find below, a list of those Generals (both Conf. and Union for whom there is clear evidence that they were indeed Freemasons. In the next day or two, I'll provide a list of the Union and Confederate Cabinate and Congessional Members who were Freemasons.

Civil War Generals who were Freemasons
I am only listing those individuals for whom the actual Lodge is known.

Union Generals that were Freemasons:

Bailey, Joseph: Columbia Lodge #124, Wisconsin
Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss "Commissary Banks": Monitor Lodge, Massachusetts
Beal, George Lafayette: Oxford Lodge #18, Maine
Benton, William Plummer: Webb Lodge #24, Indiana
Berry, Hiram Gregory: Aurora Lodge #50, Maine
Birney, David Bell: Franklin Lodge #134 Pennsylvania
Brayman, Mason: Springfield Lodge #4, Illinois
Brooke, John Rutter: Columbia Chapter #21, Pennsylvania
Brown, Egbert Benson: Toledo Lodge #144, Ohio
Butler, Benjamin Franklin "Beast", "Spoons": Pentucket Lodge, Massachusetts
Butterfield, Daniel: Metropolitan Lodge #273, New York
Carleton, James Henry: American Union Lodge #1, Ohio (Grand Master)
Chamberlain, Joshua Lawrence: United Lodge #8 in Brunswick, Maine
Chetlain, Augustus Louis: Washington Lodge #43, Illinois
Chrysler, Morgan Henry: St. John's Lodge 22, New York
Crocker, Marcellus Monroe: Pioneer Lodge #22, Iowa
Cruft, Charles: Terra Haute Lodge #19, Indiana
Fairchild, Lucius: Grand Master, Kansas
Forsyth, James William (James M. ?): Union Lodge #121, Pennsylvania
Garfield, James Abram: Magnolia Lodge #20, Ohio
Geary, John White: Philanthropy Lodge #255 Pennsylvania
Gordon, George Henry: Bunker Hill Lodge #5, Massachusetts
Gorman, Willis Arnold (William A. ?): Federal Lodge #1, District of Columbia
Hamblin, Joseph Eldridge: Kane Lodge #454, New York
Hancock, Winfield Scott: Member of Charity Lodge #190, Norristown, Pennsylvania, Royal Arch Mason, #90, and Hutchison Commandery, Knights Templar #22
Hartranft, John Frederick: Charity Lodge #190, Pennsylvania
Hurlbut, Stephen Augustus: Belvidere Lodge #60, Illinois
Ingalls, Rufus: Williamette Lodge #2 Oregon
Jackson, Conrad Feger: #45, Pennsylvania
Jackson, James Streshly: Hopkinsville Lodge #37, Kentucky
Johnson, Andrew: Greeneville Lodge #199, Tennessee
Judah, Henry Moses: North Star Lodge #91, California
Kenly, John Reese: Maryland Commandery #1, Maryland
Kimball, Nathan: Mt. Pleasant Lodge #168, Indiana
Knipe, Joseph Farmer: Perserverance Lodge #21, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Leggett, Mortimer Dormer: Amity Lodge #5, Ohio
Logan, John Alexander: Benton Lodge #64, Illinois
McClellan, George Brinton: Willamette Lodge #2, Oregon
McClernand, John Alexander: Central Lodge #71, Illinois
McCook, Alexander Mcdowell: Lancaster Lodge #106, Illinois
Meredith, Sullivan Amory (Solomon?): Cambridge Lodge #105, Indianapolis, Indiana
Miles, Nelson Appleton: Southern California Lodge #278, California
Miller, Stephen: North Star Lodge #23, Minnesota
Negley, James Scott: #45, Pennsylvania
Owen, Joshua Thomas "Paddy": William B. Schnider Lodge #419, Pennsylvania (Past Master)
Paine, Eleazar Arthur: Monmouth Lodge #37, Illinois
Palmer, John McCauley: Mt. Nebo Lodge #76, Illinois
Phelps, John Smith: United Lodge #5, Missouri
Pleasonton, Alfred: Franklin Lodge #134, Pennsylvania
Ransom, Thomas Edward Greenfield: St. John's Lodge #13, Illinois
Rawlins, John Aaron: Miners Lodge #273, Illinois
Revere, Joseph Warren: St. John's Lodge, Massachusetts
Robinson, John Cleveland: Binghampton Lodge #177, Binghampton, New York - 1st Worshipful Master of Rocky Mountain Lodge #205, Camp Floyd Utak - Knight Templar at Monroe Commandery #12 Rochester New York on Feb. 4, 1851
Ross, Leonard Fulton: Lewistown Lodge #104, Illinois
Rowley, Thomas Algeo: Lodge #45
Saxton, Rufus: St. John's Lodge #11, District of Columbia
Schurz, Carl: Member of Herman Lodge #125 in Philadelphia
Scott, Winfield "Old Fuss and Feathers": Dinwiddie Union Lodge #23, Virginia
Shields, James: Faribault Lodge #9, Minnesota
Smith, Charles Ferguson (Charles E. ?): Rising Sun Lodge #126, Pennsylvania
Smith, Green Clay: Richmond Lodge #25, Kentucky
Smith, Gustavus Adolphus (Gustavus W. ?): Keystone Lodge #235, New York
Smith, John Eugene: Miners Lodge #273, Illinois
Smyth, Thomas Alfred: Washington Lodge #1, Delaware
Stannard, George Jerrison: Franklin Lodge #4, Vermont
Steedman, James Blair: Northern Light Lodge #40, Ohio
Stoneman, George: Benicia Lodge #5, California
Thayer, John Milton: Capitol Lodge #101, Iowa
Thomas, Lorenzo: Potomac Lodge #5, District of Columbia
Torbert, Alfred Thomas Archimedes: Temple Chapter #2, Delaware
Underwood, Adin Ballou: Montgomery Lodge, Massachusetts
Vandever, William: Dubuque Lodge #3, Iowa
Veatch, James Clifford: Rockport Lodge #112, Indiana
Viele, Egbert Ludovicus: Kane Lodge #454, New York
Wallace, Lewis "Lew": Fountain Lodge #60, Indiana
Wallace, William Henry (Harvey?) Lamb: Occidental Lodge #50, Illinois (Past Master)
Ward, John Henry Hobart: Became a Mason in Metropolitan Lodge #273, New York City, 1855. Royal Arch Mason, Commandery, Shriner, Active 33rd degree in the AASR, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
Weber, Max (Aka von Weber): Trinity Lodge #12, New York
White, Julius: Oriental Lodge #33, Illinois
Wistar, Isaac Jones: Franklin Lodge #134, Pennsylvania
Woods, William Burnham: Newark Lodge #69, Ohio

Confederate Generals who were Freemasons

Anderson, Robert Houstoun: Palestine Knight Templar #7, Georgia
Armistead, Lewis Addison: Member of Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22 in Virginia - Charter member of Union Lodge 37 in Fort Riley, Kansas
Ashby, Turner: Equality #136, Virginia (now #44, West Virginia)
Barksdale, William: Columbus Lodge #5, Columbus, Mississippi
Bate, William Brimage: King Solomon #94, Tennessee
Breckenridge, John Cabell: Des Moines #41, Iowa
Brown, John Calvin: Pulaski #101, Tennessee
Campbell, Alexander William: Jackson Commandery Knights Templar, Tennessee
Cantey, James: Kershaw #29, South Carolina
Cleburne, Patrick Ronayne: Lafayette #16, Helena, Arkansas - joined in 1852 - from Stonewall of the West: Patrick Cleburne & The Civil War, by Craig L. Symonds (pages 32-33: "He was particularly committed, never missed a meeting, and quickly became a leader in the local lodge. He was elected master in early 1853, and later that year he 'took the sublime degree of Royal Arch Mason' conferred upon him at a special ceremony by Arkansas luminary Albert Pike." He was also elected in 1853 to deliver the keynote speech at an annual convention of Arkansas and Mississippi freemasons, where, "In a forceful and direct style, he offered a talk dominated by high-minded platitudes about the principles of the Masonic order, 'Brotherly love, friendship, charity, and truth'..."
Cobb, Howell: Mt. Vernon #22, Georgia
Conner, James: Landmark #76, South Carolina
Cox, William Ruffin: William G. Hill #218, North Carolina
Floyd, John Buchanan: St. John's #36, Virginia
Forrest, Nathan Bedford: Angerona #168, Tennessee
Green, Thomas: Austin #12, Texas
Gregg, John: Fairfield #103, Texas
Hanson, Roger Weightman "Old Flintlock": Good Samaritan #174, Kentucky
Hays, Harry Thompson: Louisiana Lodge #102 Louisiana
Heth, Henry: Senior Warden of Rocky Mountain Lodge #205 in Utah Territory
Imboden, John Daniel: Staunton Lodge #13 Virginia
Iverson, Alfred Jr: Columbian Lodge #108, Columbus, Georgia
Jordan, Thomas (Thomas J. ?): Perseverance #21, Pennsylvania
Kemper, James Lawson: Linn Banks Lodge #126, Virginia (Past Master)
Kennedy, John Doby: Kershaw Lodge #29, South Carolina (Grand Master)
Kershaw, Joseph Brevard: Kershaw Lodge #29 South Carolina - Grand Master of of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina 1873-1874 (?)
Lovell, Mansfield: Holland Lodge #8, New York
Lowry, Robert: Brandon Lodge #29, Mississippi
Magruder, John Bankhead "Prince John": San Diego Lodge #35, California (EA)
Marmaduke, John Sappington: Rocky Mountain Lodge #205, Utah Territory
Martin, William Thompson: Harmony Lodge #1, Mississippi
Martin, William Thompson: Harmony Lodge #1, Mississippi
Maxey, Samuel Bell: Paris Lodge #27, Texas
Morgan, John Hunt: Daviess Lodge #22, Kentucky
Palmer, Joseph Benjamin: Mt. Moriah Lodge #18, Tennessee (Past Master)
Perry, Edward Aylesworth: Escambia Lodge #15, Florida
Pickett, George Edward: Dove Lodge #51 Virginia
Pike, Albert: Western Star Lodge #2, Arkansas
Price, Sterling "Old Pap": Warren Lodge #74, Missouri
Quarles, William Andrew: Clarksvill Lodge #89, Tennessee
Ruggles, Daniel: Fredericksburg Lodge #4, Virginia
Smith, Gustavus Woodson: Keystone Lodge #235, New York
Stevenson, Carter Littlepage: Rocky Mountain Lodge #205, Utah Territory
Taliaferro, William Booth: Botetourt Lodge #7, Virginia (Grand Master)
Thomas, Bryan Morel: Rocky Mountain Lodge #205, Utah Territory
Toombs, Robert Augustus: Lafayette Lodge #23, Georgia
Wallace, William Henry (William H.L. ?): Occidental Lodge #50, Illinois (Past Master)
Walthall, Edward Cary: Coffeeville Lodge #83, Mississippi
Wheeler, Joseph “Fightin’ Joe”: Courtland Lodge 37, Alabama
Williams, John Stuart "Cerro Gordo": Winchester Lodge #20, Kentucky
Wise, Henry Alexander: Northhampton Lodge #11, Virginia
Zollicoffer, Felix Kirk: Scott, Winfield "Old Fuss and Feathers"


Click on these links for other info on Masons during the Civil War:
http://www.mastermason.com/falmr/mascw.htm

http://www.mastermason.com/falmr/fmcw.htm

http://www.bessel.org/salwinch.htm

http://www.mastermason.com/thedaythewarstopped/

[Matthew.Rector]

I feel the need to add one more Confederate General who was a Mason from my Lodge!

Brig. Gen. Benjamin Hardin Helm
Morrison Lodge #76
Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Ben Hardin Helm was President Abraham Lincoln's brother-in-law and one of the Orphan Brigade's generals. He was mortally wounded at Chickamauga on Sept. 20, 1863.

[arlawson]

Can anyone tell me were a Mason wore his pin at on this uniform???

[BrianHicks]

Can anyone tell me were a Mason wore his pin at on this uniform???

Mr. Lawson,

As Mr. Craddock has provided in his post above, Masonic pins/emblems were worn in a variety locations.

From what we have seen of period accoutns, these pins are unlikely to be the cloth embroidered items so commonly seen at Mainstream events today, but appear to have been much smaller, discreet pins, wathfobs, etc.

Locations? On vests, on shirts, on shirt sleeves near the cuff, on the jacket interior lining, on the jacket exterior. On watch chains. Rings. All of these locations have been described.

By the way, the wearing of any Masonic emblem is purely a personal choice by the individual Mason as there are no requirements to wear any symbols of any kind.

[arlawson]

Re: the Alta Vendita:

All I know of it, is what I just found via a quick on-lin search. Prior to this, I'd never heard of it before. At first glance, it appears to be yet another of the several documents that appeared in that era, which obviously discredit Freemasonry.

Another quick search through the Anit-Masonic web sites and I found a few other referances to it.

I give little credence to such items, as I consider myself to be a rather diligent Christian, and in my Masonic experiances I have never encountered anything that has given me reason to pause, nor have I ever encountered anything Masonic that is in opposition to my Christian upbringing, and my personal Christian beliefs.

Contrary to what some say, Freemasonry is not a Religion. It does not teach any religious doctrine, and certainly doesn't have anything within it that is in opposition to Christianity.

Now... there are many nay-sayers and anit-masonic people out there. Their websites are easy to find, and they can be very persuasive. But as one who is involved in Masonry, I can only tell you from my personal experiances, I have never seen, heard, learned or encountered any of the anti-Christian stuff attirbuted to Masonry by many of its critics.

Brother Hicks,

Well put and said, I feel that anti-masonic people also do not take the time to look at what good we do for our fellow man. I come from a long line of Masons, I am 4th genration on both sides of my family. So when I hear someone talk about the suspected bad we do, I ask how many Masons they know. So I myself just overlook them and go on, because I know I am a Mason.

[Yankeeboy]

Brothers:

Yes ;when posted I didnt really know that we were so strong in the hobby . I like to thank everyone of you who have posted all this infomation I'm looking forward to meeting you on our travels

Master Mason
Robinson Lodge #266
150 yrs old and growing strong

[BrianHicks]

The below listed personnel served in the designated Cabinets, and were Freemasons:

Federal

From 1861-1865 16 men were in Lincoln's cabinet - 5, or 31%, were Freemasons.

Vice Pres. (1865) Andrew Johnson: Greeneville Lodge #119, Tennessee
Sec. of War (1861-1862): Simon Cameron: Perseverance Lodge #21 Pennsylvania (Past Master)
(1862-1865): Edwin McMasters Stanton: Steubenville Lodge #45, Ohio
Secretary of the Navy (1861-1865): Gideon Welles: St. John's Lodge #4, Connecticut
Secretary of the Interior (1861-1863): Warren Lodge #15, Indiana

Confederate

1861-1865 18 men were in the Confederate cabinet (Judah P. Benjamin served in 3 positions and Wade Keyes served twice in one position) - 4, or 22% were Freemasons

Secretary of State (Feb 21, 1861-Jul 25 1861): Robert A. Toombs: Lafayette Lodge #23, Georgia
Secretary of War (Nov. 17 - Nov. 21 1862): Gustavus W. Smith: Keystone Lodge #235, New York
(Feb. 6 - May 4, 1865): John C. Breckinridge: Des Moines Lodge #41, Iowa
Postmaster General (Mar. 6, 1861 - May 4, 1865): John H. Reagan: Palestine Lodge #31, Texas

CONGRESS

Federal

Bell, John: King Solomon Lodge #6, Tennessee
Buchanan, James: Lodge #43, Pennsylvania
Cass, Lewis: Montezuma Lodge #109, New Mexico
Cody, William F.: Platte Valley Lodge #32, Nebraska
Douglas, Stephen A.: Springfield Lodge #4, Illinois
Giddings, Joshua R.: Jerusalem Lodge #19, Ohio
Wood, Fernando: Eastern Star Lodge #227, New York
Yates, Richard, Sr.: Harmony Lodge #3, Illinois

Confederate

Clemens, Samuel L.: Polar Star Lodge #79, Missouri
Houston, Sam: Cumberland Lodge #8, Tennessee
Harris, Isham G. : Paris Lodge #108, Tennessee
Vance, Zebulon: Mt. Hermon Lodge #118, North Carolina

[styler]

Simon Cameron? Fernando Wood? Some interesting folks in that list.

ban the grog!

[Barry Smithson]

Brothers, this past week I was raised. Now the question, bring it to the hobby or keep it separate? We have quite a few Masons in my battery and as many conflicting views regarding this. Do I include it as part of my impression (yes, we have documented brothers on the roles of the battery) or do I not?

I know many feel it is over represented in the hobby. Thoughts?

[hardtack1864]

In the book All for the Union, Rhodes talks of becomming a mason when he was on furlow in 63 or 64, but I think he was a officer at the time too.

[Part on the Square]

Brothers, this past week I was raised. Now the question, bring it to the hobby or keep it separate? We have quite a few Masons in my battery and as many conflicting views regarding this. Do I include it as part of my impression (yes, we have documented brothers on the roles of the battery) or do I not?

I know many feel it is over represented in the hobby. Thoughts?

Bro. Smithson,
I do include it in my impression and find that it adds something to my personal experiences. It is interesting to find other Masons in the hobby and interact in the context of the CW. Some of us here in KY actually put on a period lodge meeting, moving the charter of my lodge to the site to make it proper. It would be interesting if we can figure out a way to have period meetings at events that are sanctioned. The lodge of the 1860s was a little different and to conduct lodge in that manner adds much to our Masonic education. So, in my opinion, it is a good thing to add Masonry to your impression, but I don't thing there is a wrong answer to that question; it's a personal choice.

On another vein, I do agree there are way too many Masonic patches, etc on folks in the hobby. I have a square and compass I made in silver sewn into the inside of my jacket, only to be seen if I so choose to show it.

Chris Propes
Junior Steward, Kingston Lodge 315, Kingston, KY

[Barry Smithson]

Brother Chris,
Thank you for your input. I like the feeling of brotherhood that I get from Masonry and reenacting and was hoping to be able to combine the two.

N. Greene Lodge, #45, Cranston, RI

[KentuckyReb]

Samuel Clemens from Missouri? The Sam Clemens? He was in the Confederate Congress?

[BrianHicks]

Samuel Clemens from Missouri? The Sam Clemens? He was in the Confederate Congress?

No. Not the Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain. (Although he too was a Masoinic Brother)

The Samuel Clemens of Mark Twain Fame, briefly enlisted in the Conf. Army in 1861, but soon deserterd to move West to work with his brother, Orion, whose abolitionist views had won him appointment as territorial secretary in Nevada. By mid-August, the brothers were in Carson City, where Clemens tried his luck with timber, then mining, then finally found a measure of success in 1862 as a feature writer for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise. It was as this paper's reporter at the Nevada constitutional convention that Clemens began to sign his work "Mark Twain."

From there he went on to San Francisco and eventually to Hawaii, not returning to the mainland until after the war ended.

Find below a list of other prominent men from the 19th Century whom were also fellow Masons:

Notable Freemasons of the 19th Century.

Armistead, Lewis A. - Confederate General
Austin, Stephen F. - Father of Texas.
Baldwin, Henry - Supreme Court Justice
Berzelius, Jöns Jakob, Baron - Swedish chemist, considered one of the founders of modern chemistry.
Bingham, Henry H. - Union Captian.
Bolivar, Simon - "Liberator" of South America.
Bowie, James - American pioneer who was killed while defending the Alamo.
Buchanan, James - 15th President of the U.S.
Burbank, Luther - American horticulturist, botanist, and pioneer plant breeder.
Burke, Edmund - Irish-born British politician and writer.
Burnett, David G. - 1st President of the Republic of Texas.
Burns, Robert - The National Poet of Scotland.
Burton, Sir Richard - English Explorer.
Calvo, Father Francisco - Catholic Priest who started Freemasonry in Costa Rica (1865).
Canning, George - British Prime Minister (1827).
Carson, Christopher "Kit" - Frontiersman, scout and explorer.
Catron, John - Supreme Court Justice.
Clark, William - Explorer (Lewis and Clark Fame).
Clemens, Samuel L. (aka "Mark Twain") - writer/humorist.
Clinton, DeWitt - Governor and founder of Public School System (New York).
Cody, "Buffalo Bill" William - Indian fighter, Wild West Show
Colt, Samuel - Firearms inventor.
Crockett, Davy - American Frontiersman and Alamo fame.
Cushing, William - Supreme Court Justice.
Doyle, Sir Author Conan - Writer ("Sherlock Holmes").
Dunant, Jean Henri - Founder of the Red Cross.
Eiffel, Gustave Alexandre - French engineer and builder (Eiffel Tower).
Field, Stephen J. - Supreme Court Justice.
Garibaldi, Giuseppe - Italian nationalist revolutionary and leader in the struggle for Italian unification and independence.
Gatling, Richard J. - Built the "Gatling Gun".
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von - German poet, dramatist, novelist, and scientist.
Harlan, John M. - Supreme Court Justice.
Hedges, Cornelius - "Father" of Yellowstone National Park.
Heine, Heinrich - German poet.
Henson, Reverend Josiah - Inspired the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin".
Hoban, James - Architect for the U.S. Captial.
Hoe, Richard M. - Invented the rotory press, revolutinizing newspaper printing.
Houston, Sam - 2nd & 4th President of the Republic of Texas
Jackson, Andrew - 7th President of the U.S.
Johnson, Andrew - 17th President of the U.S.
Jones, Anson - 5th President of the Republic of Texas.
Juarez, Benito - President of Mexico (1861-63 and 1867-72).
Kalakaua, David - King of the Hawaiian Islands.
King, Rufus - American political leader, whose policies resulted in the prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory.
Kipling, Rudyard - Writer ("The Jungle Books").
Kossuth, Lajos - Hungarian patriot and statesman.
Lake, Simon - Built first submarine successfull in open sea.
Lewis, Meriwether - Explorer (Lewis and Clark Fame).
Lipton, Sir Thomas - Tea.
Livingston, Robert - Co-Negotiator for purchase of Louisiana Territory.
MacDonald, Sir John A. - Prime Minister of Canada (1867-73 & 1878-91).
Marshall, James W. - Discovered Gold at Sutter's Mill California (1848).
Marshall, John - Chief Justice U.S. Supreme Court (1801 - 1835).
Marshall, Thurgood - Supreme Court Justice.
Mathews, Stanley - Supreme Court Justice.
Mazzini, Giuseppe - Italian revolutionary and political theorist.
Mayo, Dr. William (father) and Charles (son) - Began Mayo Clinic.
McKinley, William - 25th President of the U.S.
Menninger, Charles F. (father) and Karl A. (son) - Psychiatrists famous for treating mental illness.
Michelson, Albert Abraham - Successfully measured the speed of light in 1882.
Monge, Gaspard, Comte de Péluse - French mathematician, recognized as the inventor of descriptive geometry.
Monroe, James - 5th President of the U.S.
Naismith, James - Inventor of Basketball.
Nelson, Samuel - Supreme Court Justice.
O'Higgins, Bernardo - Chilean leader, who helped win independence for his country and served as supreme dictator.
Peale, Charles Willson - American painter (late 18th century to early 19th century).
Pike, Albert - Confederate General and Author of "Morals and Dogma".
Poinsett, Joel R. - U.S. Minister to Mexico who developed the flower: Poinsettia.
Polk, James Knox - 11th President of the U.S.
Pullman, George - Built first sleeping car on train.
Pushkin, Aleksander - Russian Poet
Ringling Brothers - All 7 brothers and their father were Masons.
San Martin, José de - Organized an expedition to liberate Peru from Spanish rule.
Sax, Antoine Joseph - Invented the Saxophone (1846).
Scott, Sir Walter - Writer.
Scott, General Winfield - American army officer, who played a major role in the Mexican War (1846-1848).
Smith, Joseph, Jr - Founded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Smith, John Stafford - Wrote the music that became the US National Anthem.
Smithson, James - British mineralogist and chemist, whose legacy provided for the foundation of the Smithsonian Institution.
Sousa, John Philip - Composer who led the U.S. Marine Band from 1880 to 1892.
Stanford, Leland - Drove the gold spike linking the intercontinental railroad & Founded Stanford University.
Still, Andrew T. - American Physician who devised treatment of Osteopathy.
Stratton, Charles "Tom Thumb" - Entertainer.
Swayne, Noah H. - Supreme Court Justice.
Todd, Thomas - Supreme Court Justice.
Travis, Colonel William B. - Alamo.
Trimble, Robert - Supreme Court Justice.
Wallace, Lewis - Union General - Wrote "Ben Hur".
Wanamaker, John - 19th century American merchant.
Washington, Booker T - Educator and author.

[Spinster]

Mr. Hicks and other have provided exhaustive listings and references which only add to the weight of my Grandfather's often voiced statement:

"Not all Masons are good men, but all Good men are Masons"

And, in these days of diminished ranks in many service organizations, and in a society that frequently forgets the obligation to protect the helpless, its a source of comfort to know that y'all are still out there. I was greatly moved last year to see a number of gentlemen quietly depart an event one evening, gone to a traveling meeting.......this quiet presence, and the period appropriate small, but noticeable insignia, have added to my comfort and safety on more than one occassion.

[Andrew Fraize]

Here's a thought, and correct me if I am wrong. Masonry and lodges, IOOF, Elks, G.A.R. etc. had their heyday in the late 19th century, post Civil War. Membership in lodges swelled, and became more open to the rank and file, working men, middle and lower middle class. Before that national and international lodges were mostly elite organizations, for the rich and aristocrats etc. So during the ACW we might have seen a Mason among the officers here and there, but probably none in the ranks.


Brothers;
I would have to disagree with you on that point. I have did a little research on the subject and many common men and "Middle Class" men were members of the Masons. Masonry was also big with the Civil Service such as Firemen and Policemen of the time - ordinary working men.

S!
Dewitt Lodge #157 F & A. M.
POTS /G\

[Andrew Fraize]

Brothers;

On that subject, I have a Masonic story during the Civil War of how one member of the Brotherhood came to the aid of another on the other side.

After the Naval Engagement of St.Charles, Arkansas on June 17th, 1862 (Noted for the Single most destructive shot during the Civil War) when the Yankee's had occupied the town the leading citizen, one Col. Charles W. Belknap, was taken with the Confederate troops in the fort.

(From the Official History of the Town)
Col. Belknap taken before Fireing Squad

Col. Belknap was not a member of the Confederate Military forces yet he was in the Fort and was captured along with Capt. Fry C.S.N. and other Confederat soldiers at the Battle of St. Charles. He was tried by a court marshall for taking part in the battle in civilian clothes and not being a member of the military forces was sentenced to be shot.
When put before the firing squad he gave a Masonic sign of distress. The Commander of the squad happened to be a Mason also and sent for Col. G.N. Fitch (46th Indiana Vol Inf.), who was also a Mason. This resulted in a confrence between Col. Fitch & Col. Belknap. As a result of this confrence Col. Belknap turned his residence over to Col. Fitch for hospital purposes. Col. Fitch released Col. Belknap and put a guard of 20 men around the residence and ordered that nothing belonging to Belknap be molested.
Nothing is said of this incident in the reports of the Battle but the writer was born at St. Charles 15 years after the war and heard this story repeated many times by old citizens that were eye whitnesses and was common knowlege in the St. Charles Masonic Lodge.

Interesting story about the St. Charles Masonic Lodge During the Civil War

Col. Charles W. Belknap had become a member of the Masons prior to his coming to Arkansas County. As soon as St. Charles became a growing town with sufficient population a Masonic Lodge was organized at the insistance of Col. Belknap about 1855. He was elected the first Worshipful Master.
When the Battle occured a boy named Sam Parker whose father was away in the Confederate Army (1st ARK. Inf.), for fear that the Lodge Bible and working tools of the Lodge might be stolen by the Yankees, he broke into the Lodge and took the instruments and hid and preserved them throughout the war.


Some great history and interesting stories. You find out some interesting things going over old records of your lodge.

/G\ POTS
Dewitt Lodge #157 F & A.M.

[Lone_Rebel87]

I must ask how old do you have to be to become a mason... My grandfather is a mason and I think his dad was a mason but I'm not sure how far back it goes...

Thinking on joining the brotherhood when old enough...(currently 16 yrs. of age)

Jordan Davis

[K Bartsch]

I must ask how old do you have to be to become a mason... My grandfather is a mason and I think his dad was a mason but I'm not sure how far back it goes...

Thinking on joining the brotherhood when old enough...(currently 16 yrs. of age)

Jordan Davis

Jordan,

21 is the generally accepted age for petitioning for membership in US jurisdictions.

Cordially,

[1stMaine]

I must ask how old do you have to be to become a mason... My grandfather is a mason and I think his dad was a mason but I'm not sure how far back it goes...

Thinking on joining the brotherhood when old enough...(currently 16 yrs. of age)

Jordan Davis

Comrade,

You might consider contacting your local Lodge, or the Grand Lodge of your state (both should be listed in the yellow pages under "Fraternal Organisations". Enquire as to whether they have a "Demolay" program in their area. The Demolay is a Masonic Youth program for young men ages 13-21 that is mentored by Master Masons from various local Lodges. It is designed to instill Masonic ideals within our young men, in order to provide them with leadership abilities and an appreciation of their fellow citizens. It also provides an excellent alternative to just hanging out with your friends. Demolay members are active in their community doing volunteer work in many areas. Demolay is open to all young men, regardless of religion, ethnicity, etc.
I would encourage you to investigate it.
Respects,

[Lone_Rebel87]

Thank you...I'll look it up :)


Much obliged,
Jordan Davis

[markj]

You might enjoy this:

Lafayette IN "Daily Journal," 26 February 1862:

ODD FELLOWS AND MASONS.—We learn that all of the [Fort Donelson rebel] prisoners in the city [of ‎Indianapolis], whether officers or privates, who are members of the Masonic Order or the Order ‎of Independent Odd Fellows will be carefully looked after by their brethren. Nor will the charity ‎and kindness of the magnanimous and noble men belonging to these, the most efficient of our ‎benevolent associations, stop here. Their attention will be freely, and as brothers, bestowed upon ‎all who need it. "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."—[Indianapolis] State ‎Sentinel.‎

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[Andrew Fraize]

A Question to Brother Masons out there:

I have read many instances of where Masons got together in camp and actually held lodge - I take it this was among the members of a single Company or even a Regiment.

Do any of you reenactors out there who are Masons ever get together and have Lodge during an event? Was just curious.

/G\ POTS
Dewitt Lodge #157 F & A.M.

[Barry Smithson]

A Question to Brother Masons out there:

I have read many instances of where Masons got together in camp and actually held lodge - I take it this was among the members of a single Company or even a Regiment.

Do any of you reenactors out there who are Masons ever get together and have Lodge during an event? Was just curious.

/G\ POTS
Dewitt Lodge #157 F & A.M.

We have quite a few Masons in our unit but we do not hold a Lodge meeting in the field. We do not have a charter so we cannot. We have gone to a local Lodge that was holding a meeting and have done it in uniform but never in the field.

[Bushrod Carter]

Bro. Hicks,

Let's get this thread jump started again.

How 'bout posting the photo of the Widows & Orphans table from Shaker Village. Maybe we could even talk Runyon or some other Brother proficient with a pen to write a short note about our Masonic Brotherhood at the event.

[BrianHicks]

http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/850/widowssons600je0.jpg

[Bushrod Carter]

EXCELLENT!

Now, do others have Msonic stories to share from any recently past events?

I'm sure Bro. Runyon (cough, cough) will be posting a short blurb about our (pictured above) W&O Table at Shaker Village (cough, cough) soon!

[BobbyHughes]

Mr Hicks,

I noticed in a few previous posts about what good things Masons do, you noted all the hospital charities.

My younger brother spent alot of time and surgeries in Shriners Children's Hospital in San Francisco... they did wonders for a kid who wasnt supposed to walk and now manages his own Downhill Bike team.

My newborn son (1/25/08) was just released from Children's Hospital at Scottish Rite in Atlanta, routine jaundice, but the care they took of him and his Momma made me trust doctors and hospitals again.

To All Masons THANK YOU!

[boozie]

Union General Mahlon Manson was a member of Crawfordsville (now Montgomery) Lodge #50.

Lew Wallace was raised in Fountain and became a member of C-ville #50 after his marriage to Susan Elston.

www.ibssg.org/montgomery/bios/m/manson-mahlon-dickerson.htm

[BrianHicks]

Mr Hicks,

I noticed in a few previous posts about what good things Masons do, you noted all the hospital charities.

My younger brother spent alot of time and surgeries in Shriners Children's Hospital in San Francisco... they did wonders for a kid who wasnt supposed to walk and now manages his own Downhill Bike team.

My newborn son (1/25/08) was just released from Children's Hospital at Scottish Rite in Atlanta, routine jaundice, but the care they took of him and his Momma made me trust doctors and hospitals again.

To All Masons THANK YOU!

Mr. Hughes,

It is refreshing to here from an individual who has knows on a very personal level, the Good Works done by these Masonic activities

Thank you, and I wish the best for you and your family, as well as prayers for the health of your newborn Son.

[Texasbutternut]

One book is about a modern man's search for 'lost' Confederate gold, which led him to discovering a lot about the role of Masons in the WBTS. The book is titled "Rebel Gold", by Warren Getler and Bob Brewer.

In Southeast Texas, a few reenactors have the Masonic symbol sewn on their jacket.

Happy weekend!

Hank Van Slyke
3rd Texas Light Artillery