Masons in the Line

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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

[BrianHicks]

Re: Masons in the Line

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: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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

ban the grog!

[Barry Smithson]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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]

Re: Masons in the Line

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