Mason Lodge of Paragould, AR.

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51.jpg (15856 bytes) The following history is a compilation of several Masonic authors in Arkansas: Dr. Fancis J. Scully, Conrad M. Glover, P.G.M., and a special thanks to Bro. L. Elliott Flickenger from whose works most of this history is taken.

Organized Masonry came to Arkansas soon after the formation of the Arkansas Territory in 1819. The first lodge was established at Arkansas Post, the seat of the new Territorial Government, under a dispensation by the Grand 53.jpg (18728 bytes) Lodge of Kentucky. By 1819, Arkansas Post was a village of about one hundred persons. Since Masonry had been active for a long time in the older states east of the Mississippi, it was quite natural that some of those coming to Arkansas Post would be members of the Masonic Fraternity. Many of them were prominent in the affairs of the Territorial Capitol, and as a result of their efforts, a Masonic Lodge was established there. No records remain of that Lodge except the scattered entries in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky from whom the dispensation, and later a charter, were obtained.

Evidently, the petition received prompt and favorable consideration and the Proceedings of Wednseday, December 1, 1819, at 8 o'clock show:

"The Grand Lodge was called in case of emergency and opened in the past master's degree when Brother Robert Johnson was installed as Master of Arkansas Lodge under dispensation in ancient form."

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The next year, Arkansas Lodge, U.D., made its returns to the Grand Lodge of Kentucky (showing officers and members. The report of its work received a favorable report from the Committee on Workings of Lodges, U.D., as follows:

"They have also examined the workings of Arkansas Lodge under Dispensation, at Arkansas Post, in the Territory of Arkansas, find them regular, their dues paid. Dispensation returned, and recommended that a Charter issue to them, under the name, style and designation of Arkansas Lodge No. 59; and that Robert Johnson be the first Master, Andrew Scott, Senior Warden, and Robert Crittenden, Junior Warden."

The Proceedings do not show the exact date of the Charter, but is was probably late in August or in September, 1820, as the Grand Lodge of Kentucky started its Grand Communication on August 28th in that year.

There was no representative from Arkansas Lodge No. 59 at the 1820 communication or the 1821 communication. However, the Grand Secretary reports the receipt of $30 from the Lodge, probably the fee for the Charter. No returns were made in 1821. The following year, the Charter for the Lodge was surrendered and no work had been reported to the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. The reason for this was no doubt due to the removal of the Territorial Capitol from Arkansas Post to Little Rock in 1821 following the action of the Territorial Legislature at its meeting on October 18, 1820. This action came only a month or so after the Charter had been granted. Since many of the members and several of the Officers of the Lodge were connected with the Territorial government, their removal to Little Rock greatly disrupted the affairs of the Lodge and led to the surrender of the Charter.