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De Soto Lodge No. 32 F. & A.M.
Among one of the earliest Masonic Lodges in the entire Hernando and
Pasco County areas was the DeSoto Lodge No. 32. According to
Grand Lodge records, on January 12, 1853 DeSoto Lodge No. 32 was
chartered to meet at Pierceville or Brooksville as it would become
known. The name DeSoto had been chosen, named after the Seminole
Indian War Fort DeSoto, which had been named for early explorer
Hernando DeSoto. At the time of the DeSoto Lodge's charter, the
three Line Officers representing the Lodge were:
E.J. Knight-- Worshipful Master (W.M.)
N.A. Jameson-- Senior Warden (S.W.)
Rufus Hoyt-- Junior Warden (J.W.)
Over the next few years the
DeSoto Lodge No. 32 would increase in size and in numbers.
Throughout the year of 1856 the DeSoto Lodge would endure many
challenges and hardships, among them was the threat of Indian
Hostilities in the area of Hernando County. In May of 1856 the
local Bradley Plantation was attacked by Indian's and two young
children were killed during the hostilities. As a result of the
Indian hostilities the DeSoto Lodge was suspended and unorganized
during the later part of 1856 and early 1857. In addition the
DeSoto Lodge lost two of its members to death in 1856, James B. Hogans
and Thomas H. Parsons. With the suspension and disorganization of
the Lodge, members were unable to perform their funeral rites for their
members. On June 6, 1857 the members of the DeSoto Lodge
No. 32 held a meeting in Pierceville or Brookville where they
remembered the recent passings of their dear brothers and fellow
members.
At a meeting of the Members of the De Soto Lodge No. 32, called for the purpose,
and held at Pierceville on the 6th June [1857] inst, the following preamble and
resolutions were adopted, to wit:
WHEREAS, De Soto Lodge has been, and
still continues to be, in a suspended and disorganized state since the breaking
out of Indians hostilities, and consequent breaking up of the settlements in
1856.---
And, Whereas, during that time, it has pleased Almighty God, is
the inscrutable purposed of His providence, to remove from the lodge on earth,
to the company and fellowship of the Lodge above (as we humbly trust) our
honored and beloved brethren James B. Hogans (was and still acting W.M., of De
Soto Lodge, at the time of his death,) and Thomas H. Parsons (past and still
acting J.W., at his death, and S.W. elect for 1856.) And whereas the members of
the De Soto Lodge, from their scattered and disorganized condition, have not
been able to give that funeral attention to the rites and ceremonies which
properly belong to deceased members of the Lodge, be it therefore Resolved by
the members present
1. That, We
take method of expressing our sincere and heart-felt sorrow for the death of our
highly respected and much beloved brethren James B. Hogans and Thomas H.
Parsons.
2. That, In their death,
De Soto Lodge and the community at large have sustained a serious loss, and
their memory will be ever most warmly cherished by us.
3. That, We tender to the brethren of Tampa Lodge
our warmest thanks for the truly fraternal attention bestowed upon our W.M.
James B. Hogans, in his funeral ceremonies.
Signed in behalf of the
member of De Soto Lodge present.
John Eubanks,
S.W. & W.M. Elect for 1856
Wm. M.
Garrison, Sect.
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As the Indian hostilities in
the area ceased the DeSoto Lodge started to conduct regular meetings in
becoming more organized. In 1860 the DeSoto Lodge No. 32 held its
annual meeting in Brooksville, according to the return from their
annual meeting the following officers and members were present:
Samuel Hope-- Worshipful Master (W.M.)
Charles J. McMinn-- Senior Warden (S.W.)
Joseph M. Taylor-- Junior Warden (J.W.)
William Hope-- Treasurer
William M. Garrison-- Secretary
Columbus R. Alexander-- Senior Deacon (S.D.)
William J. Baker-- Junior Deacon (J.D.)
Aaron P. Frierson
Abraham Hay
Richard C. Wiggins
Thomas W. Wilder
John F. Baker
James R. Nicks
James W. Baker
John B. McNatt
John Eubank
Francis B. Hagan (Hogans*)
John L. Branch
Rufus Hoyt
William D. Eubank
John B. Hogans (Deceased 1856)
Thomas H. Parsons (Deceased 1856)
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Throughout the Civil War, it
is believed that the DeSoto Lodge once again endured trying times.
Many of the members pledged their service to the Confederate
States and those too old had children who served. It is believed
that meetings of the Lodge were once again suspended and disorganized.
The Civil War proved to be as trying to the resident of Hernando
County as the Florida Seminole Indian Wars, only a few years prior.
While the Civil War raged on the DeSoto Lodge No. 32 held on to
its membership and they continued to hold meetings.
In late 1861 the DeSoto Lodge lost another of its members to death,
James R. Nicks. On January 19, 1862 the DeSoto Lodge No. 32 held
a meeting at Brooksville, Florida where they once again remembered the
recent passings of their dear brother and fellow member.
| At a meeting of DeSoto Lodge, A. F. A. M. held in Brooksville on Saturday 19th
of January, the following preamble and resolution were unanimously adopted.
Whereas God in his infinite Wisdom has seen fit to remove from our midst
our late brother James R. Nicks and whereas in his death the lodge and masonry
in general, has sustained an irreparable loss, and the family a devoted husband
& father; it therefore becomes us as Masons in token of our esteem, to pay a
just tribute to his memory. Be it therefore resolved in bowing to the ***** of
the Divine Master, we do it cheerfully, trusting that he will discharge his
duties faithfully in the grand lodge above.
Resolved that as a mark of our respect we wear the usual badge of
mourning for thirty days; and that a blank page in our minutes be ascribed to
his memory.
Resolve, that, we deeply sympathize with the family---their bereavement,
and a copy of these resolutions be sent to them, and that they be published in
the Peninsular.
| Wm. M. Garrison } Chairman |
| Thos. P. Gary } |
| Wm. D. Eubanks } |
[On the reverse side with the seal]
De Soto Lodge, Hernando Co., Florida
January 25, 1862
The foregoing transcript of ***** and Resolution is a true copy of the
Minutes of De Soto lodge No. 32 unanimously adopted on Saturday 25 January 1862
Witness my hand and Seal of lodge this 25th day of January AD 1862
Wm. M. Garrison, Secretary
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While it is believed that
the DeSoto Lodge ceased activities during the Civil War, this is not
the case. The DeSoto Lodge No. 32 continued and remained active
throughout the Civil War, in spite of their hard and trying times.
The last record of the DeSoto Masonic Lodge No. 32 appears in
1868, when the charter of the Lodge was revoked; specific date not
known.
DeSoto Lodge No. 32 was the first Lodge to be assigned the number 32.
After the revocation of the DeSoto Lodge in 1868, the number 32
was assigned to Callahan Lodge. On January 14, 1870 the number 32
was assigned to Callahan Lodge No. 32 located in Callahan, Nassau
County Florida.
The DeSoto Lodge No. 32 was also the first Lodge to carry the name
"DeSoto". There was a second Lodge who took the name, this is
DeSoto Lodge No. 105, which was charted in 1889. Today the DeSoto
Lodge No. 105 is still active and meets in Riverview, in Hillsborough
County Florida.
Fort Dade Lodge No. 48 F. & A.M.
Among one of the earliest
Lodges to be formed in Pasco County was the Fort Dade Lodge No. 48.
According to Grand Lodge records, on February 15, 1871 Fort Dade
Lodge No. 48 was charted to meet at Fort Dade or Dade City as it would
become known. At this time the Lodge was apart of Hernando
County as Pasco County had not yet been created. The name Fort
Dade had been chosen, named after the Seminole Indian War Fort Dade,
which was named after the gallant Major Francis L. Dade. At the
time of the Fort Dade Lodge's charter, the three Line Officers representing the Lodge were:
Newton A. Carter-- Worshipful Master (W.M.)
Manning Smith-- Senior Warden (S.W.)
John G. Howell-- Junior Warden (J.W.)
In addition recorded were the chartering Grand Lodge Officers:
Samuel Pasco-- Grand Master (G.M.)
William B. Taylor-- Deputy Grand Master (D.G.M)
Charles F. Heirs-- Senior Grand Warden (S.G.W.)
H.W. Long-- Junior Grand Warden (J.G.W.)
DeWitt C. Dawkins-- Grand Secretary (G.S.)
Shortly after the charter of
the Fort Dade Lodge, Newton A. Carter (W.M.) oversaw construction of a
magnificent two-story building, which was situated on his 80 acre
homestead located in section 29, township 24, range 21 of Pasco County.
Local residents Wright W. Williamson, Mr. Strickland, and Mr.
Lyons hand sawed timbers cutting them into rough cut boards that were
then built into a large two-story building, which served the community
as both the Fort Dade Lodge and the Fort Dade Methodist Church.
While church services were conducted on the first floor, masonic
meetings were held upstairs. On March 01, 1872 the Fort Dade
Methodist Church laid to rest and buried local resident William S.
Jackson behind their church building and the Lodge. Jackson was
the first burial in the Mt. Zion Cemetery. In addition there were
many early Fort Dade Lodge members and resident interred in the Mt.
Zion Cemetery.
As the Lodge received a building to conduct meetings, its membership
began to increase. In 1873 the Fort Dade Lodge No. 48 held its
annual meeting in up-stairs room of the two-story Fort Dade Methodist
Church & Masonic Lodge building,
according to the return from their annual meeting the following
officers and members were present:
Newton A. Carter
R.L. Wilson
G.W. Jeffcoat
A.C. Sumner
W.B. Center
William Albritton
Columbus R. Alexander (formerly of DeSoto Lodge No. 32)
B.E. Bogwell
L.J.H. Brown
A.E. Burnside
William D. Eubanks (formerly of DeSoto Lodge No. 32)
C.C. Gant
F.M. Goetee
Henry W. Hancock
S.L. Hancock
James Hearn
John G. Howell
William Hutto
James Lanier
James B. Miller
William Mills
William Mobley
J.C. Nelson
J.M. Oberry
James R. Oberry
John Platt
Stephan Rogers
Frank E. Saxon
A.C. Smith
Manning Smith
J.K. Sumner
Robert Sumner
Joseph Tucker
L.D. Williams
Benjamin Freymoth-- Fellow Craft (F.C.)
J.W. Hudson-- Fellow Craft (F.C.)
Robert J. Bradley-- Entered Apprentice (E.A.) |
Sometime in 1884 the Fort Dade Lodge No. 48 made a move to a more
centralized location in the Fort Dade Community. The Lodge moved from
the two-story building where meetings were held above the Fort Dade
Methodist Church and relocated to a two-story building, which housed
the Oak Grove Baptist Church in the Fort Dade Community. The Oak Grove
Baptist Church had been established sometime around 1869 in the Fort
Dade Community, this early church building was located where the Dade
City Cemetery is today. In July of 1884 the Oak Grove Baptist Church
and the Fort Dade Lodge No. 48 received bids for the construction of a
new building. In addition in July of 1884 the Fort Dade Lodge
advertised its local meetings in the local Fort Dade Messenger,
through this advertisement its learned that R.M. Wilson was serving as
Lodge Secretary. (both the bid and advertisement are shown below)
Lodge records show that on June 01, 1887 Pasco County, the 45th county,
was established from Hernando County. Pasco County and the Fort
Dade Lodge No. 48 were now apart of the newly formed Pasco County.
Lodge records also show, "Pasco County was named for the Grand
Master, Samuel Pasco, who chartered the Fort Dade Lodge. Samuel
Pasco also served as Speaker of the House of Representatives at the
time Pasco County was formed."
The Fort Dade Lodge No. 48 remained an active part of the early Fort
Dade Community and its membership continued to increase over the next
few years. On Tuesday, January 15, 1889 a meeting of Fort Dade
residents was held at the court house at 10 a.m. for the purpose of
holding an election to decide incorporation of Fort Dade, with the new
name of Dade City. In addition voters cast in favor of a Mayor,
five Alderman, a Marshall and City Clerk. When the poll closed
that day at 4 p.m. residents had decided to incorporate Fort Dade and
the new city was called Dade City.
According to Lodge records, in 1889 the Fort Dade Lodge No.48 changed
its name to the Dade City Lodge No. 48, this following the
incorporation of Dade City. In 1890 a wonderful photo was taken
in downtown Dade City showing the members of the Dade City Lodge No.
48, according to local historian Bill Dayton, this may be the oldest
photos of Dade City.
The Dade City Lodge No. 48 remains an active part of the Dade City Community
still today. The Lodge charter was surrendered on September 7,
1928, however it was restored only two months later on November 9,
1928. The Fort Dade or Dade City Lodge was the second Lodge to
carry the number 48. The number 48 was first given to the Douglas
Lodge No. 48, which was chartered on January 11, 1859 to meet at White
Springs in Hamilton County. Among those members of the Douglas
Lodge No. 48 was Brother Dewitt C. Dawkins, who was also a chartering
Grand Lodge Officers of the Fort Dade Lodge No. 48 in 1871. The
number 48 was then assigned to the Fort Dade Lodge at their chartering
in February of 1871.
Hernando Lodge No. 97 F. & A.M.
According to Grand Lodge
records the Hernando Lodge No. 97 was chartered on January 19, 1887 to
meet in Brooksville, Hernando County. At this time Hernando
County had not yet been divided and still incorporated Citrus and Pasco
Counties. Like the early DeSoto Lodge No. 32 of Brooksville, the
Hernando Lodge was named for early explorer Hernando DeSoto. At the
time of the Hernando Lodge's charter, the three Line Officers representing the Lodge were:
Charles H. French-- Worshipful Master (W.M.)
J.T. Hancock-- Senior Warden (S.W.)
C.W. Springstead-- Junior Warden (J.W.)
In addition recorded were the chartering Grand Lodge Officers:
George S. Hallmark-- Grand Master (G.M.)
Norvelle R. Carter-- Deputy Grand Master (D.G.M.)
William Forsyth Bynum-- Senior Grand Warden (S.G.W.)
J.J. Delaney-- Junior Grand Warden (J.G.W.)
Dewitt C. Dawkins-- Grand Secretary (G.S.)
The original membership of
the Hernando Lodge No. 97 was comprised of members from numerous other
Lodges including, Lodges of Florida: Cedar Key Lodge No. 74, Mikesville
Lodge No. 35, Jefferson Lodge No. 33, Lake City Lodge No. 27, Hiram
Lodge No. 5; Lodges of Wisconsin: New London Lodge No. 131,
Perkinsville Lodge No 331, Union Lodge No. 32 and the Friendship Lodge
No. 400 of Tennessee; Leslie Lodge No. 212 of Michigan and the St.
John's Lodge No. 209 of Canada. The brothers from these various
Lodges came together to create the Hernando Lodge.
When chartered the Hernando Lodge No. 97 was comprised of 12 charter
member. According to Grand Lodge records the 12 charter members
were:
Charles H. French-- Worshipful Master (W.M.- from No. 209)
J.T. Hancock-- Senior Warden (S.W.- from No. 74)
Chancey W. Springstead-- Junior Warden (J.W.- from No. 131)
Warren Springstead (From No. 131)
G.V. Ramsey (From No. 35)
G.W. Higgins (From No. 331)
Hardy C. Croom (From No. 33)
N. Hart (From No. 27)
Arthur Gate (From No. 400)
C. Raymond (From No. 32)
H.B. Carter (From No. 212)
William W. Abbott (From No. 5) |
The Hernando Lodge No. 97
continued to increase in members and in size over the next few year.
On August 22, 1891 the Hernando Lodge No. 97 advertised its
meetings in the Hernando News,
a local newspaper. Through this advertisement its learned that in
1891 Chas Raymond was serving as the Worshipful Master (W.M.) and O.C.
Butterweck was the Lodge secretary. (PLEASE NOTE: The 1891
advertisement below contains a print error as Hernando Lodge was No. 97
and not No. 96.)
In the early part of August
of 1927 the Hernando Lodge No. 97 lost their original charter and
records in a fire. On August 22, 1927 a certified copy of the
charter was issued to the Lodge from the Grand Lodge. The
Hernando Lodge No. 97 was the only lodge to ever be assigned the number
97. The Hernando Lodge No. 97 remains and active part of the
Brooksville Community still today as members still hold regular
meetings.
Twin Lake Lodge No. 141 F. & A.M.
The Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141
is a Lodge that has a most interesting history. According to
Grand Lodge records the Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141 was chartered on
January 17, 1894 to meet in Twin Lake, Hernando County. It must
be noted that the Twin Lake Lodge was chartered after the 1887 dividing
of Hernando County into present day Pasco, Hernando and Citrus
Counties. At chartering the Twin Lakes Lodge was located in
Hernando County, just north of the county line between Pasco and
Hernando Counties, in the small community of Twin Lakes. At the
time of the Twin Lakes Lodge's charter, the three Line Officers representing the Lodge were:
William N. Dowling-- Worshipful Master (W.M.)
Daniel M. Oberry-- Senior Warden (S.W.)
John J. Howell-- Junior Warden (J.W.)
In addition recorded were the chartering Grand Lodge Officers:
Marcus Endel-- Grand Master (G.M.)
James W. Boyd-- Deputy Grand Master (D.G.M.)
James M. Hillard-- Senior Grand Warden (S.G.W.)
Silas B. Wright-- Junior Grand Warden (J.G.W.)
Albert J. Russell-- Grand Secretary (G.S.)
When chartered in 1894 the
Twin Lake Lodge was comprised of 14 charter members. As
meetings were organized the charter members came together in a
two-story building, where the Lodge occupied the second floor.
According to Grand Lodge records the 14 charter members of the
Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141 were:
William M. Dowling-- Worshipful Master (W.M.)
Daniel M. Oberry-- Senior Warden (S.W.)
John J. Howell-- Junior Warden (J.W.)
John H. Reilly-- Secretary
William R. Nicks-- Treasurer
Samuel J. Ausley
Henry N. Hancock
Horace J. Hancock
George J. Hancock
Henry R. Nicks
James Berry Miller (formerly of Fort Dade Lodge No. 48)
Malcomb M. Morrison
Robert H. Murray
Robert J. Bradley (formerly of Fort Dade Lodge No. 48) |
As the Twin Lakes Lodge was
organized and started holding regular meeting their members increased
in numbers. By December 27, 1894 the Lodge had increased with the
addition of two members, James D. Matthews and Walter John Scott, both
residents of Twin Lakes. According to Grand Lodge records there
were 16 members in the Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141 by December of 1894,
those members and their postal addresses were:
Samuel J. Ansley, Chipco
Robert J. Bradley
William N. Dowling,
Blanton
Henry H. Hancock
Horace J. Hancock, Twin Lakes
George
J. Hancock, St. Thomas
John J. Howell, Blanton
James D. Matthews,
Twin Lakes
James B. Miller, Blanton
Malcolm M. Morrison,
Blanton
Robert H. Murray
William R. Nicks, Twin Lakes
Benjamin F. Nicks, Twin Lakes
Henry R. Nicks
Daniel M. Oberry,
Blanton
Walter John Scott, Twin Lakes |
With the Lodge year ending
on December 27, 1894 the Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141 had completed its
first year. With a new year ahead of the Twin Lakes Lodge, it
came time to decide new Officers for the year of 1895. Below is
an image of the Annual Return of the Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141 and their
choice of officers for the new year.
| Click here for larger view |
According to the December
1894 Annual Return of the Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141 the following
Officers were to represent the Lodge for the upcoming year of 1895:
William M. Dowling, Blanton-- Worshipful Master (W.M.)
Daniel M Oberry, Blanton-- Senior Warden (S.W.)
John J. Howell, Blanton-- Junior Warden (J.W.)
Henry R. Nicks, Twin Lakes-- Treasurer
Walter John Scott, Twin Lakes-- Secretary
Samuel J. Ansley, Chipco-- Chaplain
Malcolm M. Morrison, Blanton-- Marshall
George J. Hancock, St. Thomas-- Senior Deacon (S.D.)
Horace J. Hancock, Twin Lakes-- Junior Deacon (J.D.)
John Berry Miller, Twin Lakes-- (S.S.)
Benjamin F. Nicks, Twin Lakes-- (J.S.)
John D. Matthews, Twin Lakes-- Tyler |
The Twin Lake Lodge No. 141
remained and active part of the Twin Lakes Community for the next 8
years. It was decided by the end of 1901 that rather then build a
new Lodge they would would move the old one, this was likely decided at
the 1901 annual meeting. Moving the large two-story building
wasn't an easy task. With a team of horses and mules the
two-story building was chained up and pulled along pine trees that had
been striped, acting as rollers. The team of horses pulled the
two-story building for nearly 5 miles crossing the county lines, when
finally they reached the small town Trilby where the new building would
be set back on its foundation blocks. When built in 1894 the
Lodge building sat in Hernando County, after the move in 1902 the Lodge
building was now located in Pasco County. Below is a photo of how
the Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141 looked in 2007.
According to Grand Lodge
records, in 1901 when it was decided to move the Twin Lakes Lodge No.
141, there were (41) forty-one active members. During the 8 years
that the Lodge was located in Twin Lakes their numbers increased by 25
members. In 1901 when it was decided to move the Twin Lakes
Lodge, the following Officers were representing the Twin Lakes Lodge
No. 141:
William M. Dowling-- Worshipful Master (W.M.)
Fritz L. Mourer-- Senior Warden (S.W.)
S.P. Parker-- Junior Warden (J.W.)
John J. Roller-- Treasurer
Chas. H. Jackson-- Secretary
Jas. D. Hancock-- Marshall
Daniel M. Oberry-- Senior Deacon (S.D.)
Jas. C. Croft-- Junior Deacon (J.D.)
Henry R. Nicks-- Tyler |
The above named Officers
were the last Officers to serve and represent the Twin Lakes Lodge No.
141. After being moved to Trilby in January of 1902 the Twin
Lakes Lodge was renamed to the Trilby Lodge. According to Grand
Lodge records, on January 23, 1902 the Twin Lakes Lodge No. 141 name
was changed to Trilby Lodge No. 141. While the Lodge was renamed
and relocated the members remained loyal and continued to attend
meetings now in Trilby. The Lodge continued to conduct their
meetings on the second floor the large two-story building, while the
down stairs was occupied by a dry goods store. The photo below
shows the upstairs rooms where Lodge No. 141 meetings were conducted,
it was in this room that the original charters members met in January
of 1984 at Twin Lakes.
The Trilby Lodge No. 141
made use of the two-story building, meeting in the upstairs room for
the next 50 plus years. Sometime in the mid-1960's the
Trilby Lodge No. 141 constructed a new building, which was located just
down the road from the old two-story building. The new building
was a single story building constructed of block, see photo below.
Today the Trilby Lodge No. 141 remains an active part of the
Trilby community and they continue to meeting. The Trilby Lodge
No. 141 is also sometimes called "The Hoedown Lodge." The Twin
Lakes and Trilby Lodge No. 141 were the only Lodges to ever carry the
number 141.
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