Cahaba in Dallas County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons

June 11, 1821 – Established at Cahawba

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 25, 2023

1. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons Marker

Inscription.

Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. June 11, 1821 – Established at Cahawba. [Newspaper notice] Masonic,. The Regularly Constituted Lodges of Ancient York Masons, Chartered, Dispenced, or associated within the State of Alabama, are respectfully requested to meet, by their representatives, at the Town of Cahawba, as early as practicable after the commencement of the ensuing session of the Legislature, to confer on the expediency, form a constitution for, and organize a grand Lodge for the state., By order of an association of Master Masons assembled at St. Stephens for mutual improvement, Oct. 28th, 1820., Benjamin S. Smoote and Israel Pickens, Esqs. or either of them will represent this association. Printers who wish prosperity to the craft, will give the above an early insertion in their papers., St. Stephens, Oct. 30th, 1820., Founding Lodges (original name, number, Grand Lodge) Madison No. 1, Huntsville (Madison No. 21, Kentucky) Alabama No 2, Huntsville (Alabama No. 21, Tennessee) Alabama No. 3, Claiborne (Claiborne No. 51, South Carolina) Rising Virtue No. 4, Tuscaloosa (Rising Virtue No. 30, Tennessee) Halo No. 5, Cahawba (Halo No. 21, Georgia) Moulton No. 6, Moulton (Moulton No. 34, Tennessee) Russellville No. 7, Russellville (Franklin No. 36, Tennessee) Farrar No. 8, Elyton (Farrar No. 41, Tennessee) St. Stephens No. 9, St. Stephens (St. Stephens UD, North Carolina), Freemasonry comes to Alabama 1811 Madison #21 (KY) Huntsville 1813 Friendship #6 (LA) Mobile 1815 Friendship UD (NC) St. Stephens 1818 Halo UD (NC) Cahawba . Alabama #21 (TN) Huntsville . Washington #23 (TN) Hazel Green 1819 Claiborne #51 (SC) Claiborne . Rising Virtue #30 (TN) Tuscaloosa . Eureka #16 (LA) Blakeley . Halo #21 (GA) Cahawba 1820 St. Stephens UD (NC) St. Stephens . Halo #33 (TN) Cahawba . Moulton #34 (TN) Moulton . Franklin #36 (TN) Russellville 1821 Marion (GA) Suggsville . Tuscumbia #40 (TN) Courtland . Farrar #41 (TN) Elyton . Mobile #22 (LA) Mobile, Early Alabama Leaders Elected Grand Lodge Officers Grand Master: Thomas W. Farrar, Major General, Alabama Militia . Senior Grand Warden: John Murphy, Governor 1825-1829 . Junior Grand Warden: Thomas Owen, Bank of Alabama Commissioner, 1837 . 1st Deputy Grand Master: Horatio G. Perry, Alabama Legislator and Senator . 2nd Deputy Grand Master: Frederick Weedon, Alabama Legislator . 3rd Deputy Grand Master: John Elliott, Alabama Senator, Circuit Judge . Grand Treasurer: David McCord, Justice, Dallas County Court . Grand Secretary: Thomas A. Rogers, Alabama Secretary of State 1819-1821, Lodge Delegates William B. Allen, Publisher, Cahawba Press . John (Red) Brown, General Assembly, Judge . Clement C. Clay, Governor 1835-1837, 1st Chief Justice . James H. Draughon, Alabama Legislator . Anderson Hutchinson, Republic of Texas District Judge . John M. Leake, Alabama Legislator . Dugald McFarlane, Publisher, Republic of Texas Legislator . Thomas O. Meux, Medical Board of Cahawba . Gabriel Moore, Governor 1829-1831 . David Moore, Alabama Legislator, Speaker . George W. Owen, US Representative 1823-1829 . Constantine Perkins, Alabama Senator, Attorney General . Israel Pickens, Governor 1821-1825 . Benjamin S. Smoot, Alabama Legislator . Lewis B. Tully, Attorney, Arkansas Senator 1836, Who Are the Freemasons? Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternity. Lessons of social and moral virtues are taught using the symbolism of tools, such as the square, compasses, plumb, and level to represent the building of human character. Men from every walk of life find a Masonic Lodge is a place to enjoy friendships, support charities, and learn to be a better person.

[Newspaper notice]
Masonic, The Regularly Constituted Lodges of Ancient York Masons, Chartered, Dispenced, or associated within the State of Alabama, are respectfully requested to meet, by their representatives, at the Town of Cahawba, as early as practicable after the commencement of the ensuing session of the Legislature, to confer on the expediency, form a constitution for, and organize a grand Lodge for the state.

By order of an association of Master Masons assembled at St. Stephens for mutual improvement, Oct. 28th, 1820.

Benjamin S. Smoote and Israel Pickens, Esqs. or either of them will represent this association. Printers who wish prosperity to the craft, will give the above an early insertion in their papers.

St. Stephens, Oct. 30th, 1820.

Founding Lodges (original name, number, Grand Lodge)
Madison No. 1, Huntsville (Madison No. 21, Kentucky)
Alabama No 2, Huntsville (Alabama No. 21, Tennessee)
Alabama No. 3, Claiborne (Claiborne No. 51, South Carolina)
Rising Virtue No. 4, Tuscaloosa (Rising Virtue No. 30, Tennessee)
Halo No. 5, Cahawba (Halo No. 21, Georgia)
Moulton No. 6, Moulton (Moulton No. 34, Tennessee)
Russellville No. 7, Russellville (Franklin No. 36, Tennessee)
Farrar
Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online
No. 8, Elyton (Farrar No. 41, Tennessee)
St. Stephens No. 9, St. Stephens (St. Stephens UD, North Carolina)

Freemasonry comes to Alabama
1811 Madison #21 (KY) Huntsville
1813 Friendship #6 (LA) Mobile
1815 Friendship UD (NC) St. Stephens
1818 Halo UD (NC) Cahawba • Alabama #21 (TN) Huntsville • Washington #23 (TN) Hazel Green
1819 Claiborne #51 (SC) Claiborne • Rising Virtue #30 (TN) Tuscaloosa • Eureka #16 (LA) Blakeley • Halo #21 (GA) Cahawba
1820 St. Stephens UD (NC) St. Stephens • Halo #33 (TN) Cahawba • Moulton #34 (TN) Moulton • Franklin #36 (TN) Russellville
1821 Marion (GA) Suggsville • Tuscumbia #40 (TN) Courtland • Farrar #41 (TN) Elyton • Mobile #22 (LA) Mobile

Early Alabama Leaders
Elected Grand Lodge Officers
Grand Master: Thomas W. Farrar, Major General, Alabama Militia • Senior Grand Warden: John Murphy, Governor 1825-1829 • Junior Grand Warden: Thomas Owen, Bank of Alabama Commissioner, 1837 • 1st Deputy Grand Master: Horatio G. Perry, Alabama Legislator and Senator • 2nd Deputy Grand Master: Frederick Weedon, Alabama Legislator • 3rd Deputy Grand Master: John Elliott, Alabama Senator, Circuit Judge • Grand Treasurer: David McCord, Justice, Dallas County Court • Grand Secretary: Thomas A. Rogers, Alabama

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 25, 2023

2. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons Marker

Secretary of State 1819-1821

Lodge Delegates
William B. Allen, Publisher, Cahawba Press • John (Red) Brown, General Assembly, Judge • Clement C. Clay, Governor 1835-1837, 1st Chief Justice • James H. Draughon, Alabama Legislator • Anderson Hutchinson, Republic of Texas District Judge • John M. Leake, Alabama Legislator • Dugald McFarlane, Publisher, Republic of Texas Legislator • Thomas O. Meux, Medical Board of Cahawba • Gabriel Moore, Governor 1829-1831 • David Moore, Alabama Legislator, Speaker • George W. Owen, US Representative 1823-1829 • Constantine Perkins, Alabama Senator, Attorney General • Israel Pickens, Governor 1821-1825 • Benjamin S. Smoot, Alabama Legislator • Lewis B. Tully, Attorney, Arkansas Senator 1836

Who Are the Freemasons?
Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternity. Lessons of social and moral virtues are taught using the symbolism of tools, such as the square, compasses, plumb, and level to represent the building of human character. Men from every walk of life find a Masonic Lodge is a place to enjoy friendships, support charities, and learn to be a better person.

Erected 2021 by Grand Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons of Alabama.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.

Location.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

32° 19.109′ N, 87° 5.807′ W. Marker is in Cahaba, Alabama, in Dallas County. Marker is on 1st Street North west of Vine Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is in Old Cahawba Archaeological Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Orrville AL 36767, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Saltmarsh Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); A Courthouse Reduced to Rubble (within shouting distance of this marker); Drug Store & the Rooms Above (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to Downtown Cahawba (about 400 feet away); Death in the Street (about 400 feet away); Alabama's First Statehouse (about 400 feet away); Working on Walnut Street (about 400 feet away); Railroad Depot and Commissary (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cahaba.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 251 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.