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
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,
this page online
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
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
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 25, 2023
2. Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons Marker
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. 32° 19.109′ N, 87° 5.807′ W. Marker is in Cahaba, Alabama, in Dallas County. It 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.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and in the Black Belt. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Saltmarsh Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named A Courthouse Reduced to Rubble (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Downtown Cahawba (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Drug Store & the Rooms Above (about 400 feet away); Death in the Street (about 400 feet away); Working on Walnut Street (about 400 feet away); Railroad Depot and Commissary (about 400 feet away); Cahaba First State Capital (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cahaba.
Other markers no longer nearby. Saltmarsh Hall (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); A Courthouse Reduced to Rubble (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Dallas County Courthouse (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Welcome to Downtown Cahawba (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Alabama's First Statehouse (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Cahaba Drug Store (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Commissary - R.R. Depot (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
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 800 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 1, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
