We hardly deem
it advisable to undertake to comment
individually on these early Masons at Biloxi,
but to one familiar with land titles in this
city and familiar with the establishment of the
early families here the list at once impresses
him that who early took up the work of MAGNOLIA
LODGE were land owners and builders of Biloxi.
THE FIRST DECADE
Unfortunately
the early history of the Lodge, so far as
reflected by minutes, is forever lost due to
fires which destroyed the records. We have even
been unable to find the first meeting place of
the Lodge. Therefore, we must content ourselves
with that evidence we can glean from the bare
returns made to the Grand Lodge of the State of
Mississippi each year, and it resolves itself
largely into the meaning of names in the history
of Biloxi. The membership increased from its 22
at the end of the first year to 61 in the year
1860. On the roster of the year 1861, we find
names who were truly patriarchs of Biloxi. Among
them we find Desportes, Balius, Elder, Lundry,
Haven Krohn, Meaut, Quave, Ramsey, Reeves
Seemore,Scarborough,Bradford,Taylor, and others.
These families were prominent in the early
development of both , the city of Biloxi, and
Harrison County.
CIVIL WAR PERIOD
The meager
reports for the war period show that from 1860
to 1866 the membership of the Lodge dropped from
61 members, down to 25, and the return shows
three blank spaces in the list of officers for
the Lodge that year, thus giving mute testimony
of the disintegrating influence of that tragic
period of the war between the States and showing
without question that the Masons as citizens
took their share of the burden and suffered
their share of the consequences. The list of
Biloxi Masons lost in that war unfortunately in
not available to us. We feel that quotation at
this point from the Grand Master, W. S. Patton’s
address in 1966 will convey a true picture of
the status of masonry as a whole in the State at
that time and Biloxi appears to have been an
average lodge, we think it is the best evidence
of the frame of mind, the courage and
determination of the members of this Lodge at
that period:
"The scenes of
the struggle can never be erased from the memory
of those who witnessed them.
The grief of
the widow and orphans, parents and friends, the
towns and homes laid in ruins, the blighted
prospects of so many thousands reduced from
affluence to poverty, the desolate fields, and
above all the many helpless women and children
made homeless, and thrown upon the charity of a
cold unthinking world.
The age in
which we live has great reason to expect much
from us, and it is our duty as Mason to use all
means in our power in allaying all sectional
strife, and to bring about that peace and
harmony characteristic of our order which
promotes brotherly love and charity to all men.
----"
THE DARKEST DAYS
By the year
1875 the membership had climbed back to 36 in
number and the list of officers of the Lodge at
the time certainly shows that the Lodge was then
back on a sound footing. The officers that year
were men who were outstanding in the growth of
the City of Biloxi from the Civil War period up
to the turn of the century.
We still have
no record, however, of the detailed activity of
the Lodge during this period. Old timers say
that about the year 1887 the Lodge apparently
reached a rather low ebb and the withdrawal of
the charter was threatened. The newly elected
Master of the Lodge, Lyman Holley along with
Louis Holley, John Hahn, John Morrison, Dr.
Pelez, Caleb Burton, John Bradford and possibly
a few others got together and made a determined
stand to turn the tide. Dr. Perez and Caleb
Burton went around with a lantern and got
several members out of bed and finally got a
quorum together. They acted on the applications
of several masons who had moved into the
community, among whom were W. A. White. Among
the local men initiated about that time were
Lopez, Dukate, Meaut, G. Edward Park and others.
This seemed to be a turning point that brought
the Lodge from its lowest ebb in its entire
history. These men all became active Masons and
meant a great deal to the growth of the Lodge.
THE FIRST LODGE HALL BUILT
Soon after
receiving its Charter the Lodge undertook to
secure a permanent home, and on April 12, 1851,
Gaspard Didier deeded to Masons of the Magnolia
Lodge of the State of Mississippi, acting
through their principal officers, Henry
Cleveland, Worshipful Master; Daniel Goos,
Senior Warden; John Henley, Junior Warden; Louis
Pradat, Secretary, and John Pradat, Treasurer, a
parcel of land in Biloxi, seventy-six feet front
on Washington Street, eighty feet front on Main
Street, bounded South by Washington Street and
West by Main Street. The deed is recorded in
Book 5 at page 513 of the deed records of
Harrison County. A few years later, with the aid
of a loan from Benjamin Holley on May 2, 1854,
they erected a frame, two story building, which
served as their home until they sold on February
27, 1889. It later was torn down and the
Methodist Church was erected there about 1908
and served as the home of that congregation
until 1948. It is now a furniture store.
BUILDING PRESENT TEMPLE
About 1905 the
membership, with the experience of the several
fires behind them and the inconvenience of
moving about, determined to erect a permanent
home. For several years they had talked about
building. Finally they appointed a committee to
select a lot or site. T. H. Gleason and Buck
Chinn were chosen from the Lodge they select the
lot or site and then to report. The committee
reported that three lots were available. One was
the lot on Lameuse Street where the Elks Club
now stands. The other was a vacant lot at the
northeast corner of Fayard and Howard Avenue,
and the third was the site of the present
building, They selected the present site at Main
and Howard Avenue. At that time it had a small
bakery on the lot which brought $10.00 rent per
month and the Lodge went along several years
with that little rental and such money as it
could get from the members in dues and finally
paid for the lot.
Finally at one
meeting Brother McIntyre said, "What’s the use to
keep talking, let’s build." The suggestion met
with a determined response from the membership.
They decided to erect a building for about
$17,000.00. They got the bonds, most of them
being subscribed, and bids were asked. But the
best bid by contract obtainable for the
completion of the walls and roof and the Lodge
room was $23,000.00. The other bids were much
higher. They finally decided to build the
building with the cooperation of the members and
the use of labor by the day. They appointed a
building committee, consisting of Lyman
Bradford, L. R. Bowen, W. K. M. Dukate and
William Gorenflo. T. H. Gleason was appointed
chairman and to supervise the construction.
Giles Harkness,
a member of the Lodge, who at the time was
engaged in building work and handled the
construction, suggested that, regardless of what
else was done, a good foundation should be laid.
So approximately $5,000.00 of the money was
spent on the foundation of the Building. It is
deep and wide and permanent. Getting the bonds
subscribed and getting them paid for were two
different things, so the work progressed as they
were able to get cash for the bonds from the
members and others who had subscribed for them.
With constant effort, however, they were able to
progress at quite regular working time. A day to
day progress report on the building in
handwriting of Bro. Gleason is in the possession
of the Lodge and is an interesting commentary on
the building problems.
Two years were
consumed in the construction of the building,
many members of the Lodge giving liberally of
their time, as well as their means, in order to
complete it.
GRAND LODGE LAYS CORNER STONE
The corner
stone was laid on June 24 1911 with an elaborate
ceremony by J.S. Brooks, Grand Master, and J.W.
Hicks, Grand Lecturer, and members of the Lodge
serving as proteam grand officers.
The news item
carried in the Biloxi Herald gives the full
account: -
"The
cornerstone of the Masonic Temple, which is to
be erected at the corner of Main Street and
Howard Avenue, which was laid Saturday when the
Mississippi Grand Lodge convened here, with
Grand Master Dr. S. Brooks, of Lola,
Mississippi, as Master of Ceremonies with the
following acting members of the Grand Lodge:
"H.T. Howard,
Deputy Grand Master; L.R. Bowen, Senior Warden;
W.G. Grayson, Junior Warden; J.L. Jondan,
Chaplain, J.W. Hicks, Grand Lecturer; H.J.
Meaut, Grand Secretary; William Gorenflo, Grand
Treasurer; E.L. Suter, Senior Deacon; O.G.
Swetman, S.D.; J.C.Tyler, J.D.; Joseph W. Ott,
J.D.; S.E. Cowan and W.W. Syfan, Stewards;
General S. W. Ferguson, Grand Marshal; P.
Yurgensen, Grand Sword Bearer; G.A. Harkness,
Grand Architect; F. Colmer, Bearer of the Holy
Writings; W. K. M. Dukate, Bearer of the Book of
Constitution; George W. O’neal. Bearer of Oil;
Fred Dorhauer, Bearer of Wine; J.J. Lemon,
Bearer of Corn; W.W. Robeson, Bearer of Salt,
H.V. Lizana, Tyler.
"Dr. J.S.
Brooks was introduced by General S. W. Ferguson.
After a prayer by Rev. J.L Jordan, the Biloxi
Herald Band, which furnished music for the
occasion, played "Nearer My God To Thee,"and
this was followed by a song "How Firm a
Foundation."
"The following
data and documents were placed in the
cornerstone:
The scriptures;
a list of the officers for the current year; a
list of the names of those comprising the acting
grand lodge; roll of building Lodge; roll of
Coast Commandery No. 19, Knights Templar; roll
of Biloxi Chapter, of Alexander council, and the
order of the Eastern Star; a list of the deputy
grand masters; a copy of the Biloxi Herald and
copy of the Biloxi Advertiser; a coin of the
realm. The trowel was then presented to Dr.
Brooks, the Grand Master. The symbolical
ceremony attending the placing of the corn,
wine, oil and salt on the cornerstone was gone
through. The corn representing nourishment; the
oil, joy; the wine, refreshment; and the salt,
consecration.
"The implements
of the craft were then placed in the hands of
the acting architect, G.A. Harkness, after which
Judge T. H. Gleason, who is Worshipful Master,
spoke on Masonry, telling in beautiful language
of its lofty aims, its idealistic purposes and
its good works.------------
" General S. W.
Ferguson spoke briefly on the purpose and work
of Masonry.
"There followed
then a magnificent banquet in the building
opposite, which was thrown open for the
occasion. A tempting array of the choicest
viands had been prepared by the ladies of the
Order of the Eastern Star and the local and
visiting Masons were soon enjoying the bounteous
repast which had been prepared for them by the
ladies and many were the words of praise spoken
thereof. Besides the Grand Master, Dr. Brooks,
there were a number of visiting Masons from
Coast and other points."
THE TEMPLE COMPLETED
Like all who
labor long and well at a commendable task, their
thought and energy are put into the job to be
done and no thought is giving to the reward. The
effort was so great and the sacrifice of the
membership was such in building that when the
job was actually done they did not even give it
enough thought to note on the minutes the actual
date of moving into to the new building. It was
early in the year 1913 however, for it is noted
that at the November 4, 1912 meeting Bro.
Gleason, chairman of the Temple Committee
reported that the first and Lodge Room were near
completion, and on the first floor two of the
stores were rented. He reported again at the
December meeting that he had paid out to date
the sum of $13,364.20 and had sold $17,000 worth
of bonds and thought the committee would be
about $1200 short.
But at the
February 1913 meeting we find the glorious note
that the Worshipful Master, O.G. Swetman,
desired to have the "Builder of our Temple"give
a talk on the subject of the Temple and
requested Bro. Bowen to present the builder Bro.
Gleason to the East, where he was met by Brother
H.T. Howard, Past Grand Master, who with a few
well chosen words presented Brother Gleason with
a handsome watch from the members of Magnolia
Lodge. Bro. Gleason responded and expressed his
appreciation of the confidence and esteem and
the token from the members of Magnolia Lodge.
So they were
finally in the Temple, with the first and third
floors completed, but with the second floor only
roughly partitioned into three rooms and hall.
The third floor as then constituted had two
lodge rooms, kitchen, dining hall and reception
rooms.
FURNITURE OF THE LODGE
The Officers
stations and other furniture of the Lodge has an
interesting history in that they were not
purchased from Paraphernalia House but were
wrought in the City of Biloxi, as individual
creative work by Brother T.J. Rossell a skilled
crasftmen engaged in the woodworking business.
The officers
pillars, the altar, and the brazen pillars were
all built by him an 1902, soon after the last
fire, and have been in continues use by the
Lodge since that time. Brother Joe Dowling who
was employed by Rossel at the time personally
assisted in their construction.
Their original
staining and bronzing were done by Brother Ed.
Suter, one of the most skilled men in that line
that Biloxi has ever produced.
The Brazen
Pillars are especially beautiful, and we believe
them to be the most ornate and attractive of
many in the state.
The five
matched officers chairs were also produced in
1902 through Brother J.C. Clower, who was
engaged in the furniture business at Biloxi.
INTEREST IN SCHOOLS - CORNERSTONES LAID
A most
significant event in the life and growth of any
city is the provision of schools and plans for
the education of its citizenship. Magnolia Lodge
was able to participate in this notable event in
the City of Biloxi in 1898, in a most dramatic
way, when William Gorenflo, W.K.M. Dukate, Laz
Lopez, and Harry Howard, leading citizens of the
city at that time, and active members of the
Masonic Lodge, Harry T. Howard being the then
Master, donated three public schools to the
City. A resolution of the City Council invited
Magnolia Lodge, and the Grand Lodge of
Mississippi to lay the cornerstones of these
buildings, and the invitation was accepted.
The following
day December 7, 1898 the Biloxi Daily Herald
carried a fine account of the occasion, and we
are indebted to Mr. Eugene P. Wilkes, its
present publisher, for the permeation to use it.
The story follows:
Yesterday was a
day that should be long-lived in memory of
Biloxi and its people, for it marked a certain
progress in the educational advancement of the
city. With all the impressiveness of the
mysterious Masonic ceremony the cornerstones of
the new school buildings were laid, and a
completeness of a rapid stride in the progress
of the city was known. To an unthinking or
simply curious person, the day and the
ceremonies were not up to standard of circus
parade, but to those looking forward to a
realization of the material advancement of the
community, they were fraught with meaning, for
it demonstrated with unwavering certainty, two
things, that our people are in earnest in their
interest in and desire for the proper education
of their children, and that there are generous,
public spirited citizens, who are willing to go
give of their bounty, in a way that means
something, and something that forces itself into
the prosperity and means something, and
something that forces itself into the prosperity
and substantial growth, not only of the
community and State, but to the welfare and
continuity of the Nation. Grand Master Ex. Gov.
J.M. Stone, who was to conduct the ceremonies
did not arrive until 10:45 morning train, and
for this reason there was a delay in the
commencement of the exercise, but start was made
about 12 o’clock and the procession, consisting
of all the pupils of the public schools in line
with their teachers, and each grade marked by a
beautiful banner, began the march to the West
End School. The line of march was out Howard
Avenue, and the sight of quite 500 children from
girls and boys almost grown in physical
development down to the lisping tots, to whom a
complete knowledge of the alphabet and numbers
was a wonderful achievement, was inspiring -not
the stirring of blood, like the tramp of
conquering armies, with flying banners and
rolling drums, but an appeal to the gentleness
and Christian part of the beings, that temper
and subdue the innate savagery that sometimes
seizes hold of us and runs riot - that
inspiration that sanctifies and builds up the
altar of home, and influences us to show the
best of our being.
The West End
school building is a beautiful modern structure,
complete in every detail, both as to
architectural design and continuous usefulness.
This building was given by Mr. and Mrs. L.
Lopez, and even when it has served its purpose
and crumbled into dust of ages it will be an
ever living monument to one on Biloxi’s best
citizens and his noble wife.
From West End
the procession moved on to Back Bay, where is a
structure that will be a mark maker in the life
of every child who lives to pass from careless
childhood to the responsibilities of age, and no
child who crosses the threshold of that building
will forget the names of the noble men who,
without price, gave to them the schoolhouse that
memory will ever keep in form - WM. Gorenflo and
W.K.M. Dukate.
From Back Bay
the march back to the Howard building was short,
but none of the interest had been lost. This
building was the gift of H.T. Howard, who has
always responded, and generously and often,
without the asking to the needs of Biloxi, and
wherever it may be, there is no city that has
been more thought of or more profusely donated
to than has Biloxi, and the name Harry Howard,
as he is lovingly called, should be transmitted
from generation to generation as one of Biloxi’s
most faithful friends and noble citizens. This
school building is beautifully and centrally
located, and is constructed to meet every demand
for comfort and convenience.
After this
cornerstone had been laid, the ceremonies were
concluded, and marching to their hall, the
Masons, who had conducted the ceremonies,
disbanded. Ex. Gov. Stone was accompanied by
Hon. J.L. Power, the grand secretary of the
Masons. The day was beautiful and the ceremony
was in every respect imposing, instructive and
appreciated. All went well and work was good.
GRAND MASTER MAKES MASON AT SIGHT
This incident
of unusual interest occurred as recalled
personally by Brother L.R. Bowen who related it
at the 90th anniversary meeting. In the year
1898 a number of the officers of the Grand Lodge
were here in Biloxi for a Masonic occasion and
the local committee, as part of the
entertainment, tendered the visitors a boat ride
to Ship Island. The boat, Julius Elbert, was
furnished by Brother L. Lopez, and the visitors
and host boarded the boat with picnic lunch and
went to Ship Island. The harbor at time was
filled with a number of ships engaged in
transporting lumber. The numerous sail boats
were an interesting sight but the large ocean
steamers were unusual to the visitors, for many
of them had not had opportunities to see them.
Brother Bowen, a licensed pilot, was acquainted
with the captains of the boats and obtained
permission from Capt. George Maddrell of a
steamer from Liverpool to let the visitors go on
the boat and inspect it.
The opportunity
to thus invite the Masons aboard seemed to
furnish Maddrell a great deal of pleasure and he
greeted the Grand Master, as he boarded the
boat, saying, "Gentleman, you are welcome to the
ship. I am sorry I cannot greet you as brothers.
It is my misfortune, but not my fault." He then
showed the visitors over the boat, invited them
to his own cabin and extended them every
courtesy. After they had completed the round and
spent a pleasant half hour or more on the ship,
brother Spinks, the Grand Master, turned to
Captain Maddrell and remarked, "Did I understand
you to say that your not being able to greet us
as brothers was your misfortune, but not your
fault?"
He replied,
"yes, I was reared in England and early became a
seafaring man and obtained my license when I was
barely twenty-one and have had charge of ships
since that time and have not been in port at any
time long enough to make application."
Brother Spinks
replied, "I will accept that as an application,"
the mate on the vessel was a Mason and close
acquaintance of the Captain for a long time and
furnished satisfactory evidence concerning him.
Immediately a Master Mason lodge was arranged in
the cabin, proper lights and working tools being
readily accessible on the ship and the Entered
Apprentice and Fellow Craft degrees were
conferred during the forenoon and the Master
Mason degree in the afternoon. Capt. Maddrell
was so elated at his opportunity to become a
Mason that he come into Biloxi that night with
the party and made application for membership
and due course his name was enrolled as a Mason
of Magnolia Lodge. Capt. Bowen told that he had
cards from many ports of the world. Thus it is
seen by this incident that Magnolia Lodge has
had a traveling member going to the far corners
of the earth.
This event is
officially recorded in the address of Grand
Master J. L. Spinks at 1896 convocation of the
Grand Lodge.
MAGNOLIA LODGE TO HOST MEETINGS OF
GRAND LODGE OF MISSISSIPPI
1897- The
seventy-ninth Annual Communication of the Grand
Lodge of Mississippi was held in the City Hall
at Biloxi, on Thursday, February 11th, A.D.
1897. It was called to order at 11 a.m. with
M.W. Grand Master James F. McCol presiding. The
proceedings of that year reveal that a pleasant
and harmonious session was held. A paragraph
from the Grand Master’s address to the meeting is
interesting: "The thanks are due the Brethren of
Biloxi for their hospitality to the Grand Lodge.
This is the Oldest town in the State built up by
white people. This town was regarded as the El
Dorado of the Western Hemisphere at the time, a
golden region supposed to surpass all others in
the richness of its varied productions. Here was
the first fortification erected by the French on
the soil of Mississippi, and being the seat of
Colonial Government, the seat of French power
and sovereignty in the state, as represented by
Royal Governors and Viceregents, through whom
the King of France spoke to his subjects in this
far-a-way quarter of the world."
1903 - The
Grand Lodge came to Biloxi, again on Feb. 19,
1903, and held its eighty-fifth Communication.
Magnolia’s own members Harry T. Howard concluded
his year as Grand Master at that meeting, and in
his address expressed his great pleasure in
having the session in his home town. His
detailed report for the year showed he had been
very active during the year, traveling 8,059
miles in visiting Subordinate Lodges, laying
cornerstones and dedicating Masonic Temples in
Mississippi. He relates with pleasure his
official visit to his home Lodge Magnolia 120,
and his installing Bro. L.R. Bowen as Grand
Marshall of the Grand Lodge. We note that Bro.
E.J. Bowers, a prominent coast attorney, who
later served a long and distinguished term in
Congress from this District, was a member of his
Law Committee. Evidently fearful of a shortage
of accommodations Bro. Howard, in his address
thanked Brother Niles, the then Federal Judge,
for postponing the February term of the Federal
Court in Biloxi until the week following the
Grand Lodge Meeting. He also mentions the
assistance of Bro. J.H. Neville in the matter.
At the close of the meeting the following
resolution was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote: "Resolved that the officers and members of
this Grand Lodge present their grateful
acknowledgments to our retiring Grand Master
Harry T. Howard, the members of Magnolia Lodge,
and the citizens of Biloxi generally, for the
kindness, courtesy and generous hospitality
extended to us during the entire session of this
very pleasant Grand Communication. That the
thanks of the Grand Lodge be and are hereby
extended our most obliging and liberal Brother
Dukate, for the use of his splendid Theater
Building as a place of meeting during our stay
in this pretty little sea coast city. And that
the thanks of this Grand Lodge be and are hereby
tendered Most Worshipful Grand Master Harry T.
Howard, for the amiable, efficient and impartial
manner in which he has conducted the duties of
his high office during the past year."
The officers of
Magnolia Lodge at the time of this meeting were:
L.R. Bowen,
Master; J.C. Bradford, S. Warden; G.W. Grayson,
J. Warden; T.P. Dulion, Treasurer; H.J. Meaut,
Secretary; and R.B. Harrison, Tyler.
The Dukate
Theater was at the present site of the First
Bank of Biloxi.
1950- We
rejoice in having the Grand Lodge with us again
in February, 1950, the year of the 100th
Anniversary of Magnolia Lodge......
