Homer Lodge No. 152
Masonry In Action:
In 1857 a group of interested brethren
met as a Lodge Under Dispensation in Homer. They conferred
degrees on some several brethren including two master’s
degrees, which two newly-made masons became charter
members of Homer Lodge No. 152, F. & A.M., when
it received its charter on February 10, 1858. Meetings
of the new lodge were held in one-half of the second
story of the store building on the southwest corner
of the courthouse square, which portion of the building
was purchased from Chapter No. 24 in 1860. This building
was the home of the Lodge until 1893 with the exception
of some meetings held, according to tradition, in
the reconstruction years immediately following the
Civil War in a log house in D’Arbonne Swamp.
On December 7, 1859, Homer Lodge bought
at Sheriff’s Sale, all the property of the Homer
Female Collegiate Institute, a boarding school for
girls located in the area or vicinity of McCasland
St., in the town of Homer, for the sum of $300.00
and continued to operate the school until 1892, when
the Homer Masonic Female College was sold to Mrs.
Gertrude Vaughn, reserving the main college building
to be moved from off campus. The sale was made for
$500.00, evidence by a note due 3 months later on
January 15, 1893. At the same time, Committees of
the lodge were appointed to locate a lot on which
the building could be moved.
On June 5, 1893, committees from the
K.P.’s, I.O.O.F., and F. & A.M., composed
of A.E. Wilder, E.A. Kelly, J.W. Holbert, and D.W.
Harris from the K.P.’s; C.O. Ferguson, F.I. Gladden,
and John Ruffner from the I.O.O.F.; and W. Ward, H.C.
Walker, and J.W. Holbert from Lodge No. 152, F. &
A.M., met and formed a joint committee of W. Ward,
C.O. Ferguson, and E.A. Kelly to arrange for the erection
of a building on a lot owned by the I.O.O.F., but
which would be transferred to the other two organizations
provided they would furnish them with a meeting place
on the second floor of the building. The main building
of the Homer Female College was moved to the lot,
and used jointly by the I.O.O.F.; K.P.’s, and
Masons. This building was on a lot one-half block
east of the square and is now occupied by Modern Cleaners
and the present hall of the I.O.O.F. Homer Lodge No.152
continued to meet in Castle Hall until 1923, when
it occupied its present temple on the North side of
the Square.
Growth of the lodge was influenced
by many things from the outside. From ten charter
members in 1858, membership reached a total of 69
in 1861 when the members despaired of the progress
of Masonry with the approach of the, War between the
States. However, in 1864 it reached a high of 139,
conferring the third highest number of degrees in
its entire existence, 152 and 34 meetings. However,
during the reconstruction days and depressions, demits
and suspensions forced the roll back to 63 members
at the end of 1870. Other outside influences affected
the growth in the years following, one of which was
the interest of individual citizens of the community
in the personal differences between two families,
which resulted in a feud of several years duration.
Attendance and membership dropped to an all time low
in 1888 of 14 members. From 1879 to 1889 not a degree
was reported, and there were few affiliations or reinstatements.
During this same period, Brother J.R. Ramsey served
as master of the lodge a period of 14 years, from
1876 to 1889 inclusive, being the longest tenure of
office any master of the Lodge.
A slow regaining of interest in Masonry
brought the membership back to 86 in 1916 when threats
of World War I brought a new demand for the degrees.
At the end of 1919 the lodge reported a membership
of 137, and with the discovery of oil near Homer,
and the boom days of the early 20’s, by 1927
the membership swelled to its highest point, 314.
Depression years again took its toll, and in 1934,
it had dropped to 76. Since that time, however, it
has shown a steady increase until World War II and
the Korean Conflict again gave the work impetus. In
1944 the membership stood at 110, 1950 it was 206,
and on December 31, 1957 at the end of its first 100
years the membership stood at 216.
Minutes of our lodge reveal that our
brethren who faced the problems of wars, reconstruction,
depressions, etc., were concerned with the principles
of masonry more than the conferring of degrees. Every
member of the Lodge considered himself a member of
every committee, and was concerned with the report
that was made. St. John’s Day was observed, each
year by the Lodge. From time to time committees were
appointed to restore fraternal relations between two
brothers who had become estranged. One such committee
reported after three years that it had restored such
relations and the absent brother was invited to return
to the lodge meetings. Another reported at the next
meeting that it was unable to restore such relations,
and with the, demit of one, the other returned to
the lodge. In 1892 the D.D.G.M. presented the lodge
with a horn, which was used to announce meetings.
Brother Ward presented the lodge with three candlesticks,
and in 1893 Bro. M.T. Nicholson presented the letter
“G” to the Lodge. Electric lights were installed
in the lodge in 1906, and in the same year, the newly
elected officers were installed in a public ceremony
in the Methodist Church. Fire damaged the hall in
1912, and in the same year, the lodge voted to lend
$50.00 to the town of Homer without interest to assist
them in building a house for the fire department.
In 1914, the by-laws were amended to require all Master
Masons to pass a satisfactory examination in the Catechism
of the third degree or forfeit the right to vote or
hold office in the lodge.
In the same year, the secretary suggested
that the lodge discuss the use of intoxicating drink
to excess among the brethren and quite a number of
short talks were made. A committee was appointed to
speak words of courage to the brethren, including
sojourners, addicted to a strong drink as one of the
principles of Masonry is temperance.
New standard by-laws were adopted in
1956 and are now in force.
A check of the minutes of the lodge
reveal that 217 cilfield workers, 94 farmers, 51 clerks,
45 merchants, 31 salesmen, 30 bookkeepers, 25 doctors
and dentists, 22 ministers, and 20 lawyers have been
members of the lodge, but only 10 carpenters and 2
brick masons. More than 80 other occupations are listed
on petitions.
The following letter attached to the
annual return for the year 1861 reveals a particular
problem faced by out brothers at that time.
To the Grand Sec:
Dear Brethren:
The effects of the war, has caused
a great disturbance in our Lodge. Our Master left
us, and many of the brave members. Bro. Wilson died
at Camp Moore and left a family, wife, and 3 children.
I must try and present an excuse for our papers coming
to you unsealed. The secretary has moved to the State
of N.C., and has placed the seal out of reach. We
have communicated with him and got no return and we
have had no chance to get us another. Our Master in
now in Virginia attending the wants of an afflicted
brother of his, a soldier, and will be present at
this G.L. Sessions. Where and at which time he will
settle our dues and make I hope the necessary explanations
as regards the un-authentic manner in which our returns
come up. Masonry in this part of the State is at a
low mark. Nothing of any importance doing much as
the army has a goodly number of the good working and
influential portions of every lodge in the upper Parishes.
Affectionately & Fraternally yours,
(S) Ben R. Coleman
Sec. Of Homer Lodge No. 152
Truly, the history of our lodge is
a history of Masonry in Action. The Historical table
of Homer Lodge, No. 152 F. & A.M., following,
shows in detail more of the working of this lodge.
It too, reflects the problems and the solutions by
the time and humanity, and while it reflects the influence
of humanity on masonry, at the same time it reflects
the influence of masonry on the history of our times,
particularly as history applies to our own community
and our lodge.
