History of Cypress Lodge No. 89
A mixture of York, French, and Scottish
Rite constitutions marked the early history of Masonry
in Louisiana. At times peace and harmony prevailed
and, at others, bitter hostilities.
On March 30, 1794 Masonry was first
introduced in Louisiana and chartered by the Grand
Lodge of South Carolina and known as “Lodge Parfaite
No. 29.” This lodge was composed of white refugees
from Santo Domingo in the West Indies who worked in
the York Rite. In 1804, Polar Star Lodge No. 4263
was chartered by the French Grand Lodge. Both of these
lodges worked in the French language, but held charters
from different Rites; therefore, a bitter and strong
rivalry developed among them.
In 1807, The “Grand Lodge of New
York” chartered Louisiana Lodge No. 1. This was
the first English speaking lodge in Louisiana.
Several lodges were chartered between
1807 and 1812. One was chartered by the “Provincial
Lodge Sincerite at Merseilles,” two by the “Grand
Orient of France,” one by the “Grand Lodge
of New York,” seven by the “Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania,” and one by the “Grand
Consistory of Jamaica.” The latter worked in
the Scottish Rite.
The Grand Lodge of Louisiana came into
existence on June 13, 1812. The new Grand Lodge worked
exclusively in the York Rite and on June 27, 1818,
forbade all communications with lodges that did not
work, in the same. This created a cleavage, which
continued into 1850, when the present Grand Lodge
charter was completed and adopted.
During this time the Grand Lodge was
not attentive and supportive of the lodges located
outside of New Orleans or in the country areas. Consequently
those lodges wishing to be chartered turned to the
Grand Lodge of Mississippi. Seven lodges wishing to
be chartered from the Grand Lodge of Mississippi.
These seven lodges organized the second Grand Lodge
of Louisiana and it assumed the duties and responsibilities
thereof. Included in these responsibilities was the
chartering of additional lodges and research shows
that a total of (25) lodges were members of this Grand
Lodge. Cypress Lodge was the twenty-fifth and final
lodge (Cypress Lodge No. 25) chartered by the new
Grand Lodge. In 1850, the two Grand Lodges merged
and as a result of this merger the lodges were renumbered,
thus Cypress Lodge No.25 became Cypress Lodge No.
89.
Cypress Lodge No. 89, was the first
Masonic Lodge in Bossier Parish. This lodge was under
dispensation in 1849 and it’s charter was issued
March 4, 1850, to the following members:
John Martin, W.M. David Alderson E.B.
Rogers
L. Rathburn, S.W. William Brown Caleb
Swindle
F. Rawlings, J.W. William Dalrymple
A.B. Hughes
F.G. Satler, Sec. Samuel Furniss John
McWillie, Trea.
Young F. Grayham B. V. Matlock, S.D.
A.H. Henna
John A. Pate, J.D. James G. Irwin George
Mason, Tyler
Charles Lewis R.T. Stinson, S.S. John
O’ Daniel
Israel Rogers, J.S. Charles R. King
On June 3, 1850, a lot containing one
acre located in the Town of Collinsburg was donated
to Cypress Lodge and the Sons of Temperance by James
Blair Gilmer, a pioneer settler of Bossier Parish.
There is no record in the minutes of the lodge of
any building ever having been erected on this property.
It is presumed that no advantage was ever taken of
this donation and the title returned to the owner.
This transaction is recorded in BOOK 2 PAGE 111-112
(0477) 3 June, 1850 as follows: J.B. Gilmer donated
to the sons of Temperance Division No. 8 and Cypress
Lodge of A. F. Masons a lot of one acre in the town
of Collinsburg fronting the tavern to be used to erect
a 2 story building to be occupied by sd. Fraternities.
Wit. Charles Lewis. Rec. 8 Nov., 18
THE FOLLOWING ARE EXERPTS FROM LODGE
MINUTES
A communication was read on January
15, 1853 from Lexington, Kentucky informing the lodge
of the death of our worthy brother, Henry Clay (a
U.S. Senator), and a motion was carried appropriating
Ten Dollars to assist in the erecting of a suitable
monument over his remains.
On the 31st day of January 1863, it
was noted in the minutes that the annual return to
the Grand Lodge could not be forwarded because the
Grand Lodge Hall was in the hands of the enemy. The
return had been properly prepared and would be delivered
as soon as possession could be regained and communication
established. On February 20, 1864, the Grand Lodge
was still in the hands of the enemy and no communications
could be established. At a meeting held February 10,
1867, Brother G. H. Walker was authorized to take
the Grand Lodge dues and report to Brother G.W. Lasiter.
On September 7, 1867, the members agreed
to change the meeting place of Cypress Lodge to Quality
Hill. The upper Room of Lamberts store was the anticipated
place of meeting. On October 1, 1867, a committee
was appointed to confer with Brother Lambert for the
rental of the room. On February 8, 1868 a communication
was received from the Grand Lodge authorizing the
move to Quality Hill and a committee was appointed
to make the arrangements. It does not appear that
any action was taken on this authorization. On April
4, 1868, motion was made and unanimously carried to
seek permission to move the Lodge to the town of Benton.
A committee of brothers Chastain, Stinson, McCullough,
Hancock and Miller was appointed to make the necessary
arrangements. On July 4, 1868, a communication was
read instructing the lodge to contact the District
Deputy Grand Master for permission to move. This permission
was granted, August 1, 1868, and on August 29, 1868,
the first communication was held in the town of Benton
with the following members present:
B.B. Matlock, W.M., Pro-tem S.B. McCullough,
Sec., Elected
A.C. Strain, S.W. Pro-term M. Roy,
Tyler, Elected
W.E. Adger, J.W., Elected R.A. Morris,
S.D., Pro-term
Thomas Chastain, Trea., Elected W.R.
Prather, J.D., Pro-term
The first petition received after moving
to the Town of Benton was from Mr. P.E. Jones, who
was duly elected to receive the degrees in Masonry.
On April 12, 1876, a site was acquired
for the construction of a lodge building. On June
23, 1877, the new hall, the first home owned by the
lodge itself was completed. Between 1877 and 1884
the lodge prospered but there was a sharp decline
in attendance from 1884 until 1887, and on February
16, 1887, the charter was forfeited.
A new charter was granted February 12,
1890, after a lapse of three years. Communication
was held for a number of years thereafter in a building
used jointly by the Woodmen of the World, the public
school system and Cypress Lodge. Sometime between
1890 and 1901 the lodge occupied a building located
adjacent to the present site of the lodge. This building
was destroyed by fire and there are no minutes from
1869 through 1902. We assume that the minutes were
destroyed at that time. Communication was then held
in lodge of the Knights of Pythias in Alden Bridge
while a new building was being constructed. The brethren
commuted by handcar on the Cotton Belt Railroad.
December 18, 1901, the site of the present
building was acquired from Joannes Smith. A new building
was erected and used from 1902 through 1952. This
building was severly damaged by windstorm and was
demolished. The present home of Cypress Lodge was
then erected.
The corner stone to this building was
laid on Saturday, April 11, 1953. The building was
completed and dedicated on Sunday, August 23, 1953,
by Most Worshipful Brother Alex L. Stephens. At this
time the lodge held it’s Centennial Celebration.
The funds for the final payment on the mortgage were
appropriated and in 1958, five years after the date
of construction, final payment on the mortgage was
made.
Perplexity was probably the greatest
anxiety during early Louisiana Masonry and Cypress
Lodge #89 was not exempt from this concern. Cypress
Lodge first petitioned the Louisiana Grand Lodge in
1849. Records for that time are few and are not very
complete. We cannot be sure that Cypress Lodge actually
received a charter from the Louisiana Grand Lodge,
However, it did receive a charter from the Grand Lodge
of Louisiana in 1850. Cypress Lodge is the oldest
lodge in Bossier Parish and its early members lived
as far away as Bellvue. The members were brethren
that migrated to this area from such places as Ireland,
England, New York, North and South Carolina. Although
Cypress Lodge has had its ups and downs and even forfeited
its charter for (3) years it is presently the twenty-second
oldest active lodge in Louisiana and the oldest lodge
in Bossier Parish.
The service rendered by Cypress Lodge
to its members and the community has been long and
honorable. It is the prayer of all its members that
it will serve through the next century with the same
honor and distinction that has marked its trials and
progress through the past one hundred- fifty years.
· 1849, January 17, Cypress Lodge
was chartered under Louisiana Grand Lodge. The lodge
was located at Pineville (Collinsburg), Louisiana.
· 1850, March 4, Cypress Lodge
was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. The
lodge was located at Pineville (Collinsburg), Louisiana.
· 1850 Members were: 2002 Members
were:
Carpenter Military (active & retired)
Merchant Sheriff Deputy (active &
retired)
Planter Fireman (active & retired)
Physician Welder (active & retired)
Shoe Maker Railroad (retired)
Lawyer Medical (retired)
Preacher Postal Worker (retired)
Dentist Electrician (retired)
Mechanic Machinist (retired)
Farmer Civil Engineer
· 1851, There were 30 members
in the lodge
· 1853, The lodge was notified
by a Kentucky lodge of the death of Brother Henry
Clay, Senator. The lodge sent $10.00 to assist in
erecting a suitable monument over his remains.
· 1868, First communication was
held in Benton, Louisiana.
· 1887, Forfeited character.
· 1890, New charter granted.
Foot Notes
1. The History of Cypress Lodge No.
89 F&AM, Benton, Louisiana, 1850-1958, by C.K.
Wright, P.M.
2. Masonry in Louisiana, a sesquicentennial
History, 1812-1962, by Glen Lee Greene.
3. History of Bossier Parish, by Cliff
Cardin.
4. Historical record, Bossier Parish
Library.
The Letter below was written by John
Martin, July 16, 1850, to the Grand Lodge and the
address show Pineville, Louisiana. It was the oldest
correspondence we were able to locate in our research.
We took the letter to the Historical Division of the
Bossier Parish Library and they helped us with its
interpretation.
Cypress Lodge
Pineville, Louisiana
July 16th 1850
Bro. Massicot
Dear Sir
Your requested (request of) hour list
came to hand the cause of delay is unaccountable.
I enclose you a list of members of our lodge.
A.A. Cary Ser W B.B. Matlock Jr Dec
Jno Martin Jr. W Y.J. Graham Tyler
A.J. Rowlings Sec Jno McWillie Trs
Members
M.G. Ogden J.G. Satler (Salter)
W.V. Brown Wm Dalrymple
S.M. Furniss J.W. Lasawen
A. Smith Jno Tate
L. Rothborn C. Swindle
Our Worshipful Master and Sr. Degan
(Deacon) have embarked for California and I am at
this time acting W.M.
With best wishes I remain truly &
fraternally yours
Jno Martin
