A BRIEF HISTORY OF HARVEYSBURG LODGE #312

Note: The following this is a work in progress prepared by W. B. Grover W. Brunton

The following are extracts from the Records of Harveysburg Lodge #312 F.&A.M. of Ohio;

"At a meeting of the petitioners for a New Masonic Lodge at Harveysburg, Warren County, Ohio, held in the Odd Fellows Hall on the 17th day of November, A.D. 1858. Bro. Jabez H. Turner was called to the Chair and M. J. Homell appointed Secretary.

The Chairman announced that a Dispensation was in his possession from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ohio authorizing the petitioners to establish a Lodge as prayed for to be called Harveysburg Lodge. Which Dispensation bears the date, October the twenty first A.D. 1858.

Whereupon, on motion of Bro. J. T. Middleton, it was unanimously resolved that the petitioners proceed to organize a Lodge under the Dispensation aforesaid. On motion the meeting was adjourned."

Harveysburg, November 17, 1858

The petitioners for a New Masonic Lodge, in this place (Harveysburg, Ohio), met at the Odd Fellows Hall. Most Worshipful Brother Horace M. Stokes, Grand Master Of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, being present, took the East, W.B. Jacob Randall acting as Senior Warden, Bro. H. H. Edwards acting as Junior Warden, Bro. John W. McCowen as Treasurer, Bro. M. J. Homell as Secretary, Bro. J. T. Middleton as Senior Deacon, Bro. David Mason as Junior Deacon, and Bro. J. H. Crew as (Tiler) Tyler.

At the insistance of the M.W. Grand Master, the Secretary read the Dispensation under which the petitioners were authorized to organize as follows.

To wit;

"To all to whom these presents may come, Greeting,

Know ye, that whereas, a petition has been presented to the M.W. Grand Lodge of Ohio by sundry Brethren residing in the town of Harveysburg, Warren County, Ohio, praying to be congregated into a regular Lodge and promising obedience to the Ancient Usages and Land Marks of the Fraternity and the Laws of the Grand Lodge;

And whereas, said petitioners, have been recommended to me as Master Masons in good standing by the Master, Wardens, and Members of Waynesville Lodge #163, under our jurisdiction.

Therefore, I Horace M. Stokes, M.W. Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, reposing full confidence in the recommendations aforesaid, do by the virtue of the direction of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, hereby grant this my Dispensation, empowering and authorizing our trusty and well beloved Brethren aforesaid, to form and open a Lodge after the manner of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons to be called Harveysburg Lodge and therein to admit and make Free Masons according to the Ancient Custom and not otherwise.

This Dispensation is to continue in full force until the next Annual Communication of our Grand Lodge, aforesaid, to be holden at the City of Columbus on the 19th day of October, 1859, unless revoked sooner by me. And I do hereby appoint Brother J. H. Turner to be the first Worshipful Master, Bro. T. M. Wales to be the first Senior Warden, and Brother H. H. Edwards to be the first Junior Warden of said New Lodge. And it shall be their duty, and they are hereby required, to return this Dispensation, with all the proceedings had under the authority of the same, together with an attested copy of their By Laws, to our Grand Lodge aforesaid, at the expiration of the time herein specified, for examination, and such other action in the premises as shall be deemed wise and proper.

Given under My hand and Grand Lodge Seal this twenty first day of October A.L. 5858, A.D. 1858,

Horace M. Stokes, Grand Master

John D. Caldwell, Grand Secretary,

Whereupon the M.W. Grand Master organized Harveysburg Lodge (#312) U.D. in due form and the officers names in the Dispensation took their respective stations.

The Worshipful Master then appointed the following Brethren to sustain the office attached to their name. To Wit;

Bro. John McCowen ---------------------------- Treasurer
Bro. M. J. Homell -------------------------------- Secretary
Bro. J. T. Middleton ----------------------------- Senior Deacon
Bro. David Mason -------------------------------- Junior Deacon
Bro. Jabez H. Crew ------------------------------ Tyler

A petition for the degrees of Masonry was presented by Edwin F. Dakin, recommended by J. T. Middleton, accompanied by the legal fee $10. Said petition was received and referred to an investigating committee consisting of Bros. M. J. Homell, H. H. Edwards, and J. McCowen. A petition was also received for the degrees of Masonry, presented by John D. Redfern, recommended by J. T. Middleton, accompanied by the Legal Fee $10. Said petition was received and referred to a committee consisting of Bros. Jabez H. Crew, M. J. Homell, and Thom. Welsh(?) A petition was also presented by Ausalem Autram, recommended by J. T. Middleton, accompanied by the Legal Fee $10. Said petition was received and referred to an investigating committee consisting of Bros. John McCowen, David Mason, and Thomas M. Wales.

A conference committee of three Brothers was appointed to contract with the Odd Fellows for the use of their Hall for the ensuing year.

M.W. Bro. H. M. Stokes, Grand Master, then made some very appropriate remarks illustrative of the object and duties of Freemasonry, which were listened to with much interest by all present. Nothing further being offered, the Lodge was closed in harmony.

M. J. Homell, Secretary

December 14, 1858

Mr. John D. Redfern, E. F. Dakin, and Ausalem Autram were each initiated an Entered Apprentice in due form. These were the first candidates of Harveysburg Lodge U.D.

June 7, 1859

Harveysburg Lodge moved its regular meetings into Dakin's New Hall because of better accommodations and for greater security. A claim for $8.38 was presented by Bro. J. T. Middleton for making Jewels. The bill was allowed and ordered paid.

August 10, 1859

The ballot for the initiating of Mr. William T. Collett was found not clear. Whereupon another ballot was ordered, which resulted as the former. Thereupon the candidate was declared rejected and his fee of Ten Dollars returned.

Harveysburg, November 16, 1859

"Pursuant to notice, the Brethren of Harveysburg Lodge U.D. met for the purpose of being Constituted under a Charter granted by the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, October 20, 1859, at its Annual Session held in the city of Columbus. Which Charter reads as follows, To Wit:

Past Master Bro. William Adams, presented a Certificate of his appointment as Proxy of M.W. H. M. Stokes, G.M. to Constitute Harveysburg Lodge under the Charter aforesaid. A Lodge of M.M. was accordingly opened in due form. Bro. T. Allen, Senior Warden; Bro. A. E. Stokes, Junior Warden; Worshipful Bro. J. Randall, Senior Deacon; and Bro. J. T. McKay, Junior Deacon.

Bro. T. M. Wales being the only officer named in the Charter present, was duly constituted first Senior Warden of Harveysburg Lodge #312, F.&A.M., with authority to act as Worshipful Master until an election should be held to fill the office of Master and Wardens and they duly installed into office."

December 7, 1859

On this date Harveysburg Lodge #312 held its first Election of Officers. The following Brethren were elected and appointed to serve as Officers for the year, 1860.

T. M. Wales ----------------------------------- Worshipful Master
M. J. Homell------------------------------------ Senior Warden
J. H. Taylor ------------------------------------- Junior Warden
E. F. Dakin ------------------------------------- Secretary
M. Koerner ------------------------------------- Treasurer
J. T. Middleton ---------------------------------- Senior Deacon
J. H. Crew -------------------------------------- Junior Deacon
D. Mason --------------------------------------- Tyler
C. C. Lukens ------------------------------------Steward
Hiram Madden ---------------------------------- Steward

December 21, 1859

The first Installation of the Officers of the newly constituted Harveysburg Lodge #312 was held on this date. It was a Public Installation with Most Worshipful Bro. Horace M. Stokes, Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, officiating.

I found an interesting article concerning Harveysburg in The History of Warren County, Ohio. The following is a copy of that article including what I believe to be an error.

"Harveysburg now contains six churches; two Friends (one each branch), one Methodist, one United Brethren, and two colored (Methodist and Baptist); two Masonic Lodges (one white which received its charter in (1839?), and one colored); three Dry Goods stores, three Groceries, one Bakery, two Drug Stores, and three Physicians. The town has recently had Telephone connection established with Corwin, Waynesville, and Lebanon."

W. B. Grover W. Brunton