-Caveat Lector- an excerpt from: Territorial Masonry Ray V. Denslow The Masonic Service Association of the United States�1925Southern Publishers, Inc. ----- CHAPTER I THE LOUISIANA TERRITORY IT HAS not been more than two centuries since a New England historian wrote: "Beyond the Connecticut River is a long line of low-lying hills-beyond which it is probable that civilization will never advance." There may be some New Englanders who yet hold this view of the geography of the United States, but to-day, the school-child knows of the Middle West and of the wonders of the great territory once known as the Louisiana Purchase. What was once termed "Jefferson's Folly" is now the most valued of Uncle Sam's dominions, for in this district are to be found the great wheat and corn belts, and ores the value of which is almost unbelievable. The settlement and development of this territory has been one of the most remarkable ever noted in the history of man; no section of the world's surface can furnish us with any more wonderful story than that great territory extending from the Mississippi River westward towards the Pacific Ocean. What only a few more than a hundred years ago was naught but unexplored country with a few scattering French and Spanish settlers, with here and there a roving Indian tribe, has to-day become the home of millions of citizens of the United States, containing probably more descendants of pure American blood than any other similar section. The development of this wonderland is a story in itself, of such length and character as would be impractical and inopportune to discuss in such a volume as this. During the last few years the novelist has seized upon historical events of the earlier period of Territorial life and has brought them to the attention of the American public. St. Louis, on the eastern outpost of this immense section, has been immortalized in a number of novels, particularly "Richard Carvel," while in the last few years thousands have been thrilled by that wonderful film production, "The Covered Wagon," taken from the novel by that name, telling the story of the "Oregon Trail," which but seventy-five years ago, was the great thoroughfare for those Pacific-bound. Many still live who can recount the trials of that period. Such scenes have been brought close to the hearts of the settlers of this great territory through family tradition and history.* [* The writer has a letter written by his great-grandfather while crossing the Oregon Trail in 1849 telling of the cholera and high water. He died of cholera a few weeks later and was buried in an unmarked grave under circumstances similar to those narrated in "The Covered Wagon."] While history and romance have recorded much of this earlier life, no pen has yet attempted to show the part played by those pioneers who were members of that fraternity, whose signs and symbols unite men of every sect, country, race and opinion. True, not every pioneer was of the fraternity, but it is safe to say that of the outstanding men of the Territory, fully 85 per cent. had assumed the Mystic Tie and traveled the road which leads from the darkness of ignorance to the light of truth. The light may have been of less intensity than that furnished by the modern lodge, the path may have been a little harder to travel, but the great chain of Brotherhood forged at the rude Altar of the little lodge at the edge of the great wilderness was such as to withstand the storms and furies which lashed back and forth for more than a decade during the Morgan troubles, and which for a time even threatened to destroy the fraternity itself. Many a Freemason has read the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition, thrilled at the exploits of Kit Carson, admired the accomplishments of Zebulon Pike, and been entertained by the account of the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to St. Louis. Others have marveled at the ability of Senator Thomas H. Benton and that of Edward Bates (once Attorney-General in the cabinet of Abraham Lincoln). Those who have read Mississippi Valley history will know of Pierre Chouteau, Jr., Bartholomew Berthold, the American Fur Co., General Henry Dodge and a host of other illustrious names in that galaxy of distinguished men whose foresight and ability made this country what it is to-day; yet how few know that, without exception, all of the above were active Freemasons. The work of these men cannot be measured-, it has always been true that in a new and unsettled country are hundreds who have left civilization to avoid detection for unpunished crimes; civilization's outposts have usually inherited the refuse of the human race. Those nature's noblemen, who at great sacrifice go into a new country, must be strong of heart and true to themselves to brave such conditions that their families may prosper and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Such were the men who finally triumphed over lawlessness and made the Louisiana Purchase the home of the most contented people in all the world. It has been said that "Masonry follows the flag"; the development of the Mississippi Valley proved no exception. But it did not come with its banners flying nor drums beating, but in that silent mysterious way which has ever been its wont-through the medium of brethren whole sole desire was to spread the true gospel of fellowship and comradeship and whose only compulsory creed was a belief in the one living and true God, father of us all, who cares not what our race, our creed, our politics or our religion. Masonry had preceded the Church (for the existing Church was not a haven for these new settlers); the result was that many were compelled to secure most of their religious solace from reading the family Bible and in attendance at the local lodge, causing many to regard the Masonic fraternity as a religion rather than a guide post to religion. As such a guide post, it bridged the gap for more than a decade and did much to cement the friendship of men of many religious faiths during a very critical period. >From the ritualistic work of our fraternity we learn: The greatest and best men of all ages have been encouragers and promoters of our art, and have never deemed it derogatory to their dignity to level themselves with the fraternity, extend its privileges and patronize our assemb lies. This is unequivocally true; it is demonstrated by conditions which have existed since the original purchase of the Territory, for a history of the peoples of the various states will show that those positions in the government which require ability, character and high-standing have been largely filled from the ranks of the fraternity, not because they are of the fraternity, but because the fraternity numbers such a large percentage of such men. There has been a marvelous increase in membership since the first introduction of Freemasonry into the Louisiana Purchase. In 1804 the Freemasons west of the Mississippi might have been numbered on both hands; four years later there were two lodges in existence in the Territory, and thirteen years later a Grand Lodge was organized. The one hundred members of the fraternity who constituted the entire membership in 1820 have grown until to-day they number more than a million. Surely the story of such a growth ought to appeal to every member of our fraternity. We have said that "Freemasonry follows the flag" and in the settlement of the Louisiana Purchase it did more than this. It helped raise th e flag. And the story should be recorded in its full Masonic aspect, lest some forget. pps. 1-7 ===== CHAPTER II FREEMASONRY OF THE TERRITORY A STRANGE scene was that which occurred on a dreary day in 1804, in front of a typical home of a well-to-do settler of that period. Looking across a broad expanse of space, dignified by the name of "street" or, as the French were wont to term it, a "rue," could be seen (gathered about a flag pole, from which hung listlessly the national standard of the great Napoleon) a small and motley gathering of inhabitants of the village of Saint Louis, then a part of the territory known as Upper Louisiana. A closer survey would have revealed uniforms of many descriptions; here a few Spanish settlers, -there a larger group of French, while scattered about might have been discovered those of English or Irish parentage. Foremost, and most active of the group, was one in the dress of a Captain of the Regular Army of the United States; he was assisted by another striking figure, apparently one of unusual intelligence and ability-he too garbed in the uniform of a U. S. Army Captain. Slowly, but surely, the standard of the Imperial Napoleon was hauled down; those showing trace of French descent broke forth into tears, which continued until one of the assembly, inspired by the raising of the standard of the United States, which took its place, called for three cheers, which were as promptly given by a small coterie of soldiers and Americans. The scene was the official transfer of the Louisiana Territory, March 10, 1804, from France to the United States. The one active in command was Captain Amos Stoddard, first Governor of the Territory; assisting him was Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition, then awaiting the official transfer before engaging in the enterprise which was to make his name famous in the annals of discovery. There was some excuse for tears on the part of those who felt that they were being deserted by their government in being thus transferred to a foreign power, but members of the Masonic fraternity might well have joined with loud huzza in the cheering which followed the raising of the Stars and Stripes, for the action proclaimed that, henceforth, the people of the Territory might worship God according to the dictates of their conscience; that those connected by bonds of allegiance to the mystic fraternity which unites men of many races and religions might carry on their secret rites without molestation, and that all were to enjoy the rights of free speech, free thought and free worship-rights which were to be encouraged by the advent of a great public school system. The acquirement of the Territory by the United States, the official transfer, and its development, may well be regarded at least as semi-Masonic in character, since so many members of the fraternity are involved. The project was the hobby of President Thomas Jefferson, claimed without any authority to be a member of the Craft; he was criticized severely by his foes, and the whole purchase was given the name of "Jefferson's Folly." But Jefferson was not of a type to be deterred very readily from a decision, and the purchase was completed, approved by Congress, and the next step was to assume control. The secretary to the President, at the time the Territory was acquired, was none other than Meriwether Lewis, who signed as a witness to the official transfer. The Treaty of Cession was signed by Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, representing the United States (both Master Masons, the former at one time an officer of the Grand Lodge of New York), while Barbe Marbois signed as the sole representative from France, representing the Emperor Napoleon (the latter having at one time been an initiate into the fraternity). Laws for the new territory were enacted at Vincennes, then the capital of Indiana Territory, to which the Upper Louisiana was attached. These were framed by three judges, probably the most distinguished of whom was Henry Vanderburgh, who had received his Masonic degrees in a New York traveling lodge. He was appointed in 1797 by President Adams, a member of the Legislative Council of the Northwest Territory, and when the Council had been organized, became its President. He later was created a Territorial Judge, in which capacity he assisted in framing the laws of the Louisiana Territory; it is said that the judges had the assistance of John Rice Jones, one of the most able men of the Territory and a member of St. Louis Lodge No. 111. The Secretary of the Territory in 1800, John Gibson, was first to receive the degree of Master Mason in Indiana Territory; he was responsible for the work of organizing the new Territory and his services were so satisfactory that he was retained in that capacity until the organization of Indiana as a State. The last Territorial Governor of Indiana was Thomas Posey (1813-16), the Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, in 1821-22. At the election in 1816 Posey was defeated for Governor by Brother Jonathan Jennings, Indiana's first Governor; at the same time Brother Christopher Harrison was elected Lieutenant Governor. The act of June 4, 1812, creating "Missouri Territory" was signed by the grea t Henry Clay, Speaker of the National House of Representatives, and later a Grand Master of Kentucky. Laws of the Territory were printed under the name "The Laws of the Territory of Louisiana," a book of 372 pages compiled by Frederick Bates, later Master of St. Louis Lodge No. 111; the book, the first to be printed in the Territory, was done in the office of Brother Joseph Charless, Sr. Bates at the time was Secretary and Acting Governor of the Territory; however, in July 1807, Governor Meriwether Lewis assumed control of the Territory; he divided the New Madrid district, creating the Arkansas district. Unfortunately, his death occurred in October 1809. Four years later another Freemason, General William Clark, accepted the Governorship, a position which he retained until Missouri became a State in 1820. Conditions were far from ideal in the Territory, even after the United States had assumed control; Missouri was virtually a vast wilderness. Here and there between the Alleghenies and the Mississippi River were small settlements, usually along the lakes or river, while west of the Mississippi was a country practically unexplored. Except for the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804, the Pike Expedition of a later period and the occasional trip of venturesome fur-traders, nothing had been done towards settling the territory contained within the bounds of the Louisiana Purchase. In the Middle West the population was sparse; hundreds of miles often intervened between settlements. Indians and marauding thieves. existed by raiding these settlements and attacking those who dared to travel from town to town. Means of communication were poor; no post roads existed and travel was principally by flat boat. The population was made up of French, Spanish, negroes, Indians, and a scattering of English and Irish traders. The varied ideals of government as represented in such a diverse settlement of people could only result in dissatisfaction to all. Here were men brought up to believe in the divine right of kings, men whose very blood made them temparamentally different from others; here were men whose religion prevented them from living side by side harmoniously; here were others to whom kings and spiritual rulers were anathema; it was into this maelstrom of confusion and babel of language the Masonic fraternity had to enter to secure a foothold. The seat of government was far distant; the people could not be made to feel a common interest in such a government; land titles created new dissensions. Into this confusion came Brother Aaron Burr, imbued with the possibilities of forming a new kingdom-sincere, but very much misguided. He failed in his mission, although enlisting many adherents who later had opportunity to repent. Lodge meetings, under such conditions, proved to be outstanding events in the lives of members of our fraternity; pioneers longed for brotherhood and companionship-that companionship which was not offered by the existing church. Protestant denominations had been proscribed by the Spanish; only occasional meetings had been held, and the Catholic church could not afford a haven of refuge for the heretic Freemasons, against whom the papal thunder had been launched just a few years previously. How remarkable, in view of such conditions, that Freemasonry should be planted, take root, and become such a splendid plant in so few years! The foremost men of the Territory aligned themselves with the Craft, and in the language of the ritual "became encouragers and promoters of our art, never deeming it derogatory to their dignity to patronize our assemblies and extend their privileges." Whether in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois or Missouri, governors, judges, merchants and professional men occupied prominent places in the councils of the Craft. The story of Freemasonry in the Louisiana Territory is not written in the musty records of its lodges; it is not to be found in the perfunctory actions of the various Grand Lodges nor in the traditions of our fraternity, which have been handed down from generation to generation. The essayist Pope gave us the answer to our question, when he uttered the statement "The proper study of mankind is man." We shall therefore study the foundations of Freemasonry in the Territory by resorting to an analysis of, the men who composed the first lodges, who were responsible for the introduction of the fraternity into our territory, and who formed the first Grand Lodge of Missouri. Such! an analysis will be a cross section of the body politic; it will include rich and poor, professional and laboring men, the elite and the "hoi polloi," men of intelligence and those of little learning-and yet all of them believers in the one true God and living exponents of the doctrine of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. Even in those days the fraternity included some of whom the Craft could not feel proud; there were then, as now, those who seemed to bring nothing but discredit to the lodge which gave them Masonic birth, yet these comprised no larger proportion of the membership then than now. God has apparently ordained that we shall ever have the wicked with us-no doubt to make us appreciate the good. In our study of the personnel of these early lodges, we do not propose to use the soft stops, but rather to give both the bitter and the sweet-of which the sweet will greatly predominate. Quite naturally Missouri occupies the place of prominence in the story-it could not be otherwise, for no lodges existed west of the Mississippi during our territorial days except Missouri lodges. The Grand Lodge of Missouri proved to be the great Masonic colonizer, granting charters to its members, which were carried over land and sea to the furthermost borders of the Fatherland; the Santa Fe and Oregon trails were dotted with members of the fraternity and at one time the Grand Lodge of Missouri had subordinate lodges in Kansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico) Old Mexico, Utah, Washington and California. Missouri may well be called the "Mother of Grand Lodges," since the majority of Grand Lodges west of the Mississippi owe their birth to the generosity of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. pps. 8-17 --[cont]-- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, Omnia Bona Bonis, All My Relations. Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. 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