Masonic Lodge History of Georgia

Ocean Lodge #214 F & AM
Brunswick, Glynn Co., Georgia Facebook Page
Information Page

Founded in 1857, Ocean Lodge #214 F&AM has been a steadfast part of Brunswick history since the city itself was founded. In fact, the first lodge, in Hanover Square, housed City Hall on the ground floor for many years.

The following information was transcribed verbatim, any mistakes are the author's;
nothing has been corrected

Masonic Biography and Dictionary comprising The History of Ancient Masonry, Antiquity of Masonry, Written and Unwritten Law, Derivation and Definition of Masonic Terms, Biographies of Eminent Masons, Statistics, List of All Lodges in the United States, Etc.
Compiled by Augustus Row, K. T.

Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1868


Anti-Masonry - In 1826 a great cry was raised by the political tricksters of the country against Freemasonry.

To insure success, the party had recourse to every stratagem, and amongst the most popular was the story hatched out of the so-called and supposed abduction of an individual named Morgan, at Batavia, New York, in 1826, for exposing the secrets of the order. This fellow, finding no doubt his enterprise a failure, secreted himself, and circulated the story in order to meet a ready sale of his work, which was but a republication of “Jachin and Boaz,” published in Albany, in 1790, from an English work. The frenzy with which politicians hashed and rehashed this story, obtained for them about 100,000 supporters in New York. In Pennsylvania, where the Hon. Judge Giullis was arrested for complicity in the affair, the party succeeded in dividing the vote. In Vermont, the party, fired with unceasing efforts, succeeded for a time. But this was not to last. The party had grown so rapidly, swollen so hugely with broken-down politicians, and presented such an empty hollowness of principle, that it exploded with the contempt of all good citizens. In Pennsylvania, the Legislature inaugurated a series of persecutions, and the hero Thaddeus Stevens, Esq., of Lancaster, a rejected applicant of Good Samaritan Lodge, Gettysburg, Pa., was not able to force the secrets from the order. The principles of the order having become known and found their way to the people, the sentiment was soon changed, and the ill-shaped Anti-Masonic party, having no other aim than power and corruption, came to an end. But the power behind the throne has again shown its huge-footed plans and the resurrection of its skeleton is now proposed. Whether the new effort will succeed, remains for the future to disclose, but it matters little, as the truths of a genuine Christian system of charity and benevolence, as produced by Freemasonry, are engrafted in the minds of the people, not to be rooted out by persecution. (See U.S. “Anti-Masonic Convention.”)

Georgia - Freemasonry was introduced into this state about 1730-1734. In 1735, the Grand Lodge of England granted a Charter for a Lodge at Savannah. In December 16th, 1786, the Grand Lodge was organized.

Grand Lodge - The body that has exclusive jurisdiction in a State or kingdom over the Subordinate Lodges, and all Masons within its bounds. It empowers subordinate bodies to practice all the rights of Masonry. Originally the order was not governed by Grand Lodges, but the right existed inherently to act as individuals. However, the ancient brethren met annually, to consult upon Masonry and select a Grand Master. But as the order increased in power and numbers, it became necessary to establish Grand Lodges, for the interest of the order. The first charter granted was to St. Alban’s, for a General Assembly, and subsequently Prince Edwin obtained a charter to assemble all Masons at York. It was thus the order obtained and has ever since recognized the necessity of a Grand Lodge.

Grand Lodges and their Jurisdiction - A Grand Lodge has jurisdiction over the territory of the State in which it is organized, and no other Grand Body can exercise any authority or charter Lodges therein. It is governed by the ancient usages and landmarks of the order, and acknowledges no superior authority than these.

Jackson, James, Maj.-Gen. - Born in Devonshire, England, 21st Sept. 1757, died at Washington, D. C., 15th March, 1806. He came to America in 1772, and read law in Savannah, Ga. In July, 1782, Gen. Wayne selected him to receive the keys of Savannah from the British upon their evacuation. In 1778, he was appointed a brig.-general of Georgia militia, and was wounded in the engagement of Ogeechee. He was at the siege of Savannah in Oct. 1779, and at the battle of Blackwater in 1780. Gen. Andrew Pickens made him his brigade-major in 1781. He participated in the siege of Augusta in June, 1781. He filled an important post in the Southern revolutionary struggle. In 1778, he was elected Governor of Georgia, but declined to serve. He was one of the first representatives of Georgia in Congress after the organization of the Federal Government, and from 1792 to 1795, a member of U.S. Senate. About this time he was made a major-general. He assisted in framing the Constitution of Georgia, and from 1798 to 1801, was their Governor, when he was again chosen U. S. Senator. In 1785, in King Solomon’s Lodge, at Savannah, which had commenced its work under an old oak-tree in 1733, and belonged to the Modern, we find his first Masonic Records. In July, 1785, he proposed that they form themselves into the Ancients, which was done. In 1786, when the Independent Grand Lodge was formed, he was elected Dep. G. Master, and the following year elected Grand master, which he held until 1789.

Statistics -
Number of Lodges in the various States, from 1816. In 1816, many of the Grand Lodges were not formed, and hence no returns.

Georgia - 1816, No. of Lodges - 14; 1822, No. of Lodges - 20; 1859, No. of Lodges - 320; 1866, Members - 10,023 ( with returns from 162 out of 250 Lodges) and Initiated - 2,373.

United States Anti-Masonic Convention. -
This convention assembled at Philadelphia, 11th September, 1830. It was the first formidable attempt of a national combination in opposition to Freemasonry. There were 96 members, representing Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Rhode Island, Ohio, New jersey, Michigan, Maryland, and Delaware. At that time but few persons of eminence were among the delegates, but several of them, attaching themselves to other “issues,” and abandoning political anti-masonry, subsequently became known. Among them were Francis Granger, Henry Dana Ward, Frederick Whittlesey, Wm. H. Seward, N. Y., and Pliny Merrick, Mass. The cement that bound such minds to men like David Bernard, Moses Thatcher, Thaddeus Stevens, and Joseph Ritner, must have possessed powerful magnetism. Francis Granger was made Prest., seconded by six Vice-Presidents. A remarkable fact is, that no State west of Ohio or south of Maryland had a delegate. Maine and New Hampshire refused the part assigned them, and sent no delegate. Fourteen committees were appointed, and the questions relative to Masonic rituals, history, and jurisprudence were divided among them. Mr. Seward was to report resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the Convention. A proposition to inquire into the pecuniary circumstances of the widow and children of William Morgan was rejected, as “that was not the purpose for which they had assembled.” Three gentlemen of North Carolina took their seats as honorary members. The committee “on the effects of Masonic ties and obligations on commerce and revenue of the U.S.,” were discharged without a report. In the report of the influence of Masonry upon the public press, it was reported that between 1826 and 1830 there had been 124 anti-masonic papers established, to wit: Pennsylvania, 53; New York, 46; Connecticut, 2; Rhode Island, 1; Massachusetts, 5; Vermont, 4; New Jersey, 2; Ohio, 9; Indiana, 1; Michigan,1. A number of these journals simply kept quiet to see what the mountain would bring forth, and when they found it to be a mouse, tacked about and retired from the sinking anti-masonic vessel. The summing up of these profound deliberations were: 1. That the expositions of Masonic secrets are true. 2. That Freemasonry originated early in the 18th century. 3. That its oath are not obligatory. 4. That adhering Masons are disqualified for public officers. 5. Masonry and its principles are inconsistent with the genius of American Institutions. 6. That Masonry should be extinguished at the ballot -box. 7. That the public Press are evil. The Convention adjourned to meet at Baltimore, Sept. 26th, 1831, to nominate candidates for President and Vice-President. The Convention nominated Wm. Wirt and Amos Ellmaker for their standard-bearers. These renowned champions went forth to battle, and brought as trophies from the field the electoral vote of Vermont. But the dog was now dead; and the leading fanatical spirits discarded it, as it ever was a worthless hotchpotch of the villainies of broken-down political tricksters.

American Military Lodges. - The following are the military lodges that were instituted in the American army during the revolutionary war.

St. John’s Regimental Lodge, in the U. S. Battalion, warranted by the G. L. of New York, Feb. 24th, 1775.
American Union Lodge, in the Connecticut Line, warranted by the G. L. of Massachusetts, Feb. 15th, 1776.
No. 19, in the 1st Regiment, Pennsylvania Artillery, warranted by G. L. of Pennsylvania, May 18th, 1779.
Washington Lodge, in the Massachusetts Line, warranted by the Massachusetts G. L., Oct. 6th, 1779.
No. 20, in North Carolina Regiment, warranted by the G. L. of Pennsylvania, _____1779.
No. 27, in Maryland Line, warranted by G.,L. of Pennsylvania, April 4th, 1780.
No. 28, in Pennsylvania Line, warranted by G. L. of Pennsylvania, _______1780.
No. 29, in Pennsylvania Line, warranted by G. L. of Pennsylvania, July 27th, 1780.
No. 31, in New Jersey Line, warranted by G. L. of Pennsylvania, March 26th, 1781.
No. 36, in New Jersey Line, warranted by G. L. of Pennsylvania, Sept. 2d, 1782.

LIST OF GRAND CHAPTERS GEORGIA

Organized Feb 23d. 1821, Louisville and Augusta represented;
Subsequently approval and vote of officers forwarded by Chapters at Lexington, Eastonton and Milledgeville - files in my possession imperfect.

Grand High Priests -
1822, Gov. William Schley, Louisville (died Nov. 20th, 1858)
1848, Wm. T. Gould, Augusta
1854-9, Philip T. Schley, Savannah

Grand Secretaries -
1823, Daniel Hook, Louisville
1848, W. H. Kitchen, Augusta
1854 to 1860, Benjamin B. Russell, Augusta

Subordinates -

SUBORDINATE ENCAMPMENTS
Organized under Authority of the Grand Encampment of the U.S., or recognized by it, since its formation, on first day of June 1816.

GEORGIA
Georgia, at Augusta, May 5th, 1823
St. Omer at Macon, 26th July, and September, 1848.
St. Aldemar, at Columbus, December, 1857; Jan. 24th, 1860.
Comy. Coeur de Lion, at Atlanta, May 14th, 1859; September 17th, 1859.
Grand Encampment formed, April 25th, 1860.