Dodge County GaArchives History .....EASTMAN MASONIC LODGE No. 279 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 27, 2004, 5:38 pm EASTMAN LODGE NO. 279, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS. EASTMAN MASONIC LODGE No. 279, F. & A. M., was organized on July the 27th, A. D. 1872, with the following charter members: Ira R. Foster, Reuben A. Harrell, Arthur C. Page, Charles Burch, John McCranie, C. D. Parkerson, James Bishop, John A. Harrell, Harlow Clark, Jordan Brown, Levi Evans, B. A. Herndon, William H. Harrell, Matthew Clark, Thomas L. Taylor, I. H. Russell. The following is from the minutes of the first meeting held by this lodge: "Eastman Lodge, U. D. "Eastman, Georgia, July 27th, A.D., 1872. "A dispensation having been issued by Samuel Lawrence, Grand Master of Masons in Georgia to Brothers Ira R. Foster, James Bishop, B. A. Herndon, Reuben A. Harrell, John A. Harrell, William H. Harrell, Arthur C. Page, Harlow Clark, Matthew Clark, Charles Burch, Jordan Brown, Thomas L. Taylor, John McCranie, Levi Evans, I. H. Russell and C. D. Parkerson, to open and hold a Lodge of Master Masons by first nominating and appointing Brother Ira R. Foster as Worshipful Master, Brother James Bishop as Senior Warden and Brother B. H. Herndon as Junior Warden, authorizing and empowering them to open and hold a Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, a Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons, and a Lodge of Master Masons for the conferring of the several degrees named, and the transaction of such other business as may be done under the power and authority of the said dispensation as issued by the said Worshipful Grand Master. "Whereupon the said Brothers assembled at the court house in the town of Eastman on Saturday, July the 27th, A.D., 1872, A. L. 5872, at three o'clock, P. M., and opened a Master Masons' Lodge in due form with the following officers: "Brothers Ira R. Foster, W. Master; James Bishop, S. Warden; B. A. Herndon, J. Warden; Matthew Clark, Treasurer; John A. Harrell, Secretary; Reuben A. Harrell, S. Deacon; Arthur C. Page, J. Deacon; Charles Burch, Steward; Harlow Clark, Steward; Jordan Brown, Tyler. "The By-laws of Mount Hope Lodge No. 9 were adopted for the government of the lodge for the present. Brothers James Bishop, B. A. Herndon and Reuben A. Harrell were appointed a committee to draft a code of by-laws for the rule and government of the lodge. "A resolution was adopted that the regular or stated communications of this lodge be held on the first and third Saturdays in each month at three o'clock, P. M. "On motion a resolution was passed that the petitioners for the dispensation pay each two dollars for the expenses of the same and that the amount so paid be returned to each brother at some future day and that the amount due for the dispensation be forwarded at once to the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge at Macon. "The following brothers contributed: Brother Ira R. Foster, $2.00; Brother James Bishop, $2.00; Brother B. A. Herndon, $2.00; Brother Matthew Clark, $2.00; Brother Harlow Clark, $2.00; Brother Reuben A. Harrell, $2.00; Brother John A. Harrell, $2.00; Brother Jordan Brown, $2.00; Brother William ______, $2.00; Brother Charles Burch, $2.00. Total, $20.00. "There being no further business the lodge was closed in due and ancient form. "John A. Harrell, Secretary.” The lodge continued to work under dispensation until October 31, 1872, at which time a charter was issued to the lodge, and the following are the minutes of the first meeting held after the granting of the charter: "Eastman, Ga., Friday, Nov. 22, A.D. 1872, A. L. 5872, 3 o'clock, P. M. "Arrangements having been made for the purpose of constituting a lodge at this place under a charter granted by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of Georgia under the name and form of Eastman Lodge, No. 279, the officers and brethren assembled and opened a Lodge of Master Masons in due and ancient form, with the respective officers as follows: "Brother Joseph E. Wells, Past Master of Macon Lodge, No. 5 as Worshipful Master; Brother James Bishop, Senior Warden; Brother B. A. Herndon, Junior Warden; Brother Ruben A. Harrell, Senior Deacon; Brother Arthur C. Page, Junior Deacon; Brother Matthew Clark, Treasurer; Brother John A. Harrell, Secretary; Brother Isaac Herrman, Steward; Brother Charles B. Murrell, Steward; Jordan Brown, Tyler. "The Worshipful Master appointed Brother Charles R. Armstrong of Macon Lodge No. 5, Acting Grand Marshal and proceeded to constitute the new lodge after the examination of the records and the reading of the charter by the Acting Grand Marshal, by the installation and induction of the following named brethren into their respective stations and places as follows: "Brother Ira R. Foster, Worshipful Master; Brother James Bishop, Senior Warden; Brother B. A. Herndon, Junior Warden; Brother Matthew Clark, Treasurer; Brother John A. Harrell, Secretary; Brother Ruben A. Murrell, Senior Deacon; Brother Arthur C. Page, Junior Deacon; Brother Harlow Clark, Steward; Brother Charles Burch, Steward; Brother Jordan Brown, Tyler. "After which the Acting Grand Marshal proclaimed the new lodge as follows: " 'Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! " 'By command of the most Worshipful Grand Master through the Past Master acting as Worshipful Master, in the name of the Grand Lodge of the State of Georgia, I proclaim this new lodge by the name of Eastman Lodge No. 279 to be legally constituted and consecrated, and the officers thereof to be duly installed in their respective offices.' "There being no further business the Lodge of Master Masons was closed in due and ancient form. "John A. Harrell, Secretary." The lodge continued to hold its meetings at the court house until the erection of its two-story brick building located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and West Railroad Avenue. The cornerstone of the building bears the following inscription: "Eastman Lodge No. 279, F. & A. M. Erected June the 22nd, A. D. 5883. C. T. Latimer, W. M.; Harlow Clark, S. W.; J. F. DeLacy, J. W. C. B. Murrell, J. T. Colcord, W. B. Whiddon, Building Committee." The lower floor and basement of this building are rented out for commercial purposes, while the upper floor is used exclusively for a lodge room, and it is said to be one of the nicest lodge halls in the State. The following officers have served the lodge as Worshipful Master and Secretary from its organization to the present date: Year Worshipful Master Secretary 1872 Ira R. Foster John A. Harrell 1873 James Bishop William A. Morgan 1874 Ruben A. Harrell Isaac Herrman 1875 C. R. Armstrong Isaac Herrman 1876 C. R. Armstrong John A. Harrell 1877 C. R. Armstrong John A. Harrell 1878 C. R. Armstrong Johnson W. Noles 1879 C. R. Armstrong James M. Sapp 1880 C. R. Armstrong James M. Sapp 1881 C. R. Armstrong Samuel T. Rawlins 1882 John A. Harrell Benjamin T. Burch 1883 Clement T. Latimer William B. Whiddon 1884 Harlow Clark Sol Herrman 1885 C. T. Latimer Sol Herrman 1886 D. M. Roberts James M. Sapp 1887 J. T. Colcord E. B. Milner 1888 J. T. Colcord J. E. Dean 1889 J. T. Colcord J. E. Dean 1890 J. T. Colcord J. E. Dean 1891 J. T. Colcord J. E. Dean 1892 J. H. Buchannan W. F. Harrell 1893 J. T. Colcord W. F. Harrell 1894 J. T. Colcord James M. Sapp 1895 J. F. DeLacey W. F. Harrell 1896 J. F. DeLacey J. T. Rawlins 1897 E. J. Peacock J. C. Rawlins 1898 J. D. Taylor J. C. Rawlins 1899 J. D. Herrman J. C. Rawlins 1900 Harlow Clark John Willcox 1901 J. T. Taylor C. B. Murrell 1902 J. T. Taylor C. B. Murrell 1903 W. J. Williams C. B. Murrell 1904 J. B. Clark C. B. Murrell 1905 J. B. Clark C. B. Murrell 1906 J. B. Clark C. B. Murrell 1907 J. B. Clark C. B. Murrell 1908 J. B. Clark C. B. Murrell 1909 J. B. Clark C. B. Murrell 1910 J. D. Taylor C. B. Murrell 1911 C. B. Murrell John A. Harrell 1912 W. P. Cobb John A. Harrell 1913 W. P. Cobb John A. Harrell 1914 C. C. Clark John A. Harrell 1915 J. H. Milner John A. Harrell 1916 J. H. Milner John A. Harrell 1917 J. H. Milner John A. Harrell 1918 H. M. O'Callaghan John A. Harrell 1919 H. M. O'Callaghan John A. Harrell 1920 J. H. Milner John A. Harrell 1921 C. G. Horn John A. Harrell 1922 T. C. Clements John A. Harrell 1923 W. H. Smith John A. Harrell 1924 J. H. Milner John A. Harrell 1925 J. H. Milner John A. Harrell 1926 T. C. Clements John A. Harrell 1927 J. B. Clark John A. Harrell 1928 J. B. Clark John A. Harrell 1929 J. B. Clark John A. Harrell 1930 J. H. McDonald P. M. Burch 1931 W. P. Cobb P. M. Burch Following is a list of the members of the lodge from its organization to the present who have joined either by initiation or affiliation : 1872—Ira R. Foster, James Bishop, B. A. Herndon, R. A. Harrell, John A. Harrell, Charles Burch, Jordan Brown, Harlow Clark, Matthew Clark, Levi Evans, John McCranie, Arthur C. Page, William H. Harrell, C. D. Parkerson, J. S. Thompson, John T. Rozar, J. H. Grimsley, Isaac Herrman, C. B. Murrell, W. A. Morgan, Paleman C. Mills, Lemuel T. Harrell. 1873—Henry Herrman,, Henry Coleman, William K. Bussey, B. D. Woodward, Marcus Foster, James M. Arthur, Dempey Sigler, Alfred L. Burch, L. M. Peacock, S. A. Dorsey, Charles. A. Armstrong, John H. Ashburn, John T. Hughes. 1874—Thaddeus E. Sumner, J. D. Parkerson, Reuben F. Burch, B. H. Calhoun, W. W. Ashburn, William Hamilton, Arthur Walker, Andy Cadwell, L. L. Hargrove, William N. Leitch, John M. Clark. 1875—Hamilton Clark, Joseph Graham, William Yawn, James M. Sapp, William Taylor. 1876—J. W. Jones, James Harrell, John F. DeLacey, Duncan C. Daniel, Charles H. Peacock, S. B. Goody, Robert S. Burton. 1877—J. W. Noles, D. E. Williams, Mason T. Burbank, C. M. Rozar, Robt. Rozar, H. Mays, Thomas J. Dempsey, Albert Reynolds. 1878—Alex Sessoms. 1879—William Rogers, Samuel T. Rawlins, William Pitt Eastman. 1880—John W. Lovett, John W. Taylor, Charlie J. Jones, Wyatt F. Davis, B. T. Burch, W. G. Burch. 1881—Wade H. Coleman, J. D. Taylor, W. J. Buchannan, N. A. McMullin. 1882—W. B. Whiddon, Ellis W, Bulloch, Reid L. Bush, C. T. Latimer, J. T. Colcord, John W. Rogers. 1883—S. H. Lowther, C. D. Woodward, W. F. Harrell, J. M. Woodward, Levi Harrell, D. T. Daughtry, Sol Herrman, J. D. Herrman, J. W. Phillips, Henry Paris, J. C. Rawlins, A. B. Clayton, J. L. Manning, B. D. Woodward. 1884—D. M. Roberts, E. H. Bacon, James D. Knowles, John C. Schofield, J. D. Skelton, E. A. Smith, W. M. Howard, V. G. Gress, H. C. Tanner. 1885—Julius S. Draffin, D. W. Weaver, W. H. Johnson, E. B. Milner. 1886—J. J. Mumford, John T. Wall, S. D. Eason, E, J. Peacock, B. R. Folsom, J. C. Carr, J. E. Dean, L. F. Wooten, P. A. Jessup, W. B. Rogers. 1887—Willard R. Shaw, W. B. Daniel, J. D. Peacock, James Bishop, Jr., S. J. Bruce, M. E. Everett, S. B. Moore, Albert Herrman, A. L. Hobbs, J. R. Sheppard, E. R. Carr, J. D. Stokes, J. S. Stevens, W. A. Butler, J. T. Reynolds, W. H. Cotter, R. D. Harper, J. J. Hinson, A. G. Williamson, B. M. Sandford, W. N. Leitch. 1888—S. J. Hays, J. H. Wilson, T. J. Buchan, J. H. Buchannan, W. H. Wise. 1889—Wash Harrell, F. B. Stubbs, W. A. Burks, L. S. Evans, Charles A. Armstrong, F. W. Armstrong, W. C. Sheppard, T. D. Loyal. 1890—N. M. Corder, J. C. Donaldson, James M. Buchan, R. J. Massey, D. M. Buchan, A. J. Mumford, E. W. Millican, A. C. Phillips, S. J. Stubbs, C. S. Mingus, R. L. Judge, W. M. Clements. 1891—W. C. Ferrell, J. F. Rogers, B. F. Daniel, James A. Williams, J. M. Kimbrough, J. D. Daniel. 1892—C. P. Raiford, John S. Livingston, W. S. Vanlandingham, B. S. Paris, W. H. Coleman, J. E. Wooten, B. B. Jackson, Frank Harrell, J. C. Livingston. 1893—E. J. Thompson, C. E. Stucky, J. C. Brewton. 1894—W. A. Denson, J. C Rogers, Jacob Livingston, John Willcox, R. C. Gignilliat, E. Herrman, A. R. Colcord, John B. Clark. 1895—W. I. Livingston, D. A. Autry, W. S. Waite, J. L. Estes. 1897—James M. Mitchell. 1898—H. L. Scott, W. A. Burch, D. C. Pierce. 1899—J. E. Lowery, J. W. Lee. 1900—C. C. Burch, J. D. Nash, W. P. Harrell. 1901—John W. Jones, John R. Jones, R. F. Jones, F. T. Parkerson. 1902—W. J. Williams, J. D. Lucas, V. T. Bacon, C. A. Hester. 1903—Shep Allen, T. H. Allen, Warren Butler, E. A. Stuckey, 0. M. Methvin, J. W. Dawson, M. L. Davis, W. T. Harrell. 1904—J. A. Harrell, Jr., W. H. Godfrey, T. A. Stuckey, John L. Wooten. 1905—Harry F. Hirsh, J. B. Holmes, W. W. Phillips, H. H. Preston, John Cunard, C. G. Horn, W. P. Cobb, Duncan L. Daniel, E. J. Rainey, Charles W. Griffith. 1906—G. E. Martin, G. R. Hendrix, C. L. Burton, W. V. Harrell, W. L. Parkerson, John A. Bond, M. A. Burch, J. L. Conley, C. H. Bond, G. A. Cook. 1907—M. D. Burch, J. D. Parkerson, Sr., L. C. Harrell, J. B. Parkerson, E. C. Horsford. 1908—B. J. Harrell, Harrell Gatlin, P. C. Rawlins, R. B. Edwards, John W. Peacock, E. E. Persons, E. P. Godfrey, D. J. Graham, C. C. Clark. 1909—P. E. Ward, T. P. Glancey, W. H. Smith, S. J. Hargrove, Walter Anthony, O. R. Bennett. 1910—D. D. Smith, J. H. Harrell, J. H. Milner, C. R. Woolen, J. C. Wall. 1911—R. W. Lee, J. H. Williams, W. G. McCart, C. L. Bennett, A. B. Crowe, W. A. Wilkinson, E. C. Calhoun. 1912—C. W. Lancaster, B. I. Brantley, B. R. Stuckey, W. I. Stuckey, R. F. Lowery, M. H. Burch, Lovett S. Harrell, A. Harris, W. C. Embry, A. L. Smith, B. M. Lewis, W. E. Davison, B. Caplan, W. A. Lowery, Leroy Pharr, J. M. Paine, John M. Clark, H. T. Bush, F. H. Herrmann, W. S. Milner, J. F. Broach, W. A. Wooten. 1913—J. M. Schwartz, Lawrence Andrews, Robert T. Casper, John H. Haynes, Hector Cameron. 1914—B. Nitski, James A. Williams, R. L. Stuckey, W. W. Parkerson, W. L. Taylor, M. H. Cannon, H. M. O'Callaghan, T. R. Pennington, Harry Miller, J. D. Cooper, E. S. Moon, S. N. Boyd, J. H. Weldy. 1915—H. F. Nicholson, W. J. Daniel, J. D. Harrell, L. M. Clark, W. H. Lawrence, J. D. Watkins, C. E. Knight, Roy E. Calhoun. 1916—M. C. Edwards, R. C. Lewis, A. L. Wilkins, T. D. Hoskins, W. L. Parkerson, Jr. 1917—A. P. Wynne, W. McRae, L. M. Peacock, P. J. Smith, Bob Wynne, H. E. Dickens, S. S. Stevens, W. E. Davison, Jr., A. M. Hargrove, J. G. Williamson, S. H. Goolsby, J. R. Berg. 1918—M. P. Skelton, M. L. Bush, A. L. Thomas, A. D. Cobia, H. G. Skelton, A. J. Law, Jr., L. H. Reynolds, O. T. Sanders, I. J. Parkerson, R. W. Robertson, R. F. Burch, Jr. 1919—Jeter A. Harrell, H. D. Cherry, M. L. Ross, G. M. Parkerson, A. W. Harris, R. T. Strickland, F. F. Stuckey, T. C. Clements, Reuben Brown, C. F. Jones, J. N. Gatlin, George T. McRae. 1920—C. M. Methvin, Jr., J. C. Harrell, E. H. Jessup, B. J. Schwartz, L. D. Jessup, R. Z. Sterling, John B. Parkerson, Jr., W. W. Bond, G. L. Eckles, J. A. Burch, W. C. Davis, Jr., Theodore Wooten, John J. Vara. 1921—J. J. Graham, E. R. Taylor, J. Levine, J. A. Lee, Frank Skelton, Fred Andrews, John R. Cobb, Charter B. Edwards, Warren A. Coleman, H. L. Daniel. 1922—W. L. Minix, O. M. Skelton, T. H. T. Moore, Morris Miller, T. S. Felder, L. M. Coffee, Don G. Lennard, W. A. Duncan, T. R. Wynne. 1923—Ed H. Wright. 1924—Roy Wooten, James A. Simmons, Fred Harrell, J. W. Bramblett. 1927—G. C. Rogers, I. N. Norris, H. G. Nixon, B. B. Eckles, W. F. White, J. E. Giddens, M, G. Sapp, Paul S. Smith, E. T. D, West, T. C. Waite. 1928—R. W. Southerland, Arthur Thompson, J. B. Evans, W. D. McCranie, H. W. Southerland, L. D. Shipes, E. J. Thompson, A. P. Thompson, H. W. Smith. 1929—M. L. McDaniel, James D. Williams. 1930—Meyer Caplan. 1931—Jack Bates, E. P. Brigman, T. H. Sheffield. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dodge/history/other/gms547eastmanm.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 16.7 Kb