Freestone County, Texas Reflections FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J.R. (SONNY) SESSIONS Cotton Gin Masonic Lodge #154 1855-2005 11/19/05 In l992 I gave a short history at a meeting promoted by Bro. Ray Halmark. I didn’t realize when approached by Bro. Halmark to do this that he was responsible for the other; I guess I don’t learn very fast. I will try not to bore you most of it again. The printed handout has more detail. Cotton Gin the third Masonic Lodge Chartered in Freestone Co. and second oldest to Fairfield Lodge #103 existing today. .This as any history is not complete. It is some of the history as found in old record and minute books available today and stories passed down over the years. In searching the old minute books I found no secrets of Free Masonry recorded and little else also. It is a pity more information wasn’t passed on for future generations, such as who served in the War between the States and other local events. Many meetings during the conflict were cancelled as too few to meet left. Masonry played a big part in early Freestone Co. history, my paternal grandmother, and her sisters were left orphans when their father murdered as Freestone Co. Sheriff in l872, she and her sisters were educated by the Fairfield Lodge as there was no public schooling then. In May l854 a petition for congregation to the Grand Lodge of Texas was submitted. The first meeting was held in late May l854 with the meeting date adopted, the Saturday night preceding the 3rd. Sabbath of each month. At the June l854 meeting a contract was let for a building to be constructed of stone with a second story 20’x40’ at a cost of $354.44 and to be paid as the Lodge able at 10% interest. The Lodge was not officially chartered until May l855. I have been told this due to a protest from Springfield Lodge located at old Springfield the County Seat of Limestone Co on the Navasota River, The District Deputy belonged to Springfield who complained Cotton Gin had taken a member living in their jurisdiction and refused to approve I until members of both Lodges measured the distance from the door steps of each Lodge to the Brothers front steps with a Surveyor’s Chain with Cotton Gin found the closest by a few feet. Early Masonic Lodges were very protective of their Jurisdiction. When the Lodge formed Cotton was King, the name Cotton Gin I am told came from one of the earliest cotton gins in this area. Powered by mule, horse or oxen that went round and round outside, there was no suction to unload the wagons and carts the cotton had to be carried in baskets up the stairs to the gin stands and pour it in. The town was laid off and streets named, it was probably the leading town in Freestone Co. until the railroads came through. There were numerous Southern plantation type homes still here in my time, some in bad repair and all gone today. The only business left is the Alderman Bros. Store vacant but a reminder of busy days. A Texas Historical Marker that designates Cotton Gin as a Ghost Town, when this marker dedicated I attended for security reasons as threats been made by an irate citizen. When the railroads missed here the school closed, business and citizens followed suit, as did Cotton Gin Lodge. The Lodge was located several places while in Cotton Gin, the second floor of the Baptist Church until moved to the Methodist lot, guess they fell out with the Baptists. It was once on the second floor of the old Sims-Alderman’s Store where the coffins and such stored. A hand-operated elevator went to the Lodge and store room which still in use in Withrow Furniture in Teague. The meeting date changed to on or about the Full Moon to assist night travelers. Beth Christian tells of her grandfather A.P. Carter who lived near present day Kirven saddling his horse on meeting days riding to Cotton Gin and usually not returning until the next date. There are few records kept during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Cotton Gin and Woodland were the only places occupied by Union Troops rather than the hated State Police. One incident during this time called “The Great Hideout” involving most of the prominent citizens who participated in stopping the soldiers from carrying L.R. Wortham to Austin on charges filed by a Freedman later found to be false. Another was the murder of Cotton Gin member John Wynne by a Freedman with an ax. Woodland College for Boys, which is located a few miles from here, has a Texas Centennial Marker telling it had 300 students near the end of the War. At the l914 June meeting, Bro. AP Carter made motion to move the Lodge to Kirven, seconded by WM Patton which approved with the first Kirven meeting held Feb. l916 in the north end of the Woodmen of the World building rented at a cost of $37.50 a year. Lodge minutes reflect several references to the old Lodge building in Cotton Gin, the last was motion made and carried to never discuss this in the Lodge room again. It was sold in l927 for $150. There was no running water or inside toilets until in the present building. Drinking water was drawn with a rope and bucket from a public well and carried in a metal bucket with a drinking dipper used by all. Out houses were the rest rooms and all located out outside, the one at Kirven was near the Calaboose for many years. There have been three meeting places in Kirven, one end of the WOW Hall, with a common outside stair used by both. Later all the building was bought and moved to the ground floor which used until this building built The WOW building was across the street from the present Lodge where the KVFD building located. There wasn’t much furniture in the old Lodge, all simple and home made. kerosene lamps and a wood burning stove with candles for light at the alter. There were long benches and a few chairs. There was no electricity for many years. In l917 an Eastern Star Chapter charter was granted #609, which met on the Tuesday evening before the full moon. Operating funds so low in the early yeas a .25 cent bill for lamp oil and a lamp globe had to be postponed. In l927 funds needed so bad the Worthy Matron asked each member or family to sell a hen and donate it to the chapter. In l949 Kirvin Chapter #609 was consolidated with Fairfield #331. It was stated that the 33 years it existed their main goal was tending the sick and needy. Been told the District Deputy came calling on reported gambling among the Brothers which some admitted, he promptly closed his little black bag and departed saying he didn’t want to sit in Lodge with a bunch of gamblers. Another story is two Brothers in local confectionary got in an argument, one knocked the other off his stool, that evening the Master wouldn’t open Lodge until they shook hands and made up. The early records reflect numerous occasions when the Lodge came to the relief of Brothers in need. One of these was a donation of $25 to a Brother who lost and eye and his crop, today $25 isn’t much but at that time it was a substantial sum. Been told of Brothers working the crops of sick or injured Brothers. A nurse was hired for a Brother during the Flu epidemic of l918. Destitute Brothers were assisted on many occasions, assisted in getting in the Home for Aged Masons, children assisted with the Scottish and Shrine Hospitals. Also helping with the burial expenses of Brothers. When Cotton Gin Lodge moved to Kirven it was booming community formed when the railroad came here in l906, there were virtually every kind of business; cattle and hogs were shipped to northern markets. A cotton yard where bases stored until shipped out. Many of the small communities used this for shipping and receiving goods. A freight and passenger depot with freight and ticket agents stationed in Kirven. Several trains made stops here daily. The economy was based mostly on cotton and its future very limited. The town and Lodge grew rapidly until an unfortunate incident in the l920’s with the tragic murder and mutilation of a young girl followed by mob rule involving suspects and innocent people. All this made worse by outsiders coming with no local interests, this also the hectic oil boom days of Mexia. In l918 Bro. Roger Alderman (uncle to Judge Joe Roger Alderman) home on leave from the Army received his FC and MM Degrees by dispensation. Lodge records show one Brother taking his EA and didn’t continue for 20 years due to the Terrible Depression, he did return and become very active. On several occasions bills were paid for cigars, which I cant, explain. One WM ordered no more smoking or tobacco chewing in the lodge; he would have received my praise. In l931 there were 21 members suspended for non-payment f due’s, a motion was approved to remit due’s of members 70 years old in good standing. In l934 a motion was approved to reinstate members for $4, many took their work on the Lodge roof and stairs for their due’s. In l935 there a called meeting for a radio program from the Grand Master, the only radios in Kirven were battery operated and few of them. Times were better in l948 with occasional dinners and party for families with l0 gallons of ice cream and cokes. In l952 a chicken show was approved on the lower floor. A womanless wedding fundraiser for Woodland Cemetery was held. In l953 the Farm School for Veterans was allowed if they paid the electric bill- $1.50 a month. In l955 the Lodge meetings moved to the lower floor. A Centennial celebration was held in Nov. l955 with 20 members and 24 visitors present. Repairs became a constant problem; in l960 a committee was appointed for a new Lodge building, this led to our present facility with most of the work done by the members and donations. Several large donations were made, one $100 from a W. Lee Hall who I do not know. This building was dedicated in l961. Shortly after moving in the new building a visit was made by the then Deputy Grand Master who shortly before had received the Past Masters Degree, seeing the Charter not displayed demanded it be corrected before opening. Bro. Lynn Harris made a search and it was found stored in a barrel in the back of Bro. Adams store. Bro. Harris advised he would not have returned if not found. Bro. Harris of the old school Masons and like many others would not pay his annual due’s in advance, told me he wasn’t going to die with the Grand Lodge in debt to him, I am beginning to feel the same way towards the Grand Lodge. Bro Harris life centered around his only son Jody who drafted into the Army during the dark days of WW11, after his training completed he was sent to a base on the East Coast to ship out Europe where they confined to the Base Bro. Harris fearing he might never see his son again drove to the Base and succeeded in talking to the Commander, both identified themselves as Masons granting Jody to go and visit with his Dad, the only one to receive this honor, Jody told me he decided than if he came back he would be a Mason, he did an he was a member here at his untimely death.. The Degree Chart on the east wall is unusual, never seen another like it or found where it came from, dates on it indicate the l860’s. We had probably the first double amputee WM, Bro. Jack Alexander who drove many times from liberty Texas to attend Lodge here. We had a surprise 50-year presentation on Bro. Tracy Moore a real character and it a challenge to get ahead of him, during the depression he went suspended one year and unaware this had been waived and thought he had another year to go. His wife Beulah had a hard time getting him here; it was a complete surprise and fun thing. Bro. Moore told me he couldn’t understand why Beulah upset with him wearing mis-matched socks to a fish fry. The monthly dinners before Lodge originated here, while the Brothers meeting the ladies visited and played games. Been told the new building could not and would not have been done without the ladies support. The dinners for many years were the social high lights of many of the older members and their wives. Our children attended when they were small and were spoiled by the group as they were the only children there. This only Lodge known of where a dog faithfully attended, Spot was Bro. RL Ryburn’dog that went everywhere he went, especially after it saved Bro. Ryburn from being robbed and possibly murdered. It often was dressed with a small apron, when the Brothers stood up, Spot stood up, and when the Brothers sat down Spot sat down. I think many came to Lodge just to say they sat in Lodge with a dog. In l965 we were able to tile the Lodge floors with the checkered design, I personally had very mixed emotions when it was approved to replace it with carpet, no one else remembered the hardships we had just doing this. The restrooms were completed in l966. Other improvements made as affordable. I had the pleasure of taking Bro. LC Coleman to Grand Lodge to receive his 50-year Masonic pin. As we lost older members and ladies fewer attended Lodge and dinner meeting discontinued for several years. In recent years we have seen the membership grow and interest return in the dinners. As the novelist wrote Cotton Gin has seen the best of times and the worst of Times and weathered them all. This I think will help preserve and continue its future. 1