MASONIC RECORDS OF DENSON CROW MELTON, CANTON LODGE, Smith Co, TX

Submitted by Lois Melton Thompson - loisthom@att.net - 12 Apr 2000

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18 Oct 1851

To the W Master Wardens & Bretheren
of Canton Lodge A D of Free & Excepted Masons

The Subcriber Residing in Smith County of lawful age and by occupation 
a Farmer - Begs leave to state that unbiased by friends and uninfluenced 
by Mercenry Motives he freely and Voluntarily offers himself as a candidate 
for the Mysteries of Masionary.  And that he is promitted to solicity this 
priviledge by a favorable opinion conceived of the institution, a desire 
of Knowledge and sincere wish of being Servisable To his fellow Creatures.
Should his petition be granted he will Cheerfully conform to all ancient 
established usages and customs of the Fraternity

                                                          Signed

                                                            D. C. Melton

Recomends by 
Avouched for by
Danl Gillis
D. P. Fawline

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Grand Lodge in Waco

Name Melton D C
Canton Lodge No. 98 Location Omen
Initiated 10/18/51                Dimitted                 Official Record
Passed    11/1/51                 Died 10/22/87            SW 52-53-54
Raised    11/3/51                 Suspended, U.M.C         M 55-64-65-66

Note:  Denson served as master of his lodge during the war years.

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The following article is from old records from the Arp Lodge, which was 
once the Canton Lodge at Omen.

"Whereas it has pleased the Grand Master of the Universe to call from 
labor on earth to refreshment on high our beloved brother D.C. Melton 
who was Entered Passed and Raised in our Lodge and called to preside as 
W.M. over our deliberations and taught many to Work and none to sin.  
Who was permitted to Labor in the Terrestrial Lodge until he was over 
FourScore years of age before he was called to the celestial Lodge above.

Therefore be it
1st Resolved. That in the death of P.M.  D.C.Melton our Lodge has lost 
a beloved and useful member Society a valuable citizen and his many 
relatives a loving Father

2.R. That we bow with humble submission to the to the will of God

3.R. The we wear the usual badge of mourning & drape our Lodge for 30 days

4.R. That we extend our fraternal regard to Rockey Mt. Lodge No 63 for 
their Brotherly love and kindness exhibited in paying the last sad 
tribute of respect to our departed brother.

5.R. That one page of our records be devoted to perpetuating this tribute.

To the W.M. Wardens the above is submitted.
         Fraternally
           John O. Collier"

The above didn't have a specific date, but was out of their old 1887 
record book.  I am so thankful for the good records that the Masons have 
kept.  In fact, that was the only way that we know the exact date of 
Denson's death.

Lois Melton Thompson