Historic Kerbyville Masonic Lodge planning 150th celebration
From our weekly issue dated June 25, 2008
Before moving to what has become the RCC Kerby Belt Bldg., the Kerby Masonic Lodge was based in this historic structure, built in 1907. It is now the home of The Dovetail Joint.
The Kerbyville Masonic Lodge -- the oldest Masonic Lodge in Josephine County -- will celebrate its 150th anniversary in July.
It was founded before Oregon became a state, in a remote mining community that was still reeling from a recent war with the local Native Americans. These were the earliest years of white settlement in Southwestern Oregon, and the chronicle of the lodge’s establishment provides a unique insight into the early pioneer and gold rush history of Oregon.
The traditions and formalities followed by Masons during their meetings in those earliest years are probably not very different from those practiced today.
Freemasonry is the oldest and the largest fraternal order in the world with traditions reaching back more than 500 years. Since Medieval times, traditions of the Masons have been handed down from one generation to another carrying a philosophy and spirit of self-improvement. Of all the virtues in this organization, none is more valued than selfless giving.
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The heritage practiced by modern Masons reaches to the Middle Ages when structures such as the St. Peters Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral and other complex stone structures were constructed in Europe. The Masons were the craftsmen and architects who built these structures.
The skills of stonemasons and their commitment to the highest standards of moral and ethical values were highly respected and, unlike other classes of people, they were allowed to travel freely from country to country throughout most of Europe. For this reason they became known as Freemasons.
Until about the 16th century, only a stonemason or architect could be a Mason but early in the 17th century, membership in the Mason lodges began to decline. To compensate for their loss in members, they began to admit others who were not craftsmen or stonemasons, usually men of social prominence. This class of members became known as the Accepted Masons.
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The modern era of Masonry began when four lodges in London joined in 1717 and created the first Grand Lodge. There were other lodges that did not join because they viewed the idea of a grand lodge as a “modern” invention, and against the “ancient” principles of Masonry.
Eventually, the lodges that practiced the “traditional” forms of Masonry formed their own rival organization. They called themselves the “Ancient” Freemasons, and called their rivals the “Modern” Freemasons.
Lodges that were formed under the Ancient’s grand lodge, took the initials AF&AM for “Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.” Lodges that formed under the “Moderns” took the initials F&AM, for “Free and Accepted Masons.”
Early records indicate the Kerbyville Lodge began as an F&AM lodge and later became an AF&AM lodge.
In 1848, the first Masonic Lodge in Oregon was established at Oregon City, the end of the Oregon Trail. The first record of Mason activity in the Oregon Territory occurred in February 1846, 13 years before Oregon became a state. This was a meeting to discuss the formation of a lodge in Oregon City. In October 1846, a charter was granted for the Multonomah Lodge, No. 84 to be established in Oregon City of Oregon Territory.
Owing to the great distance and the infrequent departure of emigrant trains for the Northwest, it was several months before an opportunity was found to carry the charter to Oregon City. Members of the new lodge received it in September 1848, two years and seven months after the first meeting in Oregon City.
This lodge continues to be the first and oldest chartered Masonic Lodge on the Pacific Coast.
Almost immediately the lodge’s membership dropped when, a day or two after receiving the charter, most of its members, including the lodge’s founder, started for the gold fields of California. With most of its leadership gone, the Multnomah No. 84 appeared to be poised for failure, but a representative was sent by the Grand Secretary of the Missouri and the lodge was quickly reorganized.
It may seem odd that the first lodge in Oregon history was given the number 84 but under Masonic numbering rules, the Multnomah Lodge was the 84th lodge to be established under the authority of the Missouri Grand Lodge. In 1851 the Multnomah Lodge number was changed from No. 84 to No. 1, the first in Oregon.
By 1850, two other lodges had been chartered in Oregon, and these along with Multnomah, No. 1 combined to form the Grand Lodge of Oregon, which had the authority to charter lodges within the state. Each of the new lodges formed in Oregon were numbered sequentially as they were formed.
The first Lodge to be charted by the Grand Lodge of Oregon was the Salem Lodge, No. 4. It then sponsored several other lodges including the Warren Lodge, No. 10 in Jacksonville, which later became the sponsor of the Western Star Lodge, No. 18 in Kerbyville.
Next week will continue with the story of the Kerbyville Masonic Lodge and its role in the establishment of lodges in Illinois Valley’s Browntown and Grants Pass.
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The public can join the Kerbyville Masons as they celebrate their 150th anniversary at the Rogue Community College Belt Bldg. in Downtown Kerby, across from Joe’s Market, on July 12. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. with the setting of a Ceremonial Cornerstone conducted by the Grand Master of Masons in Oregon and his Grand Officers.
This is an ancient tradition performed by Masons for public buildings. The lodge will be open to the public, and various other ceremonies will be conducted until 1 p.m.
