HISTORICAL SKETCH OF KENNESAW LODGE No. 33. F &A.M.

Organized November 9th, 1843

1850 Lodge on Marietta Square (3rd floor)Several Georgia Masonic Lodges held the number "33" before it was assigned to Kennesaw Lodge. Rising Star Lodge No. 33 was chartered in 1818 at Eatonton, Georgia; renumbered No. 10 in 1820; renumbered No. 7 in 1829 and renumbered No. 4 in 1838. Rising Star Lodge No. 4 is still in existence. Farmers Lodge No. 33 was chartered in 1824 at Jacksonboro, Georgia; renumbered No. 18 in 1828 and either forfeited or surrendered its charter in 1830. Montgomery Lodge #33 was chartered in 1830 at Zebulon, Georgia; it either forfeited or surrendered its charter in 1838 and was rechartered as Montgomery Lodge #31 in 1843 and is still in existence.

The following information has been copied from the records of the Grand Secretary with a view to completing, as near as possible, the history of Kennesaw Lodge all records which were destroyed by fire on May 11, 2011. Our only source of information was from the proceedings of the Grand Lodge which, so far as Kennesaw is concerned, is limited only to the returns as submitted annually.

Kennesaw Lodge operated under dispensation for several months prior to November 9, 1843, on which date a Charter was granted. Notations show that the original charter was burned in 1854 and a duplicate issued in 1855. Another duplicate was issued January 27, 1904, cause unknown. The Grand Officers in 1843 were as follows: Philip Thomas Schley, G.M.; John Hunter, D.G.M.; A. Levison, S.G.W.; Wm. H. Hull, J.G.W.; S.C. Beecher, G.Treas.; Lucian La Tast, G. Sect. There seems to be no list of charter members of the Lodge but a roll taken from the return of 1843 is as follows: Reese H. Lin, W.M.; Eliza B. Reynolds, S.W.; Hiram Howard, J.W.; Fred C. Tyler, George W. Reeve, Jas. W. Reeve, Wm. C. Murdock, John Dunwoody, Henry Timanus, J. N. Timberlake, Nathaniel Magnum, P. O. Cook, John P. Spear, Robt. I Magnum, Robt. M. Puckett, Rev. P. S. Smith, Wm. R. Puckett, L. V. Gannong, Jas. M. Dobbs, Lames Milner, A. R. Wright, Chas. Murphey, Hezekiah Harrison, A. N. Simpson, Damiel Collins and Rev. J. P. Smith.

Cornerstone Laying 1952 (current location)During the year 1843, twenty-five members were initiated, passed and raised; one affiliated and three "resigned" so that the above roll cannot be taken as a list of charter members.

Samuel Lawrence served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Georgia

A few Historical Quotes and Facts from our past...

Quoting from the address of Grand Master W. S. Rockwell before the Grand Lodge of 1861: "We reflect upon the melancholy fact that thousands of our peaceful fraternity are now served by rabid fanaticism. It would be in the last degree ridiculous to maintain with so arrogant and pretentious a community as constitutes the United States of America now consolidated into a single, tyrannical and unscrupulous despotism, any official Masonic intercourse whatever."

YEAR W.M. S.W. J.W. MEMBERSHIP

1862 NO RETURN

1863 Andrew J. Hansell H.S. Williams B. Yowery 55

The roll of 1863 shows the following twelve members as "in the Confederate State Army": W.W. Appling, Jas. Burton, G.W. Daniel, John T. Groves, W.C. Green, T.A. Gobre, M.I. Hamby, R.W. McCown, J.F. McClesky, C.E. Phillips, J.L. Ragsdale.

The Grand Lodge chartered thirteen Military Lodges in the Confederate States Army of which Military Lodge No. 1 of the Second Georgia Regiment. Worshipful Brother W. W. Boyd was W.M.

1864 NO RETURN

Address of Grand Master Lewis Lawshe of the Third Masonic District reported to the Grand Lodge of 1864: "From the situations of the Lodges of the Third Masonic District, it is impossible to give a clear report of their standing. Quite a number of them have lost their entire property – Charters, Jewels, Furniture, and Records, and in many instances, their buildings have totally been destroyed. The unhappy condition of our brethren and their families in the third District call loudly for our sympathies. Isolated as they are from us by the misfortunes of war, they suffer untold miseries and privations, that at present it is out of our power to relieve."

1865 NO RETURN

From the report of D.G.M. Lewis Lawshe to the Grand Lodge of 1865: "The Third Masonic District has suffered losses beyond calculation. Lodge buildings, furniture, books, seals relics, warrants, - all have melted down before terrible reign of the sword and torch. While the blasting influence of war has laid waste to our fair country and especially that portion of it embracing the Third Masonic District, some things have transpired worthy of notice, to the honor of Masonry in the Federal Army. I desire to record the fact that, where it was in their power to do so, Masons, and Masonic property were protected and in some instances defended, by order of the leading generals."