NAUVOO LODGE

Freemasons and the Mormons at Nauvoo

by Mervin B. Hogan. M.P.S.

 August 1969

There is a history in all men's lives,

Figuring the nature of the times deceased;

The which observed: a man may prophesy,

With a near aim, of the main chance of things

As yet not come to life, which in their seeds

And weak beginnings lie intreasured.

Such things become the hatch and brood of time.

Second Part of King Henry IV It is a virtual certainty that no regular Masonic Lodge at any location on this earthly globe, at any time in history, has ever been established, worked Masonically, and expired under such unusual and unique circumstances as those associated with Nauvoo Lodge U.D. at Nauvoo, Illinois, between 1841 and 1846. It would indeed be most difficult to cite any other Lodge which has existed under such lethal and viciously strained relations and whose memory is so inaccurately recorded by history. So much misinformation, so many untruths, so many highly emotional portrayals regarding this Lodge are to be found in the literature, it is high time, for the sake of the Craft, that serious and objective effort be directed to setting the record straight.

On April 6, 1840, at Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, 13 Master Masons organized, for the second time, the Grand Lodge of Illinois. A Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Abraham Jonas, although not present at the founding convention, was elected the first Grand Master of this Grand Lodge of Illinois.

The First Annual Communication of this second Grand Lodge was held at Jacksonville, Monday and Tuesday, October 20 and 21, 1840, at which time Abraham Jonas was reelected for the ensuing year. The 1840 returns of the constituent Lodges indicate that Abraham Jonas was Worshipful Master of Columbus Lodge No. 6, with a membership of 15 Master Masons.

The Second Annual Communication was held at Jacksonville, Monday and Tuesday, October 4 and 5, 1841, with Abraham Jonas being again re-elected for the ensuing year. The return of Columbus Lodge No. 6 for that year gives W.D. McCann as Worshipful Master and the Lodge membership as 17 Master Masons.

The Third Annual Communication was held at the same town, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, October 3, 4 and 5, 1842. On October 4, Abraham Jonas was succeeded by Meredith Helm of Springfield, who was elected Grand Master for the ensuing year. The published return of Columbus Lodge No. 6 for 1842 lists Abraham Jonas as Worshipful Master and the Lodge membership as 16 Master Masons.

Abraham Jonas served as Grand Master for 30 months or 2 1/2 years.

At some unknown date in 1841 several Nauvoo Masons petitioned the Grand Lodge of Illinois for a dispensation. As noted above, the Grand Lodge was in session October 4 and 5. Interestingly and with almost total certainty, Grand Master Jonas chose not to present the petition to the Grand Lodge, but as the Grand Master's prerogative, issued the dispensation October 15. The full text of this vital, historical document, reproduced from the original Minute Book, follows:

"To all who shall see these presents -

Whereas it appears to me, from the petition of sundry Brethren of Hancock County, in the State of Illinois, who are recommended and vouched to me, as worthy and fit Master Masons, by the Master, Wardens, and Brethren of Columbus Lodge, No. 6, held at Columbus in said State, that the congregating of said petitioners, and others, who they may think proper to admit into their lodge (when organized) will tend to promote the welfare and usefulness of the craft - and

Whereas lodges of masons in the recess of the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois can be formed under its jurisdiction by special dispensation only -

Wherefore, I, Abraham Jonas, Grand Master of the said Grand Lodge of Illinois, do hereby, as Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge aforesaid, and according to the Constitution of Ancient York Masons, Grant this dispensation hereby authorizing and empowering our trusty and well beloved brother, George Miller, of said County of Hancock, to congregate a sufficient number of worthy brethren at some convenient place in the "City of Nauvoo," in said County of Hancock, and then and there, with convenient dispatch to form and open a lodge after the manner of Ancient Masons, - and in pursuance of the petition aforesaid, I do hereby appoint our said brother, George Miller, Esq., the first Master, - John D. Parker to be the first Senior Warden, - and Lucius N. Scovil to be the first Junior Warden of the Lodge of Masons aforesaid, and to be opened and held at the said "City of Nauvoo" as aforesaid, and to be known by the name of Nauvoo Lodge under dispensation - and I do further authorize the said Master, Wardens and such Brethren as they may admit as members of said lodge, in their said lodge, when duly formed and opened, to enter, pass, and raise to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, all such as may be, by all the members of said lodge, deemed worthy, according to ancient custom, and not otherwise, with the intent and view that the brethren who may be so congregated, entered, passed, and raised may in due time, be duly warranted for being and holding a regular lodge, for the further promoting the Craft and increasing the number of Worthy Brethren - Provided, however, that this Dispensation do continue and be in force, until the next annual session (1st Monday in October 5842) of the Grand Lodge aforesaid, and no longer.

Given under my hand and private seal, at Columbus, in the State of Illinois, on this 15th day of October, A.L. 5841. and A.D. 1841.

(Signed) Abraham Jonas, (Seal)

G.M.G.L of Illinois"

A true copy.

John C. Bennett, Secretary

Joseph Edgerton Morcombe, Historian of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, in the May, 1905, New Age and in Volume I of the History of Grand Lodge of Iowa (pp. 145-146) states (almost identical wording in each case):

"In the records of Bodley Lodge No. 1, at Quincy, Illinois, under date of June 28, 1841, there appears the following: 'A communication was received from John C. Bennett and others, of the city of Nauvoo, asking this lodge to recommend to the Grand Lodge of the State certain individuals whose names were therein contained, to be appointed Master and Wardens of a lodge to be established at said city; but as these persons were unknown to this lodge as Masons, it was thought prudent not to do so. The letter was returned to Bro. H. Rogers, with instructions how to act upon it.'

"There is no evidence remaining, or at least none available to the present writer, indicating by what lodge such recommendation was finally made, or whether the requirement was not waived. The fact that Bodley Lodge afterward criticised the Grand Master for his actions in instituting the Lodge would suggest such waiver. The Masonic record of but one of the petitioners is now known - that of John C. Bennett. It was afterwards proven that he had been previously expelled from Pickaway Lodge, Ohio, and was at the time in question under such sentence of expulsion. His personal standing was such, both before and after this date, as to justify Bodley Lodge in its suspicion of anything with which his name was connected."

The dispensation above presented definitely answers Brother Morcombe's query. In all essence of truth, it may clearly be said that Brother Abraham Jonas, Worshipful Master of Columbus Lodge No. 6, recommended the Nauvoo Brethren to Brother Abraham Jonas, Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois.