The History of Masonry at Daleville, Alabama and Daleville Lodge 903

    

PREVIOUS MASONIC LODGES IN DALEVILLE

      The only records available indicate that the first Masonic lodge in the Daleville area was Lodge Number 144, granted dispensation to meet and work on October 11, 1850, and then granted a Charter On December 5, 1850.

      Not much is known about the brethren who founded this Lodge, but from the short span of time between dispensation and charter, they must have already been proficient in Masonic work.

      The location of this lodge hasn’t yet been determined, but early platting and survey maps of the Daleville area give the probable location as being on what is now called the Old Newton Road, opposite what is now McLin’s Restaurant.  Conflicting maps and descriptions indicate that the Lodge may have met at several different locations.

     Part of this membership asked for and was granted a charter by the Grand Lodge of Alabama as a Military Lodge #303 (30th Regiment) on November 2, 1862.  All records are incomplete or non-existent concerning this Lodge except that this charter like hundreds of others throughout the South expired in 1865.  The various Southern Grand Lodges recognized that to allow these military lodges to continue could only prolong ill feelings and serve no purpose in continuing a conflict that had caused so much damage to life, property, and pride.

      Daleville lodge #144 forfeited their Charter at the Annual Communication in December 1890.  No specific reasons were cited, but correspondence with the Grand Secretary indicate that there was considerable conflict among the members over raising funds for the erection of the Grand Lodge Temple in Montgomery.  Records indicate that the Grand Lodge retained title to this property at least as late as January 1955 when they hired an Ozark attorney to look after their interests when it came to their attention that private parties were using the property for personal gain.

      Apparently the hard feelings were long lasting because it was nearly twenty years before another dispensation was granted to Daleville.  This time as Daleville Lodge #683 on December 19, 1907.  After a year of work and examination, their Charter was granted on December 2, 1908.

      This Lodge was located not far from our present location in Clayhatchee, across what is now Hwy 85, near the site of the provident Baptist Church.   It was a two-story wooden building and the bottom floor was rented to various commercial enterprises over the years, even for a short time serving as the Post Office at Clayhatchee.  The ground floor would later be the reason for their demise. 

     It is not known for certain why the Lodge was located at Clayhatchee, but it is possible that the strong feelings generated by the earlier Lodge may have had a great part in it.

      Their Charter was “arrested” by the Grand Master on April 10, 1946, this being the third and last Charter ever physically picked up by the Grand Lodge.  The cause was conflict with Grand Lodge over the renting of the floor to a family as an apartment, which was strictly forbidden by the Constitution.

 DALEVILLE MASONIC LODGE 903

      Daleville Lodge 903 was instituted under Dispensation at the Grand Lodge Annual Communication, November 13, 1953, Most Worshipful Joseph S. Southhall, Grand Master Presiding.  After a year of work the Committee on Lodges under Dispensation made favorable recommendation to the Grand Master and a Charter was issued on November 17, 1954.

       Grand Master John W. Preddy appointed Brother James Jones, PGM to act as his representative and constitute Daleville Lodge 903, which was not done until Saturday, November 12, 1955, with Brothers James Sasnett as Worshipful Master, Sidney Sammons as Senior Warden, and Vernon W. Gunnels as Junior Warden.  The reason for the year’s delay was that in 1954 the lodge was meeting in a room of the Daleville School, but by November 1955 had moved into the two story building in Clayhatchee, now known as the Clayhatchee Community Building.  An interesting side note is that the first elected Junior Warden, Brother Gunnels, is not listed as a Charter Member.

      This land was donated by Brother Wesley O. Mills, a Charter Member and Past Master, deeded to the trustees of the Lodge for as long as the building was used for Masonic purposes at least once each year or revert to the Mills estate.  Ten members each pledged $100.00 to construct the building.

      At the first regular communication of Daleville Lodge 903 on November 20th, 1953, two petitions for the Mysteries of Freemasonry were received and referred to investigating committees.  On acceptance of the favorable committee reports, it was decided to ask Newton Lodge 224 to initiate these first two candidates.

In December of 1953, a committee consisting of Brothers Sammons, Mills, and Thompson was appointed and later submitted the first By-laws for approval of the Lodge and submission to the Grand Lodge.

      In addition to the $100.00 pledges for a lodge building from each of the ten Charter Members, Brother Thomas E Dobbins of Marshall Lodge 209 at Guntersville, Alabama, donated $50.00 to the building fund, and Brothers William Yates and Charles Clinkingbeard of Mountain Home Lodge 225 donated material for the aprons.

      The committee appointed to investigate and recommend a building site reported in February 1954, reported and recommended that the lodge join with Clayhatchee Community in building on a site to be donated by Brother Wesley Mills. The agreement to be that the ground floor was to be used as a community activity center and the second floor for Lodge meetings.

      In August of 1954, the Lodge voted to borrow $800.00 to pay outstanding debts and purchase enough additional material to finish the building.  Shortly after, they also accepted a fee from Dale County of $150.00 for the use of the ground floor as a polling place.  At the regular communication of April 5, 1957, the Secretary was ordered to petition the Grand lodge to change from Daleville Lodge to Clayhatchee Lodge.  This was not approved.

       Due to a fire in the Lodge in March 1959, the next two communications were held at Newton Lodge 224, where two Brethren were Raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. 

     On August 3, 1968 Daleville Lodge presented its first 50-year pin to Past Master James Austin. 

      The records and Minutes are not locally available prior to about 1974, so that the history of Daleville Lodge 903 is rather sketchy for the first twenty Years.  Considerable research at the archives of the Grand Lodge would be required to fill this large gap, which will be done at some future time and a more complete and comprehensive history of Masonry in Daleville be prepared.

 Prepared by Brother M.C. Himes

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