The following article reprinted from the December 3rd, 1974 Oklahoma Journal documents the history of Masonry in Oklahoma. It also describes how the Atoka Lodge became No. 4, even though it is the oldest lodge in the state.
It All Started Here Oct. 5, 1874
“According to previous call, on Monday, being the fifth day of October, 1874, Subordinate Lodges of the Indian Territory, by their representatives, met in Convention for the purpose of organizing a Grand Lodge for the Indian Territory.”
That unsensational opening statement in the minutes of the first proceedings marked the beginning of the first 100 years of life of the Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of the State of Oklahoma, the formal title of the statewide organization used by Oklahoma Masonic lodges to co-ordinate their activities.
Since that date when three Masonic lodges that had been chartered by the Grand Lodge of Arkansas agreed to become part of a new Grand Lodge, Oklahoma Masonic activities have grown from 67 members to include a charities foundation which helps to support a Masonic home for the aged and another for children, a total of 452 local area Masonic lodges, 70,000 Master Masons and activities of several affiliated bodies.
These include three Shrine organizations in Oklahoma, three consistories of the Scottish Rite, about 300 chapters of the Order of Eastern Star, Order of Rainbow for Girls with International Headquarters at McAlester, Order of DeMolay for Boys, Ameranth, Jobs Daughters, York Rite commanderies, councils and chapters and the White Shrine, plus all the charitable enterprises of all those organizations.
While the Oklahoma Grand Lodge has no control over the affiliated bodies, all require Masonic lodge membership as a prerequisite for joining.
If one individual was responsible for the organization of the Grand Lodge of Indian Territory at the time it was formed 100 years ago, that man was probably Granville McPherson, a printer, Caddo County editor and promoter. He was elected as Worshipful Master of Caddo Lodge No. 311 when it was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Arkansas in October, 1873, but spent almost all of his time trying to organize a Grand Lodge of Indian Territory.
Less than a year after the Caddo lodge was organized, McPherson had succeeded in getting three of the six chartered lodges then in good standing in Indian Territory to organize Oklahoma’s first grand lodge.
McPherson received his Masonic degrees in Magnolia Lodge No. 60 at Little Rock and served that lodge as master in 1858, 1859 and 1860. He had been elected to and served as a director of St. John’s College, located in Little Rock. The college was sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Arkansas.
He had also assisted in organizing the Scottish Rite bodies in Little Rock and had served as an officer during its first years. Records also indicate that he had received several Grand Lodge appointments to perform special duties.
McPherson’s efforts to organize a Grand Lodge in Indian Territory did not get unanimous approval. In fact, Alpha Lodge 122 at Ft. Gibson turned thumbs down by a unanimous vote. Oklahoma Lodge 217 at Boggy Depot and Atoka also declined to join the move, although the master at the time was Joseph Samuel (Father) Murrow, who was later to become known as one of the “fathers” of early Oklahoma Masonry. He was the Second Grand Master and later co-ordinated the preparation of “Murrow’s Monitor”, which contains all the written ritual of Blue Lodge Masonry, or the first three degrees.
Flint Lodge No. 74 is hardly mentioned in the recorded proceedings of the first Grand Lodge. It did not participate in any of the activities and resisted surrendering its charter for several months.
Muskogee Lodge No. 90 at Eufaula, Doaksville Lodge No. 279 at Doaksville and Caddo Lodge No. 311, which had been chartered for less than a year, became the first three member lodges. Their numbers under the new Grand Lodge of Indian Territory became Eufaula No. 1, Doaksville No. 2 and Caddo No. 3.
This first Grand Lodge meeting – held at Caddo – made no mention of the fact that only half of the individual lodges then in Indian Territory were represented.
McPherson was elected chairman and Rufus P. Jones, secretary of the Caddo lodge, was named secretary of the convention called to complete the organization.. A footnote of Masonic history indicates that Jones was not an official representative of his lodge.
The resolution submitted by Henry F. Buckner read:
“Whereas, It is believed to be advisable for the best interest and prosperity of Ancient Free Masonry in the Indian Territory, therefore, be it:
“Resolved, That we, the legal representatives of Muskogee Lodge No. 90, Doaksville Lodge No. 279, Caddo Lodge No. 311, proceed to organize a Grand Lodge for the Indian Territory, and that Bros. George W. Stidham, C.M. Slover and H.F. Buckner, of Muskogee Lodge; William L. Byrd and A. Hopping, of Doaksville Lodge; G. McPherson , J.B. Jones and C.M. Beck, of Caddo Lodge, be appointed a committee to draft a Constitution for the adoption of this Convention.”
Since those named in the resolution were the total number of authorized representatives in attendance, the resolution meant that the group resolved themselves into a committee of the whole for the purpose of preparing a proposed Constitution.
First officers were elected at 2 o’clock Tuesday and included Granville McPherson, Grand Master (who served for three years); C.M. Slover, deputy Grand Master; John B. Jones, grand lecturer; M.J.B. Young, grand orator; William L. Byrd, grand senior warden; Augustus Hopping, grand junior warden; George W. Stidham, grand treasurer; and R.P. Jones, grand secretary.
Appointments included H.F. Buckner, grand chaplain; W.A. Welch, grand marshal; W.H. Ainsworth, grand senior deacon; James T. Sutton, grand junior deacon; C.C. Belcher and John Barnwell, grand stewards; Wiley Stewart, grand pursuivant; and C.M. Beck, grand tyler.
The new Grand Lodge was on its way with a total of 67 members. By comparison, Siloam lodge in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma’s largest, had 2832 members on January 1 of this year.
The 67 initial members were divided among the three first lodges in the Grand Lodge of Indian Territory and included:
From Eufaula – Dr. Ward Howard Bailey, John Barnwell, Christopher Columbus Belcher, W.F. Brown, Henry F. Buckner, Samuel Checote, Joseph McDowell Coodey, William Francis Crabtree, L.P. Job, Dr. Harvey Lindsey, James Morse McHenry, Col. David N. McIntosh, John Nevins, Joseph Moses Perryman, Joseph Andrew Scales, Thomas Henry Scales, Frederick Ballard Severs. C.M. Slover, George Washington Stidham, John S. Vinn, I.G. Vore and David Benson.
From Doaksville – William Vinyard Alexander, William Leander Byrd, Joel Wood Everidge, Sr., Simeon Nelson Folsom, I.D. Garvin, Henry Clay Harris, Daniel Harrison, Augustus Hopping, Daniel S. Johnson, Boyd L. LeFlore, Victor M. Locke, Daniel Miller, Coleman E. Nelson, George W. Scott, William Spring, James Ussery and John Wilson.
From Caddo – William H. Ainsworth, Caleb McDaniel Beck, Dr. William Silas Burks, Thomas F. Clay, John M. Cox, James Dulin, George Edwards, John Gregg, John B. Jones, Rufus P. Jones, E.J. Lemon, William John Beard Lloyd, Granville McPherson, James H. McVay, Robert W. Nail, H.A. Reich, Calvin Robinson, Wiley Stewart, James Tilton Sutton, William Thompson, Timothy Breshears, Sr., John F. Wall, William Walner, William Giles Ward, S.L. Watson, William Anderson Welch and M.J.B. Young.
Although Oklahoma Lodge 217 at Atoka under the leadership of Joseph S. (Father) Murrow, had declined to participate in organization of the new Grand Lodge and Murrow had urged the Grand Master of Arkansas to intervene (apparently being ignored), a change of heart apparently occurred about May 12, 1875 because on that date the Atoka lodge sent their charter for endorsement by the new Grand Lodge. It retained the Oklahoma prefix and was assigned No. 4.
With a majority of lodges located in Indian Territory enrolled as members, the Grand Lodge appeared off to a good start and Brother Murrow was elected grand lecturer at the annual communication in 1875.