From
September-October 2004
A
Civil War Army Lodge
Donald E. Lavender, 33°
“A Mason was looked upon as a fortunate fellow who had some place to go
of an evening, and as no family ties made a demand upon his time, he could go
to the lodge as often as he pleased.” These were the words of Thomas
C. Clarke as he wrote about Army Lodge #8 where he was raised in March 1864.
Army Lodge #8 was chartered in November 1862 from the Grand
Lodge of Massachusetts and began operation the following
month. Its last meeting was held on June
29, 1865, and during that time, 39 Master Masons were raised.
Although active
in battle during spring, summer and fall, Brother Clarke
indicated that in the early winter, both armies, Union
and Confederate,
went into winter
quarters. The Lodge was constructed by a group of pioneers under the
direction of an officer. Fresh-cut logs were laid up to a
height of about eight feet
forming an enclosure about 30 by 50 feet. The medical staff provided
a tent fly which
made an excellent roof. The chimney was built on the outside of the building,
and the fireplace could accommodate logs as large as four feet long.
The Lodge was lighted by candles and the glow of the fire
in the fireplace. Lodge jewels and paraphernalia were maintained
during the summer in storage
in Washington,
D.C., and brought to the Lodge as soon as the troops went in to winter
quarters.
Interest was so great that every available spot in the
Lodge would be occupied except for an aisle of about two
feet in width around the altar
for the
Candidate and his Conductor to walk. Meetings were held weekly, but
there were so many
specials that the Lodge was open almost every night. When regular work
was done or when there was no regular work to be done, the members
were entertained
by
personal reminiscences from the Brethren. Brother Clarke stated, “I have
never seen a lodge in which the reality and romance of Masonry were so closely
and strongly entwined.”
The close proximity of the Lodge to battle made the application
of Masonic principles evident, and Brother Clarke described
several instances in
battle where the Grand
Hailing Sign was resorted to with heroic action and consideration resulting. “In
times of danger and distress, its [Masonry’s] teachings then meet with
a practical illustration, and the term brother is no idle sound, but the lessons
learned in the lodge impel the Mason to the noblest deeds for the relief of
his distressed brother.”
Army Lodge #8 met in its crude room on old Cedar Mountain
battlefield in Virginia. According to the account written
in Voice of Masonry and
Family
Magazine, January
1882, the Lodge records were at that time still in the archives of
the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. Brother Clarke concluded: “As a lodge of like
character will, I trust, never be needed again, I propose to give a short sketch
of it.”
His short sketch provided the material from which this
article was written.
 |
Donald E. Lavender is
a former Secretary Registrar (1974–1979) of the
Des Moines Scottish Rite Bodies and is now retired
from the City of Des Moines Engineering Department.
Contact: 2913 49th St. Des Moines, Iowa 50310. E-mail: donlav@juno.com |
