Leaf River Masonic Lodge, No. 19 Records

Information on the history of the Leaf River Masonic Lodge is scant, but some old Masonic texts yielded answers about the early years of Lodge No. 19 and Freemasonry’s spread in Mississippi. The Grand Lodge of Mississippi formed in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1818, and Natchez was also the site of the first Masonic lodge in Mississippi, Harmony Lodge (chartered in 1802 by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky).

The Leaf River Masonic Lodge began work under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons in 1829. After reviewing the progress of Leaf River, the Grand Lodge of Mississippi granted the lodge a charter in February 1830. The charter records the names of its eight officers and three members. The lodge was based in south Jones County and north Perry County (currently Forrest County). The first meeting took place in Augusta, Mississippi, but the meetings moved to Monroe, Mississippi, later. For the first few years, regular communications took place in the home of the lodge’s Worshipful Master, J. J. H. Morris.

In 1834, Leaf River Lodge No. 19 was suspended by the Grand Lodge for failure to make their annual dues and returns. This lack of reporting continued, and in 1835 the Grand Lodge asked Leaf River to surrender its charter. At the Grand Communication in 1837, representatives of Lodge No. 19 asked that their charter be reinstated. At this point, the members of Leaf River Lodge asked for the Grand Lodge’s permission to move from Monroe, Mississippi, to Williamsburg, Mississippi. However, the Grand Lodge did not grant them permission to move. At this point, Leaf River Lodge was no longer an official lodge. All of the members joined Monroe Lodge No. 39, which was chartered in March of 1839 and regularly met in the Masonic Hall in Monroe, Mississippi. At the Grand Communication of 1846, representatives to the Grand Lodge declared Lodge No. 39 the natural successor of Leaf River Lodge, because it was composed of the same members. The Grand Lodge ordered that all of the property of the Leaf River Lodge be transferred to Monroe Lodge No. 39. In the year 1848, lodge No. 39 met in Perry County, Mississippi, (five miles west of Monroe, Mississippi). At the Grand Communication of 1856, a representative suggested that Monroe Lodge No. 39 change its name back to Leaf River, possibly because there were two lodges using the name “Monroe” at the time. Leaf River Lodge’s charter was reinstated that year.

By that time, Freemasonry had spread widely in Mississippi. When Leaf River first received its charter in 1830, only about 15 lodges existed. By 1856, 200 Masonic lodges existed in the state.