The Free and Accepted Masonic Lodges
of Heard County, Georgia
By: Jack Davis
Heard County, Georgia has a rich history concerning it’s Masonic lodges. At one time there were ten Masonic Lodges in Heard County. The reason being that in the nineteenth century it was considered a major event to travel to the county seat of Franklin. People living in Loftin or Corinth were too far away from Franklin to travel there for an evening lodge meeting. Therefore most every community had their own local lodge.
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The first Masonic Lodge in Heard County was Chattahoochee Lodge No. 61 which was chartered on 26 October 1847 in the City of Franklin. The next lodge was New River Lodge No. 94 which was chartered on 31 October 1849 in Corinth, Georgia. Houston Lodge No. 98 was also chartered that year. The Houston Community of then is today called the Liberty Hill Community.
These lodges were in existence before the Civil War and the rosters exist from these lodges showing those who were excused from lodge to go serve in the Confederate Army. Most returned after the war to pick up where they had left off. Several however never returned from the war to attend lodge again and ended up buried where they fell or in a local cemetery.
There was once a Masonic Lodge in the Walnut Hill Community, the Texas Community and also in the Pine Stretch Community. There was also a lodge in the Lewis Store Community and also in the Suwanee Community. (I have no idea where these last two communities were in the county.) In 1895 a Confederate Veteran named W.S. Echols chartered a Masonic Lodge in Centralhatchee, Georgia. It is No. 403. I am a member of that lodge.
In Heard County today the only Free and Accepted Masonic Lodges still in existence are Chattahoochee Lodge No. 61, Centralhatchee Lodge No. 403 (shown above) and Loftin Lodge No. 688 in Ephesus, Georgia. The members of these lodges are made up of citizens from around the area.
Depending on which source you look at there are several definitions of what Free Masonry is. The best description I have come across says that Free Masonry is a way of life, which includes kindness in the home; courtesy toward others; compassion for the unfortunate; help for the weak; concern for good government; and above all, a living, practicing reverence and love of God.
The three lodges in existence in the county today are all “blue lodges” which means that the highest degree of Masonry that can be attained in those lodges is 3rd Degree or Master Mason. The Grand Lodge of Georgia in Macon supervises all Masonic Lodges within the State of Georgia. If a Mason wishes to attain a higher degree or degrees, he can petition the higher degree lodges located across the state.
Members of the Masonic Lodges do not recruit people into the lodges. If an individual desires to become a Mason he must approach a Mason and ask for an application. The individual will be required to fill out a detailed application in his own handwriting and this must be signed by two Free Masons. This will be presented in a petition to the members of the Masonic Lodge he wishes to join and a committee of Masons in that lodge will investigate the individual.
It will require a secret ballot taken of all the Lodge Members to determine if he should even be considered as a candidate.
Contrary to popular belief being well endowed with land and money will not guarantee that you will be accepted into a Masonic Lodge. The candidate is examined to see who he is as a person, not what he has in material possesions.
If the individual is accepted, then the work really starts. To attain each degree, he is required to learn the history and philosophy of Free Masonry. It is an ancient society and there is much to learn. He will never train in public. The Masonic Ceremonies and Philosophies are secret. Learning them will require a serious amount of effort on the candidates part.
He will be taught by qualified Free Mason teachers. The teacher or instructor will orally tell him what he must learn. None of this can be written down or recorded in any way and he must learn it by rote or repetition. (Only certain Masons assigned by the Grand Lodge of Georgia can be in possession of the Philosophies and Ceremonies in written form.) To earn each degree, he will be required to recite all of the history and philosophy required for that degree, back to all the lodge members during either a regular or called lodge session. Then he will be examined and voted on again by secret ballot. This is a part of earning each degree. For him to earn his degrees takes time and commitment. Only those who truly desire to will ever become a Master Mason or later, a Mason of an even higher degree.
The Free and Accepted Masonic Lodges offer fellowship to other people in their communities. They donate food, money and will give advice if asked. If someone is worthy they will try to help as can. You need not be a Mason to receive their help. They also help out other charities around the county especially during the Christmas Season.
The Grand Lodge of Georgia through donations from its subordinate lodges and individual members maintains the Masonic Home of Georgia in Macon, Georgia. This is an orphanage that not only raises children but also provides for their education.
All the Masonic Lodges in Georgia help finance the Children’s Health Care System of Atlanta which came about when Eggleston and Scottish Rite Hospital were combined. The head of the hospital board is a Scottish Rite Mason.
Over the years there has been a lot of bad propaganda about the Free and Accepted Masons. One reason seems to be that anyone who wants to keep secrets these days is always looked upon with suspicion. They make easy targets for those who would want to grandstand their own agenda especially in the area of religion.
Freemasons are made up of nothing more than our friends and neighbors. They have done a lot of good for the community over the years.
Thank You
Jack Davis