Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
MASONIC LODGE
MASONIC LODGE.
MASONIC LODGE. The first meeting to consider organizing a Masonic Lodge in Dubuque was held on July 18, 1842. Those in attendance were James Smith, a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire; Timothy Fanning; Narcissus Nadeau, George W. Cummings' George W. Cummings; Timothy Mason; Samuel Biggen; Benjamin F. Davis; and Elisha Deville. These men prepared and signed a petition to organize a Masonic Lodge and forwarded the document to Most Worshipful J.H. McBride, Grand Master of Freemasons in Missouri.
On October 10, 1842 the request for the first Masonic Lodge in Dubuque was granted by the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Timothy Fanning was named the first Worshipful Master.
The newly organized Dubuque Lodge made their temporary quarters at the Shakespeare House (512 Main Street) and then took up a more permanent location over the drug store of Timothy Mason, a member of the order (between 3rd and 4th STREETS on the west side of Main. The lodge then moved to a new building erected by Emerson and Shields on the northwest corner of 4th and Main. At the second meeting, Alexander LEVI received his First Degree in Freemasonary. He became the first to become a Master Mason in Dubuque in December, 1842.
The Dubuque Lodge received its charter on October 10, 1843. It was named Dubuque Lodge, No. 62, Grand Lodge of Missouri. Officers were installed on November 16, 1843 at the Jefferson Hotel.
On November 21, 1843 a communication was read from Iowa Lodge No. 42 announcing a convention in Iowa City on January 2, 1844 to organize a Grand Lodge for the Territory of Iowa. Timothy Fanning, George W. Cummins, and Thomas S. WILSON were appointed delegates. The Grand Lodge was established at this meeting by the first four Masonic Lodges in the Territory of Iowa--Burlington, Bloomington (later Muscatine), Dubuque, and Iowa City. With the formation of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, the Dubuque Lodge No. 62 became Dubuque Lodge No. 3 A.F.& A.M., the name it continued to carry.
Dubuque Lodge No. 3 has many distinctions. It was the first and oldest Masonic Lodge in Dubuque. It was also the first to make a foreigner to be naturalized west of the MISSISSIPPI RIVER and north of the Missouri River a Mason. Alexander LEVI was a member for over fifty years.
Metropolitan Lodge No. 49, the second oldest Lodge in Dubuque, petitioned for its charter on June 1, 1854 and was organized as Metropolitan Lodge No. 49 on October 23, 1854. Thomas S. NAIRN was the first Worshipful Master. Two of the members of this Lodge, William P. Allen and Charles W. Walton, served as Grand Masters in Iowa.
Mosac Lodge No. 125, the third Masonic Lodge organized in Dubuque, held its first meeting on March 25, 1858. The first Worshipful Master was William H. Gaines. Joseph Chapman of this Lodge served as a Grand Master of Iowa from 1866-1867.
See: MASONIC TEMPLE