First Masonic Lodge In Maquoketa

LAKE, WRIGHT, CURTIS, CHENEY, EARLE, BUTTERWORTH, SPENCER, ORCUTT

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 3/6/2008 at 07:33:10

Jackson Sentinel, Centennial Edition, 1938.

FIRST MASONIC LODGE IN MAQUOKETA WAS CHARTERED IN 1851.

In May of 1851 a petition to the grand master in Iowa to open a lodge in Maquoketa was granted under the name of Helion Lodge. The name "Helion", meaning sun in Greek, was borrowed from the name of the lodge of one of the petitioners, Dr. F. L. Lake from Alabama.
First officers were: Preston Lake, principal of the newly organized Maquoketa academy, worshipful master; Thomas Wright, senior warden; Marvin M. Curtis, junior warden; Carmel Cheney, treasurer; Thomas M. Wright, secretary; William Y. Earle, senior deacon; Nathaniel Butterworth, tyler.
In 1882 fire destroyed valuable records of the lodge as well as of the Royal Arch chapter and the Commandery which had been granted dispensation to organize in 1881. Uniforms and swords of the Knights Templar were lost in the same fire.
The Order of Eastern Star came into Maquoketa in 1895 with Mrs. F. A. Spencer as worthy matron, and G. Bentley Orcutt as worthy patron.