(by Stanley Fletcher – Vernon Parish Historian, Leesville Daily Leader, Feb 20, 2019)
In America, the earliest known lodges were in Pennsylvania in 1715. In Louisiana, the first lodge was chartered in 1794 in New Orleans. In Vernon Parish, the first lodge was chartered in 1857 in Hawthorne. Other lodges followed:
Anacoco Lodge, # 147 in Hawthorne was chartered on Feb. 10, 1857 – Feb. 17, 1881. Charter restored on May 14, 1885. Location changed to Leesville in 1971 and back to Anacoco on Nov. 17, 1979.
Rapides Lodge, # 158 in Huddleston was chartered on Feb. 16, 1859 – Feb., 1881.N. H. Bray Lodge # 208 in Walnut Hill was chartered on Feb. 15, 1871. Domicile changed to Slagle in 1945.
Leesville Lodge # 240 was chartered on Feb. 14, 1893 – Feb. 6, 1924. New charter issued on Feb. 4, 1925.
Toro Lodge # 253 in Hornbeck was chartered on Feb. 11, 1896 – open.
Rosepine Lodge # 290 was chartered on Feb. 3, 1904 – open.
Leander Lodge # 310 was…
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