In the following report it was difficult to determine, in some cases, the true intent of the old records. The Lodge Minute Books burned in 1920, and other sources are difficult to find. There are probably errors in interpreting this information, but at least an effort has been made. Any corrections or additions would be most welcome.
The Pontotoc Blue Lodge Number 81 was organized in 1846 and chartered, February 27, 1847. In the beginning the meetings were held in The Lodge Room on the east side of the court square, long locally known as the Carr block. After the disastrous fire of 1855 destroyed the Baptist Church, which was a plank structure, the Baptist congregation and the Masons rebuilt a brick structure in 1856, the Baptist occupying the lower floor and the Masonic Lodge, the upper. This arrangement lasted until July 20, 1920, when this building too, was destroyed by fire. From 1920 until 1926 the Masonic Lodge held its meetings in the Order of the Odd Fellows Hall over the Jeff Brown Store. This arrangement lasted until the Bank of Pontotoc was rebuilt in 1926 on Main Street, the Masons purchased the upper floor and met there until the present lodge hall was constructed in 1967 on the Highway 15 Bypass. [1]
The first principal officers of the Pontotoc Lodge No. 81 were:
J. Edmondson - Worshipful Master
T. H. Williams – Senior Warden
George R. Freeman - Junior Warden
James W. Brake – Treasurer
Robert W. Edmondson – Secretary
G. M. Ragsdale – Senior Deacon
*unknown*- Junior Deacon
John Davis – Steward and Tyler
Other members were John Huntington, R. J. Jones, and W. R. Harris. [1]
Pontotoc county has been home to several Masonic Blue Lodges throughout the years. Unfortunately, only Pontotoc Lodge No. 81 remains in our county. Blue Lodges were located in several areas of the county including Tallabonela Lodge No. 169 in Troy (defunct 1950), Toccopola Lodge No. 310 in Toccopola (defunct 1984), Cherry Creek Lodge No. 339 in Ecru (defunct 2002), J. S. Swafford/Tyron No. 346 in Shady Grove/Esperanza (defunct 1879), Chester Lodge No. 350 in Chester/Paxton (defunct 1903), Chiwappa Lodge No. 360 in Zion (defunct 1894), Wm. H. Howard Lodge No. 487 in Mud Creek (defunct 1927), and Sherman Lodge No. 624 in Sherman (consolidated with R. E. Lee Lodge No. 156 in Chesterville 1986). [1]
There are several active Masonic Lodges which were chartered in Pontotoc County but are now in either Lee or Union counties. When Lee and Union counties were established in 1866 and 1870, respectively, portions of Pontotoc County was used to establish Union County on the north side and Lee County on the east side. These Lodges include Joseph Warren Lodge No. 71 in New Albany, chartered 1846, Palmetto Lodge No. 152 in Shannon, chartered 1852, Harrisburg Lodge, now "R. E. Lee Lodge No. 156" in Chesterville, chartered 1852, and Rocky Ford Lodge No. 185 in Etta, chartered 1854. [1]
Pontotoc Masonic Lodge has previously been home to several York Rite Bodies, the Chapter, Council and Commandry Bodies, but sadly all three of these York Rite Bodies have been discontinued at Pontotoc. Shield’s Chapter of Royal Arch Masons Number 18 was instituted, January 9, 1849, with A. J. Edmondson, Thomas H. Williams, George R. Freeman, and John A. McNeil as officers. The Pontotoc Council Number 26 of Royal & Select Masters was organized in 1849, but was not chartered until October 1, 1859. The first officers were as follow: Edwin C. Bolton, John A. McNeil, James Sample, J. W. Drake, M.W. Martin, Charles S. H. Taylor, and N. I. Mayo. The charter members in 1859 were: John Huntington, William R. Harris, Robert J. Jones, James C. Reid, Thomas H. Vaughn, John J. Formwalt, Benjamin C. Earle, William H. Kilpatrick, C. D. Fontaine, Wolfe Steppacher, James Oldshue, William E. McNeil, M. B. Feemster, and William M. Duncan. These two organizations, along with the Pontotoc Commandry Number 40, were discontinued several years ago. [1]
The Pontotoc Order of the Eastern Star Chapter Number 138 was organized, April 20, 1916, by District Deputy Grand Matron Addie Brown, of Blue Mountain. Those present and accepted as charter members were: W. H. Wood, Mrs. Ida Williamson Patterson, R. B. Patterson, Mrs. Clyde Hancock Mitchell, Mrs. Laura Souter Wood, Sue Souter, Mrs. Lucy Henson Young, L. B. Price, Hellen Young, Nattie Lee Ray, Mrs. Lela Bounds McClusky, Mrs. Levona Owen Long, Mrs. Clyde Moore Bass, F. R. Price, Mrs. Margarette Stegall Jenkins, Mrs. Stella Wilson Herman, A. F. Herman, and S. B. Long. [1]
The Order has and continues to produce many outstanding local, district, and state leaders. It would be difficult to list all these, but we will mention three top state office holders. Mrs. Ada Helms was elected Worthy Grand Matron of the State of Mississippi in 1938. Hugh H. Brown was elected Worthy Grand Patron in 1990. “Mr. Hugh” traveled widely and represented the Order well. Mrs. Bobbie Harrelson was elected Worthy Grand Matron in 1999 and represented the state in a colorful and patriotic way. She was born on July 4th. She also served the International Eastern Star for three years, as Worthy Grand Warder of the General Grand Chapter. On December 17, 1998, Houlka Order or the Eastern Star Number 48 merged with Pontotoc. The Order then became Pontotoc Order of the Eastern Star Number 48. Since then, New Albany Order of the Eastern Star Number 42 has merged with the Pontotoc Order becoming Pontotoc Order of the Eastern Star Number 42. The Order continues to be well attended and functioning organization. Their regular meetings are held at the Lodge on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.
Pontotoc Lodge Number 81, derived it’s Charter from the Grand Lodge of Mississippi in 1847. This Grand Lodge was organized in the City of Natchez on the 27th day of July 1818, by a convention consisting of Masters, Wardens, and Past Masters of Harmony Lodge Number 33, holding under the Grand Lodge of Kentucky; Andrew Jackson Lodge Number 15, and Washington Lodge Number 17, holding under the Grand Lodge of Tennessee. [3]
The Grand Lodge of Mississippi is descended from the Grand Lodge of York. Both the Ancient and the Moderns trace their origin from the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland, which also came from York. The Grand Lodge of York, after the establishment of the Grand Lodge of England, was known as the Grand Lodge of All England. We trace our descent as follows: The Grand Lodge of Virginia was formed October 30th, 1778, by Lodges which received their charters from the Grand Masters of both the English Grand Lodges and those of Scotland, Ireland, and Pennsylvania. The latter derived its authority from the Grand Lodge of England, but one of the constituent Lodges, over which Bro. Benjamin Franklin presided, was chartered in 1754, by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which was chartered by the Grand Master of England. Virginia chartered Lexington Lodge Number 25 at Lexington; Paris Number 35 at Paris, and Numbers 46 and 57, Virginia enumeration (probably Georgetown and Hiram); and these four, through their representatives, organized the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. [3]
“All Grand Lodges and subordinate Lodges in the United States and Canada trace their origin back to the Grand Lodge of England.” [2]
“Brethren, I have called attention to these facts in the early history of Mississippi, in connection with the establishment of Masonic Lodges, as an example of that distinguishing trait of the Masonic Institution, that it has always been found in the vanguard of every great movement in the progress and improvement of the human race.” [3]
“No loyal Freemason has ever been a traitor to his country. Next to love of God, Freemasonry teaches love of country. For that reason, the growth of Masonic membership has been greatest during times of the nation’s peril.” [3]
“The Freemasons of this country cannot afford to remain idle and ineffective, when the civilization of the world is threatened. The great fundamental principles upon which this government was founded are the principles of Freemasonry. The principles for which our flag stands and in defense of which our brave troops are now fighting are the principles of Freemasonry.” [3]
Our members enjoy working together, studying together, traveling together, meeting together and just plain being together. We like to visit and discuss all the current events. It is always interesting to find out what everyone else has been doing since the last meeting. Someone always has a good clean funny story to share. We sometimes laugh about the time back when the Lodge was located over the Bank of Pontotoc and a highway patrolman was getting one of his degrees. A team of patrolmen came to confer his degree and they came in there patrol cars and the phone began to ring and soon word was all over town that the bank had been robbed. [6]
Over the years, this Lodge has produced many outstanding leaders. It would be very difficult to attempt to name them. However, I will mention three that I have had the honor and privilege of knowing and working with.
Pontotoc Lodge No. 81 has had several District Deputy Grand Lecturers (DDGL) come forth from its Lodge. Bro. Greenberry Hardin Andrews was DDGL and an excellent ritualist. He was a quiet man, but he knew the work. Bro. Marion R. Turner is remembered, by all, as being District Deputy Lecturer, for many years, and then Grand Master in 1985. Many of us were privileged to travel for miles with him. Bro. James Homan also served us well in that same position for 15 years. His talent of leadership and instruction was of great benefit and has enriched many of the Brothers of our Lodge in the amount of ritual work he taught us over the years. Another exceptional DDGL from Pontotoc Lodge No. 81 is the late Bro. Mike Stewart. Bro. Mike only served as DDGL for a short three years until his unexpected passing in December of 2024. Bro. Mike was a tremendous asset to Pontotoc Lodge and his presence will most definitely be missed for many years to come. Our present DDGL is Bro. Billy Joe Barfield Jr. of Vardaman. I will conclude this report with a challenging story of a member of the past.
John Newton Sloan was born in Pickens County, South Carolina, on February 8, 1829. As a young man he moved to Mississippi and settled in Wallerville, Pontotoc County (now a part of Union County). On December 15, 1853, he was married to Susan P. Coleman, a union that would produce four children and last for 44 years. [5]
When war fell upon the south, John enlisted in the 45th Mississippi Infantry where “his bravery and worth being so apparent that he was made a Captain.” During the Battle of Chickamauga, a cannon ball tore away the lower part of his face. Left for dead, he lay on the field for the greater part of the day. Much of this time he was unconscious, but during one of those conscious periods, he was able to take a scrap of paper and a stub of a pencil from his pocket and laboriously scrawled a note stating, “I am not dead” and somehow managed to stick the note on a rail fence post against which he was lying. Just before dark, a Baptist minister, Rev. Charles H. Otkins, rode along the road by the fence. Afterwards, he said, he never knew what made him notice the paper on the post but he did read it and discovered Captain Sloan in the grass beside the fence. Captain Sloan recovered in the days before plastic-surgery in a field hospital with nothing but the most primitive facilities for healing. The Word courage seems a little threadbare when applied to Captain Sloan for he had more than courage and more than gallantry. He possessed a formidable faith in life itself and an indestructible will to live or he would never have returned home. He did return home, joined the Baptist Church, and in the years following the war moved to Pontotoc. An artificial chin was contrived for him and he lived on a liquid diet but he refused to allow himself to be denied a full life. A person would have to listen very carefully when he spoke but this was the only way he was slowed down. [5]
He entered public life and became Chancery Clerk, and office he held for 18 years. He became a member of Pontotoc Lodge Number 81, F&AM and was secretary of the order for many years. He was also a member of Shield’s Royal Arch Chapter Number 18 and Pontotoc Council Number 26. John died “from a complication of diseases at his home Monday night at ten o’clock, December 13, 1897, after a lingering illness of many months at the age of 68.” [5] “The funeral was held at home Wednesday morning, December 15, the forty-fourth anniversary of his marriage.” The body was consigned to its last resting place in the Pontotoc Cemetery with a Masonic ceremony. The life of John Newton Sloan is a beautiful example of man’s indestructible will to live, to rise above obstacles that may be encountered, and ring true again the fact that man is never defeated until he gives up. [4]
References Notes:
[1]Caldwell, Mildred Boyd, Pontotoc, County History, WPA Historical Project, 1936.
[2]Grand Lodge of Mississippi, Meridian, MS, pp. 112, 646, 621, 645.