THE MASONIC COLLEGE OF MISSOURI

THE MASONIC COLLEGE OF MISSOURI

THE MASONIC COLLEGEOF MISSOURI

AN ADDRESS BY

HENRY C. CHILES

DELIVERED BEFORE THE MASONIC RESEARCH

SOCIETY OF MISSOURI

AT ITS ANNUAL DINNER

CORONADO HOTEL, ST. LOUIS

SEPTEMBER 23, 1934

1935

. PUBLISHED BY THE GRAND LODGE

A. F. & A. M. OF MISSOURI

Copyright, 1935, by

HENRY C. CHILES

PRINTED IN U. S. A.

PRINTED BY

THE OVID BELL PRESS

FULTON, MO.

AN INTRODUCTION

No ONE is better qualified to tell the story of the servicerendered by the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of the Stateof Missouri through his activities in the realm of highereducation than Brother Henry C. Chiles, the present GrandSenior Deacon of the Grand Lodge. His entire life hasbeen spent in Lexington, where from childhood he has beenunder the influence and tradition left by the Masonic College of Missouri. His zeal in Masonic activities hasenhanced his natural interest in the history of this pioneerinstitution of higher learning which was conducted by theGrand Lodge of Missouri, while his college and universitybackground have provided the understanding mind whichhas committed to manuscript form the scholarly addressdelivered by him at the meeting of the Missouri MasonicResearch Council at the Hotel Coronado in St. Louis duringthe 1934 communication of the Grand Lodge.

Not content with compiling the story of the collegeitself, Brother Chiles has, since the delivery of the address,written brief biographical sketches of the several presidentsof the institution, based upon material gathered in connection with research work done by him in preparing the history of the college.

Federal forces occupied the college buildings, groundand adjacent terrain in September, 1861. Some of thephotographs illustrating the volume show the entrench

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MASONIC COLLEGE OF MISSOURI

ments thrown up by Federal forces and the effects of thebombardment by the Confederate batteries. We regretthat the time allotted for the address compelled the authorto limit his story to the Masonic College, for we are surethat an account of the battle would have been equally asinteresting.

The Fraternity of Missouri is deeply indebted to theauthor for perpetuating the record of its pioneer work inthe field of higher education, not only by means of thespoken words of his address and the printed pages of thisvolume, but also for his part in the erection of a memorialreplica of the main building, the replica being dedicatedby the Grand Lodge May 18, 1934, on the eighty-seventhanniversary of the laying of the original cornerstone.

The Masonic College of Missouri has long since passedinto history; it was for many years the chief concern of theGrand Lodge of Missouri. That it was an undertakingwell worth while, this volume reveals beyond a doubt.That its influence for good survives even to this day cannotbe questioned. But I must no longer detain you fromreading this interesting story.

Fraternally,RAY V. DENSLOW,

Past Grand Master.

Trenton, Mo., February 6, 1935.

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THE GRAND LODGE A. F. & A. M. of the State of Mis

souri for fifteen years owned and operated a real college.It was known as the MASONIC COLLEGE OF MISSOURI, andwas the first institution of its kind in A~erica, and, perhaps, in the world. According to the standards of its day,it was a first-class institution of higher education, and, inMissouri, it blazed the way of higher education.

From 1844 to 1847 the seat of the college was in MarionCounty, near Philadelphia, l\1issouri, and thereafter untilthe close of the college year 1859 it was at Lexington.

The question ,most frequently asked about the MasonicCollege of Missouri is: "How did it happen that the GrandLodge of Missouri undertook the task of education?"

I shall endeavor to answer that question and then giveyou a brief historical account of the college.

GRAND LODGE APPROVES PLAN

The printed proceedings of our Grand Lodge Communications prior to 1841 do not record any discussion of orproposal relative to educational activities or substantialcharitable undertakings on the part of the Grand Lodge.Hence, the reader of the ancient proceedings is startled tofind that at the Communication of October, 1841, the firstitem of new business recorded is the submission of certainresolutions by S. W'. B. Carnegy, P. G.' M., declaring it"necessary and expedient and the imperative duty as well

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as to the interest of the Grand Lodge to establish . . . aninstitution of learning for the sons of indigent Masons andsuch others .as the Grand Lodge may from time to time admit; and also to establish at such place as the Grand Lodgemay direct an asylum for the maintenance and education ofthe female orphans of worthy Master Masons and others" ;and the resolutions also called for the erection in the Cityof St. Louis of a Grand Masonic Hall. These resolutionswere unanimously adopted, notwithstanding the balancein the Grand Lodge treasury was then only $566.09; therewere only thirty Lodges (including Lodges U. D.) and thetotal membership in the State was between seven and eighthundred.

Please note that Colonel Carnegy in his resolutions setforth that the actions proposed were "necessary," "expedient," an "imperative duty," and to the "interest of theGrand Lodge." These expressions are the key to ourquestion.

THE WILLIAM MORGAN AFFAIR

If you visit the cemetery at the town of Batavia, NewYork, you will see there an imposing monument formed ofa towering column surmounted by the figure of a man ofdistinguished appearance; and on the monument thesewords: "William Morgan, Murdered by the Masons."

The excitement created by the disappearance of WilliamMorgan of Batavia, New York, in September, 1826, ripened into what is known as the anti-Masonic movement,which was nationwide and extraordinarily bitter. The op-

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AN EXPERIMENT IN EDUCATION

posItIon to Freemasonry became so pronounced in' Missouri that in October, 1831, it was actually proposed thatthe Grand Lodge be dissolved; in October, 1833', at theCommunication' held in St. Louis, adjournment was takento Columbia, and the Grand Lodge continued to hold' itsCommunications there (except in 1835 when none washeld) up to and including October, 1836, at which Com:'munication only four lodges were represented. Communications in St. Louis were resumed in October, 1837.

What the anti-Masonic period was like is graphicallydescribed by Dr. J. W. S. Mitchell, P. G. M.:l

I have lived through a period made dark by the baseborn effortsof the political schemer and the cowardly desertion of the so-calledMason, uniting to bring derision, and scorn, and ruin upon aninstitution honored by long ages for its deeds of benevolence andcharity and love.

During that same period it had been charged that Freemasons preached charity and benevolence but did not practice what they preached; as is evidenced by the words of thesame distinguished Freemason, in his report as Chairmanof the Committee on the College, April, 1843:

The institution of which you are members professes to practicebenevolence, and shall it be said that Masonry consists only invain boasting and show? Will you tell the world that Freemasonry consists in faith in God, hope in immortality and charityto all mankind, while you withhold from the destitute orphan thegleanings from your plenteous harvests?

I t seems to me that the reasons the Grand Lodge so

1 Proceedings, October, 1848.


readily adopted the Carnegy resolutions of October, 1841,

which stated that the actions proposed were "necessary,""expedient," an "imperative duty," and to the "interest ofthe Grand Lodge," may be stated as follow:

'The anti-Masonic crisis had been passed. During thatperiod it had been charged that Freemasons preached charity and benevolence, but failed to practice what theypreached. The Grand Lodge in adopting these resolutionsin effect declared that never again should it be possible tomake these charges in Missouri. The Freemasons of Missouri, now confident. in renewed and growing strength,would show the world by tangible activity, visible to all,that the actual practice of these virtues was their creed.They would provide education and shelter for the orphanand for the indigent.

A further purpose of the resolutions appears to havebeen this: During the anti-Masonic excitement, the GrandLodge had been driven from its seat, the City of St. Louis,and had gone homeless to find what shelter it might atColumbia, then an outpost of civilization. The GrandLodge declared that never again should that occ,ur. Itwould build its home, its Grand Hall, at its seat, fromwhich no storm of 'opposition could drive it and whichwould be a visible sign of its numbers and of its power.

THE COLLEGE IN MARION COUNTY

Another que,stion frequently asked is: How did ithappen that the Masonic College of Missouri was estab

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lished in Marion County? Thatquestion is easily answered-because the Grand Lodge acquired the properties ofMarion College, which was the first chartered" college inMissouri, and one of the first west of the Mississippi River.These properties consisted of what was known as the UpperCollege (the college proper) with about 470 acres of land,and the Lower College (or "prep" school), located abouttwelve miles away, with about 880 acres of land.

First and last, ~larion College represented the invest~

ment of perhaps as much as one hundred thousand dollars.It was chartered by the Act of the General Assembly ofMissouri, approved the fifteenth day of January, 1831, andwas a Presbyterian institution. Marion College became involved in the breach in that denomination which dividedinto "Old School" and "New School"; it also became involved in the antislavery controversy; and it was" ultimatelyinvolved in the unwise financial schemes of Col. WilliamMuldrow. All these involvements, coupled with the nation-wide financial disaster of the late '30's, killed MarionCollege.

The coIiege properties, and other lands, were acquiredby the Rev. Hewey H. Hayes, who had been a member ofthe college faculty; and among other muniments of title ofMr. Hayes is a sheriff's deed executed following a sheriff'ssale under execution held October 18, 1841, and acknowledged in open Circuit Court in Marion" County on January12, 1842. The sheriff who made the sale" and executed thedeed was Col. Jordan J. Montgomery, a Freemason." The

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circuit clerk who issued the execution and certified theacknowledgment was Stanton Buckner, a Freemason. Andthe circuit judge upon the bench was M. W. BrotherPriestly H. McBride, who sat in the East when the Carnegyresolutions were presented in 1841.

Colonel Carnegy was a lawyer, a resident and member ofthe bar of Palmyra. He and Montgomery and Bucknerwere members of Palmyra Lodge No. 18. Judge McBride'smembership was in Paris-Union Lodge No. 19, at Paris,Missouri.

GRAND LODGE PURCHASES PROPERTY

Mr. Hayes could not utilize the College properties andlet it be known that they were for sale. Judge McBridefavored their purchase by the Grand Lodge. ColonelCarnegy at first did not favor the plan, but later waived hisobjections. On September 12, 1842, Judge· McBride,Colonel Carnegy and fifteen other brethren contracted tobuy the properties, subject to the acceptance of the GrandLodge, for $9,500. It was truly a wonderful bargain-toogood a bargain for the Scotchmen (McBride and Carnegy)to pass by. It was a golden opportunity for the GrandLodge to acquire extensive properties, fitted for its purposes, and embark at once on its program of education.

At its Communication in October, 1842, the GrandLodge voted unanimously to accept the contract of purchase. It was planned that the Lower College lands besold and the proceeds used to help pay the purchase price,

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as the Upper College lands and buildings were all that theGrand Lodge would require for its purposes. The financialside of Masonic College history is a very intricate and involved story. May I dismiss it this evening by saying thatthe Grand Lodge did not get a deed for the Marion Collegeproperties until May, 1852-five years after it had voted toremove the College to Lexington?

The Grand Lodge at its Communication of October,1842, appointed a committee to apply to the General Assembly of Missouri for a charter of incorporation; thiswas granted by the Act approved February 17, 1843, which,among other things, empowered the corporation to operatea college.

COLLEGE OFFICIALLY OPENS

All was in readiness by the spring of 1844. The first students enrolled on the twelfth of May. M. W. Brother J.Worthington Smith, A.M., P. G. M. and P. G. H. P. ofVirginia, president-elect of the college, arrived on the fourteenth. Prof. Archibald Patterson, A.M., of Fayette, didnot arrive until June 6, having been delayed by heavy rains.Prof. H. W. Hollingsworth was added to the faculty at alater date. By the time the Grand Lodge held its annualCommunication in October, 1844, the college was in fulloperation, and, for so young an institution, in very successful operation.

We learn from the report of President Smith then submitted that the enrollment included 1 sophomore, 14 fresh

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men and 29 in the "prep" school, a total of 44. Four ofthese students were "beneficiaries"; that is, they paid notuition. Under the regulations previously adopted, eachlodge was entitled to name one "beneficiary."

It appears from the report that the president ate in trulydemocratic fashion at the same table with the students inthe refectory, and he pronounced the meals "not in anyrespect inferior to the tables of Yale and Harvard." HealSo set forth the course of study, which he declaredwas "on a par with the most favored institutions of ourcountry." It has not been possible for me to make thecomparison, but I think you will agree with me that the

. student who completed this course (and it remained practically the same throughout the life of the college, both inMario~ County and "at Lexington) was an educated man.It was as follows:

MASON~C COLLEGE CURRICULUM

Freshman

Cicero's Orations. Horace's Odes.Greek Testament. Grreca Majora, first volume.Tyler's Elements of History.Legendre's Geometry.Composition in English and Latin.Declamation every Saturday.Bible recitation every Sunday morning.

Sophomore

Grreca Majora, second volume.Horace's Satires, Epistles and Ars Poetica.

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PRESIDENTS HOUSE, MASONIC COLLEGE, PHILADELPHIA, MO.


Plain and Spherical Trigonometry.Mensuration, Navigation and Surveying.Nautical Astronomy and Application of Algebra to Geometry.

Conic Sections, etc.Blair's Rhetoric.Hedges'Logic.Folsom's Livy Tacitus. Cicero's De Amicitia, De Senectute, and

De Natura Deorum.Greek and Latin Translations and Composition.Declamation weekly.Bible Recitation every Sunday morning.

ftmiorJuvenal.Homer's Hliad.Natural Philosophy.Differential and Integral Calculus (Cambridge course).Geology.Mineralogy.Chemistry.Latin and Greek Composition and Declamation.Bible Recitation every Sunday morning.

Senior

Astronomy, including calculation of eclipses, etc.Intellectual Philosophy.Moral Philosophy.Political Economy.Civil Engineering (Cambridge course with field practice) .Constitutional and International Law.Practical Botany and Vegetable Physiology.Declamation and original compositions.Bible Recitation every Sunday morning.

By way of electives-and it is difficult to see how anystudent would have time for electives-it was announced

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that Hebrew, French, Spanish and Italian would be taughtat any period of the course, if desired.

As to degrees it was announced:

Students who shall go through the whole course above mentioned and shall pass a satisfactory examination in all the branchesof study will be entitled to the degree of Bachelor of Arts andthree years thereafter to the degree of Master of Arts, in course.

To the present generation, the practice of conferring theA.M. degree in course may seem unusual, as the degree isnow conferred only after further work following attainment of the A.B. degree. But according to the general custom of the time (and a custom which prevailed in some institutions as late as the '80's), this treatment of the A.M.degree was no departure from the best academic standards.By way of example it is to be noted that President AdielSherwood, who was president of the Masonic College atLexington during its first year there, was graduated with thedegree of A.B. from Union College, New York, and received the A.M. degree in course July 26, 1820.2

THE COLLEGE YEAR

The college year of the Masonic College had a durationof ten months, divided into two sessions of five monthseach. The first annual catalogue states that the first sessioncontinued from the first Monday in November to the lastday of March, and the second from the first Monday inMay to the first Wednesday in October; and that the last

2 Memoir of Adiel Sherwood, D.D., (Philadelphia, 1884) p. 188.

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two weeks of each session were to be devoted to rigid, public examinations.

After the college had been established in Lexington, thefirst session continued from the first Monday in October tothe last Friday in February, and the second from the firstMonday in March to the fourth Thursday in July. Thisdivision of the college year continued until the fall of 1854,when the first session began on the first Monday in September and ended the last Friday in January, and the secondterm commenced on the first Monday in February andended the fourth Thursday in June, which arrangementcontinued throughout the remaining life of the college.

PHYSICAL CONDITION OF COLLEGE

In his report President Smith described the condition ofthe college buildings and grounds at the time of his arrival in the spring of 1844. As these had been unprotectedand untenanted since the closing of 11arion College, thepicture is one of ruin and desolation:

The whole premises did not contain one building fit for humanhabitation. The only ones that could be used at all were the president's house and the refectory and even those were extremely leakyand uncomfortable. The brick row which contains 28 dormitorieswas entirely unfit for use. The doors and windows were utterlydemolished and many of the rooms had been used as stables andhog-sties. The (college) Hall and recitation rooms were in asimilar state of ruin. Every rail of the fence that once enclosedthe 160 acres of prairie in front of the college has been abstracted.

Following this, the report indicated that the necessaryrepairs had been made or were in progress.

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COLLEGE LODGE NO. 70

Under the charter, no person who was not a MasterMason (servants employed in common labor and femalesexcepted) could have any employment with the college:so, of necessity, there had to be a lodge home for the brethren who taught and wrought in the institution. To thisend, College Lodge No. 70 was chartered, October 16,1844. Professor Patterson represented the Lodge U. D. atthe Communication of October, 1844. President Smithwas first Worshipful Master, and Professor Patterson wasthe first Senior Warden. With the closing of the collegein Marion County (1847), College Lodge No. 70 was removed to Warren, in that county, and its name changed toDickerson Lodge No. 70.

GRAND LODGE LAWS FOR GOVERNMENT

In October, 1844, a revised constitution and by-lawswere adopted by the Grand Lodge. These by-laws contained provisions relative to the college, and carefully provided for its organization and control. The Board of Curators, elected every two years, was to be composed of notless than seven nor more than fifteen members. The president and members of the faculty were likewise to be electedfor terms of two years. They were required to take anoath of office before assuming their duties and to reside onthe college premises. They had general charge of the institution, its property and student body, and were givenpower to enact and enforce rules and regulations, subject

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to the 'approval of the.Grand Lodge: The Secretary of theFaculty was charged with 'the duty of reporting annually tothe, Grand Lodge, the proceedings of the faculty and allrules and regulations adopted.

Discipline of the st'udents ranged from "private admonition" on up the scale through "public admonition," "degradation," "suspension," "private dismission," "public dismission,". "deprivation of honors," and finally.to "expulsion." Fines and damages could be levied by the facultyagainst any student defacing or damaging the collegeproperty.

Each professor ~as required to report in writing to thepresident each week; the president to the Board of Curatorssemiannually, and the Board of Curators to the annualCommu~icationof the Grand Lodge. The Board of Curators was required to visit the college twice a year; its officerswere a president;vice-president, and secretary. An important committee of the board was that of Superintendence(five members), which was to inspect the college everythree mo~ths and report to the board semiannually. Theboard had power to fill vacancies in the faculty, etc.

The religious life of the student body was amply provided for: The duties of each day were required to be be~

gun and ended with Scripture reading and prayer. And theappointment of four ministers of the Gospel, from as manydenominations, called "chaplains," was authorized, eachto preach at the College Hall "once a month and notoftener" and "never on sectarian doctrine."

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The steward of the college was an officer elected by theGrand Lodge annually. He had charge of the refectory,and in addition to providing three meals a day for the students, was charged also with the duty of causing thelaundry to be done and with providing fuel, candles orother convenient means of lighting. He also directed thefarming operations and 1-90ked after leasing out the farmlands, collecting the rents, etc., and reported to the boardevery six months.

CONTROL AND COLLECTION OF PERMANENT FUND

There were two important financial agencies connectedwith the college. One was the Board of College FundCommissioners (three) appointed annually by the GrandMaster, who had charge of the "permanent fund," that is,the endowment fund, in modern parlance. The other wasthe college agent, or general agent of the college, who wasappointed annually by the Grand Master. It was his dutyto solicit and collect subscriptions for endowing theinstitution.

On the whole, the provisions for the control, conductand organization of the college (and I have given you onlysome of the more important) impress the reader as beingfundamentally sound. Two defects of major importanceare apparent, namely; the rule of classification, so often inthese days applied to boards, was not applied to the Boardof Curators; that is, the entire board was elected every twoyears, instead of having one-third or one-fourth of the

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board elected every year. And, further, no provision wasmade for the payment of traveling or other expenses whichwould be incurred by chaplains, curators, commissioners,college agents, and others in the performance of theirduties. In the case of the college agent, who, it is apparent,had the mightiest task of all, no definite provision wasmade for either compensation or expenses; the by-lawssimplystating he should be allowed "so much as the GrandLodge may deem those services to be worth."

Fortunately, the Grand Lodge enlisted as college agentColonel Carnegy, one of the most unselfish, enthusiasticand capable of its members, and he gave unstintingly ofhis time and his talents in promoting the noble and gloriouswork of firmly establishing the Masonic College of Missouri. He not only traveled all over Missouri, but he wentto Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi andLouisiana. He collected more than $11,000, and theGrand Lodge fixed his compensation at $629.68!!! Heactually received $229.41, as he waived payment of thedifference because the Grand Lodge finances were low inMay, 1848, the time when the final settlement of accountswas had.

THE FEMALE ACADEMY

In referring to the Masonic College of Missouri, theHistory of Marion County (1884) states: "A female department was added in 1844, in charge of Professor Warren A. Reed." In his report to the Grand Lodge, October,

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M.A SON ICC 0 L LEG E 0 F MIS SOU R I

1845, President Smith stated, "Brother Warren A. Reedwas employed as teacher of mathematics and performedhis duties with great ability till the middle of July last,when he was obliged to leave on account of ill-health."But President Smith does' not confirm the statement justquoted from the county history, nor is the female academymentioned in any of' the president's reports. But, certainitems bf expense, such as hauling a piano and repairs andhouse rent for' teacher 'in female academy, which appear infinancial reports submitted to the Grand Lodge in October,1846, and. other bits of information all indicate that afema1e academy was for a time operated by the GrandLodge'it;l the properfy of Colonel Muldrow in the villageof Philadelphia. Whether this phase of educational activity on the' part of the Grand Lodge had anything to do withthe'sudden suspension of the Masonic College in MarionC0U11ty .is a· question which the printed record does notanswer.: In fact,the printed record does not indicate anyreason for such suspension.

In the October 1, i846, issue of the Freemason's MonthlyMagazine (Boston); edited by Brother Charles W. Moore,Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of 'Massachusetts,was published a lengthy letter from Brother S. T. Glover ofPalmyra, dated August i, 1846, in which he speaks in themost glowing terms of the progress and success of theMasonic College of Missouri, and describes conditions atthe college as seen by him on a recent visit. Yet at theCommunication of the Grand Lodge, October, 1846, this

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AN EX PER I MEN TIN ED U CAT rON'

same brother submitted a resolution calling' for a: change oflocation of the college.

REMOVAL FROM MARION TO LEXINGTON

As a result of this a~tion,. an,adjb~rned Communicationwas held in March, 1847, at :vhich time, it ,was decided, tolocate the college at Lexington, and to discontinue the college in Marion County upon the termination of the sessionthen in progress.

The selection of Lexington was a perfectly natural one,inasmuch as its citi,zens had raised by subscription $30,000

to provide grounds and buildings (more than any othercommunity considered); and for the further reason thatLexington was the seat of the largest Lodge in the State,there being then, 62 subordinate lodges and LafayetteLodge No. 32 was the largest of them alL Gauged bypresent-day standards, however, it was not a large Lodge,as it had only 54 members on its rolls.

DEDICATION OF BUILDINGS

As a campus for the Masonic College at Lexington atract of 6.46 acres in a square was acquired, the land lyingabout one-half mile from the courthouse square, on a highbluff overlooking the Missouri River. The cornerstone ofthe college building was .laid May 18, 1847, and PresidentSmith· was the orator of the occasion. The building wasdedicated on July 11, 1848, and the college opened in October of the same year. The Rev. Adiel Sherwood, D.D.,

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was president during that year. He was succeeded by theRev. C. G. MacPherson, who served one year. He wassucceeded by the Rev. Ferdinand LaBoma Shaver. In July,1853, President Shaver declined reelection, and ProfessorPatterson became president pro tellZ.

At commencement time, June, 1855, Prof. William T.Davis was promoted to 'the presidency, an office in which heremained until the institution closed.in June', 1'859. In theyear 1852 there was built what is referred toin the proceedings ,'as' the "boarding house"-in fact, a refectory anddormitory.

, DESCRIJ>TION OF MAIN BUILDING

The mairi building was 81 feet long, 52' feet wide and 34feet high from the ground to the eav.es, ,and 38 feet from~he:' floor of the first story to the eaves. ' The, three-storybuilding was of brick with a stone foundation, and in theGrecian-Doric style., There were foufstately flutedcolumns at the front with appropriate caps and entablatures. In the center of the tympanum was the letter "G,"on either side of which 'was a sprig of. acacia and otherMasonic emblems.' The first, or basement floor, was thechapel. In each of the other two stories' there were roomsfor classes and other collegiate purposes, separated by awide hall running the length of the building.

The boarding house, or refectory and dormitory, was ofbrick, two stories high, 50 feet square, with an ell 30 feetby 20 feet. A third story was added in 1854. This build

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ing was practically destroyed during the battle of Lexing-ton in September, 1861. , _., An eye-witness .whose account of the dedication in 1848

was published in the Masonic Signet (St. Louis, September,1848,) tells ,us that "at 10:0.0 o'clock, th~ fraternityhav-'ing assembled. at the courtho.\lse, were joined by the Mayorand. city authorities, three division~ of the Sons of Te~perance, and the Sunday School children of the various schools,numbering about 650. The fraternity; of whom about 200

were in the procession, with their splendid regalia andjewels, the neat white dresses ,of the children; their handsome bann.ers, together with the simple ba.dges of the Sonsof Temperance, with their appropriate banners, made altogether a very interesting procession; .' . . while the whqlepopulation of town and country, in carriages of all sizesand descriptions, were hastening on to secure. for themselves'a location within seeing or hearing distance of thededicatory services." .

REMINISCENCES BY COLONEL ALLEN

During the year' 1855-'56; Dewitt· Clinton Allen, ofLiberty, a graduate 'of: Willi~m Jewell College, was principal of the "prep". schooL Writing for The LexingtonNews, in 1909, Colonel Allen contributed s'ome interestingreminiscences of the Masonic College and the golden daysi~ Lexington "befa' the war." These' reminiscences werein five and one-half columns, and there is opportunity tonight for o1)ly a few quotations from them.

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Of the college, Colonel Allen said: -

From all that I ever knew of the Masonic College, both beforeand after 1855-56, the institution was one of. the most valuable inMissouri.

His accounts of· the college life, go to indicate that lifeat the Masonic College' was no exception to the generalrule: For example, -he says: "The placing of pins at inconvenientpoi~ts on my chair in chapel began at the very beginning of the year. Past experience in that line of mischief made me wary from the outset and they never caughtme." And he goes·on to relate how they did catch thepresident of the college (Brother William T. Davis, alarge, fleshy man). . . -

Another quotation:

The college authorities required me to take a 'room in the college· edifice. This was for the purpose of· keeping the peace 0'

nights and stopping the nightly ringing 'of the college belL . : .From my window I could look across to the boarding house ~ ..and at all times survey the bell . . . [which] was mounted' on alarge, heavy post, twenty-five feet from the ground.. It was put inmotion by a rope tied to it and which hung to the ground. [Onemoonlit'night he heard tile bell ringing, although the bell rope hadbeen secured and locked and no one cou III be seen near the post]the ringing was not the rolling of a peal, but the sharp, jerky clangof a firebe11. ... I went quietly into the library room and therecaught Fitzhugh Alexander and others ringing the bell in greatglee [by means of a cord tied to the clapper arid passed throughthe library window). I politely asked them to "letme ring some."They fled precipitately.' Deeming it the best policy to say nothingof the matter for the time; I made no report to the faculty. The"boys" appreciated this course and the bell rang no more 0' nights.

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The Fitzhugh Alexander who rang the bell is no less aperson than our Worshipful Brother, the erudite lawyerwhom I remember as a boy, one of the most learned of theprofession in Western Missouri, and typical of the smallgroup who were graduates of the Masonic College of Missouri. The Masonic College had few graduates, the requirements for graduation being too strict for it to pile upa long roll of alumni, but those graduates were outstandingin the communities in which they lived and were known aseducated gentlemen. In the old days in Lexington to saythat a man was a graduate of the Masonic College of Missouri, was to place upon him a mark of distinction, and leftnothing more necessary to be said. Of this type, were"Fitz" Alexander, Judge John E. 'Ryland, Deputy GrandMaster of the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1872, and, although the war came along and the college was closed before he could graduate, Judge Xenophon Ryland, who in1876 was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri.I mention these, as it was my privilege to know them andto be impressed as a youth with their dignity, their graciousness, and their high mentality.

REASONS FOR FAILURE

The Masonic College of Missouri was never a success ina financial way. It was a shining example of a worthyenterprise entered into with more enthusiasm than capital-"on a shoe string," so to speak. But for the uncertainconditions of the pre-Civil War period, however, it is safe

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to say that the college would have overcome the financialhandicap under which it labored." But that period, in Missouri as well as elsewhere, was not one in which to overcome such handicaps". There w"as a lack of harmony evenin the Fraternity. Byway of example, it may be pointedout that as early as 1855 the Masons in Lexington haddivided and in that small community there existed" twolodges, old Lafayette' No. 32, and Lexington No. 149.When the Grand Lodge held its annual Communication inLexington in May, 1856, thOese two lodges appointed committees to act together on arrangements, with the provisoon the part of the older Lodge that "it will not incur anyexpense for a public .celebration or procession." Condilions, generally,' were "in a very disturbed state. For instances in the summer of 1856, the proslavery forces closedthe Missouri River" to boats carrying men from the Northbourid "for Kansas;" and one company from Chicago, allarmed, was taken off a boat at Lexington, disarmed andsent back down" the river and to Alton, Illinois. These menhad been paid $100 each to "go to Kansas.

"In these trying years the Masonic College was being conducted at a loss and the deficit was mounting higher yearby year. It appeared to many that the Grand Lodge had a"white elephant" on its hands. At the Communication ofMay, 1859, after a battle royal on the floor of the GrandLo"dge, on a roll call of lodges, it was voted to sustain aminority committee report and close the college at the endof the session then in progress.

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BATTLEFIELD, MISSOURI RIVER IN THE DISTANCE, OLD ENTRENCHMENTSIN THE FOREGROUND


This action of the Grand lodge brought a storm of opposition from Lexington and the friends of the college.Both lodges at Lexington united in the ,common object ofbringing about a reopening of the institution. A Masonic"Convention" was held in Lexington on the twenty-fourthof June, 1859, to devise ways and means. The lodges andMasons of the State were circularized in a style whichmight in these days be called propaganda. Another andmore largely attended convention was held in Lexingtonon the twelfth of October, 1859, and resolutions were thenadopted denouncing the action of the Grand Lodge in closing the college, and plans were made to carry the matter tothe floor of the Grand Lodge at its next Communication,May, 1860. At that Communication, however, the GrandMaster, M. W. Brother Marcus Boyd, in his address characterized the conventions as irregular and un-Masonic andthe Grand Lodge sustained him and thus no action favorable to reopening the college as a Masonic institution wastaken.

PROPERTY GIVEN TO STATE

As a matter of fact, the Grand Lodge ~ppointed a committee to attend to the matter of transferring the collegeproperty to the State of Missouri for school purposes. Fora short time a sort of military school was conducted thereby the State, but in 1871 the State transferred the propertyback to the Grand Lodge, which, in the same year, conveyed it to the predecessor of the Central College for

[29)


Women, a Methodist institution, which became defunct in1925, after many thousands of dollars had been expendedin improving and

iexpanding the property and endowing

the institution. In 1928, by virtue of conveyances from theGrand Lodge and from the Central College for Women,the property was conveyed to the City of Lexington for apublic park. In August, 1932, the college building andMurrell auditoriurn were destroyed by fire.

THE MEMORIAL

In 1933 and 1934, by virtue of Civil Works Administration projects, and the cooperation of the City ofLexington,the debris was cleared away, and on the original site wasbuilt for use as a shelter house a replica of the originalbuilding of the Masonic' College of Missouri, half-scale.The replica is a faithful one, even to the letter "G" and thesprigs of acacia. This replica and four memorial columns,which mark the four corners of the original building, werededicated by the Grand Lodge on the eighteenth of May,1934, the eighty-seventh anniversary of the date on whichthe original cornerstone was laid.

The memorial at the northeast corner consists of threestone steps, surmounted by a brick column capped withstone, and was erected by Lexington Lodge No. 149. Thestone used is from the original building. On the east sideof this memorial is the Grand Lodge memorial tablet. 3

On the north side is the memorial tablet placed by Lexing-

3 See page 31.[30]

~7""';.ao;"I.;~" •. ..'::'"' f.·,.. c:.;~ .~ •••~:-.'!~. ~_.I" ._ .14., ~'J'

MAP OF THE BATTLEFIELD, SHOWING LOCATIONOF COLLEGE BUILDING

AN. EXPERIMENT IN EDUCATION

ton --Lodge.~ -These' two . tablets :fully cotninemor-ate .theM~~on~c College~o£Missoud. - _.

,- 'The other irierri6rial~colu~ns,we~e' ~r~cted by t~e City ofLexington. "_The one at· the northwest corner' commemorates the Battle of- Lexington,September-12-20, '1861', asthe Masonic -College: buildings and grounds v.rere part' ofthe'strongty fortified position of the forces of Colonel Mulligan, U. S. Army, during the engagement. The one at thesoutheast' corner colIlIiiemorates· the presidents and former'students. of. the Masonic, College, and its capstone· is anoriginal stone of the college struck by cannon balls, during t4e battle and has imbedded in it a cannon ball used inthe battle. The memorial column at the southwest cornerc6mmemor~tes the Central College for Women,' its pres,idents, graduates and chief benefactor, the Rev. Dr. Wil~iam_B. Palmore. Appropriate memorial tablets and enlargedphotographs provided by the City of Lexington have beenplaced on each of these columns.

GRAND LODGE MEMORIAL TABLET

The following inscription appears on the tablet erectedby the Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Missouri:

Here, on May 18, 1847, the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free andAccepted Masons of. the State of Missouri laid the cOfnerst0t:le ofthe Masonic College of Missouri, which it dedicated July 11, 1848.

Here, the Grand Lodge provided higher education for youngmen until June, 1859.

Here, by virtue of a gratuitous conveyance from the Grand

4 See page 32.[31]


Lodge higher education for young women was made possible untilJune, 1925; and by virtue of a like conveyance of March 19, 1928,this rn~morial park was assured to the City of Lexington for theperpetual enjoyment of the public.,In commemoration of these services, the Grand, Lodge has

~rec,ted this memorial tablet, this 18th day of May,_ 1934. '

ARTHUR MATHER} F.-C. ~ARNJ.ULL/'Grand Secretary. ' , Grand Master.

MEMORIAL TABLET ERECTED BY LEXINGTON LODGE 'NO.,149

The following inscription appears on the tablet erectedby Lexington Lodge No. 149, A. F. & A.'M.:

, 'This memorial to the Masonic College of Missouri, built withstones taken from the college walls, has been placed by LexingtonLodge No. 149, A. F. & A. M., over the original cornerstone inwhich was deposited May 18, 1847, a copper plate bearing theseinscriptions: '

Masonic College of Missouri, cornerstone laid May 18,A.1. 5847.

M. W. John Ralls, Grand MasterM. W. J. W. Smith, President of the CollegeJames K. Polk, President of the United States

John C. Edwards, Governor of MissouriEngraved by R. S. Wentworth

The original copper plate is in the archives of LexingtonLodge No. 149, A. F. & A. M.

The speaker counts himself fortunate' to have ~~en_ officially connected with the Civil Works Administration

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MEMORIAL TABLET AND COLUMN ERECTED BY GRANDLODGE OF MISSOURI

REPLICA OF MASONIC COLLEGE ON SITE OF OLD BUILDING


project which memorializes the outstanding service rendered by the Grand Lodge of Missouri as a pioneer in thework of higher education in the West; and he also appreciates the opportunity afforded this evening to appear beforeyou and recount in an abbreviated way the history of theMasonic College of Missouri.

[33J

ADDENDA

On the tenth day of January, 1934, a CWA worker,clearing away the debris and rubbish at the northeast corner of the old Masonic College building, came upon theoriginal cornerstone which had been covered with anotherslab of· rock that he had removed. This cornerstone wasnot taken from its place; in it had been bored a circularcavity and in that he discovered the tablet or copper platepreviously referred to. This plate is semicircular (so madeto fit in the cavity) and is about seven by five inches, andthe inscriptions upon it are set forth on the memorial tableterected by Lexington Lodge No. 149 as previously stated.

Later in the year the Masonic Memorial was erected overthe ancient cornerstone, but before it was put up anotherdeposit was made to take the place of the copper plate.This deposit consisted of a bronze cylinder, waterproof, inwhich was enclosed a parchment; on the parchment was alengthy exposition of the significance of the cornerstoneand the memorial. With appropriate but simple ceremonies, the deposit was made on the twentieth day ofApril, 1934. The text of the parchment follows:

((THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS MAY DISCOVER THE RIGHT!!

The cornerstone of The Masonic College of Missouri, in whoseoriginal position this scroll is placed, was laid May 18, 1847, byM. W. George H. C. Melody, Acting Grand Master, assisted byM. W. ]. W. Smith, the President of the College. The Grand

[34]


Master of Missouri; M. 'w. John Ralls,.was absent from the State,serving in the Mexican War as' Colonel' of the' Third Regiment ofMissouri Mounted Volunteers, in, command of the post at SantaCruz de les Rosales.

The building was 81' feet long, 52 feet in width, and threestories high, constructed of brick and stone, with four tall columnssupporting the Greek front, decorated across the fa<;:ade with theMasonic "G," sprigs of acacia, and other symbols appropriate toFreemasonry.

It was dedicated July 11, 1848, by M. W. Joseph Foster, GrandMaster of Missouri, the orator 'of the occasion being Alexander 1.Slayback. The first term of college work began in September ofthat year, and the college continued until June, 1859, at which timethe institution closed.

The building was occupied by Colonel James A. Mulligan asFederal headquarters during the siege and battle of Lexington,September 12 to 20, 1861, and was scarred by shot and shell as aconsequence.

After the war, the State of Missouri used the college property asa military school for a short time, but the project was unsuccessful,and it was turned back to the Grand Lodge, which in 1871 conveyed the property, containing 6.46 acres, to Marvin Female Institute, the predecessor of Central College for Women, underwhose supervision higher education for young women was offereduntil June, 1925. A reversion clause in the deed provided that theproperty should go back to the Grand Lodge in the event of failureto maintain a school thereon. All interest of the Grand Lodge ,inthe college property was conveyed to the City of Lexington by deedof March 19, 1928, thus assuring the use of the historic propertyas a public park forever. ,. ,

On August 20, 1932, the buildings were entirely destroyed byfire. Since that time the officials of the City of Lexington tnaming

[35]


them] have worked out a comprehensive plan for the beautificationof the grounds and the preservation of historic memorials. Areplica of the Masonic College, one-half scale, has been designedby Hugh C. Rogers, City Engineer, for use as a shelter house, andhas been erected as a Civil Works Administration (CWA) project, with the cooperation of the City of Lexington.

For the information of the future, this explanation is recordedof the Civil Works Administration (CWA), which as one of itsprojects erected the replica on this site of the original building ofthe Masonic College of Missouri:

Among the measures set up in the year 1933 to combat the effects of economic distress and disaster, the Congress of the UnitedStates authorized the expenditure of public moneys to provide employment and relief in every state, county and community in theUnited States. That part of the program having to do with providing employment included the Civil Works Administration(CWA), under whose direction public funds were expended onvarious projects so as to afford employment to the unemployed.This program of the CWA, along with other measures, were controlled in each state by directors, and in each county by a countyrelief and reemployment committee.

In Missouri, the two directors were: Wallace Crossley andHarry S. Truman (both Freemasons) .

The Lafayette County Relief and Reemployment Committeewere: Henry C. Chiles, Chairman (Freemason), 1. Irwin Morris(Freemason), W. R. Journey, Jack B. Hereford (Freemason), Dr.E. 1. Johnston (Freemason), and John Gausman. No CWAproject could be undertaken in Lafayette County without the unanimous approval of the county committee.

The four corners of the original building have been appropriately marked by brick and stone pillars, memorializing the historyof the site; this the NORTHEAST corner, under the supervision of

[36]


the following committee of Lexington Lodge No. 149, A. F.& A. M., appointed to plan and erect this memorial over the original cornerstone: W. Bro. John K. Leiter, Chairman, R. W. Bro.Henry C. Chiles, W. Bro. Ernest J. Fegert, W. Bro. Walter A.Dunford and Bro. Burtis M. Little.

DONE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF

Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States

(Freemason ) ,

and of

Guy B. Park, Governor of the State of Missouri (Freemason),

and of

the Judges and Clerk of the Lafayette County Court

[ naming them],

and of

the Officers of the Grand Lodge A. F.& A. M. of the State of

Missouri [naming them],

and of

the Officers of Lexington Lodge No. 149 A. F. & A. M.

[ naming them].

This sketch of the park's history is placed in the old cornerstonethis the 20th day of April, 1934. (Inscribed by Bro. H. J. Rand.)

Deposited by Henry C. Chiles, Grand Junior Deacon of theGrand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of the State of Missouri, by authorityof M. W. Bro. Frank C. Barnhill, Grand 'Master, who was unableto be present.


PRESIDENTS OF THE MASONIC COLLEGE OFMISSOURI; BIOGRAPHICAL DATA COM

PILED BY HENRY C. CHILES

1. J. Worthington Smith, 1844-47.2. Wilkins Tannehill, elected but did not accept.3. Adiel Sherwood, 1848-49.4. C. G. MacPherson, 1849-50.5. Ferdinand LaBoma Shaver, 1850-53.6. Archibald Patterson, 1853-55.7. William T. Davis, 1855-59.

J. WORTHINGTON SMITH, A.M.

This brother from Virginia was the first president of theMasonic College of Missouri and held that post during theentire time the college was located in Marion County, 18441847. He arrived at the college on the fourteenth day ofMay, 1844. He was elected Grand High Priest of theGrand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Virginia in 1840.He was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia on the thirteenth day of December, 1842. He wasstill Grand Master when he came to Missouri, as the Virginia records state that he served for two years. As GrandOrator and President of the Masonic College, he deliveredthe address at Lexington upon the occasion of the laying ofthe cornerstone of the main building of the college at thatplace on May 18, 1847. This address was published in theGrand Lodge Proceedings of the Adjourned Communication held at Lexington, May, 1847, and a proof of the notable character of that address and of the scholarly attain-

[38]


ments of the orator is the fact that 44 years later, in 1891,

that address was "reprinted fot the use of libraries" byJames W. Staton of Brooksville, Kentucky.

The selection of Most Worshipful Brother Smith as,President of the Masonic College was made no doubt onthe recommendation of Grand Secretary John Dove of Virginia, whom Colonel Carnegy and other Missouri Masonshad met at the Baltimore Convention" in 1843. PresidentSmith became first Worshipful Master of College LodgeNo. 70 located at the Masonic College, chartered October16, 1844. It is highly regrettable that more data are notobtainable about this outstanding figure in our college'shistory.

WILKINS TANNEHILL

\Xfilkins Tannehill was a Past Grand 1faster and PastGrand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, a resident of Nashville and he was elected President of the Masonic College of Missouri on July 12, 1848, at an Adjourned Communi~ation of the Grand Lodge of Missouriheld at Lexington. The other nominee for the post wasBrother C. G. MacPherson, who af~erw~rds became president of the college. Most Worshipful Brother Tannehilldid not accept the post. He was one of the foremost Freemasons of his time and the scho~arly author of many Masonic works, among them a Monitor which was standard inits day. He died at Nashville on June 2, 1858, seventy-oneyears of age.

Most Worshipful Brother Tannehill has a particular(39)


appeal to Missouri Freemasons because of the fact that, asGrand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, hesigned the charter of Missouri Lodge No. 12, located atSt. Louis, dated October 8, 1816. This Lodge is now Missouri Lodge No.1, under the Grand Lodge of Missouri.

ADIEL SHERWOOD, D.D.

Brother Sherwood was selected as President of the Masonic College of Missouri by the Board of Curators when itwas ascertained that the President-elect, Wilkins Tannehill, had declined to accept the post.

Dr. Sherwood was born at Fort Edw~rd, New York, onOctober 3, 1791. His father was Colonel Adiel Sherwood,a soldier of the Revolution, and member and WorshipfulMaster of Washington· Lodge No. 11. His mother, whosemaiden name was Sarah Sherwood, was his father's secondCOUSIn. He was graduated from Union -College, NewYork, in 1817, with the-degree of A.B. That college conferred upon him, in -course, the degree ()f A.M. three yearslater (according to the practice of the time) in 1820. Hisdegree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him in1844 by Granville College (now Denison University),Ohio.

Dr. Sherwood throughout his life was an educator anda minister of the Gospel. Denominationally, he was aBaptist. In his youth, because of poor health, he went toGeorgia, where he spent many years preaching and teaching. While in Georgia he was also a planter, and owned

[40]

ADIEL SHERWOOD, D.O.


and operated a large plantation in Greene County. In1828, he recorded in his diary, that he preached 333 sermons and traveled Inore than three thousand miles inreaching the various congregations to which he preached.In 1829 he was preaching to four congregations, Eatonton,Greensboro, Milledgeville (then the capital) and Macon,respectively distant from his plantation home 35, 15, 55and 75 miles.

In 1836 he became a member of the faculty and collegeagent of Columbian College, Washington, D. C. (nowGeorge Washington University), and as college agentraised the funds which saved the life of that celebrated institution. In 1839 he returned to Georgia to organize theTheological Department of Mercer University (an institution which he had been instrumental in establishing),and became Professor of Sacred Literature and Moral Philosophy. In 1841 he became President of Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, Illinois. His service at Lexingtonfollowed that in Illinois, but he remained in Lexington onlyone college year, just long enough to give the Masonic College, in its new home, a good start.

The Memoirs (referred to in the preceding address onthe Masonic College) from which the facts of this sketchare largely taken, consist of copious extracts from a journalor diary kept by Dr. Sherwood, and from letters, as well asportions written by his daughter, Miss Julia L. Sherwood.But nowhere is recorded· anything to indicate when orwhere he became a Freemason. He did not affiliate with

[41J


Lafayette Lodge No. 32 at Lexington, but the minutes ofthat ancient Lodge record the fact that he visited it onMarch 12, 1849, and that he was then a member of Friendship Lodge No. 25, located at Upper Alton, Illinois.

Dr. Sherwood returned to Georgia in 1857, and thespring of 1865, at the close of the Civil War, found himplowing his field at the age of 74, on his plantation nearIndian Springs, in Butts County. "Marching ThroughGeorgia" was a grim reality to Dr. Sherwood, for his plantation lay awaste. That fall he returned to Missouri,where, at first, he was barred from preaching by the infamous "test oath" of reconstruction days in Missouri; butlater he served various Baptist churches in St. Louis Countyas pastor. His last sermon was preached at Park AvenueChurch, St. Louis, only a short time before his death, whichoccurred on August 19, 1879. His remains were buried inBellefontaine Cemetery.

The first marriage of Dr. Sherwood was to Mrs. AnneAdams Early, relict of former Governor Peter Early, ofGeorgia, and was solemnized May 17, 1821. She died inNovember, 1822. She was a sister of General Thomas A.Smith, of Virginia, but later of Old Franklin, Missouri, oneof whose daughters, Lucy Ann Smith, in 1830, became thesecond wife of Nathaniel Beverly Tucker, second GrandMaster of the Grand Lodge of Missouri.

Dr. Sherwood was a man of national reputation as ascholar, an educator and a divine. He had met all of thePresidents of the United States from John Adams to John

[42]


Tyler, inclusive, and had vi·sited·in the homes of ThomasJefferson and James Madi~on.. He was a great and a goodman; a man of many and outstanding accomplishments;but at the same time he was a· man of remarkable humilityand democratic simplicity, which probably accounts largelyfor his successes in ·such widely.·varying fields as Georgia,Illinois, Washington,·D. C.; and Missouri, in .very tryingtimes.. He was survived by his widow -(his second wife),the former Miss Emma -C. Heriot,· of Charleston, SouthCarolina, whom he had married ·May 6, 1824, and by fivechildren by that union-four daughters, and a son, thelatter Thomas A. Sherwo?d, once Chief Justice of theSupreme Court of Missouri.

C. G. MAcPHERSON, A.M.

Brother MacPherson was a 1?inister of the Gospel, andwas President of the Masonic College of Missouri duringthe college year 1849-50.. He came to Missouri from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, about 1847, andwas principal of the Chapel Hill Academy, at Chapel Hill,Lafayette County, Missouri, until the academy was turnedover by its founder, Archibald W. Ridings, to the MissouriSynod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and incorporated as Chapel Hill College by Act of the General Assembly of Missouri, approved January 16, 1849. Theacademy and the college were named for the seat of theUniversity of North Carolina by Mr. Ridings, the founder,who was a native of North Carolina, and who was a former

[43]


student, if not a graduate of that distinguished institutionof learning. Chapel Hill College was burned March 26,1863, during the Civil War.

Brother MacPherson affiliated with Lafayette LodgeNo. 32, at Lexington, on December 10, 1849, but the records do not indicat~ from what Lodge his membership wastransferred. He demitted October 10, 1853. He came toLexington as the first· President of the Lexington FemaleCollegiate Institute (incorporated, 1851), the predecessorof the Baptist Female College (incorporated, 1855).

FERDINAND LABOMA SHAVER, A.M.

Brother Shaver first became connected with the MasonicCollege of Missouri as a teacher in the "prep" school. Atthe meeting of the Board of Curators, held in May, 1850,he was elected President of the College, and continued assuch until he declined reelection in July, 1853.

He affiliated with Lafayette Lodge No. 32, at Lexington,on April 14, 1851, but the rec.ord tails to show from whatLodge his membership was transferred. "He appeared frequently in the Grand Lodge of Missouri, with a proxy fromNo. 32. He was Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge ofMissouri, from 1850 to 1853, inclusive; he was Chairmanof the Committee on Fraternal Correspondence in 1851,and Chairman of the Committee on Grievances in 1853.

His wife, Jane Crawford Shaver, who died on September30, 1851, at the age of 44 years 6 months, is buried inMachpelah Cemetery, at Lexington, Missouri, Lot 7,

[44]

FERDINAND LABOMA SHAVER


Block F, as is also a son, Edward M. G. Shaver, who diedNovember 21, 1850.

From a granddaughter, Miss Elva Goodhue, of Columbia, Kentucky, it has been ascertained that Brother Shaverwas born in 1808, at Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia, and that he died in Fort Deposit, Alabama, on January 4, 1880. As was frequently the case in his day, in addition to being an educator, Brother Shaver was also a minister of the Gospel. He was first affiliated with the Protestant Episcopal Church, and later with the MethodistEpiscopal Church, South. He was active in his ministry aslate as 1874. He was a man of fine scholarly attainmentsand was an orator of great power. Many of his addressesand sermons were published in pamphlet form.

On leaving Lexing~on, he removed to Alabama wherehe served as pastor of churches at Montgomery, Claytonand Fort Deposit. He was a Knight Templar, a member ofDeMolay Encampment No.4, located at Lynchburg, Virginia. Brother Shaver was one of the founders of theI. O. O. F. Lodge at Abingdon, Virginia.

ARCHIBALD PATTERSON, A.M.

"Old Euclid," as he was lovingly called by his students,pioneer, minister of the Gospel, educator, Freemason, Professor of mathematics and natural science in the MasonicCollege of Missouri fron1 its inception in 1844 until theclose of the college'year in 1855, was, no doubt, the wisestand most generous and faithful friend and servant the Ma-

[45J


sonic College ever had. He was acting President or President pro tem of the College from the close of the service ofBrother Shaver until June, "1855.

Worshipful Brother Patterson came to Missouri fromOhio at an early day and was a pioneer Baptist preacher.He helped organize a Baptist Church four miles south ofParis, Missouri, on May 7, 183l.

He was initiated, passed and raised in Fayette LodgeNo. 47, Fayette, Missouri, January 18, 24 and 30, 1843.At that time he was principal of the Fayette Academy,which he had established in 1834. He was thetfirst SeniorWarden of College Lodge, No. 70, located at the MasonicCollege, in Marion County. When the College was established at Lexington, he became a member of LafayetteLodge No. 32 (by affiliation July 9, 1849), which Lodgehe afterwards served as Worshipful Master. He alsoserved Lexington Chapter No. 10, Royal Arch Masons, asHigh Priest. He was elected Deputy Grand High Priest ofthe Grand Chapter of Missouri, in May, 1850, and represented the Grand Chapter of Missouri in the triennial convocation of the General Grand Chapter, at Boston, September, 1850.

While in Boston, he purchased for the Masonic Collegeits laboratory equipment, and as the appropriation ranshort, with his own credit he bought part of the outfit (tomake it more complete), and he also purchased 350volum~s for the college library on his own credit. He wasalso the owner of a $300 scholarship in the college, and the

[46]


old records show that he helped many a student by advancing money for tuition fees. Almost from the very beginning of his service as professor the college was indebtededto him for arrears in his salary, and the account was notfinally balanced until the close of the eleven years he wasconnected with the institution. The record shows that,with his consent, others were paid in full for their services while he waited for his compensation.

Professor Patterson was one of the nine Past HighPriests who organized the Convention of Anointed HighPriests of Missouri, in May, 1854. He demitted fromLafayette Lodge No. 32, on September 10, 1855.

On leaving Lexington he removed to Platte City, Missouri, where he was principal of the Platte City MaleAcademy until his death, from an accident, which occurredMay 23, 1857, at the age of 57 years. Paxton's Annals ofPlatte County speak of him as "a scholar and a learnedMason." A memorial page (49) in the Proceedings of theGrand Lodge of Missouri, May, 1857, commemorates theworth and works of "Old Euclid," naming him "Alexander" Patterson. Another memorial page, on which he iscorrectly named, is page 139 of the Proceedings of theGrand Lodge, May, 1858. In all the history of the GrandLodge of Missouri, "Old Euclid" is the only Freemasonwho achieved the distinction of having a memorial page intwo of the annual Proceedings; a distinction which thewriter fervently believes was more than earned by long,faithful and invaluable service.

[47]


WILLIAM T. DAVIS, A.M.

Brother Davis was the last President of the MasonicCollege of Missouri, serving from his election in June,1855, to the closing of the college in June, 1859.

In 1847-48, Brother Davis became associated with President William T. Lucky, the organizer of Howard HighSchool (1844), at Fayette, Missouri, the forerunner ofboth Central and Howard Payne colleges. He was principal of the male department and continued as such untilthe close of the session in June, 1852. He was an elder ofthe Presbyterian Church organized at Fayette, in 1848.

His first connection with the Masonic College was asprincipal of the "prep" school, beginning with the openingof the session in the fall of 1852.

He was a'member of Lafayette Lodge No. 32 at Lexington, with which he affiliated on November 14, 1853. Hewas still a member of that Lodge when he died at Glasgow,Missouri, in October, 1864.

In his sketch of the Masonic College (1909), Col. D. C.Allen refers to him as "Reverend William T. Davis, President and Teacher of Moral Science," etc., and says he wasfrom Howard County, Missouri, and that his wife was aniece of Alfred W. Morrison, a former Treasurer of theState of Missouri. Colonel Allen describes him as a large,fleshy man, and refers to him and other members of thefaculty as "accomplished men and admirable instructors.They were thoroughly conscientious in their work."

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Documents

THE MASONIC COLLEGE OF MISSOURI