INGLIS LODGE No. 324 F&AM
(A BRIEF HISTORY)
AS COMPLIED BY JACK P. GIBSON
In late 1955 and early 1956, a small group of Masons began meeting together and discussing the possibility of forming a Masonic Lodge in the southwestern corner of Levy County. This area was comprised of the towns of Inglis, Crackertown, and Yankeetown. The nearest Lodges at that time was either DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136, in Dunnellon, Florida, about 15 miles east of the area, or OTTER CREEK LODGE No. 132, located in the little town of Gulf Hammock, Florida, about the same distance north of the area. It was felt that a Lodge in this area of Levy County would be much more convenient to the Brethren living here at the time, many of whom were not attending, or could not, attend any Lodge due to the distance they had to travel.
In early 1956 this group of Brethren began to take the necessary steps to establish a Lodge in this area. Permission to form a Lodge in Inglis had to be given by DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136, due to the close proximity to that Lodge. This apparently was no problem, and in early March, 1956, a PETITION FOR DISPENSATION to establish INGLIS LODGE F&AM was prepared and signed by Brother William S. Hood and 14 others. The signers of the Petition were:
AKINS, Norman Cass
BAYLOR, Woodrow
CANNON, Henry Marion
DICKINSON, Cecil Mellnott
HAWTHORNE, Felix Dean
HAWTHORNE, Benjamin Franklin
HAWTHORNE, Howard Nathaniel
HOOD, Thomas Eugene
HOOD, William Samuel
HIGGS, Charles Eugene
RUNNELS, Robert Kelly
SISTRUNK, Miner Montholan
STEPHENS, Cecil Nathaniel
STEVENS, James Andrew
WILLIAMS, Lucius Wilmont
The Petition was approved by the District Deputy Grand Master of the 14th Masonic District in May, 1956 and received final approval of Most Worshipful Charles R. Lucas, Grand Master of the State of Florida, in September 1956. On October 26th, 1956, Hon. George W. Huff, Grand Secretary of the State of Florida, delivered the approved Dispensation, establishing INGLIS LODGE U.D. F&AM and allowing it to set to work as a Masonic Lodge.
From October 26th, 1956, under the leadership of Worshipful Master William S. Hood and assistance of Acting Secretary Jimmy M. Walker, Jr., the new INGLIS LODGE U.D. F&AM, moved forward in establishing itself as a functioning and efficient Lodge. On March 8th, 1957, R:.W:. Robert L. West, DDGM, made an official visit to INGLIS LODGE U.D. F&AM. Apparently, he was impressed enough with the progress of the young Lodge, that within a couple of weeks of his visit, he requested that copies of all records, minutes, proposed By-Laws, and dispensation and petition papers for a charter, be sent to him for review.
The following is the contents of the letter from W:. M:. William Hood to R:.W:. Robert L. West:
Inglis, Florida
March 26, 1957
Hon. Robert L. West, D.D.G.M.
14th Masonic District,
Rt. #1, Box 378
Ocala, Florida
Dear Bro. West:
Words cannot be written that would express to you, and Bro. Charles R. Lucas, our Most Worshipful Grand Master, of our Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Florida, my deepest and sincere thanks and appreciation for all the courtesies, and wonderful help you have shown to me personally, and I know I speak the same thoughts for the entire membership of the Inglis Lodge U.D. of F.& A.M.
We have tried to operate the Inglis Lodge in a business like manner, and at the same time in a way that would be above reproach to the order. I feel if it had not been for your untiring help and supervision, this might not have been accomplished.
We have up to this date, raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason four Brothers, and have passed two to the degree of Fellow-Craft. We have, at present, two brothers who are taking instructions on lectures for the Entered Apprentice, and Master Mason degrees, this will enable us to give the lectures in all three degrees.
Within the next few days, I am sending you a copy of all the minutes since we began operation, October 26th, 1956, three copies of the proposed By-Laws, the dispensation papers, and the petition papers for the charter, with a check for $55.00. Hope this is the necessary information you will need.
Again, thanking you for everything, and we hope that with all of the reports of our work here, you will see fit to present the necessary information to the Grand Lodge, whereby they will be convinced that we of the Inglis Lodge are worthy of a Charter.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
William S. Hood W.M.
Box 62,
Inglis, Florida
(2)
INGLIS LODGE No. 324 F&AM was chartered April 17th, 1957 at Inglis Florida. Although the Lodge was in Levy County, it was part of the old 14th Masonic District which was comprised of the Lodges in Marion County.
While awaiting Dispensation to form the Lodge, an old grocery store owned by Brother Thomas Eugene Hoodand his brother Howard, was renovated into a Lodge Building. A short time later, Brother Felix Schneider and Brother Nelson Robinson co-signed a note for a loan and purchased the building. The Lodge still, to this day, meets in the old renovated grocery store, with the only additions over the years being that of an ante room and office to the front, and a dining room and kitchen on the back.
The Charter Members of INGLIS LODGE No. 324 F&AM were made up of ten Brethren who dimited from DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136, in Dunnellon, Florida, five Brethren who dimited from OTTER CREEK LODGE No. 132, in Gulf Hammock, Florida, one Brother who dimited from FRIENDSHIP LODGE No. 53, in Fellowship, Florida, one Brother (my father) who dimited from WINTER PARK LODGE No. 239, in Winter Park, Florida, and another six Brethren who had received their Degrees in INGLIS LODGE while it operated UD (under dispensation). Those Charter Members were:
Worshipful Master HOOD, William Samuel
Senior Warden JONES, William
Junior Warden AKINS, Norman Cass
Treasurer ROBINSON, Nelson Cass
Secretary BASS, Ernest Lee Sr.
Chaplain HAWTHORNE, Benjamin Franklin
Marshall SCHNEIDER, Felix Krum Jr.
Senior Deacon STEVENS, James Andrew
Junior Deacon HAWTHORNE, Felix Dean
Senior Steward DAVIS, Robert Howard Jr.
Junior Steward WILLIAMS, Lucius Wilmont
Tyler STEPHENS, Cecil Nathaniel
BAYLOR, Woodrow
CANNON, Henry Marion
DICKINSON, Cecil Mellnott
GIBSON, Alvin Jackson
HAWTHORNE, Howard Nathaniel
HIGGS, Eugene Charles
HOOD, Thomas Eugene
IVES, Richard Kenneth
LONG, William Mathew
RUNNELS, Robert Kelly
SISTRUNK, Miner Montholan
(3)
CHARTER MEMBERS BY AFFILIATION FROM OTHER FLORIDA LODGES
NAME LODGE DIMIT DATE
AKINS, Norman Cass DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
BAYLOR, Woodrow OTTER CREEK LODGE No. 132 April 17, 1957
CANNON, Henry Marion DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
DICKINSON, Cecil Mellnott OTTER CREEK LODGE No. 132 April 17, 1957
GIBSON, Alvin Jackson WINTER PARK LODGE No. 239 April 17, 1957
HAWTHORNE, Benjamin Franklin DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
HAWTHORNE, Felix Dean DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
HAWTHORNE, Howard Nathaniel DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
HIGGS, Eugene Charles OTTER CREEK LODGE No. 132 April 17, 1957
HOOD, Thomas Eugene DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
HOOD, William Samuel DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
JONES, William DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
RUNNELS, Robert Kelly DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
SISTRUNK, Miner Montholan FRIENDSHIP LODGE No. 53 April 17, 1957
STEPHENS, Cecil Nathaniel OTTER CREEK LODGE No. 132 April 17, 1957
STEVENS, James Andrew OTTER CREEK LODGE No. 132 April 17, 1957
WILLIAMS, Lucius Wilmont DUNNELLON LODGE No. 136 April 17, 1957
CHARTER MEMBERS WHO RECEIVED DEGREES IN INGLIS LODGE (UD)
NAME INIATED PASSED RAISED
IVES, Richard Kenneth January 11, 1957 March 1, 1957 April 12, 1957
LONG, William Mathew January 11, 1957 March 1, 1957 April 12, 1957
SCHNEIDER, Felix Krum Jr. January 11, 1957 February 15, 1957 March 22, 1957
BASS, Ernest Lee Sr. January 15, 1957 February 15, 1957 March 22, 1957
DAVIS, Robert Howard January 15, 1957 February 15, 1957 March 22, 1957
ROBINSON, Nelson Cass January 15, 1957 February 15, 1957 March 22, 1957
ADDITIONAL DEGREE CONFERRED IN INGLIS LODGE DURING 1957
NAME INIATED PASSED RAISED
ROBERTS, Harold April 26, 1957 October 10, 1957 November 29, 1957
ADDITIONAL AFFILIATION DURNING 1957
NAME LODGE DIMIT DATE
BUTLER, Lummie C. MORRISTON LODGE No. 235 November 11, 1957
(4)
Due to being a part of the old 14th Masonic District, the Lodge became very active with the Lodges in Marion County, but also helped with projects within its own area of southwestern Levy County. By the end of 1957, the Lodge had a membership of 25, and was well on its way to becoming a very prominent asset to the community.