USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > History of Nashville, Tenn. > Part 60
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Emulation Lodge, No. 3, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, was or- ganized in 1882, and meets regularly at the Masonic Temple on the fourth Tuesday night of each month.
The Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, meets annually in Nashville on the Wednesday preceding the meeting of the Grand Lodge. The Most Worthy Grand Lodge meets annually in Nashville on the second Monday in November.
Nashville Council, No. I, Royal and Select Masons, was organized previous to 1847. It meets regularly at Masonic Temple on the third Thursday of each month. Fuller Council, No. 46, R. & S. M., was or- ganized in 1868, and ceased to exist about 1880.
Nashville Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar, was organized pre- vious to 1847, and meets regularly at the Masonic Temple on the third Tuesday of each month. The Grand Council, Royal and Select Mas- ters, was organized previous to 1853, and meets annually in Nashville after the closing of the Most Worthy Grand Lodge. The Grand Com- mandery Knights Templar meets annually at such places as may be se- lected. The Sixteenth Annual Conclave was held in Nashville in 1878.
The Nashville Masonic Board of Relief was organized in 1873, and meets in the Masonic Library rooms on the first Tuesday of each month. The Masonic Library Association was established in 1883, and meets in the Masonic Temple on the first Saturday of each month.
The first lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Tennes- see was instituted in Nashville June 1, 1839. This was Tennessee Lodge, No. I. The lodge meets regularly at Odd Fellows' Temple on the third Tuesday night of each month. Nashville Lodge, No. 2, was instituted June 9, 1849, and after a successful career of about fifteen years it met with misfortune, became discouraged, and surrendered its charter about the close of the war. Trabue Lodge, No. 10, was instituted September
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8, 1845, and continued to prosper until 1881, when it was discontinued. Smiley Lodge, No. 90, was instituted August 25, 1854. It meets regu- larly at No. 712 South Cherry Street every Friday night. Aurora Lodge, No. 105, (German) was instituted April 16, 1858. It is made of the best of the German citizens of Nashville, and holds meetings every Thursday night at the corner of Jefferson and North High Streets. Edgefield Lodge No. 118, was instituted February 16, 1867, and was discontinued in 188I.
Nashville Encampment, No. I, was the result of the consolidation of Ridgely Encampment, No. 2, Olive Branch, No. 4, and Edgefield En- campment, No. 32, in 1871. The first two had been in existence as sep- arate encampments for many years. The consolidated encampment meets regularly at Odd Fellows' Temple on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Germania Encampment, No. 36, was instituted previous to 1870. It was in existence until 1881, when it was discontinued.
The Grand Lodge of Tennessee was instituted August 10, 1841. It meets in Nashville on the first Wednesday after the third Monday in Oc- tober, each year. Canton R. H. Barry, No. I, was organized in 1885, and meets in Odd Fellows' Temple on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
Odd Fellows' Hall Association was chartered for the purpose of raising money to fit up the old Nashville Theater, which had recently been pur- chased by the various lodges of Odd Fellows then in Nashville. The work of fittting it up was reported done in January, 1850, the entire cost of the building being $30,000. This amount was greater than the lodges could raise, and the property was therefore lost. The lodges thereafter met in several different places until in 1873, when they purchased a lot on the south-east corner of Church and North High Streets, upon which they erected the magnificent temple now standing, and moved into it in the early part of 1875.
The Grand Encampment of Tennessee was organized July 21, 1847, by T. B. Shaffner, of Louisville, Ky., Special Deputy Grand Sire. The encampment meets in Nashville on the third Monday in October of each year.
The temperance societies organized in Nashville have been very nu- merous. They have been of the Sons of Temperance or of the Inde- pendent Order of Good Templars. Tennessee Division, afterward Coun- cil, No. 30, was instituted March 20, 1847, and was in existence until 1875. It was during this period that most of the societies of Sons of Tem- perance were organized, performed the work so far as they could which they had mapped out for themselves, and in one or more years ceased to
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exist. Lodges of the Independent Order of Good Templars were organ- ized later, but yet there were some organized in Nashville before the war. After the war they became very numerous, and particularly be- tween 1870 and 1880, some of them continuing to exist until within a few years, but at the present time there are none in Nashville except those organized and sustained by the women and the Catholics. These are the Davidson County Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which meets every three months in the parlors of the Y. M. C. A. building; the Cen- tral Union, which meets every Wednesday afternoon in the lecture-room of McKendree Church; the East Nashville Union, which meets every Tuesday afternoon; and St. Joseph's Total Abstinence Society.
The order of the Knights of Honor was introduced into Nashville by the organization of Tennessee Lodge, No. 20, May 6, 1874, with fifteen members. This lodge meets regularly every Friday night. Cumberland Lodge, No. 66, was organized soon afterward, and holds meetings on the second and fourth Mondays in each month. Olympus Lodge, No. 67, was organized also during 1874, and meets every Tuesday night. Vanderbilt Lodge, No. 79, was organized in 1875, and meets every Tues- day night. Humboldt Lodge, No, 90, was organized in 1875, and holds meetings every Monday night. Rock City Lodge, No. 113, came soon afterward, and meets every Tuesday night. West End Lodge, No. 124, was organized during the same year, and meets every Friday night. Pro- tection Lodge, No. 155, was organized also in 1875, and meets every Tuesday night. North Nashville Lodge, No. 172, was organized during 1875, and meets every Tuesday night.
The Grand Lodge of Tennessee was organized in Nashville July 3, 1875; by Supreme Director Dr. A. E. Keys, of Mansfield, O., the body being governed by the Constitution of the Supreme Lodge until October, 1875, when a permanent Constitution was adopted.
The Grand Lodge, Knights and Ladies of Honor, was organized in the hall of Harmony Lodge of Nashville, April 7, 1879. The Constitu- tion of the Grand Lodge of Missouri was adopted and Nashville fixed upon as the permanent place of meeting. The meetings are biennial on the second Monday in April. A special session was held in Nashville December 12 and 13, 1881, and the first biennial session was held April 2, 1883. Up to that time there had been paid out in benefits to families of deceased members in Tennessee over $80,000. Following are the names of the lodges of this order in Nashville; Eureka Lodge, No. 20. which meets on the first and third Wednesday nights of each month at the corner of Jefferson and Vine Streets; Harmony Lodge, No. 42, which meets at Odd Fellows' Temple every other Wednesday night: Myr-
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tle Lodge, No. 82, which meets on the first and third Monday nights, at the corner of South Market and Center Streets; Star Lodge, No. 5, which meets every Friday night at the Corner of North College and Cap- itol Avenue; Sylvan City Lodge, No. 84, which meets every fourth Fri- day night in each month on South Fifth and Woodland Streets; and Ennis Lodge, No. 479, which meets at Cherokee Hall every Monday night.
The order of the Knights of Pythias was introduced into the State of Tennessee in March, 1872, by the establishment of Holston Lodge, No. 1, at Knoxville. Damon Lodge, No. 2, was instituted at Chattanooga, and Myrtle Lodge, No. 3, at Nashville. Other lodges were instituted in other parts of the State. The Grand Lodge was organized at Nashville April 2, 1872, at which time there were present in Nashville, besides the three lodges mentioned above, Bayard Lodge, No. 4, of Murfreesboro; Ten- nessee Lodge, No. 5, and Memphis Lodge, No. 6, both of Memphis. Besides Myrtle Lodge, No. 3, there have been organized in Nashville the following lodges: Calantha Lodge, No. 8, which is not now in exist- ence; Reynolds Lodge, No. 33, which meets every Monday night; Ca- ruthers Lodge, No. 36, which meets every Wednesday night; and Lu- cullus Lodge, No. 54, which meets every Monday night. Myrtle Lodge meets every Friday night.
The United Order of the Golden Cross was organized in Tennessee in 1876. The Supreme Commandery was organized July 4 that year, under a charter granted a short time previously. The first subordinate com- mandery was Peace No. I, at Knoxville, July II. The order increasing quite rapidly, a called meeting of the Supreme Commandery of the World was held at Knoxville, May 10, 1877, for the purpose of organizing a Grand Commandery for Tennessee. The second annual session and all subsequent ones have been held in Nashville. In 1880 it was decided to hold biennial sessions, which have likewise been held in Nashville. No person not pledged to total abstinence from intoxicating liquors is admit- ted to membership. The lodges in Nashville are as follows: Nashville Lodge, No. 7, which meets at Pythian Hall every Tuesday afternoon; Magnolia Lodge, No. 11, which meets in the Odd Fellows' Temple every other Wednesday night; Myrtle Lodge, No. 13, which meets every Fri- day night at No. 13 South Cherry Street; Pearl Lodge, No. 14, which meets every Tuesday afternoon, at the corner of North Summer and Monroe Streets.
The Grand Council of the American Legion of Honor was organized at Nashville August 3, 1882. There are four subordinate councils of this order in Nashville-viz., Centennial Council, No. 117, which meets at Pythian Hall, on Union Street, on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each
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month; Star Council, No. 702, which meets at Pythian Hall on the first and third Wednesday nights each month ; Friendship Council, No. 1,015, which meets at the corner of South Market and Center Streets on the second and fourth Thursday nights in each month; and Rock City Council, No. 1,016, which meets at Simmons' Hall on the first and third Thursday nights each month.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen originated in Meadville, Pa., in 1868. Tennessee Lodge, No. 2, was instituted at Nashville Novem- ber 27, 1876. It meets in Simmons' Hall every Wednesday night. This was the first lodge of this order in the State, and No. 2 was given to it on the supposition that Lodge. No. I had been organized at Memphis, which was found afterward to be a mistake, and for this reason there has never been any lodge No. I in Tennessee. The Grand Lodge of Tennessee was organized in Nashville February 22, 1877. Annual ses- sions were held until 1883, when biennial sessions were substituted. The other lodges formed in Nashville have been as follows: Hope Lodge, No. 5, which meets at Odd Fellows' Temple on the second and fourth Friday nights each month; Edgefield Lodge, No. 7, which meets every Tuesday night at Weakley Hall; South Nashville Lodge, No. 12, which meets every Thursday night; Hermitage Lodge, No. 15, which meets every second and fourth Friday night at Odd Fellows' Temple; Enter- prise Lodge, No. 28, which meets every Tuesday night at Simmons' Hall; Nashville Legion, No. 1, Select Knights A. O. U. W., was or- ganized in 1887, and meets every Friday night in Simmons' Hall.
The order of Royal Arcanum originated in Massachusetts, the Su- preme Council being incorporated November 5, 1877. The first council established in Tennessee was Nashville Council, No. 92, May 22, 1878, with twenty-eight charter members. This council meets every Monday night in Pythian Hall; Old Hickory Council, No. 294, meets in Mayo's Hall every Thursday night; Magnolia Council, No. 295, meets in Nick- el's Hall every Monday night; and Edgefield Council, No. 314, meets in Pythian Hall every Friday night.
There are in Nashville two branches of the Catholic Knights of Amer- ica. Branch No. I, which meets every second and fourth Sunday in each month, and Branch No. 3, which meets every first and third Sun- day at No. 320 Union Street.
The order of the Iron Hall is represented in Nashville by the follow- ing branches: Branch No. 61, which meets on the first and third Thurs- day nights each month at South Market and Center Streets; Branch No. 87, which meets on the first and third Monday nights each month at the corner of Jefferson and North Vine Streets: Ladies' Branch, No. 496.
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which meets on the second and fourth Monday nights each month at Ratterman's Hall; Sisterhood Branch, No. 624, which meets at South Market and Center Streets on the second and fourth Monday afternoons each month; Branch No. 667, which meets on the second and fourth Monday nights each month, at the corner of Jefferson and North Vine Streets; and Branch No. 71, which meets at the corner of Broad and McNairy Streets.
Frank Cheatham Bivouac, No. I, was the first local association of the kind formed in Tennessee. Following are the names of the charter members: R. G. Rothrock, George B. Guild, F. S. Harris, Jesse Ely, John P. Hickman, Frank Anderson, George F. Hager, John W. Mor- ton, T. F. P. Allison, W. J. McMurray, T. F. Sevier, E. R. Richard- son, and Norman Farrell. The objects of the association are strictly " social, historical, and benevolent," and its labors are directed to cultivat- ing the ties of friendship between survivors of the army and navy of the late Confederate States; to keeping fresh the memories of comrades who gave up their lives for the cause they deemed right, in battle or in other fields of service, or who have died since the war; to the perpetuation of the records of their deeds and heroism; to the collection and preserva- tion in the manner judged best of all material of value for future histo- rians; to aiding, assisting, and relieving to the extent of its ability all members, their widows, and orphans, in extreme cases of sickness and want; and to providing for their burial when necessary. Eligibility to membership consists in having served honorably in the army or navy of the late Confederate States, during the war between the States, serving until the close of the war, unless previously discharged for real physical disability, or honorably released from service, having an unim- peachable war record and having been of good standing since. The charter was obtained December 3, 1887. Since then the organization has grown rapidly. About thirty bivouacs or branch organizations have been established in different States, and these now have a membership of upward of three thousand. Great good has been accomplished in re- lieving the necessities of its members, burying their dead, collecting im- portant war material, etc. Through its influence, and with the co-opera- tion of the Ladies' Monumental Association, it has built and had erected a fine monument to the Confederate dead in Mt. Olivet cemetery, a de- scription of which is elsewhere inserted in this volume. It procured from the State what is known as the " Hermitage" property, containing four hundred acres of land, and has established a home there for indigent members, which is destined to be one of the greatest charities in the State. Its present outlook is very encouraging. This property is in the
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hands of nine trustees elected by the State organization. The following are the officers of Frank Cheatham Bivouac: George B. Guild, Presi- dent; W. J. McMurray, Vice-president; George F. Hagar, Secretary ; John P. Hickman, Financial Secretary; and Rev. J. H. McNeilly, Chaplain. The permanent head-quarters of Frank Cheatham Bivouac are in a large and commodious hall in Baxter Court, Church Street, Nashville, and are open every day and on Friday nights of each week.
George H. Thomas Post, No. I, G. A. R., was organized February 27, 1882, with sixteen charter members. May 1, 1883, the Provisional Department of Tennessee and Georgia was formed with four posts and an aggregate membership of one hundred and thirty-six. The Department of Tennessee and Georgia, comprising Tennessee, Alabama, and Geor- gia, was organized February 26, 1884, under special order No. 4 from national head-quarters. George H. Thomas Post meets in Odd Fellows' Temple on the first and third Monday nights in each month. The Com- manders of this post have been E. S. Jones, J. Lawrence, W. J. Wat- son, F. Pfeister, J. P. Radford, H. Bader, and W. J. Watson, the latter being in command at the present time. The Senior Vice-commanders have been A. Wolf, E. M. Main, A. L. Ritchey, S. J. Brooks, J. P. Kincaid, J. W. Lawless, and L. C. Mills. Junior Vice-commanders : H. Pierce, J. Chamberlain, Herman Basler, P. M. Radford, W. O. Cal- laghan, W. Dreuski, L. L. Terry, and J. Walsh. Surgeons: L. D. Hogle, M.D., A. L. Ritchie, M.D., F. Weisse, M.D., and T. Foster, M.D. Chaplains: V. C. Randolph, S. J. Brooks, and E. M. Cravath. The membership of this post is one hundred and two.
Sheridan Post, No. 67, G. A. R., was organized in 1889. The officers of this post are: Commander, S. O. Merrill; Senior Vice-commander, B. F. Caillonette; Adjutant, C. H. Smartt; Surgeon, C. J. Crawley ; Chaplain, O. P. Price. The membership of this post is now fifty-two.
The Young Men's Democratic Club of Nashville was organized in the fall of 1886. W. O. Vertrees was its first President, and Charles E. Currey its first Secretary. The purpose of the club is to cultivate Dem- ocratic thought and disseminate Democratic ideas. In December, 1888, a charter was obtained, there being eleven charter members. Soon aft- erward the President resigned, and Allen G. Hall was elected to the vacancy. At the annual meeting of the club in January, 1890, the fol- lowing officers were elected: Allen G. Hall, President; P. F. Cleary, Vice-president; E. W. Carmack, Second Vice-president; Charles A. Miller, Third Vice-president; Thomas J. Slowey, Fourth Vice-presi- dent; John P. Hickman, Secretary; Charles Sykes, Treasurer; and Ed K. Glenn, Financial Secretary. Each applicant for membership is re-
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quired to sign an application indorsed by at least two members in good standing. The club has handsome apartments in the Berry block in which it holds its meetings.
The Tennessee Confederate Soldiers' Home was established in ac- cordance with an act of the Legislature of the State, passed in 1866. Under this act four hundred and seventy-five acres of the "Hermitage " farm were turned over to the uses of the Home for twenty-five years, and $10,000 was appropriated toward fitting it up. The act also pro- vided for a board of nine trustees, five of whom were to be from Middle Tennessee, two from West Tennessee, and two from East Tennessee. They were to be nominated by the State Confederate soldiers' organiza- tion, and appointed by the Governor. When thus nominated and ap- pointed and organized, the property was turned over to them in trust for the purposes named in the act. These trustees were: For Middle Tennessee: R. H. Dudley, W. J. McMurray, M. S. Cockrill, of Nash- ville; George L. Cowan, of Franklin; and E. Shephard, of Shelbyville. For East Tennesse: J. Shipp, of Chattanooga; and J. T. Luttrell, of Knoxville. For West Tennessee: R. A. Allison, of Jackson; and John M. Taylor, of Lexington. This Board of Trustees organized by electing M. S. Cockrill President, and the following Executive Committee: M. S. Cockrill, R. H. Dudley, and W. J. McMurray. The organization was effected May 17, 1889. The Governor being in- formed of the organization, the property was turned over to them. This board has fenced the property with a plank and wire fence five feet high; has built three frame cottages in different parts of the grounds ; has bored three artesian wells; sowed about two hundred and thirty acres of clover; planted thirty acres of corn, potatoes, and vegetables, and has completed a barn. The board is now prepared to build bar- racks which will cost $8,000, and accommodate from forty to fifty in- mates. There has been cut upon the place about one hundred thousand feet of lumber from trees that the board did not wish to remain standing. There are now ten soldiers in the Home, and there are applications on hand from nearly fifty more.
The Ladies' Hermitage Association was chartered February 19, 1889, for the purpose of purchasing from the State two hundred and fifty acres of land, including the home and tomb of President Andrew Jackson, with a view of preserving and adorning the same for all time, in a man- ner befitting the memory of that great man. The incorporators were Mrs. Rachel Lawrence, Mary W. May, Mrs. Mary Hadley Clare, Mrs. E. L. Nicholson, Miss Louise Grundy Lindsley, Mrs. Henry Heiss, and Mrs. Mary C. Dorris. An organization was effected by the election of
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the following officers: Mrs. Nathaniel Baxter, Sr., Regent; Mrs. A. S. Colyar, Vice-regent; Mrs. J. M. Dickinson, Second Vice-regent; and Mrs. D. R. Dorris, Secretary. The General Assembly has assigned to the care of this Association the house and tomb of Andrew Jackson, to- gether with twenty-five acres of land, the other four hundred and seventy- five acres having been turned over to the Trustees of the Confederate Sol- diers' Home. The Association intends to convert the " Hermitage" into a kind of national museum, and invite pilgrims from the North, South, East, and West, who delight to honor the memory of the man who made national the sentiment, the "Federal Union must and shall be preserved."
St. Mary's Orphan Association has been in existence since 1866. Its meetings are held on the first Sunday in each month. St. Vincent De Paul Society was organized in 1866 for the purpose of relieving the poor at their homes. It meets every Sunday. St. Joseph's Total Abstinence Society was organized in 1868 to encourage the cause of temperance. It meets on the second and fourth Sundays in each month.
Parnell Branch of the Irish National League, of Nashville, was or- ganized November 15, 1885, for the purpose of assisting the Irish in Ire- land in gaining home rule. Its first officers were: Chris Powers, Presi- dent; M. J. McKee, J. W. Johnson, and John Burns, Vice-presidents ; T. J. Slowey, Treasurer; M. J. Laffey, Secretary; and John McCor- mack, Collector. This branch has forwarded through Rev. Dr. O'Reil- ly, since August, 1886, $2,341.80, and something over $2,000 before that time. The officers elected in 1889 were: James Killelea, President; James Malloy, M. J. Laffey, and James Brew, Vice-presidents; T. J. Rooney, Recording Secretary; A. J. Hook, Financial Secretary; James Grady, Sergeant-at-arms; M. J. Martin, Collector; and B. McCabe, Treasurer.
The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in January, 1855, and incorporated March 2, 1858. In 1861 it had one hundred and seventy-five members, and a circulating library of about four hundred vol- umes. It was broken up by the war, but reorganized in 1867; but again, after an existence of some months, was suspended, society being still in an unsettled state. On November 16, 1868, the Nashville Tract Society was organized; and in 1873 this society resolved itself into a Young Men's Christian Association. John Lellyett was elected President; Willis Bonner, Vice-president; Frank Hume, Recording Secretary : William Cassetty, Corresponding Secretary; and H. W. Forde, Treas- urer. This society ceased active operations the following spring, but again reorganized May 15, 1875, and sent delegates to the National Young Men's Christian Association, at Richmond, Va. At this reorgan-
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ization M. L. Blanton was elected President; A. D. Wharton, Vice- president; J. E. Goodwin, Treasurer; and R. S. Cowan, Recording Secretary. Frank P. Hume was General Secretary and Librarian of the Association until 1879, when he was succeeded by John H. Elliott. Since then R. C. Rolph, Frank P. Hume, and C. E. Thomas have held this position, the latter gentleman holding it at the present time.
J. B. O'Bryan was elected President in 1880; J. Thomas, Jr., in 1881 ; M. L. Blanton, in 1883; J. Bowron, in 1884; and M. B. Pilcher, the present President, in 1887. J. P. McGuire was elected Vice-president in I879: J. W. Bonner, in 1881; R. B. Lees, in 1883; P. R. Calvert, in 1885; and H. A. Myers, in 1887. R. S. Cowan was elected Treasurer in 1879; G. C. Terry, in 1881; W. M. McCarthy, in 1884; W. D. Woolwine, in 1886; and R. T. Morrison, in 1887. The present Financial Secretary and Librarian is Frank P. Hume.
The present handsome building of this Association was erected in 1888. It stands on Church Street, just below the building now occupied by the Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Publication, and cost $67,000.
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