Dates

• Existence: 1841 - 1846

Administrative History

The Nauvoo Masonic Lodge (1841-1846) was the first Freemason lodge among the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois.

The Nauvoo Lodge U. D. (under dispensation) in Nauvoo, Illinois, was granted dispensation on October 15, 1841, by Grand Master Abraham Jonas. George Miller was made Master, John D. Parker was made Senior Warden, and Lucius Scovill was made Junior Warden. However, at the official organization meeting in December, Hyrum Smith was named Senior Warden pro tempore; John C. Bennett as Secretary; and Newel K. Whitney as Treasurer. The following March 15, 1842, the lodge was officially instituted, and Hyrum Smith was installed as Senior Warden and Worshipful Master. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were initiated as Entered Apprentices, and the next day as Mason at Sight.

In July 1842, the lodge was suspended after complaints from other lodges in the area that they were functioning against policy, having initiated more members than any other. The suspension was lifted in November that same year. The lodge then divided into three separate lodges.

On June 24, 1843, Hyrum Smith laid the cornerstone for the Masonic temple or hall in Nauvoo, and was dedicated on April 5, 1844.

Due to ill feelings toward the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints within the Grand Lodge of Illinois, on October 3, 1843, the Nauvoo Lodge and all other Mormon lodges in Illinois and Iowa, were formally dissociated. In reaction, and with the assistance of Abraham Jonas, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints planned to establish an independen co-existent competing Masonic Grand Lodge in Illinois. The lodge, with the other Mormon lodges in Illinois and Iowa, continued as an active lodge until 1846. During of the Nauvoo Lodge's existence, almost 1,550 men of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became members, including the first five presidents of the LDS Church: Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow.

Citation:

Hogan, Mervin B. "involvement with Freemasonry on the Illinois and Iowa frontier between 1840 and 1846 (1983)," p. 24 (The Nauvoo Lodge U. D. (under dispensation) in Nauvoo, Illinois, was granted dispensation on October 15, 1841, by Grand Master Abraham Jonas. George Miller was made Master, John D. Parker was made Senior Warden, and Lucius Scovill was made Junior Warden.)

Hogan, p. 25-26 (At the official organization meeting in December, Hyrum Smith was named Senior Warden pro tempore; John C. Bennett as Secretary; and Newel K. Whitney as Treasurer. The following March 15, 1842, the lodge was officially instituted, and Hyrum Smith was installed as Senior Warden and Worshipful Master. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were initiated as Entered Apprentices, and the next day as Mason at Sight.)

Hogan, p. 38-39 (Due to ill feelings toward the Mormons within the Grand Lodge of Illinois, on October 3, 1843, the Nauvoo Lodge and all other Mormon lodges in Illinois and Iowa, were formally dissociated. In reaction, and with the assistance of Abraham Jonas, the Mormons planned to establish an independen co-existent competing Masonic Grand Lodge in Illinois. The lodge, with the other Mormon lodges in Illinois and Iowa, continued as an active lodge until the Mormons were expelled from Nauvoo in 1846.)

Bilderback, James C. "Masonry and Mormonism: Nauvoo, Illinois, 1841-1847 (1937)," p. 27 (U. D. stands for "under dispenstation")

Homer, Michael W., "Joseph's Temples: The Dynamic Relationship between Freemasonry and Mormonism (2014)," p. 160 (In July 1842, the lodge was suspended after complaints from non-Mormon lodges in the area that they were functioning against policy, having initiated more members than any other.)

Homer, p. 164-165 (The suspension was lifted in November that same year. The lodge then divided into three separate lodges. On June 24, 1843, Hyrum Smith laid the cornerstone for the Masonic temple or hall in Nauvoo, and was dedicated on April 5, 1844.)

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