The History of Freemasonry in Arkansas.

Organised Freemasonry came to Arkansas soon after the formation of the Arkansas Territory in 1819. The first Lodge was established at Arkansas Post, the seat of the new Territorial Government, under a dispensation by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.
By 1819, Arkansas Post was a village of about one hundred persons. Since Masonry had been active for a long time in the older States east of the Mississippi, it was quite natural that some of those coming to Arkansas Post would be members of the Fraternity.

Many of them were prominent in the affairs of the Territorial Capitol, and as a result of their efforts, a Masonic Lodge was established there. No records remain of that Lodge except the scattered entries in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky from whom the dispensation and later a Charter were obtained.

The following entry under the date 30th. Nov. 1819 reads, "A petition was presented by Bro. Senior Grand Warden McKinney from sundry Brethren residing in the Territory of Arkansas, Praying for a Dispensation which was referred to the proper Committee".

On 1st. Dec. 1819 Grand Lodge of Kentucky was called in Emergency session and Bro. Robert Johnston was Installed as Master of Arkansas Lodge. The next year the Lodge made returns to G.L. Kentucky and was granted the number 59.

Shortly after the Lodge was granted a Charter the Territorial Capitol was removed from Arkansas Post to Little Rock. As many of the members of the Lodge were connected with the Territorial Government their removal to Little Rock greatly disrupted the affairs of the Lodge and led to the surrender of the Charter.

Other Grand Lodges Chartered Lodges in Arkansas, in 1835 the G.L. of Tennessee Chartered Washington Lodge No. 82 at Fayetteville, in 1837 the G.L. of Louisiana Chartered Western Star Lodge No. 43 at Little Rock and Morning Star No. 42 at Arkansas Post and the G.L. of Alabama Chartered Mt. Horeb Lodge at Washington, Arkansas. So by 1838 the Territory of Arkansas Grand Lodge of Arkansas. had five Lodges working under four Grand Lodges.

On 21st. Nov. 1838 the representatives of four Lodges met at Little Rock and organized the Grand Lodge of Arkansas. It was noted that the Brethren from Washington Lodge No. 82 Fayetteville working under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee had rode over 200 miles on horseback to attend the meeting.

After the adoption of a constitution, the Grand Lodge was organised, the election of Office Bearers took place and the Founding Lodges were renumbered. No. 1 Washington Lodge, Fayetteville, No.2 Western Star, Little Rock, No. 3 Morning Star, Arkansas Post, No.4 Mt. Horeb, Washington.

The Grand Lodge had less than 100 Members when it was organized. There were several factors why the growth of the Grand Lodge was slow in the early years. The State was new, and the Territory comprising it not much more than a vast wilderness, the lack of means for transportation, the hazard of crossing the Mississippi River, other natural obstacles and the lack of markets for the products of their labours kept migration to the Territory at a slow pace for a long time. But new settlements were brought into existence, the arm of Grand Lodge reached out to that settlement, usually resulting in the formation of a Lodge in that community. It is interesting to note that in the first 100 years of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas existence 100,000 Masons had joined the Order and 700 Lodges were formed.

The Grand Lodge of Arkansas was also responsible for the formation of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma.

For more information on this Grand Lodge visit the Website at, http://www.arkmason.org/