News

Officers

Calendar

Photos

Lodge History

Membership

Contact

Grand Lodge of LA

Hiram Lodge No. 70, F&AM
By: Bro. T. Ellwood Frazier, P.M. - in a Program celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Hiram Lodge No. 70.  Held on Saturday, November 8th, 1947, in the Tulane Room of the Jung Hotel

  "Hiram Lodge was founded by Brother Daniel G. Benbrook of Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 2, F & AM of Natchez, Mississippi, in November 1847, when dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge of Mississippi to Bro. Benbrook and a number of other Masons to form a new Lodge at New Orleans.  Bro. Benbrook served as Master under dispensation and was elected in 1848, 1849, and 1850, after the charter was granted on February 21st, 1848, and Hiram Lodge given the number 6.  With several other Louisiana lodges who had been granted charters by the Mississippi Grand Lodge in 1848, Hiram Lodge helped to form the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons in Louisiana that same year.

  "At that time, the Grand Lodge of Louisiana conducted its business in French, and the English-speaking Masons did not feel at home in the French Grand Lodge, so they organized their own Grand Lodge.  After negotiations between the two Grand Lodges had been carried on for some years, they united and formed the present Grand Lodge of Louisiana in 1850.  Hiram Lodge was given the number 70.

  "Two lodges were formed from Hiram.  Bro. Hugh Breen, Senior Warden of Hiram in 1868, received a dispensation to form what is now called Jefferson Lodge No. 191.  W. Bro. John L. Purser was granted a dispensation in 1921 and formed Orleans No. 397, with about sixty members of Hiram Lodge."