The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Alabama, commonly called the Grand Lodge of Alabama, is one of two
Masonic
Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...
grand lodges in the state of
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
(the other being the predominantly
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
''Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama'', founded in 1870.)
The Grand Lodge of Alabama was established in Cahawba, Alabama on June 11, 1821, with Thomas Wadsworth Farrar as its first
Grand Master. Previous to the Grand Lodge's formation, Masonic Lodges existed in the state under charters from the Grand Lodges of Louisiana,
Kentucky
Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...
,
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
,
South Carolina
)'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
, and
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
. The creation of the Grand Lodge of Alabama provided unity and guaranteed that a common ritual was being performed during the degree work.
The Grand Annual Communications have always been held at the state capital. They were held in December at Cahawha from 1821-1825. The location of the Grand Lodge meetings was moved to Tuscaloosa (1826-1846) and Montgomery (1847-present).
Former Grand Masters of Alabama include
Governors
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Rufus Cobb (1881-2) and
Russell Cunningham (1900-1) and U. S. Senator
John H. Bankhead (1883-4).
As of 2013, there were 291 active Lodges, with a total membership of 25,885.
[http://www.msana.com/msastats.asp]
On November 14, 2017, the Grand Lodge of Alabama voted to recognize the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama.
As of November 2022, the current Grand Master is Most Worshipful Richard "Rusty" Carl Beck.
See also
*
List of notable Masonic buildings in Alabama
References
External links
Alabama Grand Lodge
{{Grand Lodges in the United States
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
Freemasonry in the United States
1821 establishments in Alabama
Organizations established in 1821