Masonic Lodge celebrates 150 years

SIKESTON — Sikeston Masonic Lodge 310 celebrated its 150th Anniversary Oct. 12 by having their Masonic Hall Re-Dedicated to Masonic Purposes by Most Worshipful Brother Stanton T. Brown II, Grand Master of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri and his Grand Lodge Officers.

Those in attendance witnessed a solemn and impressive ceremony of Re-Dedication which was conducted in agreement with ancient form and usage.

In his closing remarks, Worshipful Master H. Lee Stallings thanked the members of the Lodge for their dedication and support that helped the Lodge reach its 150th Anniversary. He also told them that he is excited about what the future holds, because he knows that their best Masonic work is yet to be done.

Sikeston Lodge 310 was constituted on Oct. 12, 1869, and has continued to meet twice monthly since that date. The Grand Lodge of Missouri has been in existence since 1821 and is a fraternal and charitable organization. Through its Missouri Children’s Foundation, it sponsors MoChip, a comprehensive child identification and protection tool designed to give families a measure of protection against the ever increasing problem of missing children. The program is provided free of charge to every family who wishes to participate. To date, over 248,301 children have been identified through the program. 

History of Sikeston Lodge #310 A.F. & A. M.

The first organizational meeting of Sikeston Lodge 310, UD, was held on May 10, 1869. The Lodge was opened on all three degrees by Bro. James H. Bethune, District Deputy Grand Master, being present and in virtue of his office.

Bethune then proceeded to read the charges of the first officers of the Lodge: Isaac Hunter, Worshipful Master; William L. Lenox, Senior Warden; Samuel Keith, Junior Warden; Samuel Stringer, Treasurer; J.O. Davis, Secretary; C. Vancil, Senior Deacon; Ira Wilber, Junior Deacon; and B. Hunter, Tiler.

The Lodge Bylaws were adopted at the second meeting of the Lodge on May 24, 1869.

The Charter Members of the Lodge were J.O. Davis, Benjamin F. Hunter, Isaac Hunter, Samuel Keith, William L. Lennox, Samuel Stringer, C. Vancil, and Ira Wilbur.

The Lodge was officially charted on Oct. 12, 1869.

The original Lodge meetings were held in a small room over the Sikeston Mercantile Company on Front Street where The Christian Book Store and Parengo currently sit.

The Lodge met in this location from May 1869 until 1906 when the Lodge was moved to the Odd Fellows Hall on North Kingshighway.

Since 1869, Sikeston Lodge 310 has had 112 Brothers who have served as Master of the Lodge. Dr. Oscar E. Kendall, a physician and 59-year Mason, was an early leader in Masonry in the area, served as Worshipful Master of Sikeston Lodge 310 24 times from 1882 to 1909. He was also the father of Mrs. Alfred C. Sikes, whose husband’s family founded Sikes Town, which later became Sikeston.

Between 1906 and 1953 the membership of Sikeston Lodge 310 grew to 375 members, creating the need for a new home.

During the above period of time, several factors shaped the future of Sikeston and our Lodge.

In 1907, following the passage of state legislation creating a dedicated tax to pay for drainage, the Little River Drainage District was formed and 1.2 million acres of swamp land was drained revealing some of the most fertile farmland in the world.

Land that formally sold for $.60 an acre now sold for $200. This, with the introduction of cotton and other cash corps, created great prosperity and economic growth.

The Great Depression hit and took its toll on Sikeston. Two of the three banks failed and the International Shoe Factory suspend operations. However, by the end of the decade the demand for “White Gold” (cotton) and several ”New Deal” projects helped revitalize the area.

During World War II, Sikeston saw a large increase in population. From 1940-1944 Sikeston’s Memorial Airport was known as Harvey Park and served as the site of the Institute of Aeronautics. Over 6,000 cadets graduated from the Institute, including flying aces Robert S. Johnson and Harold E. Comstock.

On Sept. 17, 1953, Sterling Marshall, Worshipful Master of Sikeston Lodge, turned the first shovel of dirt on the Lodge’s first Hall, located at 320 South Kingshighway.

The estimated cost of the new two story 44 by 100 feet, 6,500 square foot fireproof building was $75,000. The first floor contains a check room, lobby, powder room, recreation hall, and kitchen.

The second floor contains an office, powder room, and a staircase that extends through two stories. The third floor contains the Lodge Hall, lounge and a library.

One year and eight weeks after the first spade full of dirt was turned for the new Masonic Hall, the building was ready to be dedicated.

On Saturday afternoon, Nov. 11, 1954, the members of Sikeston Lodge met at the Odd Fellows Hall for the last time. The Odd Fellows Hall had been the home of the Lodge since 1906.

That afternoon at the Odd Fellows Hall the Grand Lodge of Missouri was opened by Grand Master Richard O. Rumer of St Louis for the purpose of dedicating the new Masonic Hall.

At 4 p.m., the Grand Officers, escorted by the Caruthersville DeMolay Chapter, and the members of Sikeston Lodge, preceded by a Color Guard from the American Legion, the 100 member Sikeston High School band moved in glittering procession from the Odd Fellows Hall to the recently completed new Masonic Hall.

When the group arrived at the new Masonic Hall, a public dedication took place with all the ceremony of the Order, and the Lodge’s new home was dedicated. At 7:30 p.m. that night Sikeston Lodge 310 held its first meeting in their new Hall.

Over the past 65 years the members of Sikeston Lodge #310 have continued to meet at this Masonic Hall on the first and third Thursday of each month.

On Oct. 12, 2019, at 11 a.m. the Grand Lodge of Missouri was opened for the purpose of Re-Dedicating Sikeston’s Masonic Hall. At 1 p.m. Sikeston Lodge 310 was publicly Re-Dedicated to Masonic Purposes by Most Worshipful Brother Stanton T. Brown II, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri and his Grand Lodge Officers.

Those in attendance witnessed a solemn and impressive ceremony of Re-Dedication which was conducted in agreement with ancient form and usage.

In his closing remarks, Worshipful Master H. Lee Stallings thanked the members of the Lodge for their dedication and support that helped the Lodge reach its 150th Anniversary. He also told them that he is excited about what the future holds, because he knows that their best Masonic work is yet to be done.