Heretofore the church had strenuously opposed secret societies, such as Free-Masons, Knights of Pithias, and all that class of secret societies, not considering the "Order of Enoch" or "Danites" of that class; but after Dr. Bennett came into the church a great change of sentiment seemed to take place, and application was made to the Grand Lodge of Free Masons of the state of Illinois for a charter for a Lodge to be organized at Nauvoo, under dispensation, which was granted, and a Masonic Lodge was organized with Hyrum Smith, one of the First Presidents of the church as master. Large numbers of the brethren united with it, including Joseph Smith, Don Carlos Smith, and other prominent members of the church. After the Lodge had been in operation some months, the writer united with it. It increased in numbers until, in 1843, they built a large brick Masonic Hall, the lower story of which was fitted up for a theatre.