Masonry in Nauvoo

The first Masonic lodge in Illinois, located at Kaskaskia, was founded in 1805, and its first meeting was held in December of that same year. The charter of this lodge was not granted until June 2, 1806, but by June 24 it had eighty-four members.

In December, 1822, delegates from the Masonic lodges met and elected Governor Shadrich Bond as their grand master. Because of anti-Masonic feeling in 1828 the lodge became dormant for a time. After 1832 and the disintegration of the Anti-Masonic Party, Masonry gradually made a comeback, but because of a negative attitude among people in general it was a slow process. By 1835 feeling had subsided to some extent and a second grand lodge was petitioned for in Quincy whose charter was granted on April 6, 1840. Abraham Jonas, a prominent Illinois Jewish politician, was elected grand master of the second lodge. In 1840 the total Masonic membership in Illinois and the United States was 157 and 2,072, respectively.

In the early summer of 1841, following considerable urging by Judge James Adams, a number of Mormon Masons petitioned Bodley Lodge at Quincy for its consent and approval to establish a lodge at Nauvoo. This petition was apparently signed by all the known Masons in the Church. It was refused on the ground that these persons were unknown to the Quincy lodge as Masons, but on October 15, 1841, a recess dispensation was granted by the newly elected grand master Jonas to George Miller, John D. Parker and L. N. Scovil. The Masons in Nauvoo almost immediately began to hold meetings. These gatherings were conducted early in the morning and according to the minutes, kept by secretary John C. Bennett, the dues were fifty cents with another twenty-five cents added for lateness.