History
Mingo Lodge--A Rich Heritage
By Clarence E. McLamb, Jr. PM, Palmyra Lodge No. 147
Delivered at Mingo Lodge on December 8, 2009
Dear ladies, Grand Master Dill, Past Grand Master Jernigan, Worshipful Brother Dalton Mayo SGD, Worshipful Master McLamb, Brethren and guests: I bring greetings to all of you from Palmyra Lodge No. 147 in Dunn, and special greetings to the members of Mingo Lodge on the occasion of its one hundred fiftieth anniversary. Mingo Lodge is a daughter of Palmyra Lodge, and we at Palmyra are a proud mother lodge!
It is an honor to speak to you tonight about the heritage of Mingo Lodge, and I especially want to thank Brother Eugene Jernigan who greatly assisted me in my preparation for tonight by providing me with some invaluable stories and information about your lodge and its members. A visit to the Grand Lodge also proved very helpful to me. During my visit, I was shown a document prepared in 1987 by Brother Ron Ennis PM which contained many items of useful information about your history.
In preparing for this evening, I quickly came to the conclusion that writing a comprehensive history of Mingo Lodge would require months and months, if not years, to complete. This presentation can only begin to touch on your glorious history and heritage.
I will begin by quoting from a book entitled “History of Palmyra Lodge No. 147,” by Past Master Herman P. Green of Palmyra, published in 1963:
“Freemasonry and its teachings, was, from the beginning, a vital part of the life of each member of Palmyra Lodge. The territorial jurisdiction was large and it became immediately evident that forming new lodges in the territory was the most unselfish action members of Palmyra could take in sharing Brotherly Love and Friendship with others through the medium of Masonry.
This came in evidence when Palmyra Lodge was about six years of age. In the minutes of a stated communication on October 1, 1858 we find this recorded: "The petition of the following members was approved for a demit and asking to be recommended to the Grand Master for a dispensation for a new lodge to be called Mingo: M. Tew, William Harris, Kilba Lassiter, Leonard Godwin, Lemon Handley Lee, William Giles, Sion Giles, Kenion Barefoot, which petition was granted.’ As a result, Mingo Lodge No. 206 came into being and was chartered on December 6, 1859. Mingo No. 206 remains continuously active until this day and has been a very close daughter of Palmyra throughout the years.”
One demonstration of the fact that your lodge and its members are held in high esteem by your mother lodge Palmyra is that five of your members are honorary members of Palmyra. They are Dalma Lee Core, Clarence Eugene Jernigan, Gene Tart Jernigan, Nelson Watkins Newton and Joseph Alfred Wilson.
Let us think about travel in the 1850’s in Sampson and Harnett Counties for a minute. Some of the eight brethren who demitted from Palmyra to form Mingo might have had to travel upwards of twenty miles to go to meetings of Palmyra Lodge which was then located at Averasboro, near the Cape Fear River. The only means of transportation available were walking or riding a horse or a horse and wagon, and those means of transportation would have required four or five hours of travel each way. It made sense to form a new lodge nearer the homes of those eight brethren.
The first lodge building was located at the Mingo Muster Grounds which is near the intersection of the Taylor’s Chapel Road and Christmas Tree Road. There is a medium sized cemetery very near the site of the old lodge building. This original building and the charter were destroyed by fire in March 1865 by Federal troops under the command of General William T. Sherman. A duplicate charter was issued by the Grand Lodge on December 6, 1865 and a new building was erected and used until it, too, was burned in March 1928. A new two-story lodge building was erected at Spivey’s Corner on a site which was purchased in June 1928 from Brother Samp Alderman Jackson. The lodge met in various locations until the new building was completed a few months later. On August 1, 1983 the lodge voted to sell its property and erect a new lodge building about two miles south of Spivey’s Corner on land generously donated by Brother Earl Warren PM. The first meeting was held in the new building on December 3, 1984.
On Thursday, November 14, 1985 at 7:00 P.M., an Emergent Communication of the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of North Carolina was held in the Temple of Mingo Lodge for the purpose of dedicating the new Temple.
Those serving as Grand Lodge Officers for the occasion were:
Norburn C. Hyatt Grand Master
James Wright Jackson as Deputy Grand Master
Freddie C. Jackson, Jr. as Senior Grand Warden
Freddie A. Tew, Jr. as Junior Grand Warden
Clarence Eugene Jernigan as Grand Treasurer
Dalma L. Core as Grand Secretary
Wade J. Hardison, Jr. as Senior Grand Deacon
James R. Ennis as Junior Grand Deacon
Gene Tart Jernigan as Grand Marshal
Robert E. Lee as Grand Steward
Freddie C. Jackson, Sr. as Grand Steward
Joseph A. Wilson as Grand Tyler
Leland Lee as Grand Chaplain
Some others in attendance were:
Robert P. Dudley Grand Secretary
Jerry G. Tart Senior Grand Deacon
Marvin D. Wilson Grand Tyler
Thurman C. Jernigan DDGM-28
T. Walton Clapp III Asst. to the Grand Secretary
The address of welcome was delivered by Robin A. Draughon, Master of Mingo Lodge. Music was provided by Mrs. Margaret Hawley.
The Ceremony of Dedication was conducted with the usual Masonic custom. Robin A. Draughon, (M-206), acted as Master in the Ceremony. Robert Roland Hawley, (PM-206), was the Principal Architect. James Randall Lee, (PM-206) was the Bearer of the Taper. Henry Peyton Lee, (PM-206) was the Bearer of the Constitution. Kenneth G. Jones, (PM-206) was the Bearer of the Three Great Lights.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Earl C. Warren, (PM-206) expressed the lodge’s appreciation to the Grand Master and others who participated in the Ceremony, and the Grand Master made a brief response.
The first officers of Mingo Lodge after it was chartered were:
Master Kenion Barefoot
Senior Warden William Giles
Junior Warden Joel Jackson
Treasurer Jesse Wilson
Secretary Kilba Lassiter
Senior Deacon H. H. West
Junior Deacon John Dudley
Tyler M. Tew
Members were Lemon Handley Lee, William Harris, F. Jernigan, Leonard Godwin, Joshua Godwin and Sion Giles.
Let us move on to the year 1864. Remember that we were in the last months of the War Between the States, and times were exceedingly difficult. Yet, during that year, Mingo Lodge raised fourteen new Master Masons. What a wonderful accomplishment!!
The officers for 1864 were as follows:
Master B. B. Holder
Senior Warden J. M. Jernigan
Junior Warden Sampson B. Jackson
Treasurer Sampson D. Jackson
Secretary Kilba Lassiter
Senior Deacon J. C. Williams
Junior Deacon D. Lockerman
Members in 1864 were Kenion Barefoot, Joel Jackson, William Harris, John Dudley, Jesse Wilson, Lemon Handley Lee, F. Jernigan, Daniel McDonald, James R. Holder, Hardy H. Draughon, William R. Holmes, Grey Culbreth, John P. Stone, John J. Tew, N. L. Hawley, William Daughtry, James R. Maxwell, Wiley West, James C. Williams, William H. Warren, S. D. Jackson, Budd Jernigan, James D. Maloy, John Culbreth, D. C. Young, David Lee, James C. Draughon, John A. Strickland, Josiah Hudson, John A. Butler, Clifton Ward, Batt Lee, Calvin D. Wilson, A. B. Parker, R. A. Jackson, Josiah McPhail, R. Ward, Erasmus Lee, M. O. Jackson, A. T. Herring.
In just five years your lodge had grown from the original eight members to forty-plus members.
I want to talk to you now about some of your officers and members, both early and late, and some of their family members. Perhaps one or more of you will one day write a comprehensive history of Mingo Lodge and include information about the ones I will talk about tonight as well as those I will not get to talk about.
Your first Master, Kenion Barefoot, lived and raised his family near Stoney Run Church which is located on NC 55 a few miles east of Dunn. Kenion was born April 20, 1822 and died April 20, 1881. He married Mary Ann Lee, who was born March 20, 1821 and died September 8, 1898. He was stationed at Fort Fisher during his military service to the Confederacy. Brother Kenion planted and cultivated fruit trees, especially an apple variety called Sweet Reds. He planted a row of plum trees in front of his house so that people who came by on their way to and from Stoney Run Church could stop and eat all they wanted.
Kenyon and Mary Ann had four sons and four daughters. They were Kenion Eden (known as Blake), Moses W., Sion Thomas, Elam Troy, Julia, Susan Elizabeth, Nancy Jane, and Mary Wright. He left each of his children a farm, and most of that land is still in possession of the family.
Kenion’s son Blake married Sophronia Catherine Jackson. He is the only child of Kenion whose family is familiar to me. Blake and Sophronia had three children to survive to adulthood: Wilma, who married Lloyd House, Russell Carney, who married Mary Viola Tew, and Dewey Sampson, who married Mamie Ellen Barefoot. Dewey and Mamie Ellen were the parents of Bonnie, Wilma, and James Dewey, who is known as Buddy Barefoot.
Joel Jackson, another early member, built Jackson’s Mill Pond, which was renamed Williams Lake by his descendants. Joel’s descendant Clayton Williams operated the lake as an amusement center for many years. Joel was the great-grandfather of Fuller, Bynum and Graham Jackson, all of whom lived near the lake and were outstanding community leaders.
Brother Sampson B. Jackson was the father of Sylvester Jackson who was the father of Brother Warren Jackson PM, Dr. Wilbert Jackson, Bratson Jackson, Kermit Jackson, whose son-in-law William S. Tart is to receive his sixty year membership certificate and pin on Thursday night at Palmyra Lodge, Maggie Jackson Stone, Lura Jackson who married Jack Tart, whose son Crafton Tart is a fifty year plus member of Palmyra, and Lula Jackson who married Rassie Naylor.
Brother Sampson D. Jackson was the ancestor of Brothers Freddie Jackson Senior and Junior, Jasper Jackson, Jimmy Jackson, Max Jackson, James Wright Jackson, M. F. Jackson, Cris Jackson, Lacy Jackson, Peyton Lee and many others.
Brother James C. Williams may have been the James C. Williams who was the father of Lizzie Williams who married Jim Warren. Jim and Lizzie were parents of Elton and Wallace Warren, who were members of Palmyra. Brother Wiley West lived a short distance east of Spivey’s Corner. His farm was later owned by Tom McLamb who had a dairy operation there. Wiley West married Sally Jean Dawson, who was a sister of Elizabeth Dawson who married George McLamb, and they were my great grandparents. Sally Jean and Elizabeth had another sister Nancy, who married Uriah West, a brother of Wiley, and they were the great grandparents of Brother Oscar Harris, a member of Palmyra, and the current mayor of Dunn. Incidentally, your early member William Harris was a great-great grandfather of Oscar Harris. He was a minister by profession, and founded Old Field Church, now known as Pleasant Grove FWB Church, which is located northeast of Erwin on the Red Hill Church Road. Brother William Harris is buried in the church cemetery.
Now we will get back to Brother Wiley West and his wife Sally Jean. During the War Between the States, Sally Jean went to visit friends near Mount Olive. While there, Sally Jean noticed that there were two little white children under the care of slaves. Sally Jean was upset, and asked her friends about the situation. She was told that the father of the little children had gone off to war, and the mother later went to find her husband. The mother at that time had been gone for many months, and neither she nor her husband ever returned. Sally Jean asked her friends if she could take the little children home with her to raise. She received permission to do so, and did so. The children were Warrens by birth. The little girl was named Margaret, the little boy Fred. I do not know what became of Fred, but Margaret grew up, remained in Sampson County and married the Rev. Robert C. Jackson, a grandson of your early member Sampson D. Jackson. The Rev. Robert C. Jackson founded Roberts Grove OFWB Church. This story was told to me about twenty years ago by Hattie Jackson Honeycutt, a daughter of the Reverend Jackson.
Brother Erasmus Lee was the grandfather of the Rev. J. Doner Lee, a noted minister of the Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Brother Eugene Jernigan tells me that he often heard older members of Mingo talk about the accomplishments of William Giles, one of your early Past Masters, but I know nothing about his descendants.
Hardy H. Draughon and James C. Draughon were ancestors of Brother Robin A. Draughon PM.
Several members of the Wilson family have been and are strong leaders of and participants in the affairs of Mingo Lodge. Among them were Jesse Wilson, Calvin D. Wilson, Eli Wilson, and George Westbrook Wilson PM, who was the great-grandfather of Brother G. H. Wilson. Brother G. H. was appointed Grand Tyler by PGM Jernigan. Brothers Lynton Wilson and Enoch Wilson were Past Masters, and were uncles of Brother Joe Wilson PM. Brother Joe does an outstanding job delivering Masonic Burial Rites.
William Henry Warren, known as “Bill Henry,” was an ancestor of Brothers Lynton, Enoch, and Joe Wilson.
Many others members of the Warren family have served as officers and were and are leaders of your lodge. William Radford Warren PM, known as “Rad,” was one of the most dedicated Masons in your lodge, according to Brother Eugene Jernigan. If Brother Rad missed a lodge meeting, something was wrong. He enjoyed attending Grand Lodge Communications and all Masonic affairs. Brother Rad was the father of your Brother W. R. Warren, and was related to your Brothers H. C. Warren, Herman Warren, M.G. Warren, Leonidas Warren PM, Samuel Warren, Houston Warren, William Warren PM and others.
Brother Troy Hair PM was the father-in-law of Ermon Godwin PM and the grandfather of Mike Godwin PM. I was present the night Brother Mike was installed as Master, with his father and grandfather in attendance.
Let us remember Past Master Leland Lee. Brother Leland delivered Masonic Burial Rites with class and dignity. I never saw Brother Leland without a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.
I must mention Brother Nelson Newton PM. Brother Nelson always, always has time to help you. He would switch his tractor off and climb down to help a brother in Masonic work. When I was studying for the Certified Lecturer’s exam, I spent many a Saturday afternoon with Brother Nelson. On one particularly hot Saturday afternoon, I was working on a lecture with Brother Nelson and my droning on and on put him to sleep! I gently woke him up and we resumed the study session. I am now about the same age that Brother Nelson was at that time, and believe me, I understand now how easy it is to fall asleep on a hot July afternoon. Brother Nelson has been a Certified Lecturer for many years, and an honorary member of Palmyra Lodge for over fifty years. What a noble soul!
Your Brother Robert Lee’s dedication and devotion to Freemasonry remains unchallenged. He and his sons Robert Earl Lee and James Randall Lee were Past Masters of Mingo. Brother Robert and Brother Nelson Newton often visited Palmyra Lodge together. One night in the late eighties after I had struggled with a lecture, Brother Robert approached me and said, “Brother Clarence, you just don’t know how much good it does Brother Nelson to see you mess up.”
I want to give a special nod to Brother Dalma Lee Core PM for his many years of service to the Fraternity, and especially for his long service to you as your Secretary.
Brother Harvis Smith PM, always had a good word for you. When he left your company, he left you feeling good about yourself.
On a personal note, my father’s brother, Minson McLamb, known as “Mince,” was a member of Mingo. Some of you older brethren might remember him.
At least three members of your lodge who are McLambs have assumed leadership roles—your current Master, Chris McLamb, and Curtis and Allen McLamb, both of whom are Past Masters.
Brothers Ernie and Armon Baggett were both Past Masters of your lodge and both rendered outstanding service as Master.
Brother Odell Jackson was a Past Master whom you could always count on for help in any area of Freemasonry and community service.
Many members of the Jernigan family have been and continue to be leaders of Mingo Lodge. Among them are Brothers J. M. Jernigan, F. Jernigan, Budd Jernigan and, of course, Brother Eugene Jernigan PM, who is a sixty year plus member and has served as your treasurer for more than fifty years. He has been a Certified Lecturer for over fifty years. And now we come to Brother Gene Tart Jernigan, Past Grand Master. Brother Gene’s outstanding leadership qualities were recognized by Past Grand Master Ingram when he appointed him to the Grand Lodge line. Brother Gene filled each of the chairs in the line with distinction and rendered truly remarkable service as Grand Master.
Brother Earl Lockamy PM was the first member of Mingo Lodge to receive honors from the Scottish Rite. He attained the rank of KCCH. Past Grand Master Jernigan and Brother Kenneth Jones PM are 33rd degree Scottish Rite Masons, and Brother G. H. Wilson holds the rank of KCCH.
Mingo Lodge has been a community center of influence for good for one hundred fifty years. Your members practice Masonic teachings in their daily lives. It is my hope that Mingo Lodge will draw on its rich heritage and continue to grow and prosper for another one hundred fifty years and beyond!
Brotherly love is one of the tenets of a Mason’s profession, This being the case, I will now close by reading some words about brotherly love from a clipping that I found:
“Genuine love to our neighbor is extended to all, according to their character and circumstances. It blesses those who curse us, and does good to those who hate us. This, however, is not the distinguishing nature of brotherly love. Brotherly love differs materially from the love of a general feeling of good will. It is the love of good persons, and extends to all people. It is an affection which is directed toward the excellence of religion, and consists in a delight in holiness. Everyone that is born of God, of whatever condition, or nation under heaven, is to be loved with this affection. There is something in the character of every child of God that reflects the image of his heavenly Father, and it is this that attracts the eye and wins the heart. There is something in the character of every child of God which is amiable and lovely, and it is this loveliness that gives a spring to the affections and draws forth the hearts of God’s people toward God Himself.”
Thank you for the honor and privilege of addressing you tonight. Merry Christmas and, in the words of Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens’ literary masterpiece entitled A Christmas Carol, “God bless us, everyone!”
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A Brief History of Mingo Lodge 206
by Aaron B. Jackson, PM Mingo 206, PDDGM 11th Masonic District
Compiled 2021
Mingo Masonic Lodge was officially charted by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina on December 6, 1859. The first lodge building was located on what is now called Taylor's Chapel Road in the Plain View community, near Dunn. The masonic lodge property doubled as the mustering grounds for the local militia. In those days, each community had a militia made up of the local men. In the event of an attack or some other disturbance, the members of the militia were to muster at the Mingo lodge building in preparation for action. The gatherings of the local militia were normally festive affairs that brought out many members of the community. The men would drill for a few hours and then fellowship with their families and friends who had joined them for the day, perhaps at a picnic.
Civil War Era
The Mingo lodge property doubling as the mustering grounds for the local militia would have disastrous consequences. In March of 1865, as General William T. Sherman's army moved through the area neutralizing Confederate resistance, the lodge building was ransacked. This was no doubt due to its duel-purpose nature; likely viewed by the Federal commander as an aid to the Confederates. The 1865 Grand Master of Masons of North Carolina, Edwin Godwin Reade, gave remarks on the damage suffered by Mingo lodge, and others, in the path of the Federal Army.
“All the lodges in the track of General Sherman’s army, except in the towns where guards could be had, have suffered greatly; Lodges broken open, Jewels and charters stolen, furniture destroyed, or so much injured as to be valueless. I have granted four special dispensations to these suffering Lodges so as to enable them to exercise their chartered privileges until duplicates could be furnished by this Grand Lodge.” (1865 Grand Lodge Minutes)
One of the four lodges to whom Grand Master Reade issued a special dispensation that year, was Mingo 206.
Early Twentieth Century
Through the early twentieth century, Mingo Lodge remained on the same property as it had originally. From an article written by Brother T.H. Hinson in 1953, we are able get an idea of what the old structure looked like:
“The old building, (was) a two-story structure built of lightwood pine, hewn out posts and sills...”
In his article of 1953, Brother Hinson further states that he, and many more young men in the Mingo area, registered for the World War I draft at the lodge building.
In 1924 the lodge was destroyed by fire. Again quoting Bro. Hinson, "...the charter, regular aprons, and all records were burned." But as they had in years past, when faced with adversity, the Brethren of Mingo Lodge kept the light of Masonry burning. Brother Hinson remembers that the Brethren carried on the work, "...in a two story building and in a schoolhouse, and the lodge continued to be active...”
Unfortunately the lodge was not insured, and there were not enough funds on hand to build a new building. With building loans hard to come by, Brother Hinson writes that "...it looked as though (the lodge was) surely going to fail".
The S.A. Jackson Lodge
In 1924-25, the members of Mingo Lodge were depending on the kindness of their neighbors. They were meeting in a two story building and a local schoolhouse due to the lodge building being destroyed by fire in 1924. A new building was needed, but funds were short; the situation looked hopeless. That is until Sampson Almon Jackson stepped in, who in 1925 had been a Mingo Lodge Mason for 50 years. Brother T.H. Hinson writes that Bro. S.A. Jackson, "had accumulated considerable wealth".
At a lodge meeting in 1925, brother SA Jackson made the lodge an offer they couldn't refuse:
"(brother S.A. Jackson) rose up and said; Brethren, if you will all stand behind me, I will put up the building, and you can pay me back when you can"(Hinson, 1953).
The members of the lodge took him up on the offer and a new lodge building was constructed at Spivey's Corner, on property obtained by Brother M. B. Wilson from Mrs. Eli Baggett (Hinson, 1953).
1925-1983
The members of Mingo Lodge found a home at Spivey's Corner in 1925. The lodge was a two story brick building (which as of this writing still stands); the dining hall being downstairs and the lodge room upstairs. On the front of the building a stone marker was installed that read "Mingo Lodge 206 SA Jackson, Promoter". Mingo lodge hit its stride at Spivey's Corner; membership increased steadily from around 60 in 1953, to around 100 or more in 1983.
As the building aged and the lodge membership grew, talk began of constructing a new building. A committee was formed and a design was chosen; what was lacking was land. Faithful Mingo Lodge and Mingo Eastern Star Chapter members Earl Warren, PM and wife Eloise, donated one acre of land on Highway 13, about 2 miles south of Spivey's Corner, to be used as the building site. The new building was paid for in its entirety from funds set aside for the purpose in years past. The generosity of members and good fiscal planning allowed the project to be completed without the lodge going into debt.
1984 to Present
Mingo Lodge moved to its new home in 1984 and has remained there ever since. Mingo 206 is a small country lodge well known for its excellent degree work, dedicated members, steadfast support of the NC Masonic Charities, and commitment to the local community. As of this writing, our membership is just over 100. Many of the Mingo Brethren are active; taking part in our regular Stated Communications and degrees.
At Mingo, some Brethren are older and some are younger. From the oldest most experienced Past Master, to the youngest Entered Apprentice, we all bring the very best we have to offer to the Craft. In doing so, each one works to ensure that the Light of Masonry never goes dark in Mingo; just as the Brethren of Mingo 206 have done for over 160 years.