WM TIMOTHY PLATO

Email:
northstarlodge2ph@gmail.com

ELECTED OFFICERS

ORGANIZED                     MEETING DATE & TIME
October 6, 1870              1st & 3rd Thursday of each month
                                          at 7:30 PM                                             
CHARTERED                    LOCATION 
July 12, 1887                    Des Moines, IA                               

On October 6, 1870 North Star Lodge was organized and placed under dispensation of the MW Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons for the State of Missouri and its Jurisdiction by Grand Master Alexander Clark, Sr. Their was first members were A.W. Carter, W.M., I.S. Carter, S.W., S. B. Smith, J.W., A. Brown, Treasurer, and W.A. Birney, Secretary and eight others. The lodge adopted the By-Laws of Clark Lodge No. 6.

The Annual Returns of Subordinate Lodges for the year ending June 14, 1981 reported the following: A.W. Carter, W.M., I.S. Carter, S.W., S. B. Smith, J.W., A. Brown, Treasurer, and W.A. Birney, Secretary and the members Peter Bell, O. Carter, T.L. Carter, George Carter, Edward Davidson, Harrison Deberg, Morton Essex, Jefferson Logan, George Poindexter, and Samual Sikes.

At their Fifth Annual Communication on Tuesday, July 4th, 1871 convening in Memphis, Tennessee, the Committee on Dispensations and Charters, made up of P.A. Smith, W.R. Lawton, and J.W. Hughes, reported to finding the lodge properly conforming with all the requirements of the craft of the Grand Lodge of Missouri and jurisdiction. The motion was received and adopted, North Star was assigned No. 31. 

In August 9, 1881 members of North Star #31 along with members from York Lodge No. 8 (Keokuk, IA), Golden Star Lodge No. 80 (Ottumwa, IA), John G. Jones Lodge No. 91 (Council Bluffs, IA), and Sumner Lodge No. 41 (Burlington, IA) gathered in the city of Keokuk and resolved themselves into a Grand Body of masons for the state of Iowa. John Page was elected Grand Master and the name "the Most Worshipful African Grand Lodge, A.F.&A.M. for the State of Iowa" was chosen.

Much discontent remained after the African Grand Lodge was formed in 1881. The Lodges still under the jurisdiction of Missouri, led by Star Lodge No. 51, believed it was in the best interest of colored Masonry to form an Independent Grand Lodge in the State of Iowa for harmonizing the elements in this state. The Hiram Grand Lodge was organized because the remaining Lodges on the Missouri register considered themselves to be the only legal and regular Grand Lodge for regular colored Masons in the State of Iowa. The Most Worshipful Hiram Grand Lodge of Iowa was organized on August 26th, 1884, in the Hall of North Star Lodge in Des Moines, Iowa. Alexander Clark (Past Grand Master of Missouri, 1870).

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On June 15, 1885 the Grand secretaries of both Grand Lodges, Miles N. Bell of Hiram Grand Lodge and G.H. Cleggett of African Grand Lodge wrote a joint letter to both Grand Masters urging them to set aside their differences and work on a plan to unify Masonry in the State of Iowa

Both of the Grand Lodges met on the morning of July 12th, 1887, in their respective sessions at 10 in the morning and conducted business. At three o’clock in the afternoon, the joint bodies, totaling 20 Lodges (7 from Hiram Grand Lodge and 13 from African Grand Lodge), met in the Hall of North Star Lodge in Des Moines, Iowa. A resolution was made to unite and form the United Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M. on July 13, 1887. The vote for the resolution was 58 for and 53 against. On Thursday, July 14, 1887, George H. Cleggett was elected as the first Grand Master. Both Grand Lodges dissolved their old Grand Lodge names on this date and took the new name of The Most Worshipful United Grand Lodge of Iowa A.F. & A.M.

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