Columbian Lodge, F. and A. M., was organized under dispensation granted October 9, 1828, by Wm. Y. Hansell, Deputy Grand Master, upon petition of Luther Blake and eleven others. Luther Blake was appointed W. M., E. E. Bissell S. W., and Thos. G. Gordon J. W., and the first meeting was held October 22d, 1828.

A charter was granted by the Grand Lodge in December, 1828, and No. 28 assigned it. At the time of the Federal raid in April, 1865, the charter was lost, and its present charter was issued October 27, 1865, by the Grand Lodge in lieu of the one lost, no minute of the original having been recorded so that a duplicate could be obtained of it. Its number, 28, was retained until October, 1838, when it assumed number 8, and that, in December, 1849, was exchanged for number 7, which it still retains.

Oglethorpe Lodge was organized and had its first meeting December 1, 1845, with O. J. H. Dibble as W. M., V. K. Tommy S. W., and J. J. Button J. W. The exact date of dispensation, or by whom issued, is not found of record. The charter was issued by the Grand Lodge October, 1846, and No. 47 given it.

Lovick Pierce Lodge was organized under dispensation from A. W. Redding, Deputy Grand Master, dated February 11, 1865, upon petition of F. M. Brooks and thirty-nine others. F. M. Brooks was appointed W. M., W. E. Sandeford S. W., and H. S. Smith, jr., J. W., and the first meeting held February 16, 1865. It was regularly chartered by the Grand Lodge in October, 1865, as No. 250.

In 1867 the three Lodges above named, upon consultation among themselves, agreed to unite their whole membership in one Lodge, retaining the name of the oldest, Columbian No. 7, and the charters of Oglethorpe No. 47 and Lovick Pierce No. 260 to be surrendered to the Grand Lodge. In pursuance of such action Oglethorpe and Lovick Pierce Lodges held their last meetings on 30th November, 1867, when their books and rolls were ordered turned over to Columbian Lodge, and they are now (1875) working harmoniously, under John King as W. M., A. M. Brannon S. W., and D. Wolf son J. W., with a membership of about 150.

James Kivlin, one of our oldest residents, was the first Mason who affiliated with Columbian Lodge after its organization, June 13, 1829. But few of those who received the degrees in the earliest periods of its history are now living, though its records show some who are still alive in this vicinity.

Darley Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under dispensation from Wm. Schley, Grand High Priest, dated May 24, 1841, on petition of Philip T. Schley and eight others. Philip T. Schley was appointed H. P., Rhodam A. Greene, King, and Abraham Levison, Scribe, and the first meeting was held June 5, 1841. Its charter was granted June 20, 1842, and it designated as No. 7.

Hope Council No. 4, B. & S. M., had its records and property destroyed by fire on 9th of October, 1846, and the time and name of its organization is not definitely known. It is supposed to have been organized about 1842, soon after Darley Chapter. Its first meeting after the fire was April 17th, 1847. It is now working under Hiram Middlebrook, T. I. G. M.; A. Wittich, I. H. T., and L. G. Scheussler, I. H. A.

St. Aldemar Commandery No. 3. K. T., was organized under dispensation issued December 1st, 1857, by W. B. Hubbard, Grand Master of Templars in U. S., upon petition of M. N. Clark and eleven others. Michael N. Clark was appointed E. C.; Phillip T. Gittinger, Generalissimo, and James M. Bivins, Captain General. The Charter was authorized to be issued by the Grand Encampment in September, 1859. but was only issued January 23d, 1860, and the intervening time was caused by dispensation from B. B. French, Grand Master, dated January 10th, 1860.

Adoniram Lodge of Perfection was organized October 28th, 1870, under authority from Melchisedec Consistory No. 3, with M. M. Moore as Th. Pu. Grand Master and twenty-four members.

Melchisedec Consistory No. 3 was organized July 19th, 1866, under dispensation dated July 9th, 1866, with John King as III. Commander in Chief and fourteen members. It was regularly chartered May 4th, 1868, by the Supreme Council at Charleston.