Masonic College
Encyclopedia
Masonic College was a higher education
institution in Missouri
that was established by Freemasons
in 1844 and operated until 1857.
of Missouri opened the first Masonic College in Philadelphia, Missouri
beginning in spring of 1844. The institution was initially operated using property and facilities previously used by Marion College. However, the facilities in Philadelphia were insufficient, so the school administration soon sought a new location.
In 1847, the citizens of Lexington, Missouri
subscribed $30,000 to relocate the college. On May 18, 1847, the Grand Lodge of Masons
in Missouri laid the cornerstone of the Masonic College in Lexington. The solemn ceremony was conducted by Grand Master
Joseph Foster. The building was erected and dedicated on July 11, 1848. The two-story brick building was 57 feet (17.4 m) wide by 80 feet (24.4 m) deep, with a basement of hewn stone. It was built in the Greek Revival style with four fluted Ionic
columns. A 28 x 48 feet (14.6 m) chapel was in the basement.
The college was primarily for the benefit of the orphan children of deceased Masons, any children named Mason, and each member in the state was to pay a small per capita tax to support it. Facing severe financial shortfalls, the college closed in 1857.
During the American Civil War
Battle of Lexington I
, the building and grounds served as Federal headquarters for the forces under Colonel James A. Mulligan
, who surrendered after a three day siege, September 18–20, 1861. It was later abandoned by the Missouri State Guard
, and the college was used by Federal troops for the remainder of the war. Soon after the conclusion of the war, the building and grounds were transferred to the state, and a military institute was opened, but that school failed as well. In 1871, the Masons transferred ownership to Central Female College
, which later changed its name to Central College for Women
. It operated from 1871 until 1925. The building burned in a fire on August 20, 1932. It is now the site of College Park in Lexington.
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
institution in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
that was established by Freemasons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
in 1844 and operated until 1857.
History
The Grand LodgeGrand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
of Missouri opened the first Masonic College in Philadelphia, Missouri
Philadelphia, Missouri
Philadelphia is an unincorporated community in western Marion County, Missouri, United States. It is located about ten miles west of Palmyra on Route 168. It was named for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The community is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area.There is a small school...
beginning in spring of 1844. The institution was initially operated using property and facilities previously used by Marion College. However, the facilities in Philadelphia were insufficient, so the school administration soon sought a new location.
In 1847, the citizens of Lexington, Missouri
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
subscribed $30,000 to relocate the college. On May 18, 1847, the Grand Lodge of Masons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
in Missouri laid the cornerstone of the Masonic College in Lexington. The solemn ceremony was conducted by Grand Master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
Joseph Foster. The building was erected and dedicated on July 11, 1848. The two-story brick building was 57 feet (17.4 m) wide by 80 feet (24.4 m) deep, with a basement of hewn stone. It was built in the Greek Revival style with four fluted Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
columns. A 28 x 48 feet (14.6 m) chapel was in the basement.
The college was primarily for the benefit of the orphan children of deceased Masons, any children named Mason, and each member in the state was to pay a small per capita tax to support it. Facing severe financial shortfalls, the college closed in 1857.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Battle of Lexington I
Battle of Lexington I
The First Battle of Lexington also known as the Battle of the Hemp Bales, was an engagement of the American Civil War, occurring from September 13 to September 20, 1861, between the Union Army and the pro-Confederate Missouri State Guard, in Lexington, the county seat of Lafayette County, Missouri...
, the building and grounds served as Federal headquarters for the forces under Colonel James A. Mulligan
James A. Mulligan
James A. Mulligan was colonel of the 23rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. On February 20, 1865, the United States Senate confirmed the posthumous award to Colonel Mulligan of the rank of brevet brigadier general of U.S...
, who surrendered after a three day siege, September 18–20, 1861. It was later abandoned by the Missouri State Guard
Missouri State Guard
The Missouri State Guard was a state militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. While not initially a formal part of the Confederate States Army, the State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at times, under regular Confederate...
, and the college was used by Federal troops for the remainder of the war. Soon after the conclusion of the war, the building and grounds were transferred to the state, and a military institute was opened, but that school failed as well. In 1871, the Masons transferred ownership to Central Female College
Central Female College
Central Female College, was a women's college located in Lexington, Missouri. The institution was associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and operated from 1869 to 1924.-Early history:...
, which later changed its name to Central College for Women
Central Female College
Central Female College, was a women's college located in Lexington, Missouri. The institution was associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and operated from 1869 to 1924.-Early history:...
. It operated from 1871 until 1925. The building burned in a fire on August 20, 1932. It is now the site of College Park in Lexington.
Notable alumni
- Missouri Governor John S. MarmadukeJohn S. MarmadukeJohn Sappington Marmaduke was a career military man and a West Point graduate. He is known for his service as a Confederate Major general during the American Civil War...
- Judge Samuel F. Gilbert
- Congressman Stephen Benton ElkinsStephen Benton ElkinsStephen Benton Elkins was an American industrialist and political figure. He served as the Secretary of War between 1891 and 1893...
- Senator Stephen F. Boyle
- Senator Thomas Benton Catron
Presidents
- J. Worthington Smith, 1844–1847
- Adiel Sherwood, 1848–1849
- C.G. MacPherson, 1849–1850
- Ferdinand LaBoma Shaver, 1850–1853
- Archibald Patterson, 1853–1855
- William T. Davis, 1855–1859