Mariposa Masonic Lodge, F. & A.M. No. 24

Lodge History

Mariposa Lodge No. 24 began with a Dispensation issued by the Grand Master Hyman of the Grand Lodge of California on November 18, 1851, the same year the Yosemite Valley was discovered, the year 50 dollar slugs were made at Mt. Ophir, and the year the voters decided to move teh county seat from Agua Fria to Mariposa.  The Dispensation listed J.W. Risher as Master, David Hogan as Senior Warden and Green B. Abell as Junior Warden.

Due to the inability to secure a proper meeting place and the long delay involved in writing east to verify past history of candidates, it was October 2, 1852 before the first candidate was initiated.  His name s was William A. King, a farmer 23 years of age.  The second candidate was Samuel A. Merritt, a lawyer 24 years of age.  They both became Master of the Lodge.

A Charter granted by the Grand Lodge on May 5, 1854, and the first returns under it showed a complete organization.   The officers were G.B. Abel, W.M.; William A. King, S.W.; S.A. Merrit, J.W.; Jospeh W. Thomas, Treasurer; O.M. Dickensen, Secretary; J.L. Hallum, S.D.; J.L. Boling, J.D.; J.R. Norris, Tyler.  There were 24 Master Masons, three fellow Crafts and six Entered Apprentices.

The Charter authorized the Lodge to meet in the town of Mariposa or within five miles of the town, a rarity in Masonic Lodges.  This apparently was done because so Many members lived in Agua Fria, just inside the five mile limit.  It was also were Dr. Dickersen, the secretary, lived.  Another unique feature of the Charter was that meetings would be held the Saturday on or before the full moon.  The moonlight helped members who lived long distances find their way to the meeting.

Among the first member were five men who had been members of the mariposa Battalion which discovered Yosemite Valley.  Two other members were members of the California Rangers who pursued Joaquin Murietta, a notorious Bandit.

A Holy Bible, a sterling silver square and a compass of similar material were presented to the Lodge on December 27, 1854 by 13 wives and daughters of the Masons.  These items have been on the Altar at every meeting held since that date.

With the completion of the deed on the land grant held by John C. Fremont, he began deeding parcels to people who had previously made land purchases.  One parcel was deeded to Mrs. Dickensen, the wife of an early Mason.  In turn, on May 20, 1857, she deeded it to L.N. Thomas, Thomas Early, Jashua D. Crippen, trustees of the Mariposa Lodge for the sum of $800.

 The Mariposa Lodge is famous for the longest record of relief in California.  In 1863 they voted to give financial assistance to a widow and her mentally impaired daughter.  The woman's husband had been one of the masons who helped hold the Lodge together shortly after is founding.  This relief lasted until 1909, after the mother died, and until the daughter also passed away.

Soon work began on building a new Temple.  But again, they ran into troubles.  The construction company hired to build the Temple found itself in litigation.  Construction was halted for a period of time, then begun again.  However, just as the Temple was completed the Lodge found itself in debt to the tune of $5000 and was facing foreclosure because of a mechanics lien.  To dig themselves out of this hole a letter was sent to all the Lodges of the jurisdiction soliciting a loan of $33 from each.  The loan arrived and the Lodge moved into new meeting quarters.

The cornerstone of the new Lodge, which was laid during a ceremony on December 3, 1864, contained some interesting items.  Inside a zinc box placed in a hold chiseled into the granite stone were newspapers and maps, a photo ph Mariposa before the fire, pieces of gold and copper from area mines, brandy, seeds, photos of Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan, various stamps and currency, corn, barley, and names of the officers of the county along with names of the lawyers in the town.  The new Lodge on Main Street stood three stories tall.  The first level was barely above street level.  The second was rented out and the third level was used as a Masonic Hall.

Unfortunately, a fire swept through town in 1866, destroying everything in site, including the recently completed Temple.  The only items saved were the Bible, silver square and compass, the officers jewels and aprons, three wooden candlesticks, the charter and the cornerstone.

After a time the Lodge met in various places, sometimes even under a tree. The Odd Fellows offered their hall for free, but the Masons insisted on Paying $15 a month rent and this arrangement continued for many years.  Construction began on a new hall which was completed in 1918.  In the later part of the 20^th Century the Lodge would move to a newly constructed Temple on the other side of town.

During the late 1800s, the Lodge grew in membership and its coffers grew as well.  IN fact, some years they had trouble finding people to lend their money to and old meeting transcripts reflect that in successive years there was $1,000 to lend and no takers.

Early leaders of the Masons were faithful to the Lodge and with their leadership skills were able to help the Temple grow in membership and wealth.  These men included Samuel Merrit, John Boling, Joseph Marr, Lewis Fuller Jones and Frank Catherwood.

Boling was the Captain of the Mariposa Battalion and later Sheriff.  Bunell also served on the expedition into Yosemite Valley.  Merrit became County Clerk of Mariposa and later was a State Assemblyman and then Senator.  One other notable fact about Merritt is that he joined the Lodge at the age of 24 and earned all three degrees within 28 days.  He served as Lodge Master in 1855 and 1856.

Jones, a gold miner turned Judge, served 19 consecutive terms as Master of the Lodge.  Ironically he was rejected for membership the first time he petitioned for his degree in 1870.  Without Jones perseverance, the Lodge might not have continued to exist. During his terms multitudes of men left the area looking for greener pastures.  They retained their membership in the local lodge, but were unable to attend meetings or participate in Lodge activities.

Catherwood became a legendary Lodge member.  He joined in 1910 and by 1913 was elected Master of the Lodge, a position he held for five years.  he was remarkable for his memory and knowledge of the Lodge ritual.  And, he never missed a meeting although he lived 26 miles away and had to hike part of it.

Other unique happenings had occurred at the Lodge.  In 1937, with a special dispensation, a meeting was held on the summit of Sentinel Dome in Yosemite park.  At this meeting, San Francisco Chapter 18 of the National So-Journers conferred the Third Degree of Masonry.