The History of Lebanon Lodge No. 391 began on Christmas Eve, 1883, when ten members of Galatia Lodge No. 306 (now Raeford Lodge) withdrew their membership for the purpose of forming a new lodge at Beaver Creek Village. The ten Charter members, all officers in the new lodge, were the following; Master: Alexander A. Biggs; Senior Warden: N. F. Holmes; Junior Warden: John M. Nordan; Treasurer; C. H. Calhoun; Secretary: A. A. Harrington, Jr.; Senior Deacon: J. F. Bobbitt; Junior Deacon: J. C. Graddy; Stewarts: F. P. Nordan, D. Wade; Tyler: W. J. Phillips.
This new lodge, Lebanon Lodge, was granted dispensation February 19, 1894, by Grand Master Robert Bingham and received its charter January 14, 1885. Meetings were held the first and third Saturday evenings after the full moon in each month. The lodge met upstairs in the schoolhouse located "...on the old road leading from Beaver Creek Village (via A. Biggs residence) to Buie's Bridge on the old Camden Road". This road is the present George Owen Road. The lodge site according to Paul Wade, Great-Grandson of A. Biggs, was on the John Smith Road about 200 yards from George Owen Road. The land for the school was donated to the School Committee of District 2 by The Beaver Creek and Bluff Mills. The School Committee was made up of A.A. Biggs, A.F. Holmes, and W.J. Johns. This information was recorded December 1, 1883, Book 75, pg.335 in the Cumberland County Register of Deeds office.
During the first year of the lodge six men were raised to the degree of Master Mason. The first of which was W.F. Holmes on May 24, 1884. He was followed by Daniel Johnson - June 7: David A. Johnson - June 14: D.A. Musselwhite - June 28: Rev. F.L. Townsend - July 12: and T.H. Holmes - September 6.
The first Masonic Funeral held by Lebanon Lodge was January 20, 1885, for Bro. David A. Johnson. The minutes of that date state that the members "...marched to the residence of the deceased." This was also the first visit to the lodge by a member of Phoenix Lodge #8 of Fayetteville.
On March 7, 1885, the lodge held a public installation of officers and charter ceremony at the Methodist Episcopal Church of Beaver Creek Village (the present Cumberland Methodist Church). Brother T.H. Sutton was orator and delivered "... a very earnest, eloquent, and learned address" on the subject "Man".
Several times during the late 1800's, members were called before the lodge to answer charges for "drunkenness, profanity, and other acts unbecoming a Mason". Several of these brothers were only reprimanded, while others were expelled from the lodge.
On Friday, April 21, 1893, the members of the lodge were summoned to meet to consider the matter of moving the lodge to Hope Mills, but after a "fail" discussion, the lodge decided not to move. The issue again came before the lodge August 28, 1897, at which time, the motion to relocate carried by a two-thirds vote. Three trustees, Bro. J.F. Musselwhite, Bro. W.F. Holmes, and Bro. G. Johnson, were appointed to secure a meeting site.
The trustees reported to the lodge on September 25, 1897, that the International Order of Odd Fellows #123 had agreed to rent their hall to the lodge for $1.00 per month. This amout was raised to $2.00 in December, 1898. During this same year, the annual dues for the members were $2.00 per month.
A committee of three was appointed to buy furniture for the lodge. It was ordered November 5, 1898, at a cost of . Carpet was put down in the I.O.O.F. Hall the following March, with the Odd Fellows paying half and Lebanon Lodge paying half. The total for the lodge was .
The minutes of the lodge are complete from the beginning of the lodge in 1884, to the present day with the exception of 1900 - 1931. Very little is known about the lodge during this period.
In 1901, the lodge built a two-story (as was the custom) building on South Main St. in Hope Mills. The lodge was located on what is now the vacant lot between the Christ Episcopal Church and the Hope Mills Rest Home. The land was transferred from the Rockfish-Mebane Manufacturing Company to the Masons. The land was to revert back to the mill if the Masons decided to relocate.
The top floor of the lodge was used for meetings and the lower floor for recreational purposes both by the fraternity and the community. The cornerstone of the building lists the members of the building committee as Bro. S.H. Cotton, Bro. J.C. Culbreth, and Bro. C.A. Jackson. Today, this cornerstone is in the present lodge in Hope Mills.
At 4:20 a.m., July 3, 1931, a fire of "questionable" origin was discovered in the Masonic Hall. The flames spread quickly destroying the hall and the Christ Eqiscopal Church as well as the top floor of the Church's Parish House before the Fayetteville Fire Department could arrive. The land then reverted back to the mill, and the Masons were in need of a new hall.
The lodge held their next meeting July 15, in the No.2 Hall in Hope Mills, at which time, the Odd Fellows offered the use of their hall, which was located on Harrison St. (present day Trade St.) A new building committee was set up at this time.
At the September 2nd. meeting, it was announced thet Mrs. Alice L. Gilbert, wife of prominent Hope Mills physician, Joseph C. Gilbert, would sell the lodge a lot on Harrison St. (Trade St.). The lodge accepted this offer and the deed was recorded September 8, 1931, book 371, p. 59, Cumberland County Register of Deeds. Construction soon began on a new lodge hall with money being raised through pledges by the membership.
It is not known when the building was completed or first used, but the minutes show that the Methodist Episcopal Church donated benches for the new hall in November, 1931, and the following February, Bro. J.B. Clark gave the lodge a protrait of George Washington, who himself was a loyal mason. The whereabouts of this portrait is not known.
The bottom floor of the new lodge had plate glass windows and was rented by the lodge as a drugstore for many years. Even a soda fountain was added in 1946.
Over the years many organizations used the hall for their meetings including the A.U.A.M , the American Legion, the Senior Citizens' Club of Hope Mills, and various church groups.
During World War Two, letters were read in the lodge from the U.S. Treasury Department urging all Masons "---to buy War Bonds thereby helping beat the Axis". Also, a flag was flown at the Hall with a star for each member serving in the Armed Forces.
January 24, 1944, the lodge organized an Eastern Star Chapter which is very active to this day. It was also not until this time that the members decided to install a rest room in the lodge hall.
A barbeque supper was held January 18, 1946, at the annual Ladies Night, at which time, the Master of the Lodge, Wor. J.H. Eagles, presented the note for the building and declared it paid in full by burning it before those in attendance.
Also in 1946, several members of King Hiram Lodge #466 joined Lebanon Lodge. The King Hiram Lodge was located in Gray's Creek on the northeast corner of rural road 2247 and rural road 2233 (School Road). This lodge surrendered its charter and became extinct August 5, 1927. The old lodge hall is still standing and is in the process of being renovated and remodeled as a home by Eugene England of Faryetteville.
The largest problem facing Lebanon Lodge during the next twenty or so years was the leaking roof. Hundreds of dollars were spent by the lodge over the years, but the problem was never corrected. The lodge would only spend enough to solve the immediate problem, not thinking ahead and having the job done professionally.
Gas heat was installed in the hall in 1949, at a cost of .00, but in January, 1955, the heater caused a great deal of smoke damage to the hall. The insurance company refused to pay for the damage because the heater had not been installed properly.
In 1956, the lodge decided to remodel the downstairs area for recreational and cooking purposes instead of renting it. Air conditioning was not installed in the hall until 1963.
With the continuing roof problems, the lodge first began discussion of building a new hall in 1965. It would take twenty years before it would became a reality.
In 1967, the lodge hall was given a face lift with the plate glass windows being bricked up and the cornerstone of the 1901 lodge placed in the wall. Paneling was installed throughout the hall. New chairs were ordered in 1970, with the old ones being donated to the Raeford Lodge.
The lodge voted to sponsor a Rainbow Assembly for girls in 1970. The chapter remained in the lodge until 1984, when the charter was surrendered due to lack of interest and participation by the young ladies of the lodge families.
With the hope of building a new hall, the lodge purchased approximately two acres from BroShelby Smith in October, 1976. This land was located at the "Bluff" on Hope Millls Road at the Camden Intersection. The "Quick Stop" is now on this property.
The lodge set a goal of ,000. for the building, and in 1979, Fayetteville Technical Institute was contacted about using their construction classes to build the new Hall. FTI declined due to the backlog of projects at that time.
With the increase of property values on the Hope Mills Road, the lodge saw the opportunity to sell their lot and make a substantial profit. In December, 1981, the lodge decided to purchase its present site from the Town of Hope Mills for ,000. and the chairman of the building committee, Bro. Paul Grooms, encouraged the members to look for potential buyers for the lot at the "Bluff".
With the plans for the new building well underway, the old building on Trade St. was sold for ,000. to Preston Johnson, with the agreement that the lodge could hold meetings there until the new lodge building was completed. The gas heaters were then donated to the Stedman Lodge.
Construction soon began on the new Lebanon Lodge building with Bro. Alex Pate serving as contractor. Building pledges were solicited from the members of the lodge and the Eastern Star Chapter also gave monetary support. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held June 15, 1984, and a Cornerstone Laying ceremony was held August 8, 1984, with the Grand Master of North Carolina, Most Wor.I. Boyd Hopkins, conducting the ceremony.
On April 4, 1985, the property at the "Bluff" was sold to Mrs. Katherine Williams for ,000. which was a great help in building the new lodge building.
The new lodge was soon completed, and the first meeting was held on June 8, 1985. New lodge furniture was soon ordered, and the old altar and pedistale were donated to the Stedman Lodge.
A dedication ceremony was held September 12, 1985, with the Grand Master, Most Wor. Norburn C. Hyatt, presiding.
The first master of the lodge, Wor. Alexander A. Biggs, a large landowner, served for six years in that position. 1884 - 1886, 1891, 1895 - 1897. His great grandson, Wor. Paul L. Wade, was Master of the lodge in 1981, Paul's son, Bro.Jeffrey L. Wade, was recently initiated into the lodge.
Several notable persons in the community have been members of Lebanon Lodge including: Bro. Simeon H. Cotton, first Mayor of Hope Mills and mill superintendent: Bro. John T. Henley, State Senator: and a variety of other mayors and town council members.
Two members have served as District Deputy Grand Masters for this district; Bro. Horace E. Hill in 1977, Bro. Daniel C. Nobles in 1986. Three members have served as District Deputy Grand Lecturer: Bro. Ernest Mills in 1958-59, Bro. Ronald W. Loftis in 1966, and Bro. Pierre H. Hanks in 1986.
The following five masons have been given Honorary Membership for service to Lebanon Lodge: Bro. Horace W. Pigg, 1958; Bro. Willie J. Hall, 1958; Bro. Fred D. Skipper, 1961; Bro. Charles G. Harrill, 1961; and Bro. Delmon Turner, 1981.
With a strong foundation in history and harmony, Lebanon Lodge #391 looks forward to a bright and promising future in their new home.
