Nauvoo Masonic History
There have been many questions raised about the connection between the early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Freemasons. Although many early Mormons in Nauvoo were Masons, the meetings in Masonic lodges were separate from the Mormon religious services.
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Early History
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Illinois Grand Master Abraham Jonas came to Nauvoo in March of 1842 to establish the Nauvoo Masonic Lodge there. There were questions about establishing a lodge in Nauvoo because those who were to be officers were not known to be Masons, therefore they could not be officers. Ultimately, the lodge in Nauvoo was established. Historians suspect that Grand Master Jonas had political aspirations and hoped to appease the Mormons by allowing them to have a lodge in Nauvoo.
Geography
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Nauvoo is in Illinois, on the banks of the Mississippi River. Mormons settled and established the town after they were driven from Missouri when an anti-Mormon order was put into effect by Missouri Gov. Lilburn Boggs. Nauvoo is across the border from Iowa and only a few miles from the border of Missouri.
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Significance
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The establishment of the Nauvoo Lodge did not set well with other Freemason lodges, who believed that the Nauvoo Lodge was not established in the proper order. Although there were suspensions of the Nauvoo Lodge's activities on more than one occasion, appointed committees assigned to look into alleged wrongdoing at the Nauvoo Lodge never found any indiscretions related to the establishment of the lodge.
Size
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The number of Freemasons who joined the Nauvoo Lodge grew rapidly. Within the first half year of having the Masonic Lodge established in their town, more than 300 men in Nauvoo had become Freemasons. Eventually, more than 1,500 Mormon men in Illinois were Freemasons. This was 10 times more than the approximately 150 non-LDS Freemasons in the state at the time.
Beginning of the End
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The Nauvoo Lodge dedicated a new Masonic hall in April 1844. Opponents of the lodge, who were largely also opponents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, forced the Grand Lodge to sever its ties from the Nauvoo Lodge. The Masonic Lodge in Nauvoo continued to be used until April 1845 when Brigham Young advised that the work should be suspended in Nauvoo. The Mormons were forced from Nauvoo one year later and the Nauvoo Lodge ceased to exist after their departure.
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