Carthage Benevolent Lodge #14 held Bicentennial Celebration

June 28, 2017

Carthage Benevolent Lodge #14 celebrated it’s 200th anniversary on Saturday, June 24, with a bicentennial celebration at their lodge hall in downtown Carthage, TN. Around 80 people attended the celebration including State Representatives Terri Lynn Weaver and Mark Pody, Smith County Mayor Michael Nesbitt, Smith County Sheriff Steve Hopper, and Carthage Mayor Donnie Dennis. Also among those present were several Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, including the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Casey Hood. See photos below:

Current officers of Carthage Benevolent Lodge are:

  • Worshipful Master: Dillon Reed
  • Senior Warden: Larry Bennett
  • Junior Warden: Sam Bowles
  • Treasurer: Fred Grisham
  • Secretary: Richard Hiett
  • Chaplain: Thomas Gibbs
  • Senior Deacon: Colby McKinney
  • Junior Deacon: Tommy Duke
  • Senior Steward: Matt Inyart
  • Junior Steward: Alan Nagy
  • Tiler: G.W. Morphis

History of Carthage Benevolent Lodge #14:

Carthage Benevolent Lodge #14 F&AM located in Carthage, Tennessee was chartered on July 18, 1817. A dispensation for Carthage Benevolent Lodge was issued on April 11, 1816. The petition for dispensation was made by members of King Solomon Lodge #6 in Gallatin, Tennessee. Among the petitioners was Maj. Tilman Dixon.

The original stationed officers were James Rucks, Worshipful Master; J.R. Canfield, Senior Warden, and Zachariah Goodall, Junior Warden. One of the charter members was A.W. Overton, son-in-law of Maj. Tilman Dixon and nephew of John Overton. John Overton was the speaker for the dedication of the lodge, he lived at Traveler’s Rest.

Carthage Benevolent Lodge #14 has mothered several other lodges in Smith County, including Martin Lodge #141 located at Rome in 1848, New Middleton Lodge #249 located at New Middleton in 1856, Snow Creek Lodge #346 located at Elmwood in 1867, Smith Fork Lodge #352 located at Lancaster in 1867, Difficult Lodge #451 located at Difficult in 1874, and Cage Lodge located at Riddleton in 1876.

One of the early members of Carthage Lodge was Robert L. Caruthers who served as Worshipful Master in 1824 and 1825. He later became a member of Congress and was elected as Grand Master of the State of Tennessee in 1849. He also served as Governor-Elect of Tennessee in 1863, but was prevented from taking office due to the outbreak of the Civil War. Caruthers also became the first Master of Lebanon Lodge #66, chartered in 1827.

Carthage Lodge was formerly located in the area now occupied by Tuley Furniture Store. The building burned and the lodge moved to where it is currently located in 1885, 210 Main Street in Carthage, Tennessee.

In 1950, Albert Gore Sr. became a Master Mason at Carthage Benevolent Lodge #14, but later demitted on January 11, 1966.

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