The first and oldest Masonic Lodge in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Meets 3rd Tuesday of each month @ 6:00 dinner
7:00 meeting
In its earliest days the Lodge used upper rooms of the officers' quarters in the fort for its meetings. This, and other, fort buildings were burned just before the outbreak of the Civil War. Subsequent to that, attic rooms of the old St. Charles Hotel were used for lodge meetings. Later, rooms on the third floor of the Kennedy Building (predecessor of the Le Flore Hotel) at Sixth Street and Garrison Avenue served as homes for the Lodge.
On December 6, 1889 the Lodge dedicated its first truly Masonic home, the Baer Memorial Masonic Temple, at North 6th and C Streets. This building housed Belle Point as well as other Masonic bodies until it was destroyed by fire on September 4, 1919. Many records from the Lodge's early history were lost in the fire.
In a showing of true fraternal spirit, the Knights of Pythias offered the Masons the use of their hall and equipment. The Lodge met there until a lease could be secured for the third floor of the Progress Club Building. The Lodge met at this location for the next two years.
In 1921 the Lodge purchased an existing building at North 8th and A Streets. After remodeling this location became home to Belle Point on December 27, 1921.
Belle Point and the other Masonic bodies in Fort Smith continued to grow as the town grew, and in February of 1928 the half-block site at North 11th and B Streets was purchased for the erection of a new Masonic Temple. On September 10, 1929 the current Masonic Temple was first used for meetings. It was officially dedicated by the Grand Lodge of Arkansas on September 16th of that same year.
Community involvement:
Throughout Belle Point's history it has been blessed to count community leaders as active members. The Lodge, collectively and through the individual activities of its members, has made, and continues to make, many contributions to the quality of place in Fort Smith and in the state of Arkansas.
Surely the most ambitious undertaking of Belle Point members to date in that regard was the construction of the Children's Building for the treatment of young children at the Arkansas State Tuberculosis Sanatorium.
At the communication (lodge meeting) on December 19, 1922, a motion was brought to the floor by Brother George Tilles (Masons refer to fellow members as brothers) that Belle Point sponsor this effort. The Lodge passed the motion immediately, and further, voted monies to seed the project. A committee consisting of members: James A. Foltz, chairman; George Tilles, vice-chairman; R. L. Secrest, secretary and treasurer; Joseph M. Hill, A. M. Forby, and W. B Nichols, was appointed to oversee this effort to provide Masonic relief. Two years later, and with the assistance of Masons from across the state of Arkansas, the Children's Building was dedicated. Originally built to house thirty six patients and provide administrative and support staff facilities, it was soon expanded by the Masons to meet the needs of sixty two children. The building was used for its intended purpose for nearly 50 years. Gains in treating and preventing tuberculosis led to the eventual closing of the Sanatorium. The buildings are still in use today as the Booneville Human Development Center and they are classified as a historic site.
The Lodge continues its efforts to this day to serve our community.
Freemasonry is an organization whose members are concerned with moral and spiritual values, self-improvement, and helping their communities with charitable endeavors. Masonry...making good men better!
