The Cherokee Masonic Lodge #10 was established in 1848 and is the oldest lodge in the state of Oklahoma.
History of Cherokee Masonic Lodge #10
The Cherokee Masonic Lodge #10 was established in 1848 and is the oldest lodge in the state of Oklahoma. Normally, Masonic Lodges are numbered in the order of their creation and this is true in Oklahoma as well. It may be confusing to some how we are the oldest lodge in Oklahoma and can be number 10. When the Cherokee Masonic Lodge was established on November, 8 1848, it was chartered under The Grand Lodge of Arkansas due to the state of Oklahoma had not yet been established.
Events from the Civil War led to the destruction of documents and the Grand Lodge of Arkansas lost nearly all records. From 1863-1865 there was a large decrease in the attendance of members from the chartered lodges, especially in Indian Territory. The destruction of the records of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas led to the Masonic Lodge in Eufaula securing the #1 spot in Oklahoma and the Cherokee lodge falling to #10.
