Oklahoma Masonic History by T.S. Akers

Oklahoma Masonic History by T.S. Akers Welcome to the premier landing page for the history of Freemasonry in Oklahoma. This page is managed by T.S.

Opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma or the Masonic Fraternity as a whole. Established in 2013, the Oklahoma Masonic History blog has become the premier landing page for the history of Freemasonry in Oklahoma. Akers, who is the Curator of Collections for the McAlester Valley of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

One of the most remarkable examples of Oklahoma Freemasonry in action was the Masonic Children’s Home. Established throu...
06/03/2026

One of the most remarkable examples of Oklahoma Freemasonry in action was the Masonic Children’s Home. Established through decades of dedication and sacrifice, the Home provided shelter, education, vocational training, and a sense of family to hundreds of children who found themselves in need.

From its beginnings in Indian Territory to its final home in Guthrie, the story of the Masonic Children’s Home reflects the Masonic commitment to Relief—not merely as a principle, but as a living practice.

To explore the history of the Home, the lives it touched, and the lasting legacy of a charitable institution that served Oklahoma’s children for generations, check the comments below for a link.

This past Saturday, I had the privilege of being received into the Royal Order of Scotland in ceremonies held in Dallas ...
06/01/2026

This past Saturday, I had the privilege of being received into the Royal Order of Scotland in ceremonies held in Dallas under the auspices of the The Provincial Grand Lodge, USA.

Tradition holds that the Royal Order of Scotland was established in 1314 by Robert the Bruce when he conferred knighthoods on Freemasons who aided his victory at the Battle of Bannockburn. As such, the Royal Order of Scotland also exists as a civic order of knighthood, claiming the King of Scots as its hereditary Grand Master. Owing to this, the current hereditary Grand Master is King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Decoration Day, rooted in the “Flowering Sunday” traditions of Southern Wales and later carried through Appalachia into ...
05/29/2026

Decoration Day, rooted in the “Flowering Sunday” traditions of Southern Wales and later carried through Appalachia into eastern Oklahoma, remains a meaningful Southern custom of remembrance. Families and church communities gather each spring to clean cemeteries, place flowers on graves, and honor loved ones who have passed.

While Decoration Day officially became Memorial Day in 1971, the two traditions are not quite the same. Memorial Day honors those lost in military service, while Decoration Day is a broader tradition of family remembrance, fellowship, and honoring all departed loved ones.

To remember the men who have led the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Oklahoma, please consider visiting the "Virtual Cemetery" found in the comments below this Spring.

Image: The final resting place of William Busby, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, at Oakwood Cemetery of Parsons, Kansas.

As May draws to a close, we are reminded of the old and meaningful tradition of Decoration Day, a custom with roots in F...
05/27/2026

As May draws to a close, we are reminded of the old and meaningful tradition of Decoration Day, a custom with roots in Flowering Sunday, once observed in Southern Wales and nearby regions of England. On Palm Sunday, families would gather to decorate the graves of loved ones with flowers in remembrance and affection.

Carried across the Atlantic into Southern Appalachia, the tradition evolved into Decoration Day and followed the routes of westward migration into eastern Oklahoma and throughout the American South. Often observed during the month of May, these gatherings included cemetery cleaning, floral tributes, memorial services, and the reunion of families and church communities.

Although Decoration Day officially became Memorial Day in 1971, the two observances are not entirely the same. Memorial Day honors those who died in military service, while Decoration Day remains a more personal and communal act of remembrance—an occasion to gather on a Sunday, place flowers upon the graves of loved ones, and honor the memory of those who came before us.

To remember the men who have led Craft Masonry in the state of Oklahoma, please consider visiting the "Virtual Cemetery" found in the comments below this Spring.

Image: The final resting place of Past Grand Master Henry L. Muldrow, 1909-1910. Located at the IOOF Cemetery of Norman.

As May unfolds, many communities across Oklahoma and the South continue the old tradition of Decoration Day, a custom wi...
05/22/2026

As May unfolds, many communities across Oklahoma and the South continue the old tradition of Decoration Day, a custom with roots in Flowering Sunday in Southern Wales. Carried through Appalachia and westward migration, families would gather to clean cemeteries, decorate graves with flowers, and remember loved ones together.

Though Decoration Day officially became Memorial Day in 1971, the two are not quite the same. Memorial Day honors those lost in military service, whilst Decoration Day remains a broader tradition of family remembrance, fellowship, and memorial observance.

To remember the men who have led Templary in Oklahoma, please consider visiting the "Virtual Cemetery" found in the comments below this Spring.

Image: The final resting place of James F. Elliott, Grand Commander of Knights Templar (I.T.) 1907-1908. Located at Oak Hill Memorial Park of McAlester.

Headstones, old and new, tell a story about the individual whose earthly remains they mark. They often contain symbols t...
05/20/2026

Headstones, old and new, tell a story about the individual whose earthly remains they mark. They often contain symbols that give clues about the life of the grave's occupant. The headstones of Freemasons have been decorated with the symbols of the Craft for ages. The most commonly seen Masonic symbol on headstones is that of the Square and Compasses and this is typically what is seen in the old Indian Territory. But the grave of George W. Stidham (1817-1891) in Eufaula is different.

George W. Stidham, a Muscogee citizen, became a Mason whilst on tribal business in Washington, D.C. He was also exalted to the degree of Royal Arch Mason there. When Muscogee Lodge No. 93 was chartered at the Creek Agency in 1855, Stidham was selected as the first Worshipful Master. It was in the upper floor of Stidham's store at Eufaula that Muscogee Lodge reconvened following the Civil War. Stidham would ultimately serve the Muscogee Nation as Chief Justice and when the Grand Lodge of the Indian Territory was formed in 1874, he became the first Grand Treasurer.

Stidham was a charter member of Indian Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons at McAlester in 1878, and it is the Keystone, a symbol of Royal Arch Masonry, which can be found on Stidham's headstone.

This time of year we are reminded of a cherished tradition that began with Flowering Sunday in Southern Wales, when fami...
05/18/2026

This time of year we are reminded of a cherished tradition that began with Flowering Sunday in Southern Wales, when families gathered to adorn the graves of loved ones with flowers and remembrance. Carried to Appalachia and eventually to Oklahoma, the custom evolved into Decoration Day—a time for communities to tend cemeteries, share stories, and honor those who came before us.

While Memorial Day was formally established in 1971 to commemorate those who gave their lives in military service, Decoration Day still holds a broader and deeply personal meaning: an occasion to remember all departed loved ones with gratitude, reflection, and enduring affection.

To remember the men who led Craft Masonry in Oklahoma Territory, please consider visiting the "Virtual Cemetery" found in the comments below this Spring.

Image: The final resting place of Past Grand Master Charles Day, 1901-1902. Located at Union-Graham Cemetery of Winfield, Kansas.

The month of May brings with it the remembrance of a longstanding custom rooted in Flowering Sunday, once practiced in S...
05/15/2026

The month of May brings with it the remembrance of a longstanding custom rooted in Flowering Sunday, once practiced in Southern Wales when families gathered to adorn the graves of loved ones with flowers and care. That tradition crossed the Atlantic into Appalachia and later found a home in Oklahoma, where it became known as Decoration Day—a communal occasion for honoring the departed, tending burial grounds, and preserving cherished memories. Though Memorial Day has become our nation’s formal tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in military service, the spirit of Decoration Day still lingers as a time to remember all who have passed before us with reverence, gratitude, and reflection.

To remember the men who have led Cryptic Masonry in Oklahoma, please consider visiting the "Virtual Cemetery" found in the comments below this Spring.

Image: The final resting place of Daniel M. Hailey, Illustrious Grand Master of Cryptic Masons 1901-1902. Located at Oak Hill Memorial Park of McAlester.

Did you know that only one pre-Civil War lodge charter survives today in Oklahoma? This charter belongs to modern day Eu...
05/13/2026

Did you know that only one pre-Civil War lodge charter survives today in Oklahoma? This charter belongs to modern day Eufaula Lodge No. 1, which was originally Muscogee Lodge No. 93 in 1855.

To learn how this charter survived the Civil War, check the comments below for a link.

As May unfolds, we are reminded of an old and meaningful tradition with roots in Flowering Sunday, once observed in Sout...
05/11/2026

As May unfolds, we are reminded of an old and meaningful tradition with roots in Flowering Sunday, once observed in Southern Wales as families gathered to decorate the graves of those they loved. Carried across the Atlantic into Appalachia and eventually into Oklahoma, the custom became known as Decoration Day—a time for communities to tend cemeteries, place flowers, and remember the departed together. While Memorial Day now stands as our national observance honoring those who gave their lives in military service, Decoration Day endures in spirit as a broader remembrance of all who have gone before us, inviting reflection, gratitude, and the renewal of memory.

To remember the men who have led Craft Masonry in the Indian Territory, please consider visiting the "Virtual Cemetery" found in the comments below this Spring.

Images: The final resting place of Past Grand Master Dr. Harvey Lindsey, 1882. Located at Triplett Cemetery of McIntosh County.

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