Bogue Chitto

Information on this page includes:

  • Bogue Chitto Lodge No. 260 Free & Accepted Masons
  • Bogue Chitto Chapter No. 132 Order of the Eastern Star
  • Bogue Chitto Chapter No. 263 Order of the Eastern Star
  • Emma Westgate Chapter No. 90 Order of the Eastern Star

Masonic Lodge

Bogue Chitto Lodge No. 260 F. & A. M.

DISPENSATION: January 23, 1861
CHARTERED: January 15, 1866
MEETS: 1st Monday @ 7:00 PM
413 Monticello Street
Bogue Chitto, Mississippi

HISTORY

Early references to Bogue Chitto have the name spelled as Boguechitto and Bogue Chitto. The single word spelling is shown on official plats in the Pike County courthouse prior to 1865. Shortly after the railroad came through, the two word spelling was the common usage.

Masonic Lodge buildings:

  • 1st: Information on the location of this building is still being researched. It is believed to have been located facing the railroad and located between Taylor and Center Streets. It is known that this building burned on October 8, 1872.
  • 2nd: In 1875 the Lodge purchased Lot 11 Block 10 from Stephen & Susana Sasser and built their Lodge on the lot. After the resurvey of the Town of Bogue Chitto by Porter this became Lot 12 Block B. The same building was also used by the Baptist and Methodist congregations before they built their own church buildings. Grand Lodge records indicate the charter was replaced on May 28, 1906 after being destroyed in a fire when the lodge was struck by lightning on May 18, 1906. At the time of the fire, the building was also used by the Woodmen of the World, Knights and Ladies of Honor and Odd Fellows. This lot was sold to Pine Camp #99 Woodmen of the World on April 8, 1912. The current address of this lot is 463 Monticello Street.
  • 3rd: The Masons relocated into the upper floor of the Planters Bank in 1907 located on the northwest corner of West Railroad Avenue and Yellow Pine Street. This building burned the night of January 11, 1932 destroying lodge records again.
  • 4th: At some point, the Knights of Pythias #218 acquired the Woodmen of the World building located at 463 Monticello Street. For the next several years, the Masons met in Knights of Pythias building. This building was badly damaged in a storm in early 1936. The Lodge purchased the building and lot on March 15, 1939. The building was torn down with the materials being used to construct the 5th Lodge building. The lot was sold to Lula Myers on August 26, 1940.
  • 5th: In 1939 a new Lodge building was built across the street from the previous building on Lot 14 Block C. Records indicate the lot was purchased for $25.00 in 1939.  Apparently there were later problems with the deed since the Lodge paid Frank H Hartman and A. C. Cohen $75.00 for the same lot on July 26, 1954 and on May 4, 1960 received a land patent from the State of Mississippi on the lot. This building still stands at 474 Monticello Street.
  • 6th: This building across the street from the Baptist church at 413 Monticello Street was originally a post office (one of three post office buildings still standing in the town). When the new post office was built next door in 1996, the Masonic Lodge moved into this building.

Events:

  • The R. W. Grand Secretary presented the following petition, praying for Dispensations authorizing the institution of the following new Lodges: Boguechitto Lodge, at Boguechitto, Pike County, which, on his on motion, was referred to the Committee on Dispensations. Part of Grand Secretary’s report to the 1861 Grand Lodge.
  • Bro. Timberlake, in behalf of the Committee on Dispensations, submitted the following report, which was received and adopted:
    Your Committee on Dispensations, beg leave to further report that the petition of T. J. Connally, et al., to organize a Lodge at Bogue Chitto, Pike county, to be called Bogue Chitto Lodge No. ____, be granted, as the papers in reference thereto are regular. J. W. TIMBERLAKE, for the Committee. Report to the 1861 Grand Lodge.
  • Dispensations issued at this Communication (1861): Bogue Chitto Lodge No. 260, Bogue Chitto, Pike Co.
  • In 1870 two Lodges had the same number, Bogue Chitto in Pike County (now Lincoln) and Brooks in Oktibbeha County. It was recommended and both lodges concurred that Brooks be numbered to 262.
  • On October 8, 1872 Bogue Chitto Lodge No. 260 burned destroying the Lodge and all its contents. A Duplicate Charter was issued on November 4, 1872.
  • A duplicate charter was issued May 28, 1900 after the Lodge was stuck by lightning and burned.
  • A duplicate charter was issued January 15, 1932 after the Lodge burned.
  • I have approved the appeals for the following Lodges: Westville No. 78 appealing to the constituent Lodges for assistance in the repair of its Hall. Bogue Chitto Lodge No. 260 for assistance in the rebuilding of its Hall. From the Grand Masters report to the 1939 Grand Lodge

Eastern Star

Bogue Chitto had two Eastern Star chapters during its lifetime.

  • Bogue Chitto Chapter No. 132
  • Bogue Chitto Chapter No. 263

Bogue Chitto Chapter No. 132 was constituted on September 2, 1915 and went defunct on January 6, 1920.

Bogue Chitto Chapter No. 263 was constituted on April 22, 1926 and consolidated with Auburn No. 87 on June 16, 2016.

In 1925 a petition was presented to the Grand Chapter of Mississippi for a Chapter of the Eastern Star to be formed in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi. This petition was made by Florence E. Brister, Sue M. Noland, Cordie B. Spencer, Maggie M. Goss, Anne Brister, Eunice Yawn, Gertie Price, Julie V. O’Neal, Annie Lee Primm, Sidney B.Spencer, Sr., H. Columbus Montgomery. Bennie B. Brister, John G. Hayes, Herman M. Primm, William C. Newman, Benjamin E. Brister and Elam R. Price. 

On April 22, 1926 a charter was granted to Bogue Chitto Chapter #263 and Florence E Brister was appointed Worthy Matron and Sidney B Spencer, Sr. was appointed Worthy Patron. The charter was signed by Gussie A. Evans, Worthy Grand Matron and Will H. Carter, Worthy Grand Patron. Myra C Eaton was the Grand Secretary.

On April 30, 1925 the chapter was instituted by Gussie Evans, Associate Grand Matron assisted by  Eugene McCormick, Grand Worthy Patron; Mattie Applewhite, Grand Secretary; Alice Bonds, Grand Chaplain; and Edna McCormick, Grand Marshall and the following officers were appointed:

Worthy Matron: Florence E. Brister
Worthy Patron: Sidney B. Spencer, Sr.
Associate Matron: Sue M. Noland
Secretary: H. C. Montgomery
Treasurer: B. B. Brister
Conductress: Cordie Spencer
Associate Conductress: Maggie Goss
Chaplain: John Hayes
Marshal: H. H. Primm
Ada: Amy Brister
Ruth: Eunice Yawn
Ester: Gertie Price
Martha: Letha O’Neal
Electa: Annie Lee Primm
Warder: B. E. Brister
Sentinel: Elam Price

The chapter was then opened with the following officers in charge:

Worthy Matron: Susie Albright, Queen Ester Chapter #4
Worthy Patron: Eugene McCormack, Brookhaven Chapter #1
Secretary: Mattie Applewhite, Brookhaven Chapter #1
Treasurer: Florence Brister, Bogue Chitto Chapter #U.D.
Conductress: Inez Gregg, Brookhaven Chapter #1
Associate Conductress: Liley Marsh, Brookhaven Chapter #1
Chaplain: Alice Bonds, Queen Ester Chapter #4
Marshal: Maude McCormack, Brookhaven Chapter #1
Ada: Audelle Alford, Brookhaven Chapter #1
Ruth: Mattie Ellzey, Queen Ester Chapter #4
Ester: Zeta Whittington, Queen Ester Chapter #4
Martha: Osie Hope, Brookhaven Chapter #1
Electa: Ruby Hickman, Brookhaven Chapter #1
Warder: Rosa Ferguson, Queen Ester Chapter #4
Sentinel: Tom Hickman, Brookhaven Chapter #1

On May 14, 1925 a special meeting was called for the purpose of being constituted and receiving the charge with Worthy Grand Matron Gussie Evans being present. 

In 1932, Emma Westgate Chapter #90 in Norfield, Mississippi requested to consolidate with Bogue Chitto #260. The consolidation was rejected on June 27, 1932 but the members of Emma Westgate were invited to demit to Bogue Chitto.

On June 16, 2016, Bogue Chitto Chapter #263 consolidated with Auburn Chapter #87.

Emma Westgate Chapter No. 90 Order of the Eastern Star

Emma Westgate Chapter No. 90 was formed and originally met in the Masonic Lodge at Norfield. In 1924 the Norfield Lodge burned and the Chapter relocated to the Masonic Lodge in Bogue Chitto. When the Bogue Chitto Lodge burned in 1932, the Chapter received a duplicate charter from the Grand Chapter. The Chapter went defunct on February 20, 1933.

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