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Crescent Masonic Lodge #403
Free and Accepted Masons
4701 West Commercial Drive
North Little Rock, Arkansas
(Behind Golden Corral)
On November 28, 1882 - Crescent Masonic Lodge #403 was assigned
Charter Number 403 by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Arkansas.
Crescent Masonic Lodge #403 is affiliated with the worldwide system
of Masonic Lodges which trace their lineage to the formation of the
United Grand Lodge of England, in 1736.
Crescent Lodge had several meeting places over the last 125+ years.
The first meeting was held at Baldwin Hall at 2nd and Main Street in
what is now North Little Rock, AR. The hall was over a livery stable.
Crescent Masonic Lodge owns & maintains the property and building
at
4701 West Commercial Drive
behind Golden Corral on Warden Road.
Crescent Masonic Lodge #403 Officers - 2008
Worshipful Master: Bill R. Miller Jr.; Senior Warden: Joe Williams
Junior Warden: Bill Mullins; Senior Deacon: John Williams
Junior Deacon: Carl Foreman; Treasurer: Richard Smith, PM
Secretary: Harry H. Hoyt; Tyler: Greg McMahon, PM
Master of Ceremonies: Beau Fore
Chaplain: James Dancy, PM
Masons try to place emphasis on the individual man by strengthening
character, improving his moral and spiritual outlook and broadening his
mental horizons. Masonry tries to build a better world by building better
men to work, reside and raise their families in our communities.
Brother Mark Phillips, a Past Master of Crescent stated very eloquently:
"I believe that Masonry has proven itself to be all I had hoped for it to be.
The Craft, as ancient as it is, still holds me somewhat spell bound with its
mysteries. I've always been one who relished a good mystery. The more
I delve into its history, the more amazed I am at its relevance today.
Masonry teaches a moral code that all men, masons or not, should follow.
Masonry is selective, and guards its admission to a petitioner jealously, as
well as it should. Masonry teaches that we as brothers are to be of a like
mind. Admitting a rogue who isn't of the mindset would be disruptive to
the peace & harmony of the Lodge.
As some may aspire to become leaders and are given the respect they
deserve from the rest of the membership, we are never the less, on the
level with one another. No one has more say than another, and that's
why we have "one man, one vote" to determine the future of our Lodge."
Countless opportunities abound in our lodge for all members through
active participation in various activities inside and outside the lodge.
Crescent Lodge members are actively involved contributing time, efforts
and money to various community programs including Meals on Wheels,
Arkansas Food Bank Network, Disabled American Veterans, The VFW,
American Legion, The Shriners Hospital Fund, and other programs.
In addition to the Scottish Rite and York Rite Charities, Crescent Shriners
have participated in many parades over the years and continue to do so.
Crescent Masonic Lodge #403 members provides food for the Demolays
with its Fire-Truck (Cooking/Parade) Vehicle.
Many Crescent Lodge members are active in appendant Masonic Bodies.
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Orient of Arkansas, Royal
Arch Chapter, Council of Royal and Select Masters, The Mystic Order of
Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm "Bendemeer Grotto", Commandery
of Knights Templar of Arkansas, The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles
of the Mystic Shrine "Scimitar Shriners", Florence Chapter Order of the
Eastern Star and others.
Click this link to visit Florence Chapter Website
Membership in Crescent Masonic Lodge is available by application to men
at least 21 years of age and meet requirements as set by the Grand Lodge,
including: belief in one living God and immortality of the human soul, and
are not criminals. U.S. Citizenship & unanimous member election required.
Condensed History of Crescent Lodge
Grand Master George E. Dodge of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of
Free and Accepted Masons of Arkansas, issued a Dispensation in May
1882 for a Lodge to be called Crescent. That dispensation was given to
Reverend George A. Dannelly, & a group of 11 other Masons in Argenta.
The city of Argenta is now North Little Rock AR
Charter Members were Brothers; Geo. A. Dannelly, T. W. Baldwin, F. J.
Rogers, E.A. Ramsey, J. M. Aaron, W.W. Stansbery, W. H. Evans, Charles
Robken, N. Knight, W. R. F. Paines, James Eblin, and Geo. W. Kennedy.
Bro. Dannelly was Worshipful Master, and the Lodge began working under
dispensation during the summer and fall, until the M.W. Grand Lodge met
in November of 1882. When the Grand Lodge met, Crescent Lodge had
15 members. Western Star Lodge #2, of Little Rock, AR had witnessed
work done by the Brothers who had desired to ask for the dispensation,
and reported to the Grand Lodge that the Brothers were very proficient,
and recommended to the Grand Lodge that a dispensation be granted.
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Arkansas granted Crescent Lodge
a Charter and assigned it Number 403. The first elected Worshipful Master
was Charles Robken, whose son later became Worshipful Master in 1929.
Crescent Lodge has had several meeting places over the 125+ years since
the first meeting was held at Baldwin Hall over a livery stable.
The second meeting place of the Lodge was Mosier Hall between 4th & 5th
on Magnolia Street. In 1900 the Lodge moved to Humphreys Hall at 4th &
Main Street. In 1908 the Lodge moved to the old Masonic Hall at 419 ½
Main Street where they held meeting for the next 16 years.
In 1922 Crescent and Big Rock Lodges jointly bought property & built
a two story building at 3rd and Willow. The 2nd floor was reserved for
Masonic functions and the lower floor was rented. The upper floor was
not completely finished until during World War II.
The growth of Crescent and Big Rock Lodges, and the Florence and
Jewell Chapters of Eastern Star, DeMolays, and Rainbows up to and
including WW II caused considerable crowded conditions with regard
to the several organizations having enough meeting nights in the week
in the Lodge Hall. More meetings than nights available in the week!
Crescent Lodge decided to sell its property at 3rd and Willow Streets
and build a new and larger home. Big Rock Lodge purchased the 1/2
share of Crescent Masonic Lodge in 1952.
In September 1949, Crescent Masonic Lodge purchased 4 lots in the
2300 block of Main Street. In 1950 a building committee was formed
and appointed by the Lodge to raise funds for the building. One half
of the current 770 members pledged $100 each to the building fund.
By April 1953, the building was partially completed and a Lodge room
on the ground floor on the north side of the building was finished. The
1st meeting in the new building was held April 13, 1953.
Crescent Lodge remained at this location until the early 1980's when
Hardee's Drive Inn franchise purchased their location. Crescent Lodge
moved their meetings to a temporary location at 115 West 17th Street
in NLR and began the search for new property to build on.
Crescent Lodge purchased the property at 4701 W. Commercial Drive
in North Little Rock and that is our current lodge home. The property
was just an open field when the lodge members purchased the land.
During the following years, Florence Chapter O.E.S.; The Amaranth;
Rainbow Girls; Job’s Daughters, and Iris Chapter R.A.M. have all met
in the
Crescent Masonic Lodge #403
building.
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Crescent Masonic Lodge #403
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