The Masonic Lodge Earl Lodge No. 285 is the oldest lodge located in Coffey, MO. It was organized on March 30, 1868, with the charter granted on October 15, 1868.
The first lodge hall was located over the Henry Githens Store on the northeast corner of Main and Center Streets. After 29 years, the lodge moved to a new hall on Main Street in 1897, which burned in 1913. The lodge met in the Jameson lodge hall for about one year and then used the IOOF building in Coffey on Main Street until 1930. In that same year, they bought the present building on Main Street, which adjoins the IOOF building on the west.
The building in Coffey, MO, used by Earl Lodge No. 285 Masonic Lodge and by the Oddfellows Lodge. (date unknown)
The first officers of Earl Lodge No. 285 were J.J. Emyart, W.M.; Nathanial Glaze, S.W.; George W. Fling, J.W.; Gabriel Feurt, treas; N.B. Brown, sec.; Wm. T. Foster, S.D.; Thomas J. Flint, J.D.; and John Armstrong, tiler. In 1956 those serving as officers were J.E. Summers, W.M.; Don Prindle, S.W.; Frank Brown, J.W.; P.A. Orten, treas.; W.S. Underwood, sec.; Gerald Salmon, S.D.; Otto White, S.S.; Kirk B. Roberts, J.S.; H.H. Mullenax, tiler; George Flint, Marshall; and W. Guy Welden, chaplain. There are 48 members in the lodge at this time.
Coffeyburg Lodge No. 520 Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Coffeyburg Lodge No. 520 was organized May 20, 1895. Their meetings were held on the second floor or what was then known as the Uncle Henry Githens building, which was situated on the northeast corner of Main and Center Streets. This building was a wooden structure and faced the west, and was also used by the Masonic Lodge.
In 1897, the lodge, in conjunction with Lierley & Son, erected the present 2-story building on the southwest corner of Main and Center Streets and, at present (1956), own the entire building.
Charter members were J.B. Handy, Wm. O. Berg, M.F. Armstrong, I.J. Vogelgesang, and James F. Brown (the only living charter member in 1956, living in Arizona). The first lodge officers were J.r. Tull, N.G.; I J. Vogelgesang, V.G.; J.B. Handy, rec. sec.; James Brown, treas.; Dave Galbreath, R.S.N.G.; H.P. Hamaker, L.S.N.G.; and C.P. Handy R.S.V.G. Present officers are W.S. Underwood, N.G.; Virgil O’Hare, V.G.; D.O. Glaze, rec. sec.; Ralph Shaw, fin. sec.; P.A. Orten, treas.; Jesse Sanders, warden; J.E. Summers, cond.; H.M. Carter, I.G.; John Miller, O.G.; Garland Glaze, R.S.N.G.; Glenn Prindle, L.S.N.G.; Clyde Stitt, R.S.V.G.; Nova Holcomb, L.S.V.G.; Ralph Prindle, R.S.S.; Joe Roberson, L.S.S.; and W. Guy Welden, chaplain.
The Odd Fellows have always been one of the most active organizations in the community and in their practice of friendship, love, and truth to make Coffey and vicinity a better place in which to live.
Members of the Coffey Oddfellows Lodge IOOF (circa 1908-11) met in the upstairs east room of the 2-story brick building formerly standing in Coffey’s park. Shown, front row from left, are Phillip Butcher, Harry Holcomb, Henry Miller, James Everly, Russell Stewart, Ray Barton, Omer Young, Everett Myers, and Wm. Underwood; 2nd row — John Carter, Jim Reed, John Porter, S.N. Parrett, Ira Day, Bud Carter, Wm. McCoy, Nathan Razy, John Stitt, Wm. Vandivort, Jack Hedrick; 3rd row — Ed Rickets, henry House, Henry Courter, Otis Ballard, Frank Read, J.B. Everly, Dr. Girard, Burch Weldon, Levi O’Hare, Guy Welden, Sam Bennum, F.D. Read; 4th row — Roy Garton, Tom O’Hare, Chas. Timmons, Tom Carter, Edwin House, J.L. Davisson, henry Mullenax, Riley Wetzel, Alonzo Dugger, Curt Bennum, Lincoln Binney; 5th row — Oliver Farber, Dr. Foster, Sam Myers, J.L. Cunningham, Mort Smith, M.O. Glaze, John Bales, Merideth Hathaway, Jesse McCoy, Wm. Githens, Geo. Iddings, Arthur Mason, Lewis Smith. (courtesy Richard Porter)
Coffey Chapter No. 163 Eastern Star
Coffey Chapter No. 163 of the Eastern Star was chartered July 23, 1900. This was later closed and the charter returned to Grand Chapter about 1909.
A special session of the Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star of Missouri, was opened in the Masonic Hall of Coffey on May 23, 1938, for the purpose of instituting under dispensation Coffey Chapter No. 181, with Mabel Evans, District Deputy Grand Matron, and Clinton Welden, Worthy Grand Patron. On October 21, 1938, a specific session of the Eastern Star of Missouri was opened for the purpose of constituting Coffey Chapter No. 181. Charter members were acknowledged and officers installed.
Coffey Chapter 181 had their first District Deputy Grand Matron, Hazel Roberts, appointed at the Grand Chapter session of October 12, 1955. On March 28, 1956, an official inspection of the 10th District was held at the Coffey Masonic Hall.
The Star, taken from the emblem Star of the East, has given the members of the Eastern Star the meaning of service to our fellowmen, to bring relief, hope and faith into the hearts of those with whom we cone in contact, with our lessons all taken from the Holy Bible. Our projects include aid to the Masonic Home at St. Louis, cancer relief, Estarl (ES Training Awards for religious leadership), and local organizations.
Coffeyburg Rebekah Lodge No. 287
In November, 1900, there were a number of Odd Fellows and their wives who were interested in the principles and teaching of Rebekah-Odd Fellowship and wanted a Rebekah Lodge organized in Coffey, MO. A charter was granted on December 1, 1900, with 14 charter members.
On January 3, 1901, the degree staff of Sarah Rebekah Lodge No. 18 of Pattonsburg met in the present IOOF hall of Coffey for the purpose of instituting Coffeyburg Rebekah Lodge No. 287. There were 40 petitions presented and the candidates were instructed and initiated in the mysteries of the Rebekah Degree. Lodge officers were selected.
In the early years of the organization, the lodge increased in membership very fast. As years passed, membership dwindled and lodge became irregular in meeting. The members were continued paid dues and per capita tax in order to keep the lodge charter active.
In 1944 Gertrude Stewart, past noble grand, agreed to be noble grand for a second time during reorganization in 1944 and 1945. In a short time the lodge began to receive petitions, so a degree staff was organized. From that incentive, many were initiated into the order to increase membership to 76 as Coffey celebrated its Centennial.
The mission of the Rebekah Degree is to help the widow, to care for the orphan and hear the call of distress, to develop the spirit of helpfulness and to promote the performance of kindly deeds. The greatest objective of Rebekah-Odd Fellowship is the home at Liberty.
The Rebekahs presented a 50-year pin to Harriett Glaze, and honored her with an anniversary party.
Source: Coffey Centennial 1856-1956 book, pages 18-21; Walsworth Publishing Company
