Part 1—The Early years by Melrose Lamar

This Lodge received its charter on October 29th, 1849, and except for a period of about 18 months in 1861-1863, has functioned continuously since. There were 12 charter members, among whom were D. N. Austin, C. D. Anderson, and G.C. Everett. On November 13th, 1849, the first meeting was held in a frame building then known as "odd fellows Hall" which was located at what is now the Northwest corner of Church and Macon streets in Fort Valley, and presently occupied by Rogers Grocery Company. At that time, the hall was also used by the Odd Fellows and the Friends of temperance as a place of meeting.

The first Worshipful Master of Fort Valley Lodge No. 110 was G. C. Everett, who served during the years 1850 to 1852, inclusive; the first Secretary, C. D. Anderson who later became a Brigadier General in the Confederate Army and in whose honor a local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy is named. The first application for membership was made December 16, 1849 by W. F. Slappey, who likewise was the first Master Mason to be raised on June 11, 1850.

Any attempt to narrate the early history of this Lodge must necessarily center mainly upon the prodigious activities of charter member, Brother D. N. Austin, for it was he who served as Worshipful Master of this Lodge for 17 years, 1853-1866, inclusive, 1870, 1871, and 1873, nearly one-fifth of the entire period of the Lodge's existence; and it was also he who shouldered the responsibility of holding the Lodge together and piloting it safely through those perilous times preceding , during and following the War Between the States. Despite the tragedy of wreck and ruin that befell the Southern, as a result of the worst convulsion in the history of the nation; never once, the recorded minutes tells us, did Brother Austin's faith and devotion to the cause of Masonry falter.

On April 19, 1861, two days before Fort Sumter was fired upon, a regular communication was held. Brother Austin presiding, a member was disciplined for Unmasonic Conduct, but the record contains nothing to indicate the impending struggle between the North and the South. Following the War, the South lay prostrate and bankrupt, and the country was eventually suffered the loss of a million or more lives.

Other meetings were held in 1861, on May 22, June 26 and July 7. Two weeks later, on July 21, the first great battle of the War, Bull Run, was fought. From July 7 1861 for a period of a year and a half, or until January 30, 1863, the record is silent, and then on a later date, we find the first grim reference to the fact of the War-the minutes of a called meeting for the purpose of "paying the last sad rites to our deceased Brother John Hamilton, who was killed in battle. He was Captain of the Governor's Guards. He was buried with due Masonic honors in the cemetery at Fort Valley, GA".

Would that it were possible to tell in this 18-month period of Brother Austin's silence! Was he, like so many of the brethren, in the armed forces of the Confederacy? Was he invalided home, there again to resume his Masonic duties, to which so many years of this life were devoted? Beginning January 30, 1863, Brother Austin did again resume his leadership of the Lodge. Notwithstanding, the troublous times, the record reflects that 18 meetings were held in 1863. And between January 6 and August 23, 33 meetings were held.

In July and August, 1864 some of the most desperate fighting of the war was waged about the city of Atlanta. Late in August, Sherman executed a flank movement and destroyed the railroad at Jonesboro, thus cutting the last line of supply serving the Confederate forces under General Hood, who had held Sherman at bay for a month and a half. This compelled the evacuation of Atlanta by the Confederate forces on September 1, and on the following day Federal forces entered the city. But in the very shadow of war and its horrors, with Sherman's army less than 100 miles away, the work of the Lodge , under guidance of Brother Austin was carried on, for the minutes tersely tell us that meetings were held on August 25, 27 and 29, 1864, and several degrees conferred.

Fort Valley, in the backlash of Sherman's March to the Sea, was not to escape entirely a glimpse of war's toll, for the Confederates retreating from Atlanta were obligated to consign their wounded to pints further south. Thus we find, following the minutes of the meeting of August 29, 1864, the following minutes of the meeting of August 29, 1864, this laconic entry: "Lodge taken for hospital, Returned February 1, 1865" and the minutes of that date record: "The Hall having been used several months by the hospital surgeon, and much of the furniture having been abused or destroyed, the necessary arrangements were made to prepare for work again".

Even in April, 1865, as first Lee, and then Johnson surrendered to the Federals, the exhausted remnants of their forces, thus putting into eclipse for all time the hopes of the Confederacy, the work of Fort Valley Lodge No. 110 was faithfully carried on under the leadership of Brother D. N. Austin, in whose handwriting, and without the aid of a secretary, the minutes of the period appear. In April alone, eight meetings were held. During the 11 months of 1865, beginning with February 1, when the Lodge hall was returned to the Order, after having been used as a military hospital, and when the South was at the threshold of that tragic period in the nations' history. Reconstruction, the almost unbelievable total of 62 meeting were held-an average of nearly five per month-a number greater than has been held in any like period during the Lodge's existence.

The minutes of the meeting of Jun 24, 1865 afford evidence pf the fact that Fort Valley Lodge No, 110, looking forward toward a future which held for them they knew not what, faced the future with brave hearts and with heads erect. The occasion was a regular anniversary meeting. It was attended by Masons, their wives, sisters, daughters, widows, and mothers. Refreshments were served, and the minutes inform us that "all partook of a sumptuous repast; all seemed to enjoy the festivities of the occasion, and with much delight, with many a glad heart and cheerful countenance, the ladies departed."

At the meeting on December 13, 1865, the Worshipful Master, Brother Austin, read a report of the "financial affairs of the Lodge, and the workings of the same from its commencement to the present time". The report shows that there have been 427 meetings of the Lodge; 158 Masons were made; 474 degrees given; membership at that time, 115. It was then resolved that Brother D.N. Austin "be paid the regular fees for recording minutes and keeping the books of the Lodge, there having been not acting secretary during the War. Also $50 for carrying for the furniture during the time the Lodge was used as a hospital".

At the Festival of St. John, held December 27, 1866, the following tribute was paid to Brother Austin: Resolved, That this Lodge tender our thanks to our Worthy Past Master, Brother D.N. Austin, for the impartial manner in which he had discharged the duties of this office fro the past 14 years, and that we believe it is mainly due to his zeal and ability as a bright Mason that this Lodge stands in rank equal to any in the State, believing as we do, that he has few equals in Masonic ability."

Meanwhile Brother Austin had become Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of the State of Georgia, and on November 17, 1869, a committee was directed to request Brother Austin to sit in the Lodge for a photograph, to be framed and appropriately placed in the Lodge hall. It was not until March 8, 1876, that the committee reported that it obtained the photograph at a cost of $15.

Upon Brother Austin's marriage, the Lodge entertained the bride and groom at a supper given on March 5, 1871.

In 1876, a committee was appointed to investigate the use of the Lodge lot, which was under fence, by Mr. Bone, for the safe keeping of a bull-a situation which we may assume added nothing to the safety of the attending members. The Chairman of the committee subsequently reported that he had performed his duty by notifying Mr. Bone that he could no longer so use the Lodge hall property and that he had the key to the gate in his possession. And in 1880, a committee was reported to the Lodge that the Lodge hall had been insured in the sum of $25.

Brother Austin's unflagging devotion to the cause of Masonry came to an end in 1879, and on April 8 of that year he was buried with appropriate Masonic ceremony. The Lodge was draped in mourning and members requested to wear it for 30 days. The minutes of April 9, 1879, state that out of respect to and our departed Brother for a lifetime devotion to our service," the entire funeral expenses were ordered paid from Lodge funds by a unanimous rising vote, and resolutions upon his passing were ordered published in the Fort Valley Mirror, the Sunday Advertiser and the Home Journal. Thus was "finis" written to the life-work of a truly great Mason.

In 1879, the second story of the brick building on Church Street was acquired for use as a Lodge hall. The present hall at the North West corner of Church and Macon Streets has been in use since 1912, the building itself being jointly owned by Austin Chapter 18, Royal Arch Masons (named in honor of Brother D. N. Austin), Ivanhoe Commandery No. 10 and Fort Valley Lodge No. 110, Free and Accepted Masons.