Restoration of the New Boggy Masonic Lodge Hall
By Marylee W. Knight
The New Boggy Masonic Lodge Hall as it appeared in 2000, before the restoration began.
Photo by Larry Jones
The newly renovated Lodge Hall in Dec. 2003.
Photo by Marylee Knight
The L. B. Moore Chapter 53, Order of the Eastern Star, recently held an open house to proudly display their triumphant renovation of the almost century old Masonic Lodge Hall in the New Boggy Community, in the far northeast corner of Panola County. The Hall is located on Panola County Road 322, 1.2 miles north of US Highway 79 N. The Lodge Hall was built by the members of the New Boggy Masonic Lodge # 571 probably in 1905-1906. It was built in the traditional style of two stories - the top one being the meeting room of the Masons and Eastern Star, while the bottom floor was used as a school. Confirmation of the building date is found on a corner stone now part of the existing New Boggy Baptist Church. It states that the New Boggy Bayou High School was organized in 1906.
The L.B. Moore Chapter 53 is affiliated with the Prince Hall Masonic Order. It was organized on July 20, 1890 and chartered on July 20, 1900.
The building originally sat across the road from the church, adjacent to the New Boggy Cemetery. Years after it was built it was moved to a location on the north side of the church building.
In the past few years the Lodge Hall had fallen into such a state of disrepair that it could no longer be used as a meeting place. The Masons and Eastern Star members were forced to hold their meetings in the homes of their members. The deterioration was such that the floor of the second story of the building had collapsed and fallen into the lower room. Worthy Matron Ethel Jackson said that many were of the opinion that the only solution was to demolish the old building and start over with a new one. According to Worthy Matron Jackson, the membership of the Eastern Star Chapter felt a deep obligation to restore the old building instead.
The members of the chapter lead by Worthy Matron Jackson, Associate Matron Bernice Anderson and Secretary Antoinette Smith went to work holding numerous fund raisers and doing whatever they personally could do to see their dream become a reality. In completing their goal of the restoration, they lived out the motto of their Chapter: "Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is progress, Working together is success."
On Saturday, December 6, 2003, the Chapter proudly hosted as Open House and Fellowship Program to give the community the opportunity to see the completed renovation. The program was held in the sanctuary of the next door New Boggy Baptist Church as the only thing the Lodge Hall is lacking at this time is a butane tank that would allow the building to be heated.
Worthy Matron Jackson officiated during the program. The Rev. Lonnie Hamilton, Jr., pastor of New Boggy Baptist Church gave a scripture reading and the Rev. Rogers Jackson, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church offered the prayers. Kenneth Smith presented special music, while Ms. Flora J. Gallion gave the greeting and Ms. Mary Prelow gave the acceptance. Ms. Monica Stennis read a special poem. Mrs. Antoinette Smith read a brief history of the L. B. Moore Chapter. Ms. Earnestene Roberson recognized some of the contributors to the renovation and Ms. Willie Mae Mosley presented Charles Brown with an Appreciation Plaque for being the major contributor both in money and personal labor. Ms. Marylee Knight, Chairman of the Panola County Historical Commission, presented a Certificate of Merit to the Chapter in recognition of their restoration of the historic building. The oldest living member of the Chapter, Ms. Johnnie Moore was unable to be present at the program, but Ms. Smith displayed a picture of her and gave tribute to her continued devotion to the L. B. Moore Chapter. Following the program, the members of the Chapter served lunch to all who had attended.
The Panola Watchman, Wednesday, January 7, 2004