ALPHA HOME LODGE NO. 72
1848-2000
by
Howard F. Entwistle, Jr., P.M.
Alpha Home Lodge No. 72
August 26, 2000
Baker, LA

The history of Alpha Home Lodge No 72 originally started when Alpha Lodge No. 8 was 
instituted on March 21, 1848 by Louisiana Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons. Alpha 
Lodge met in the Old Masonic Temple at the corner of Perdido and Baronne Streets in New 
Orleans. The Lodge moved to 18 Common Street in April of 1848, and on January 17, 1849  
received a charter from the Louisiana Grand Lodge. Alpha Lodge worked under this charter 
until March 4, 1850, when it received a charter from the Grand Lodge of the State of 
Louisiana and was given a new number 72. The Lodge moved again in January of 1851 to the 
corner of Camp and Natchez Streets. In November of 1852 Alpha Lodge moved back to its 
original meeting place at the corner of Baronne and Perdido Streets. Alpha Lodge worked at 
this location until September 1853, when it moved to the Grand Lodge Hall located at the 
corner of St. Charles and Perdido Streets.
 
Home Lodge No. 142 was instituted on July 18, 1855 by authority of the Grand Lodge of the 
State of Louisiana and presented its charter on February 12, 1856 and assigned number 142. 
Home Lodge No. 142 met in the 4th District of New Orleans at the Washington Hall until it 
merged with Alpha Lodge No. 72 on December 13, 1859. Effective February 14,1860 Alpha 
Home Lodge No. 72 was chartered with 46 members of Alpha Lodge No. 72 and 30 members 
of Home Lodge No. 142.  M:W: J. Q. A. Fellows, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the 
State of Louisiana, signed the charter.

The first Master of Alpha Home Lodge No. 72, W: James Cunningham Batchelor, M.D., was 
buried in the Alpha Home Tomb in the Masonic Cemetery at New Orleans on July 28,1893. 
W. William H. Hutchings was Worshipful Master in 1863 and served as Master during the 
strife of the Civil War when he helped form a city fund to aid the suffering brethren. After the 
war ended, there was approximately $5,000.00 left in the fund. The money was used to form 
the basis of the present Louisiana Relief Lodge No 1. The by-laws of Alpha Home Lodge 
No. 72 during this period, stipulated that the dues shall be six (6) dollars per annum, payable 
quarterly in advance at the first regular meetings in January, April, July, and October. The 
fees charged for E.A. Degree -$25.00, F.C. Degree -$ 15.00, M.M. Degree -$ 10.00, and 
$1.00 for affiliation. Regular communications of the Lodge were held on every Wednesday 
evening at 7:30 PM, from April to October 1stand at 6:30 PM from October 1st to April 1st.
 

Little history of the Lodge is known between 1859 and 1891. The records of the Grand Lodge 
of Louisiana Ancient York Masons, Alpha Lodge No. 8, Alpha Lodge No. 72, Home Lodge 
No. 142 and Alpha Home Lodge No. 72 were lost either by fire or other causes. We do know 
that on February 9, 1861 the Confederacy was proclaimed by the seceding states and 
Jefferson Davis was named President. The Civil War lasted from 1861 until April 9, 1865, 
the date of General Robert E. Lee's surrender. It was also during this time that Abraham 
Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on Apri1 14, 1865. The President died the following 
day. Alpha Home Lodge No. 72 discussed a merger with Louisiana Lodge No. 102 in 1878. 
Louisiana Lodge with a vote of 14 negative and 5 positive votes defeated the merger. In 
1878, Alpha Home Lodge No. 72 had 35 members, with a total value of $2995.50 in cash and 
property. These records also indicate that Alpha Home Lodge No. 72 paid $ 2300.00 for the 
Tomb in the Masonic Cemetery at New Orleans. 

On April 1, 1891 Brother Albert Pike, an honorary member of Alpha Home Lodge died in 
Washington, D.C. At the time of his death, Brother Pike was the Grand Commander of the 
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The Lodge issued a resolution stating the great loss that 
Masonry would suffer with the departure of this great man. 

In the records of 1897 we find that the Lodge, as usual, is lending a helping hand to the 
distressed. A resolution was passed authorising the payment of a bill to Touro Infirmary for 
31 days of care for a brother at $1.50 per day, total $ 46.50, and again for 11 days for the 
same brother later in the year. This was a very bad year for the Lodge, with the yellow fever 
epidemic and unemployment running rampant among the membership.  A special committee 
was formed to assist the brethren who were unemployed to obtain work. 

Alpha Home Lodge No. 72 elected Joseph Sinai Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1911. 
Bro.  Sinai later became Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. In 1923 M:W: Sinai 
was one of three Masons who was known as the father of the Grand Lodge building at 333 St. 
Charles Ave. in New Orleans.  M:W: Sinai's bust remained in the lobby area until the 
building was sold and then moved to the Scottish Rite Temple in New Orleans in 2000. In 
1918, he with others, organized a Symbolic Lodge to work in the Scottish Rite. The Grand 
Lodge chartered it on February 4, 1919, as Albert Pike Lodge No. 376. 

From the period of 1922-1923 the Lodge was assessed the sum of $ 60.00 per member for the 
new Masonic Temple. The assessment could be paid in a lump sum or pay $ 75.00 over a five 
year period. The Lodge also donated $ 2500.00 from its treasury for the new Masonic Temple 
Building Fund. During this same period, the membership was assessed $ 1.00 per member for 
the purpose of establishing a Masonic Orphan Home in Louisiana. This assessment 
necessitated the raising of the Lodge dues to $ 8.00 per year. A resolution in the Grand Lodge 
stated that the new Masonic Temple would be built in New Orleans provided the Lodges in 
the city of New Orleans would donate the sum of $450,000.00. In 1924 Alpha Home Lodge 
borrowed the sum of $ 9,000 to meet its share of the $ 450,000.00 for the new Temple 
Building. 

During the construction of the new Masonic Temple members met in temporary quarters, 
Room 3, 535 Iberville Street in New Orleans. Alpha Home Lodge held its first meeting in the 
new Masonic Temple on July 8, 1927. The meeting was held in the auditorium where a 
special program was presented. The meeting was attended by 132 members of Alpha Home 
and 50 visitors. Thirteen Past Masters of Alpha Home were present. The Governor, Brother 
O.H. Simpson, P.M. and the State Treasurer, Brother L.B. Baynard, attended this gala 
occasion. Alpha Home Lodge was assigned the Ionic Room in the new Masonic Temple to 
hold its meetings. 

The Lodge suffered a decline in membership from non-payment of dues during the Great 
Depression. A committee called the "Delinquent Committee" was appointed, and made every 
effort to contact all delinquent members. The Lodge made every effort to avoid suspending 
its members for non-payment of dues.  During these trying times, any and all that asked either 
to be relieved entirely or to be granted an extension of time in which to meet their obligations 
was granted.  In 1930 there were 105 members in arrears. Special arrangements were made 
with all except 39 members who did not respond to the request of the Lodge. Each of the 39 
members was issued 30-day suspension notices, hoping for a response from each. The Lodge 
did not suspend a single member during this year for non-payment of dues. It was able to 
collect some, remit others and make arrangements to grant further time to others. At each 
annual meeting in December, the members of the Lodge renewed their pledges to attend 
Lodge more often.  Although Alpha Home Lodge made every effort to keep its roster intact, 
the Grand Lodge reported that the state had lost more members in the last two years than had 
been raised in the last five year period of 1929 and 1930. 

Alpha Home Lodge was blessed with gains in membership during WWII, and was in a much 
better financial position than in recent years. The minutes of the Lodge do not reflect a loss of 
any members during WWII. On July 7, 1943 a dispensation was received from the Grand 
Master granting the Lodge's request to open a "Lodge of Sorrow " and for it to remain open 
until closed by the Worshipful Master or as the Grand Lodge may order. This "Lodge of 
Sorrow" was instituted for the purpose of conducting funerals. After each funeral the Lodge 
was called to refreshment. During the early 1950's, Alpha Home Lodge continued to grow in 
membership resulting in an increase in the treasury. The Lodge continued to show its support 
for those requiring financial assistance. Several donations were made to lodges throughout 
the state who were suffering from destruction by tornadoes, floods and hurricanes. 

While conferring the Entered Apprentice Degree on August 19,1958, Worshipful Albert 
William Whitehead, dropped dead at the altar.  Bro. Whitehead was serving as Worshipful 
Master of Alpha Home Lodge No. 72 during the year of 1958. After all efforts to revive him 
failed, two brothers informed his wife, and the coroner removed his body. The Senior 
Warden, Brother Edwin J. White, called the Lodge to labor after assuming the East. With 
great emotions, the degree was completed. Sadness prevailed. 

The Centennial of Alpha Home Lodge No. 72 was celebrated in 1960. The charter is dated 
February 14, 1860. The celebration was delayed until October 22, 1960 to avoid several 
conflicts for the membership with various activities throughout the region. Worshipful 
William Howard (Hap) Garrison, Past Master (1930) was appointed the general chairman of 
the Centennial celebration. The officers of the Lodge, other dignitaries on the program, and 
all Past Masters were asked to wear tuxedoes for the occasion. The celebration was held at 
the Scottish Rite Temple at 619 Carondelet Street in New Orleans. Masons and friends, many 
of whom travelled long distances, attended the celebration. Other branches of Masonry 
attended and helped, such as the Temple Guard of the New Orleans area, who escorted and 
seated all guests. 

In the year 1965, when Worshipful Bowdre McDowell served as Master of Alpha Home 
Lodge, the most destructive hurricane in New Orleans history struck. Hurricane "Betsy" with 
winds of 160 MPH caused damage estimated at 1.2 billion dollars. The hurricane destroyed 
27,000 homes, 17,500 people were either injured or ill, and 300,000 people had to be 
evacuated.  Alpha Home Lodge contributed funds and helped all Masons and families 
throughout the area. 

The Lodge suffered similar declines in membership, as had all of Masonry. Alpha Home 
Lodge is a proud Lodge with a lot of good history and more to be written in future years. 
Alpha Home Lodge continued to meet in the Masonic Temple building at 333 St Charles Ave 
in New Orleans until the sale of the building in 1996. The Lodge moved its charter to 600 
Daniel Street in the City of Kenner in 1998. 

Over the years, Alpha Home Lodge No. 72 have had several of its members serving elected 
and appointed positions in all branches of Masonry. Several members have been elected to 
lead the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and several other appendant bodies of Free Masonry at 
State and International levels. 

Alpha Home celebrated the 150th anniversary of the charter at its regular meeting in March 
2000. 

References: 

1. Through the Years with Alpha Home 
    By William Howard Garrison, P.M. 1930 

2. Historical Record (1848-1953) 
    By Chas. F. Counce, Sr. P.M. 1954 

3. Centennial Celebration 1960 

4. Personal Notes of E. H. Garrison P.M. Dated 07/08/1927 

5. Lodge records of Alpha Home Lodge No 72 



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