Bayou Chicot
The settlement of Bayou Chicot is one of the oldest English speaking settlements west of the Mississippi River. According to Paxton’s History of Louisiana Baptists, The Mississippi Baptists Association sent Moses Hadley and Lawrence Scarbourgh to Opelousas in Louisiana to ordain Joseph Willis, who was the first Baptist preacher west of the Mississippi River. At Bayou Chicot, St. Landry Parish, they constituted a church on Nov. 13, 1812, and called it Calvary Baptist Church. It was the first Baptist Church in Louisiana and west of the Mississippi River.
On January 1, 1911, The PARISH OF St. Laundry was divided and part of the Northwest became Evangeline Parish.
Lodge Charter
In 1948, a group of masons in the area decided to form a Masonic Lodge. An Order Of Dispensation was issued by The Grand Lodge of Louisiana, June 10, 1948. The first meeting on record was held at the 7th grade school room at Bayou Chicot Grammar School, which has since been torn down. Records show that 19 meetings were held from June 21st. thru Dec. 30th, 1948 and a total of 19 E. A. ’s, 16 F. C. ’s, and 16 Master Masons Degrees were conferred.
The Lodge was Chartered February 14th, 1949 by The Grand Lodge of Louisiana with 42 Masons signing the Charter. The Grand Lodge Officers present were: Robert Cretney G.M., Thomas Sharp G.S.W., O.H. Dabazies G.J.W., and D.P. Laguens Sr. G. Sec.
Officers of Bayou Chicot were: W.M. Dalton Conwey, S.W. Aldrich, R. Causey, J.W. Knox V. Little, Sec. Roy E. Allen, S.D. James Carson, J.D. Stanley McCoy, Treas. W.H. Parker, S.S. J.E. Flash, JR., J.S. A.J. Dossman, Tyler Pete Johnson.
Charter Members were: Roy Allen, A.R. Causey, Albert Causey, James Carson, Willie Childress, Henry Cole, D.W. Conway, Ray Davison, A.J. Dossman, William Feaster, Jewell Elliott, Clarence Emmons, J.E. Flash, Marvin Guillory, C.S. Harper, Curry Harrell, William Hart, L.L. Helmer, R.W. Helmer, R.W. Helmer Jr., L.A. Johnson, J.A. Lacaze, J.P. Lacaze, R.D. Lamson, M.J. Lindsay, K.V. Little, A.F. McBride, S.E. McCoy, J.N. Nicks JR., C.L. Oliver, B.O. Oquin, W.H. Parker, L.R. Rasberry, T.C. Sadler, Z.I. Sullivan, Kent Thompson, S.E. White, Haas Whittington, Vernon Whittington, Wilson Whittington, W.O. Whittington, Willis Wolfe.
Brother David Haas, Past Grand Master of La. Donated the land and the old two- story Building was completed in May or June 1949. Bonds were sold, and most of the Labor was donated by the members. The lot size is 100’ X 150’ and is located ¾ mile North of Bayou Chicot, La. on Hwy 167.
New Lodge Building
Time and weather has taken its toll on the building. The year 1985 the members voted to assess each member and erect a new building. Each member was assessed $450.00 the assessment had to be paid out in ten years. The new building was completed November 2, 1986. While the new building was being constructed the Lodge held their meetings at ST. Landry Baptist Church. Most members donated their assessments up front, and some donations were received by other lodges. Most of the labor was done by the members. The Lodge was debt free at the completion of the building. All assessments have been paid off and the Lodge remains debt free. We meet on the 2nd Monday of every month and the 4th Monday of every month except December at 7:00 PM with dinner preceeding.
