Nacogdoches City Minutes

The Committee appointed upon the petition of J.H. Boykin reported favorable there.

A petition for membership was received form Tho. F. Pitts, read and referred to a Committee consisting of Bro. Graggard, Hamil, and Stern with instructions is report authorized.

[?] the Committee made their report, which being favorable their ballot was spread and John H. Boykin and [?] F Pitts elected to become members [cut off] our order.

Bro. T.F. Pitts made a verbal [cut off] -plication to [?] the degrees when upon motion it was resolved taht the rule requiring members to be initiates of the previous lodge. One month before taking the degrees was suspended for the evening and on motion, it was further resolved that the rule permitting but two degrees to be conferred at one meeting was also suspended for the meeting.

Bro. Pitts [?] retiring to the anti room, balloting was mad and he elected to become a member of the degree lodges.

On motion, it was resolved to dispense with further business in the Primary and to open the degree lodge.

[?] the degree lodge [illegible] in the third degree.

Lodge Room July 6th, 1856.

Regular meeting. Lodge was called to order by M. Chief, M. Clark Bro. H.H. Hancock, J and R.S. Pro Leurs Sis R. Jones, D of R. Bro. O.L. Holmes, N.P. J.H. Muckleroy, W.V. Sis Laura Stern,D.F.S "Hamil, T.D Bro Gus Reily I. F " Arigh G.S. O.S.

Lodge opened for business in the [Illegible]

The minutes of last meeting were lead and approved

The Rule requiring petitions to lay on table our week was on motion suspended for the evening.

A petition for membership was welcome from Who I taylor. and which being infromal and insufficant. alas ordered to be corrected over ammended in a [illegible] with the facts and requirements of the constitution was efect to a to a committee [illegible] of [illegible] (word crossed out) Pitts & Hamile

A pitition for membership was [illegible]kind from H.D.H [illegible] and which on motion

dues + other money collected $2.65. Lodge then adjourned. Bro Reily. W.R.S. Pro Leur

No further business appearing the Lodge closed in from until the next regular meeting. F. Voigt. R.S. P[page cut off]

Lodge Room Wednesday evening March 19th 1856 Regular Meeting Lodge opened at the usual hour and was called to order by Broth: [Brother] O. L. Holmes W. C. G. S. Officers present were Broth [Brother] O. L. Holmes W.C " Jene H. Muckleroy W. V. " W. H. Hamil W. P. " Chr Grogaard W. R. S. " John C. Rusk W. F. S. pro tem " E. W. Cave W. P. C. " " " [Thos] J. Pitts W. C. " W. Clark J. S. pro tem " F. Voight O. S. Sister E. Hubert W. P. D. " R. H. Jones D. of F. " E. H. E. Barrett P. R. D. " Mary Hamil D. of L. pro tem " E. L. Thompson F. of D. " " " Laura Sterne D. of C. " R. Sterne D. of K.

Minutes of the last meeting were read and after some [while] alteration

On motion the regular order of business of was suspended.

On motion the Ruel of Order requiring petitions to be over one week was. suspeneded for the evening and (word crossed out) for members were taken up.

The petition of Miss Marg E. Rusk was read and referred to a [committee] consisiting of Sisters Laura T. Stern, R.H. Jones, and E.H.C. Barrett with instructions to report instantly.

The report being favorable the candidate was balloted for and declared duly elected.

A motion was made to [dispense] with that part of the the Initiatory ceremony known as the part of the unfortunate, which was lost.

Brother John H. Boykin entered the Lodge and signed the pledge as required at the last meeting.

Cha. J. Taylor, H. R. Hyde Thos D. Rusk and Miss Marg E. Rusk were reported in waiting and [initiated] members of this order with the usual ceremonies.

The regular order of Business was taken up.

On motion the Committee on the charges against the Brother P.R. Sterne have further time to report.

On motion Broth Cicero Rusk has till next regular

The report of the [committee] on the report of the Broth [Brother] Newland as F.S. was read and adopted.

On motion Brother Newland has till next regular meetting to resign the pledge.

Resignation of mebership of Broth V. T. Simpson was read and on motion was accepted from the time it should have been read (the 211th of Febuary last).

A communicaiton from the R.S. of Nacogdoches Doveision No 3 S. of T. was read ten leving the there of the Lodge Room free of rent till the first of December next.

On motion the offer of the Sons of Temperance was accepted and a vote of thanks [has] voted them and the W.R.S [instructed] to communicate the same.

An ammendemt of the Sec 4 of the New By Laws pursed (February) 6th was read and laid over.

The offices of D of T. & D of R being declared vacant a motion was made to proceed to fill them for the remainder of the term. Sister Harriet Rusk was elected D. of T. and Sister E. L. Tompson D. of R. by acclamation, to be installed on the next regular meeting. Money [colected] $5.85/100

No further business appearing on the minutes the Lodge closed in due form.

Cho Grogaard (Illegible page cut off)

Wednesday Evening March 26th 1856

Lodge met pursuant to adformant at usual time and place. & was called to oder by the W.B. A portion of Scripture was then read by the W.P. Bro Reily was then app'd W.R.S. Pro term " Rusk " " " W. V. " " " Hzdo (W.F.) " " "P. W. B. " " The minutes of preceding meeting were then read & approved, after which Bro C. Rusk came forward & resigned the pledge.

S. [Puchett's] petition accompaned by his clearance and was then read on being balloted for was [illegible].

A report was then read from there of the commitee appointed in the mittigation of charges brought against Bro P. R. Sterns, when a motion was made that the report he laid on the table until next meeting & (carried).

His being the meeting at which Bro Newland was [at] hand came forward & resigned the pledge & falling [therefore] a motion to expell him was made by [crossed out:Bro Hzde] which motion was not entertained by the W. C. he [Illegible] from a section of the Constitution that he [could] only he (word crossed out) suspended for [illegible] of the lodge : A motion was then made that Bro Newland be suspended from the order for three weeks &

being declare a only elected.

On motion that part of the inetitating ceremony known as the "informative part" was dispensed with for the evening.

Broth John B. Rusk entered. " Thus D Rusk entered. The conductor hacing reported the candiddates in waiting the were Initiatied in the usual manner.

Regular order of busines was taken up.

Broth have entered. Sister Mary Rusk reported sick and the usual committy {notefied] it attend on her.

A charge was preferred against Broth W.m Clark for violating his pledge on Sunday morning [March] 30th 1856.

Reffered to Broth Muckleroy Wm F. Hyde, B. Blake, T.T. Pitts and John B. Rusk.

Report of Committy on charges against Broth John H. Boykin read.

Motion to read the Evidence Carried.

Evidence read

On motion a ballot was taken which resulted in his being declared expelled.

On motion The Committy on charges against Broth John Rielay have till next meating to make their report.

Amendment to the By Laws read second time.

The following Amendment

Broth Riely can for violating Pledge read and on motion was laid on the table.

On motion the election of a F. S. for the remainder of the quarter was [illegible]

Resignation of membership of Broth John C. Rusk read and laid on the table.

Nomination of officers for next quarter was on motion laid on the table.

No money reported No further business appearing The Lodge closed till next regular meeting.

(signed) Chr Gro"gaard W.R.S.

Lodge Room Wednesaday Evening [April] [3rd] (page cut off) Lodge met at the usual time and place and was called to order by Broth O. L. Holmes W. C. Officers present were: Broth O.L. Holmes W. C. G. S. " J. H. Muckleroy W. V. G. S. " W. H. Hamil W. P. " Chr Gro"gaard W. R. S. " J.J. Pitts W. C. " F. Vright [illegible letters erased] Sister E. Hubert W. P. D. " E. H. E. Barrett W. P. P. D. " M. H. Hamil F. D. " L. J. Sterne D. C.

Minutes of last regular meeting read and slightly altered. Broth Cave entered and took his seat.

Report of Finance Committy on Broth Riely [illegible] fault read

On motion the same was adopted.

Report of Communitty on Broth Wm Clark was read.

Broth John C. Rush resignation withdrawn.

Report on Broth Riely's care taken up.

Ballot taken according to By Laws and resulted in his expulsed (page cut off) from the order.

Broth H Hrnold entered the Lodge.

Broth have appealed from The decision of the Committy on Broth Clarks case.