A Brief History of Adair Lodge No. 366 A.F. & A.M.

The first Masonic Lodge in Kirksville was organized on May 24, 1850, under the name Kirksville Lodge No. 128, with Isham B. Dodson serving as Worshipful Master. Early meetings were held in Worshipful Brother Dodson’s log cabin.

During the Civil War, Missouri was deeply divided – brother against brother, and at times, Masonic Brother against Masonic Brother. Though Kirksville Lodge No. 128 survived the Battle of Kirksville, attendance declined in the difficult years that followed, and eventually the Lodge ceased to meet. Like many Lodges of that era, its charter was arrested by the Grand Lodge in 1863.

Shortly after the war, many of the members of the “old Lodge” reorganized under a new charter. On May 26, 1864, Kirksville Lodge No. 105 was established. Both the city of Kirksville and Freemasonry were flourishing once again; however, it seems that some lingering animosities remained from the previous years.

On May 10, 1881, a petition was submitted to form another Lodge in Kirksville to be known as Adair Lodge No. 366. At that time, Kirksville had a population of only 2,314, making it quite unusual for a town of that size to have two active Lodges. The Grand Lodge of Missouri sent a representative to investigate the request. While the details of that meeting are lost to history, the Grand Lodge concluded that “it would best suit the Craft to have two Lodges in Kirksville.”

Adair Lodge No. 366 was granted its charter on October 31, 1881, with Erastus Gates serving as Worshipful Master. The membership included both local Brethren and those from neighboring communities as far away as Greensburg, Missouri.

Throughout its history, Adair Lodge No. 366 has occupied several locations in Kirksville. In 1919, the Masonic Temple Association was formed, and on April 1, 1930, the cornerstone was laid for the present building at 217 Harrison Street.

To this day, Adair Lodge No. 366 and other Masonic bodies continue to meet in that historic Temple, upholding the timeless principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.