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History and Information about our Lodge The Charter from the Grand Lodge was issued to the Pauldingville Masonic Lodge Number 11 on May 8, 1852. Regular meetings in the early days were held on Friday evenings, before the full moon of each month, or when the moon fulls on Friday, and then on that day. The day was later changed to Saturday, and this meeting day continued on for about forty years until 1910 with one change during that period, and that being a change to a specified time of 2pm made in 1882. From 1910 on for a number of years the moon still governed the meeting date, but two meetings per month were held. The practice of a single stated meeting per month was resumed in 1947. Grand Lodge reports for years up to 1858 give the location of the Lodge as Pauldingville, which was in St. Charles County, 7 miles from Wright City. The report for 1858 gave the location of the Lodge as Millville sometimes called Snow Hill in St. Charles County, 3 miles from Wright City. This must have been the town now called Foristell. The Lodge remained at Millville through 1866. In 1866 there was some discussion about moving the Lodge from Millville to Wright City. The members divided in opinion concerning this move. On Thursday morning, January 31, 1867, a fire destroyed the Lodge Hall, the charter (a duplicate charter was re-issued on February 7, 1867), and apparently all the records prior to January of 1866. This accident made some action necessary and the following events described in the minute books of the Lodge will show how the Lodge was finally established in Wright City. On May 26, 1866, a committee was appointed to investigate the advisability of building a Lodge Hall at Wright City in connection with the proposed new M.E. South Church. On March 2, 1867, the Lodge rejected the idea and a committee was appointed to investigate a proposition of Mr. J. Blattner to build a hall at Millville. On March 16, 1867, the Lodge voted 13 to 11 to build the Lodge at Wright City. On April 13, 1867, a committee was appointed to confer with a committee from the Baptist Church in reference to building a church and hall in Wright City. Subscriptions for a new building were authorized May 18, 1867. On October 12, 1867, the building committee reported rapid progress and that the hall would soon be completed. The Lodge was to be dedicated June 24, 1868 but because of "pecuniary circumstances" there was no dedication.
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