Enoch
Terry Carson 1822—1899
(From the 75th Anniversary program)
He was born in Cheviot, part of his homestead now being Harvest Home
Park. He was educated in the public schools. In 1848, he was appointed
to the office of Chief Deputy Sheriff of Hamilton County, moving to
Cincinnati and holding that position for eight years. In 1861,
President Lincoln appointed him to the post of Collector of the Port of
Cincinnati and the United States Depository. During his administration,
as much as $10 million a day was received and frequently $30 million
was on deposit.
He served on several city and county boards and commissions, most
notably that of Education, Parks, and Police.
An outstanding Masonic scholar who devoted the best years of his long
and useful life to the advocacy and advancement of the true principles
of freemasonry, his work in Masonry is his most enduring monument.
Mr. Carson was an avid student of Masonic history, ritual, law, and
philosophy. He was a tireless collector of rare and valuable Masonic
books and manuscripts. Prior to 1884, he possessed one of the three
largest privately owned Masonic libraries in the world. Upon his death,
his Masonic library was bequeathed to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
His Masonic career was exceptional. He was made a Master Mason on
December 15, 1845 in the Marion Lodge (now McMakin No. 120); a Royal
Arch Mason on May 18, 1846, in Cincinnati Chapter No. 2; a Royal and
Select Master on May 17, 1853 in Cincinnati Council No. 1; and a Knight
Templar on September 5, 1846 in Cincinnati Commandery No. 3. On
December 17, 1852, he received the Scottish Rite degrees from the
Fourth to the Fourteenth inclusive, in the Columbus Lodge of
Perfection; the Fifteenth and Sixteenth in the Columbus Council of
Princes of Jerusalem; the Seventeenth and Eighteenth in the Cincinnati
Rose Croix on December 28, 1853; and the Nineteenth to Thirty-second
inclusive, in the Ohio Consistory in Cincinnati, on December 28, 1853.
On May 18, 1860, he was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General,
Thirty-third Degree, in Boston, Mass. Later he was crowned an active
member of the Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction in Boston, May 20,
1863. On the 17th of May, 1867, he was elected Deputy of the Supreme
Council for the State of Ohio, a position he held until his death.
He was also Worshipful Master of the Cheviot Lodge under dispensation
in 1847 and was then elected and served as Master when the lodge was
chartered No. 140 in 1848. In 1857, Mr. Carson was elected Worshipful
Master of Cynthia Lodge No.155 and served there one year. In 1865, he
was Master of Kilwinning Lodge under dispensation and was elected
Master when it was chartered No. 356 in 1866. In November, 1865, he was
elected Eminent Commander of Cincinnati Commandery No. 3, Knights
Templar and was re-elected in 1870, serving in that capacity for two
years. He was also elected as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery
of the State of Ohio for four years beginning in 1871. He was also
Sovereign Prince of Dalcho Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Cincinnati
from 1853 to 1859, and from 1860 to 1864. Acknowledged as founder of
the Ohio Consistory, the first Consistory of the State, he served as
Commander-in-Chief of the Ohio Consistory from 1857 to 1894.
An excerpt from the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry's
eulogy reads in part:
"He was a
splendid example of the noblest work of God, an honest man. He was
honest in his business transactions, honest and sincere in his
convictions, honest and faithful in the performance of every duty. Let
those who survive him emulate his virtues and profit by the bright
example which he has left us."
"To his name and memory, be justice done."
We are indeed honored to have as our name, Enoch T. Carson, and it is
our fervent hope and prayer that in the past 75 years, E. T. Carson
Lodge No. 598 has justified and furthered the name of this truly great
and outstanding Ohio Mason.
May God grant us the courage and wisdom to continue our work in the
name of Enoch Terry Carson.
Links of Interest Relating to Enoch T. Carson and His Family
The History of Harvest Home Park Brief
history of the Carson family
History of The Samuel Crocker Lawrence Library
The library of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts
(current home of the Enoch T. Carson
Masonic Library)