A Detailed History Of Rayne Lodge

On April 2, 1906, Rayne Lodge began operating under dispensation from Crowley Lodge No. 243, and on that date, the first meeting was held. The District Deputy Grand Master installed officers with J. D. Marks as the Worshipful Master.

The original members of Rayne Lodge were members of Crowley Lodge. The reason they wanted to organize a lodge in Rayne was to make it more convenient due to transportation problems. In 1906, there were few automobiles. In fact 1906, was the year Ford Motor Co. began production of the Model T. Most of the members from Rayne had to go to Crowley on horseback or by buggy to attend meetings. It was also a common practice for the brothers from Rayne to board the Southern Pacific train in Rayne and get off in Crowley to attend meetings. Later that night, after the meeting was over, they boarded the train in Crowley and returned to Rayne. Most of the time they had to wait a while at the depot for the next eastbound train. So it was decided among a very small group of brothers to organize a lodge in Rayne.

Rayne Lodge immediately began to grow in membership, and they were quite busy in teaching the catechisms and conferring degrees. They met twice a month, and in the first five meetings, twelve petitions were received and all twelve of these petitioners went on to become Master Masons. Most of them learned their catechisms and progressed through the degrees in a very short period of time. This trend continued for many years. In the early days, there was no such thing in Rayne Lodge of an Entered Apprentice or a Fellowcraft not advancing to the degree of Master Mason.

At nearly every meeting, they were examining candidates and conferring degrees. They also did a lot of courtesy work by conferring degrees and teaching catechisms for other lodges that had requested help.

Bro. J. L. Craig became the first elected Master when the lodge was chartered on February 5, 1907. Bro. Craig, as well as the other members of Rayne Lodge, was evidently very proficient in the catechisms and degree work, since they needed no assistance from other lodges in conferring degrees. Bro. Craig taught the catechisms to most to the candidates in the early years. There was so much degree work to be done in the early years that on several occasions they conferred an Entered Apprentice degree, a Fellowcraft degree, and a Master Mason degree, all on the same night. Naturally after these petitioners became Master Masons, the average attendance of the meetings began to increase.

One interesting thing to note is the amount of visiting brethren that attended Rayne Lodge in the early days. Of course there were usually visitors from Crowley Lodge, but there were also frequent visitors from other lodges such as Welsh, Jennings, Abbeville, St. Martinville, Franklin, and Lafayette. There was also a frequent visitor from Oliver Lodge in Alexandria. No doubt, with transportation problems, they traveled to Rayne by rail. There were also visitors from out of state lodges on a regular basis. These were Masons who were in Rayne on meeting nights while in town on business. They included visitors from Texas, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Illinois, and Michigan.

The yearly dues were ten dollars, which in those days was a considerable amount of money. The ten-dollar dues would continue until the early 1960's. While this lodge never had a considerable amount of money in the bank, they apparently had members who made extra donations to the lodge, because the amount of money that they donated to charities could never have been supported by dues alone. In the early years, the amount of money that they spent on rent, supplies, miscellaneous expenses, and charities far exceeded the amount generated by dues. This generosity has continued throughout the 100-year history of the lodge, and still exists today.

This lodge building was built in 1956, but prior to owning their building, they rented a meeting place. The very first meeting place was at the Methodist Church. After a few years they rented the top floor of the Broussard building and some years later rented the top floor of the Bank of Commerce.
About ten years after the lodge was chartered, it began experiencing some of the unpleasant things that other lodges had, and still have even today. Some members were lost due to death, demits, and suspensions of non-payment of dues, but in spite of this, the membership continued to grow because of the amount of new members coming in. By 1919 our country had entered World War I. There were several members of the lodge that had entered the military, so in 1919 a motion was made, seconded and carried that the members in service be exempted from paying dues.

The founding brothers were very careful who they let become members of the lodge, because many applicants were rejected. On a few occasions two and even three applicants were rejected at the same meeting. Even though they were starting a new lodge and wanted to see it grow they knew that quality was more important than quantity; and it did grow and prosper for many years to come.

In the 1920's petitions were coming in at a steady rate. In the mid-twenties an Eastern Star Chapter was organized, and would remain chartered until the mid 1980's, when it merged with the Crowley Chapter.

By 1930 Rayne Lodge had seventy members on the rolls. From the inception of the lodge to 1930, 16 had died (including 9 charter members), 20 had demitted, and 5 had been suspended for non-payment of dues. The future of the lodge looked good, so in 1930 the first discussion of building a Lodge Hall took place. Things were really good, but conditions quickly changed. The Great Depression had now gripped our nation and hard times were upon most people. Little did anyone know at the time that the depression would last over a decade. Rayne Lodge lost many members throughout the 1930's through deaths, demits and suspensions for non-payment of dues. The lodge tried several things to keep its members: They lowered the annual dues to $9.00. They carried members up to three years before suspending them. They had a program to reinstate members and only required them to pay the current year's dues and one year back dues. When this didn't work they reinstated them for the current year's dues only and forgave three years back dues. They reduced the degree fees to lessen the financial burden on the few petitioners that were coming in. They even allowed members to pay their dues on a payment plan, if they wished. The amount of petitions that came in was but a fraction of what had come in during the previous decade. Although membership and lodge finances were on a downward spiral, members were still committed to high standards, because they rejected a few applicants even during these difficult times. Unfortunately very few that demitted or that were suspended for non-payment of dues during the depression ever applied for reinstatement, even in later years when the economy was flourishing. After reading all of the minutes of all the meetings for the past 100 years, I can only conclude that the 1930's was by far the darkest chapter in Rayne Lodge's history. I believe that the depression years had a profound negative impact on the lodge's history and that the repercussions of that time may still haunt us even today. Many of the members that were lost were good men and masons. Many had been very active, had held office and attended lodge regularly. Had these men been able to retain their membership, who can say how many of their descendents might be members of Rayne Lodge today, because many times, sons and grandsons of masons become masons themselves.

From the early to the mid 1940's we lost no members due to non-payment of dues. Petitions increased, but not dramatically. The depression was finally over, but there were no young men petitioning since most of them were in the military. These were the World War II years, and several young men who were members of the lodge answered our country's call and went off to war. By the mid 1940's membership was growing again. World War II was over, the service men were returning home, the economy was good, petitions were coming in, there were no suspensions account of nonpayment of dues, and no demits. This was to be a period of growth that surpassed the years prior to the Great Depression, and it was to last for twenty years. In 1948 the idea of Rayne Lodge having it's own building was revisited. They decided to sell pencils and donate all proceeds to the building fund. They sold literally thousands of pencils in the years to come. Some of the members also made modest donations to the building fund.

By 1952 they really got serious about building, and started an annual fall drive. There was a committee of five that were assigned to contact members from the different areas and solicit them for an annual contribution. The members were extremely generous in the fall drives and began donating much more money to the building fund. At that time there were several members of the lodge who strongly advocated building a new lodge, but the person that supported this effort most was surprisingly, a woman, Mrs. W. S. Bruner. A few years earlier she had donated a lot in the city to build on when the time came. She was very active in the Eastern Star Chapter, was a Past Worthy Matron, and had a few members of her family that were members of Rayne Lodge. She also frequently and generously contributed money to the building fund. Mrs. W. S. Bruner's son, Walter, is the oldest member of the lodge today. He has been a member for 69 years. Members of the Bruner family have been members of this lodge from its inception until today. It is the only family name that has remained continuously on the rolls since 1906.

After the fall drive of 1955 they felt they had enough money to build. They had obtained a set of floor plans from Winnsboro Lodge, and wanted to use that plan for Rayne Lodge. A few years earlier Winnsboro had built their Lodge at the cost of $15,000. Everyone was in favor of building, but most members would have preferred having the building more in the center of the city, so the lot donated by Mrs. Bruner was sold for $1,200, and the lot where our building is today was purchased from Dr. Clyde Bruner (who was not a mason) for $1,200.

In 1956 W: Bro: Walter Bruner was the Worshipful Master of Rayne Lodge for the third time, and construction began. Bro. Milton Andrus who was a member of Humble Cottage Lodge in Opelousas and a frequent visitor to Rayne Lodge was the contractor. He also owned a lumberyard in the neighboring town of Church Point. Bro. Andrus had turned in a bid of $14,500 for a turn-key job. He saved the lodge money on the bid price and also donated some materials from his lumberyard. After the lodge was built, Bro. Andrus became a plural member of Rayne Lodge.

In 1956 M:W: D. Alien Long was Grand Master of Masons of the State of Louisiana. Grand Master Long lived in Opelousas and was very helpful to Bro. Bruner during the planning and building of the lodge. The Grand Master and his Official Family came to Rayne and he laid the corner stone. When the new building was dedicated the Grand Master and his Official Family returned for the ceremony. This was an open meeting with many members of Rayne Lodge present as well as ladies and visiting brethren. Before they began the dedication ceremony the masons had a parade in the street in front of the lodge. After the new lodge was built, membership continued to increase for several years.

By the early 1960's there were over ninety members on the rolls, which is the most the lodge has ever had in it's history. By the mid 1960's membership and attendance began to decline and would continue to do so until the early 1980's.

In the late 1970's, attendance was very poor, and on several occasions the lodge was not able to open to conduct business due to lack of a quorum.

In the fall of 1982 after much discussion, the Worshipful Master of Rayne Lodge appointed a committee of three to contact Crowley Lodge regarding a possible merger. Early in 1983 the committee reported that Crowley Lodge was in agreement to the merger. The Master summoned all members of Rayne Lodge within hele, and a vote was taken. By a narrow majority it was decided that we ask the Grand Lodge to merge with Crowley and surrender the charter of Rayne Lodge. M.W. James King was Grand Master at the time and refused to accept the charter. He said he knew the members could keep the lodge open, and he was correct. If Rayne Lodge owes it's existence to any one man, it is to Past Grand Master King. Thanks to his determination and foresight, Rayne Lodge has endured for twenty fours years since he refused to accept the charter, and is alive and well today. If Past Grand Master King were alive today he would be very proud of Rayne Lodge. In the mid 1980's a few new members started petitioning the lodge, a few members from other lodges became plural members, and a few existing members became active again. This trend continues even today.

For the past fifteen years the number of members on the rolls has been slightly over 40. For the past few years Rayne has the highest attendance rate percentage-wise than any other lodge in the district. Recently the average attendance at the meetings is twenty. Many lodges with three or four times Rayne's membership do not have the attendance that Rayne does. The level of proficiency in this lodge is excellent. Five members of this lodge hold certificates of proficiency in the esoteric work and there are several others who are also very proficient. Over 10% of the membership of Rayne Lodge are certificate Masons. The officers of Rayne can open and close on all three degrees, can confer the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees with no help from other lodges. There are also several members of the lodge that can teach the catechism of all three degrees. Rayne Lodge has one of the highest concentrations of young masons in the district, and many of them are very active and attend regularly. This lodge is very proud of its young masons. Several of them have served as Master already, and most remain active after their year as Master has ended. Last year we had the youngest Master ever elected in Rayne Lodge. In fact he was the youngest Master ever elected to any lodge in the 195 year history of the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana, and he did an excellent job, as the young men who were Masters before him. He was only nineteen years old when he was installed, and now at twenty, he is the youngest Past Master in the history of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana. The excellent reputation that Rayne Lodge has earned, is apparently attracting new members. Since the first of the year, we have gained five new members (three through plural membership and two others have been initiated as Entered Apprentices). We also have two petitions that are pending, and will be balloted on next month.

Like any other lodge that has been chartered for 1OO years, Rayne Lodge has been through many good times and hard times, but after reading all of the minutes since 1906,1 can conclude that most have been good times. We have a long, glorious history and a rich heritage that we can all be proud of. Last year my son served as Master and closed out the first 100 years, and I feel very privileged to be serving as Master as we begin the second 100 years. Only the future knows for sure if Rayne Lodge will celebrate it's bi-centennial anniversary, but if the future brings us the quality of men that the past has brought us, and that the present has brought us, I believe we will. If that day comes 1 hope that I have a descendent that is a member of Rayne Lodge, and that he is as honored to be a member of this Lodge as I was. We have no way of knowing if the founding brothers ever envisioned that the lodge would still exist one hundred years later, and that it would be one of the premier lodges in the district, but I am sure that they would be extremely proud of us and say well done brothers—well done.
Thank you,

Ricky A. Venable, W.M. 2007 Rayne Lodge No. 313 F. & A. M.