My Visit to Morning Star Lodge

Last night I had the privilege to visit Morning Star Lodge in Woonsocket, RI and the kick off to their 200th anniversary celebration. The lodge is in the heart of Woonsocket between a number of one way streets and we wound up parking a few streets over and walking to the lodge rather then trying to find a closer spot. The lodge was granted its dispensation on January 22, 1810 so our visit was almost exactly 200 years later which was rather neat.


The first floor of the lodge is the dining hall, the second is comprised of meeting areas, a small library and a small lodge meeting room for the local Eastern Star chapter while the third floor holds the main meeting lodge.


The first impression we all received when we walked into the room was "wow". The room is large and full of interesting decor and artifacts. Note the three lights around the alter, actual candles which is the first time I have seen non-bulb lights in a lodge in Rhode Island. It looked like they were working on some sections of the ceiling in the main lodge room, as well as the rec rooms on the second floor, but it was one of the nicer lodges I have visited.


The lodge has a great history of members, among them is Past Master Sullivan Ballou who would gain fame during the Civil War.

Ballou and 93 of his men were mortally wounded at Bull Run. In an attempt to better direct his men, Ballou took a horse mounted position in front of his regiment, when a 6-pounder solid shot from Confederate artillery tore off his right leg and simultaneously killed his horse. The badly injured Major was then carried off the field and the remainder of his leg was amputated. Ballou died from his wound a week after that Union defeat and was buried in the yard of nearby Sudley Church. After the battle the territory was occupied by Confederate forces. According to witness testimony, it was at this time that Ballou's corpse was exhumed, decapitated, and desecrated by Confederate soldiers possibly belonging to the 21st Georgia regiment. Ballou's body was never recovered.

If that was all to it, he probably would have faded into history but when going through his belongings an unmailed letter to his wife was discovered and delivered to her. This letter would gain fame for its heartfeltness and honesty and was featured prominently in Ken Burns wonderful PBS series The Civil War in the first episode. Two points of interest regarding PM Ballou; his fathers first name was Hiram and his grave site is located in Providence. Hopefully I will be able to do a tour of Masonic tombstones/graves in Rhode Island this summer and post some imagery.


Wikipedia article about Sullivan Ballou
Swan Point Cemetery
The Civil War - PBS