Petition for membership

Freemasonry in Iowa

Many people are proud of their heritage. By petitioning for membership in an Iowa Masonic lodge, you will be associating with an Iowa fraternal order that was organized in 1844, several years before our state was admitted into the Union. Freemasonry, however, dates its formal beginnings to the 17th century. Thus, upon acceptance, you will become a member of not only the oldest—and most prestigious—fraternity in Iowa, but also the oldest in the entire world. You will become a member of an organization whose Iowa roots extend back to our first territorial governor and whose heritage includes many of Iowa’s finest citizens.

There were many Masons among the vanguard of pioneers who came to the territory in the early 1840s. They came in wagons and on boats, settled along the Mississippi, and staked their claims. Some were farmers, but there were also merchants, teachers, businesspeople, miners, lawyers, and politicians—all anxious and excited about the opportunities that awaited them in the “heartland”: Iowa, “the beautiful land,” as the Indians called it.

By the time the Iowa Territory was two years old, the settlers had discovered that they shared a fraternal kinship. According to the records, the first Masonic meeting in the Iowa Territory was held on the evening of November 6, 1840, in the Burlington carpenter shop of Brother Evan Evans. As a result of that meeting, the Grand Lodge of Missouri granted a dispensation on November 20, 1840, to form a Masonic lodge at Burlington: Des Moines Lodge No. 41.

Several months later, on February 4, 1841, similar action resulted in the formation of Iowa Lodge No. 42 at Bloomington, which later became Muscatine.

Dubuque Lodge No. 62 was officially formed by the pioneer Masons in Dubuque on October 10, 1842.

On December 9, 1842, nine Masons met in Iowa City to organize the last of the four lodges that would form the Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.: Iowa City Lodge No. 63.

A delegation was appointed to attend the next session of the Grand Lodge of Missouri with a petition to form the Grand Lodge of Iowa. The request was granted on January 2, 1844. Just one week later, delegates from those first four lodges met in a room above Sanxer’s Iron Store in Iowa City and organized the Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.

The first four lodges were officially designated as Des Moines Lodge No. 1, with 25 members; Iowa Lodge No. 2, with 20 members; Dubuque Lodge No. 3, with 28 members; and Iowa City Lodge No. 4, with 28 members. The Grand Lodge of Iowa had a total membership of 101.

Fees Due at Time of Application

$100 - Initiation Fee

$125 - Annual Dues

$5 Processing Fee

Total: $230.00

If you have any questions please contact our Secretary.

Or scan the QR code below:

CORRESPONDENCE

ADDRESS THE SECRETARY

© 2026 East Gate Lodge No. 630 • Chartered Under The Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M.

Site designed by Jordan Miller Design