1:53 Representatives of three Masonic lodges, Missouri Lodge No. 12 of St. Louis, Joachim Lodge No. 25 of Herculaneum, and St. Charles Lodge No. 28, resolved on February 22, 1821 in Missouri Lodge’s hall to organize a Grand Lodge for Missouri. Edward Bates, master of the St. Louis Lodge, chaired the convention, which appointed a committee to draft a constitution for the proposed Grand Lodge and distribute it to other lodges. A majority ratified the constitution, the Grand Lodge organized April 21, 1821, and adopted the constitution and bylaws. Thomas Fiveash Riddick served as the first Grand Master. It is sometimes said of Freemasonry in the early republic that, “Freemasonry follows the flag.” Many of the founding fathers were members, including Washington, Jefferson and Franklin. It is likely only a dozen or so freemasons were in the newly-formed Missouri territory in 1804.