Euphemia Lodge #195

Existed in Columbia from 1850 to 1887

Euphemia Lodge #195 was located at Columbia and during its thirty-seven years of existence shared facilities and equipment with Columbia Lodge #31. It was chartered 10/09/1850 as Euphemia Lodge #195 with Francis G. Roche (a local banker) as the charter Master and E. H. Cressy (Rector at an Episcopal Church) and Andrew Jackson Polk (master of Ashwood Plantation) serving as Wardens. In 1854 the name was changed to Roche Lodge, retaining the number 195, to honor the charter Master. In 1872, for reasons unknown at this time, the name was changed back to Euphemia and it remained that way until the charter was surrendered 01/26/1887. Written documentation indicates that the name was changed back to Euphemia as a result of the second ballot on the name change. The first name proposed was Parnassus and the first ballot failed. A membership listing of this lodge contained the names of many men who were prominent in the affairs of Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee and in some case the national level. Among them were the names of Lucius and Andrew J. Polk, Gideon Pillow, W. Whitthorne, W. A. Smith and many other civic and government leaders. Most of the members affiliated with Columbia Lodge #31 when the charter was surrendered and several of them were active in Columbia Lodge including Ernest Yoest who was the last secretary of Euphemia and whose picture is among the pictures of Past Masters of Columbia Lodge.

Past Masters of Euphemia Lodge #195