"The history of the human race does not record a more amazing episode than the deluge of emigrants, who, pouring through the Cumberland Gap at the end of he eighteenth century, spread over the boundaries of the present state of Kentucky...........

--- from Masonry in the Bluegrass

by J. Winston Coleman, Jr., 33

Before we begin a in-depth look of the history of Freemasonry in relation to Sievers Lodge, we must first look at some of the background of what is Freemasonry, where did it come from? How did it get to Kentucky, and more specifically Nancy, Kentucky? There is much debate over the begining of Freemasonry, some accounts place it as far back as Moses and the construction of the Tabernacle. Other's the building of the temple at the Holy City's Temple at Jerusalem. While even others claim it begain with a meeting in a English Tavern,the Goose and Gridiron in St. Paul's Churchyard prior to the American Revoluaton. There has been great great importance on this meeting at the Goose, which brought the four London lodges came together and created the Grand Lodge of England. Freemasonry had existed in England since at least the mid-1600s however the establishment of the Grand Lodge in 1717 is traditionally considered the formation of organized Freemasonry as we know it today. Almost 20 years passed before Masonry established itself in what would become the United States. In 1733, Henry Price, Grand Master over all of North America for the London Grand Lodge, granted a charter to a group of Boston Freemasons. This lodge was later named St. John's Lodge and was the first duly constituted lodge in America constituted June 24, 1736. The spread of lodges increased over the coming years with lodges spreading through out the new world. The Grand Lodge of Virginia was estbalished on 30 October 1778. The establishment of this Grand Lodge help spread Masonry to the rest of the new world, as settlers from Virginia moved west across the mountains.

The early days of Kentucky saw a vast growth, almost unoccupied, when settlers crossed over the Cumberland Gap during various hunting and explorer expeditions. This can hardly be compared, with today's busy cities of Lexington or Louisville, Kentucky. Kentucky saw many settlers cross the boarder, one of the most famous was Dr. Thomas Walker. Dr. Thomas Walker is credited for being the first to lead organized exploration of Kentucky in 1750. Even though Dr. Walker would later become a Freemason, himself and none of his original party were known to be Masons. His exploration of Kentucky lead to the founding and development of our Commonwealth. Dr Walker later became a member of the Lodge at Fredericksburg, VA on Match 30, 1767. Dr. Walker is the first person known in Kentucky to become a Mason. However prior to coming to Kentucky, Dr. Walker had associations with well known Virginia’s Masonic Families, such as Washington and Franklin. According to records from Fredericksburg Lodge, Dr Walker presented the lodge with a hand made square and compass on February 28, 1767. During his stay in Kentucky, Dr. Walker named what is now known as the Cumberland River. The river was named by Walker after a known Mason, William Augustus, the son of King George II of England, known as the Duke of Cumberland..

Kentucky continued to grow and the most well know settlement was founded at what is known as Lexington. The early leaders of Kentucky were composed of several Masons. Lexington Masonic Lodge began as Lodge # 25, under the Grand Lodge of Virginia and was established November 17, 1788. Lexington Lodge #25, would eventually become the foundation for the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, holding the distinction of being one of the first lodges founded west of the Appalachian Mountains, the first established in the 18th Century and one of only 12 Grand Lodges established in the 16 existing states of the Americans at that time. The area saw several historical events during the Civil War, one of which was the.....