Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Final Thoughts

While no official record exists Masonic work was conducted during the Lewis and Clark Expedition there is evidence and proof Captain Lewis took his Masonic beliefs with him and that they had a positive influence and helped guide him on the expedition. He named three river tributaries after three of Freemasonry's important tenants. Captain Lewis may have been the only known Freemason on the expedition with Captain Clark becoming a Freemason after the expedition returned in 1806 it is possible and plausible others from the expedition joined the fraternity especially when the Ancients and Moderns joined to form one belief in Freemasonry. As of yet no known records exist proving if anyone but Lewis and Clark joined the Masonic Fraternity.

Something that has been proven is were it not for the expedition Freemasonry would not have expanded as it did during and especially after the expedition returned in 1806. Ever since 1806 every new territory, which developed into individual states which thus caused grand lodge jurisdictions in each of the respective states was a result of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Would Freemasonry have expanded otherwise? Yes, it would have, but not as quickly.

Previous articles:
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Introduction
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Thank You
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Information Sources
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Timeline
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: The Type of Men who Joined Freemasonry in the Past 
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Was Masonic Work Conducted during the Expedition?
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: We Proceeded On Article.
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Royal Arch Mason Article
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: First Series Summary
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia 1700 to 1775
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia 1775 to 1825
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia after 1825
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Freemasonry after the Expedition; the next Masonic Lodge

Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Freemasonry after the Expedition; the next Masonic Lodge

The previous two articles talk about Freemasonry after the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Freemasonry continued to expand with each new territory, state and thus new grand lodge jurisdiction after the expedition returned in 1806.

This articles talks about one of the next if not the second Masonic Lodge formed west of the Mississippi River:

Previous articles:
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Introduction
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Thank You
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Information Sources
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Timeline
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: The Type of Men who Joined Freemasonry in the Past 
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Was Masonic Work Conducted during the Expedition?
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: We Proceeded On Article.
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Royal Arch Mason Article
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: First Series Summary
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia 1700 to 1775
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia 1775 to 1825
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia after 1825

Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia after 1825

Kaskaskia, the state of Illinois, Western Star Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Illinois went through some dramatic changes after 1825. From the Grand Lodge of Illinois going out of existence and reforming to flooding in Kaskaskia which started a population reduction the community, state and grand lodge survived and still exist today.

This article and the links below it further explain the history of Kaskaskia, Illinois and the Grand Lodge of Illinois:

Info. source:
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania - Wikipedia
Louisiana Purchase - About Education
Freemasonry Comes to Illinois - Alphonse Cerza
Freemasonry in Ste. Genevieve - Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Horicon Lodge No. 244 - blog
History - St. Louis Missouri Lodge #1
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
Grand Lodge of Missouri
The Missouri Freemason Spring 2007 - magazine
Western Star Lodge #240
Freemasonry in Illinois - Masonic Voice Review
Kaskaskia, Illinois - Wikipedia
Curse of Kaskaskia
History of the M. W. Grand Lodge of Illinois
Shadrach Bond - Wikipedia
Grand Lodge of Illinois

Previous articles:
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Introduction
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Thank You
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Information Sources
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Timeline
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: The Type of Men who Joined Freemasonry in the Past 
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Was Masonic Work Conducted during the Expedition?
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: We Proceeded On Article.
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Royal Arch Mason Article
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: First Series Summary
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia 1700 to 1775
Freemasonry and the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Freemasonry West of the Mississippi River, Kaskaskia 1775 to 1825