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Hancock Lodge No. 311 Hancock Lodge No. 311, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas was formed
under dispensation from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of Kansas on 15 May 1888. The appointed officers were:
Original Charter Members:
The Lodge was regularly chartered on 20 February 1889. The Lodge was consecrated, dedicated and constituted in
due form 5 May 1889 by Most Worshipful Bestor G. Brown, special Deputy Grand Master, pursuant to a commission from Geroge C. Kenyon, The
Most Worshipful Grand Master of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of Kansas. The new Lodge was named for
MG Winfield Scott Hancock.
Hancock Lodge is a most unique Lodge. It is international in character, because it includes as members many
active duty military personnel from many nations assigned to posts throughout the four corners of the globe. The sun never sets on our
membership. Hancock Lodge is also unique, because it is the only Masonic Lodge housed in a Masonically owned Temple on a military
reservation in the United States. The construction of Boughton Memorial Hall was authorized by an
Act of Congress approved on 11 July 1919 for the Fiscal Year ending in 30 June 1920. It is difficult to determine where meetings were held prior to the construction of Boughton Memorial Hall; the
minutes simply state " Hall of Hancock Lodge". The minutes of 7 April 1908 state that a "Revocable License" was issued, by the Secretary
of War, for the Lodge to occupy the second story of the Quartermasters Building #102. Building #102 which was built in 1859, is currently
named Stotsenburg Hall and is occupied by the Post Finance.
In 1857-58 he was stationed in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, during the period of the so-called "Border War" between
the pro-slavery and abolitionist factions. He arrived at Fort Leavenworth on 1 August 1857 and departed
for Utah and California in the Spring of 1858.
His first assignment in the Civil War was at Williamsburg, where as a Brigadier General of Volunteers, he commanded
the Brigade which turned the Confederate flank and carried the field. General McClellan, in his official report, stated that "Hancock
was superb". At Antietam, Hancock assumed command of the First Divission of II Corps, and led it in the bloody battles of Fredericksburg
and Chancellorsville. At Fredericksburg his Division distinguished itself in the fruitless assault which Burnside ordered on
Marye's Heights; and at Chancellorsville, they bore the full weight of Lee's attack down the Plank Road, holding a salient which enabled
Hooker to extricate himself from Jackson's wide envelopment.
At Gettysburg, Hancock was ordered by Meade to select the ground for the Union dispositions, and Hancock commanded
all Union forces the first day. Thereafter, as Commanding General of II Corps, he commanded the Union left wing, and his Corps repulsed Pickett's
famous charge. Hancock continued in command of the II Corps to the end of the war, distinguishing himself repeatedly at the
Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Petersburg. He became renowned throughout the Army as "Hancock the Superb".
After Lincoln's assasination, Hancock was immediately ordered to command the District of Washington where he apprehended,
tried and executed Booth's accomplices.
On 6 August 1866, Major General Hancock returned to Fort Leavenworth to command the Department of Missouri. There he
remained until September of 1867, when he was transferred to New Orleans. In 1880 Hancock was nominated by the Democratic party as their
candidate for President of the United States; and in an election where over 9 million votes where cast, he lost to President Garfield by a
scant 7,018 votes.
Major General Hancock received all three Masonic Degrees by special dispensation in Charity Lodge No. 190 of Norristown,
Pennsylvania on 31 October 1860, while on leave. He was also a member of Norristown Chapter No. 190, Royal Arch Masons and
Hutchinson Commandery No. 32, Knights Templar, both of Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Major General Hancock died at Governor's Island, New York on 9 February 1886.
Our address is Boughton Memorial Hall, 311 Kearny Ave., Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 66027.
Follow the link for directions to our Lodge [MAP/Directions]
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