RAGAINS MASONIC RIFLE PRESENTATION

You are invited to attend the unveiling and presentation of "The Ragains Masonic Rifle" at the Grand Lodge of Texas Library and Museum in Waco, Texas, on August 21, 2009 at 2:00PM at the Grand Lodge facility, 715 Columbus Avenue, Waco, Texas 76701. The rifle is on loan to the Library and Museum by its current owners, Charles Sterling and Anita Cooper.

What: Presentation of the Ragains Masonic Rifle to the Grand Lodge of Texas Library and Museum
When: 2 PM, August 21st, 2009
Where: Grand Lodge of Texas, 715 Columbus Avenue, Waco Texas
Preview: http://grandlodgeoftexas.org/history/Regains/Regains.php

This rifle is best known surviving example of an elaborately decorated "Masonic" firearm from the 19th century. It is hand inlaid with many symbols of Freemasonry. The rifle was made in 1853, and has been carefully restored to museum condition by gun maker and Texas History Committee member Sam Whitley.

There is little doubt that David Abraham Ragains acquired this “Masonic” rifle before the Civil War. David joined the 60th Illinois Infantry Regiment on January 7, 1862 as a private in the Union Army. The following month, he was promoted to Captain in command of Company H.

Brother Ragains was born in South Carolina, lived in Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia before settling in Pope County, Illinois. At the beginning of the Civil war David was supporting a family of eight children by working his small farm. He supplemented his income as both deputy clerk and deputy sheriff. While serving his community as a clergyman, he founded County Line Baptist Church. This church came by its name because it was located on the Pope and Johnson County Line. This little church is still going strong after 150 years.

During his lifetime, David had seven wives and twenty children. He died on February 17, 1887 at age 74. He was a member of the Vienna, Illinois Lodge No 150 A.F. and A.M.

Bro. Ragains left his rifle to his son, Pleasant Green Ragains. The next owner was P. G.’s son, Frank Ragains who was a member of the Bokoshe, Oklahoma Lodge No. 358 and Murrow Lodge No. 49 in Spiro, Oklahoma. The next owner was his son, Frank Edward Ragains The gun then went to his son, James Edward Ragains and then to his son, James Grant Ragains. David Ragains’ gun has been in the Ragains’ family for over 150 years.

For more information, please contact Barbara at the Grand Lodge of Texas Library and Museum: "Barbara Mechell"