Landrum's Famous and Almost Famous

JOHN PAUL ROUSAKIS, 320 KCCH
January 14,1929 - December 11, 2000
Our friend and brother John Paul Rousakis, 32nd degree KCCH, served as Mayor of Savannah from October 1970 until December 1991, a total of twenty-one years, the longest term in office of mayor in the city's history. He was born January 14, 1929 in Savannah, graduating from Savannah High School in 1947 and receiving his BBA from the University of Georgia in 1952. He opened a successful insurance agency immediately on his return to Savannah from service in the
U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps and was elected to the Chatham County Commission in 1965. In 1970 he made his first run for Mayor and served with distinction, not only as mayor, but also as President of the Georgia Municipal Association and the National League of Cities. Brother
Rousakis was able to put Savannah forward as one of the leading cities and a plaza was erected in his honor on our world acclaimed and famous River Street.
Brother Rousakis was initiated into Landrum Lodge No. 48, F&AM on January 17, 1964, receiving his Fellowcraft degree on February 7, 1964 and was raised a Master Mason on February 21,1964. He joined the Scottish Rite in November of 1970 and was invested with the rank and decoration of Knight Commander Court of Honor in October of 1987. Brother Rousakis was also a member of Alee Shriners and the Clown Unit. He entered into eternal rest on December 11, 2000.
His presence meant so much to so many and we continue to miss him, but his legacy lives on and we remember his great contribu­tions to our fraternity and to our community. (article gleaned from Scottish Rite Newsletter and Savannahscottishrite.org)

Master of Landrum Lodge No. 48, F. & A.M., 1893-1894, and Imperial Potentate of the Imperial Council of the Knights of the Mystic Shrine

Ernest Allen Cutts was born in Americus on March 21, 1858, the son of LTC Allen Sherrod Cutts and his wife Fannie O. (Brown) Cutts. He moved to Savannah, where he became a prominent businessman. He had studied law, but became a successful cotton broker. He served as master of Landrum Lodge No. 48, F. & A.M.; High Priest of Georgia Chapter No. 3, R.A.M.; and Eminent Commander of Palestine Commandery No. 7, Knights Templar. He was also Potentate of Alee Temple, A.A.O.M.N.S., and Imperial Potentate of the Imperial Council of the Knights of the Mystic Shrine. He died in Atlanta on 2 March 1927. He was a member of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Scotland in Savannah.
Copyright 2000, Gordon B. Smith, All Rights Reserved

Cutts had rapidly advanced in the Shrine in Atlanta, and at the same time did so in the chairs at Landrum...
" Much has been printed recently about Ernest Cutts being advanced two points in the Shrine at Atlanta. In 1890 he made the leap of his life, going from junior steward to senior warden--six stations--and then began his first dream of becoming prince, king and potentate. When he reached the Cotton Exchange next morning he had assumed the Roscoe Conkling strut and wore the Teddy smile. Previously he had obeyed the orders of the senior warden and waited on the table at 'collations.' Everybody on Bay street knew he was the cup-bearer to 'King Wilson'...(W.M. Horace Emmit Wilson)...before the 'first call,' and from then until now he has had all the mannerisms of a Czar. Having the ear of the King, it was but a few weeks before an edict was promulgated that all officers should be regaled in evening dress, assume the senior warden's air and follow his guide. Some of the subordinates had never worn full dress even when they were married, but this edict had the ring of the Medes and the Persians and they showed up at the next communication in full court regalia, with a white rosebud smiling from the lapel of the swallow-tail.
" It was but a short time after this when the oldest lodge in America caught on and Nos. 15, 54, and 231 soon followed with their 'glad rags,' and now every 'kiddie' has a suit. Frank Keilbach's little music box was thrown into the trash pile and the pastors and deacons took a back seat, while a piano Grand was installed and a real musical quartet came into court. All the lodges in the city now have quartets since Landrum found "room to grow.' But the piano soon became less grand and Solomon's Lodge was requested to touch up the room with a little calsomine, put down a new carpet and install a pipe organ for her aesthetic tenants. She did all that was asked and more-and didn't raise the rent-for all of which No. 48 has ever been grateful.
"Worshipful Master Wilson served two years which were fruitful of great prosperity and most harmonious. He retired in December , 1893, and E.A. Cutts was elected master."
From:The Early History Of Landrum Lodge No. 48, F. & A.M., by William C. Travis, @1914

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Master of Landrum Lodge No. 48, F&A.M., 1882

James O. Branch (1838-1904) was born at Abbeville Court House, South Carolina, on 27 June, 1838, as the son of the Rev. Franklin Branch. He prepared for the ministry at the age of 16, and was admitted as a Methodist pastor in the Florida Conference at the age of 16. Known as "the boy preacher", Branch began his duties as pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in the same city. From there he served at
Mulberry Street Church in Macon. In 1898 he returned to Wesley Monumental Church, where he served for one year. For the remainder of the time he served the conference as a presiding elder. He died on 24 January 1904 in Moultrie, Georgia, and was buried in the cemetery at Dixie, Georgia, his old home.
Branch received the degre of Doctor of Divinity. He was the president of the board of trustees of Wesleyan College in Macon, president of the board of trustees of the Orphan's Home in Macon, president of the legal conference of the South Georgia Conference, and president of the board of trustees of the Wesleyan Christian Advocate. He gained the reputation as one of the most imminent divines in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Dr. Branch also had a great interest in Freemasonry. He served as the first master of Landrum Lodge No. 48, F&A.M., upon its receiving a charter in 1882. The entire membership of Landrum Lodge attended his funeral. (verbatim resolution of tribute in "Tribute Paid in Loving Words" in "Savannah Morning News," 30 January 1904)
Dr. Branch married Miss Caroline Theresa Hentz of South Carolina. She was the daughter of N.M. Hentz and his wife the celebrated novelist Caroline Theresa Hentz. Caroline was born on 22 November 1833, and died on 16 October 1904.

Copyright 2001 by Gordon B. Smith- All Rights Reserved

Cecil L. Cheves
(1889-1918)

Master of Landrum Lodge No. 48, F.&A.M., 1918

Cecil L. Cheves (1889-1918) was born near Forsyth, Monroe County, Georgia, on 28 June 1889, the son of Wallace Robert Cheves. He came to Savannah in 1905 and shortly afterward became connected with the A.C. Harmon Insurance Agency, to which he succeeded upon the death of A.C. Harmon. Cheves was very prominent in Freemasonry, being a 32 degree member of the Scottish Rite, a member of the Alee Shrine Temple; a member of Georgia Chapter No. 3, R.A.M.; and a member of Laurel Chapter No. 54, O.E.S. At the time of his death he was master of Landrum Lodge No. 48, F.&A.M.; senior warden of Alpha (now Savannah) Lodge of Perfection No.1, A.A.S.R.
Cheves died at his home at 116 East Henry Street in Savanah on 4 November 1918, and was buried in Bonaventure Cemetery. He had contracted influenza while nursing his Masonic brothers during the great epidemic that year. Cecil Cheves Chapter No. 249, Order of DeMolay, was named in his honor. This chapter was instituted in Savannah and the first degrees confered on 1 August 1921 by members of the local Scottish Rite. Its charter was granted on 7 March 1923.
Cheves married Miss Mattie Nelson, who with three children survived him.