The following is a copy of the letter, dated June 1, 1871, sent to Most Worshipful John C. Brown, Grand Master of Tennessee. Although the order of signatures to the letter is incorrect, all Brethren that signed the letter are shown with their Lodges. It should be noted that Brother William Keel, the Dispensation and Charter Treasurer of Kyle Lodge No. 422, was not a Charter member even though he attended the first meeting of the Lodge after it received its Dispensation:

Whitesburg, Hamblen Co. Tenn.
June 1st 1871

To the M.W. Grand Master of Tennessee of the Grand Lodge of the State of Tennessee:

We the undersigned petitioners being Ancient Free and Accepted Masons having the prosperity of the Fraternity at heart and willing to exert our best endeavors to promote and diffuse genuine principles of Masonry, respectively represent that we are desirous of forming a New Lodge in the town of Whitesburg Hamblen County Tennessee, to be called Kyle Lodge No. ___. Said point is situated 11 miles from Morristown Lodge No. 231, and 14 miles from Overton Lodge No. 5 (Rogersville). The members being from 8 to 17 miles from Morristown Lodge No. 231 and the Holston River being between us and Overton Lodge No. 5, makes it not only difficult, but sometimes impossible for us to attend meetings of that Lodge, and during the winter and spring the roads are bad, and from these considerations we feel that it is imposing on us a tax too heavy for us to bear in addition to our regular dues, eon of the time, Hotel bills are costing us from 25 to 40 dollars annually, and we feel that we have in vicinity of the proposed new Lodge material out of which we can make a Lodge that will be creditable to the Fraternity.

We therefore pray for letters of dispensation to empower us to assemble as a regular Lodge to discharge the duties of Masonry in a regular and constitutional manner according to the original forms of the order and the regulations of the Grand Lodge.

We have nominated and do recommend Bro. P.A. Cobb to be our first Master, Bro. A.W. Thompson to be our Senior Warden and Bro. Fred Pangle to be the first Junior Warden of said Lodge.

If our prayer should be granted we promise a strict conformity to the Edicts of the Grand Lodge, and the constitution, laws, and regulations of the same.

T.J. Alderson Friendship Lodge No. 66, VA
A.S. Bible Mossy Creek Lodge No. 353
John H. Boren Overton Lodge No. 5
John J. Carroll Overton Lodge No. 5
P.A. Cobb Overton Lodge No. 5
Rev. E.J. Hyatt Morristown Lodge No. 231
W.E.V. Jackson Overton Lodge No. 5
Dr. John G. Johnson Overton Lodge No. 5
Jesse W. Keel Overton Lodge No. 5
J. Russ Mendenhall Mossy Creek Lodge No. 353
Philip Mulkey Overton Lodge No. 5
Fred Pangle Overton Lodge No. 5
Newton F. Philip Morristown Lodge No. 231
Thomas W. Philip Overton Lodge No. 5
Thomas W. Portrum Overton Lodge No. 5
Dr. A.W. Thompson Clay Lodge No. 386
Thomas Tomlinson Morristown Lodge No. 231
Joseph Worley Affiliated Lodge