Sally, I think Pam's answer is pretty close to the truth as I understand it. I have had the chance to read (several times in fact) the minute books recorded during the CW for one particular Masonic lodge in central Mississippi. Keep in mind as you read this that the lodge in question was in the backwaters of the War. Had it been located in the route of, e.g., Sherman's march, what I am about to say would be completely different.

Following are my observations,

1. Attendance declined as the CW progressed as you might expect.

2. Regular meetings continued with some interruptions and business as usual was conducted, e.g., chapter consideration of membership petitions, elevation of members to higher degrees of Masonry, election of officers, conduct of Masonic rights for members killed in the War, the passing of resolutions in honor of members lost in the War, etc.

3. I did notice that the fee ($10) for the conferring of degrees was waived if the member went "into service of the Southern Government."

4. The lodge took actions to aid and assist wives of members in the War and widows of members who had been killed, e..g. provisioning of supplies (corn, salt, etc.), hiring of Negroes to help out on the deceased members farm and that sort of thing.

From this small sample, which may not be representative of many other areas of the Confederacy, I would say that any "official" actions having to do with the War, e.g., rounding up Bushwhackers, identification of northern sympathizers, support of the local militia, etc. were all conducted outside the official realm of the Masonic Lodge - quite possibly I would guess - to maintain orderliness and decorum during Lodge meetings.