USA > Illinois > The rise and progress of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1783-1952 > Part 10
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At the fourth annual communication the Grand Master reported:
In regard to Kavanaugh and Galena Lodges, whose dispensations were continued at the last meeting of the Grand Lodge, it is presumed that all controversy is at an end. Soon after the adjournment I com- municated to the M.W.G.M. of Illinois the action of this Grand Lodge, and sometime afterwards, I had a personal interview with him during which the subject was at large and fraternally discussed. He deemed the assertion of the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Illinois as essential to the best interests of the craft in that State. But at the same time gave frequent expression to those kind and truly Masonic feelings which so distinguish him, at the same time intimating his intention of visiting the region of country in which those Lodges are situated.
In July Kavanaugh Lodge returned her dispensation and announced
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the fact that she had taken authority from Illinois, and soon after the Galena Lodge returned her dispensation, but whether to continue her existence under the jurisdiction of Illinois or to go out altogether I am not informed. As these Lodges, therefore, have voluntarily relinquished their claim for protection upon this Grand Lodge and attached them- selves to the Grand Lodge of Illinois, no further action is necessary but to discharge them from the books of the Secretary with our best wishes for their prosperity and happiness.
On June 22, 1846 Grand Master W. F. Walker was present and presided. The Lodge was opened in ample form when it was resolved that
We accept a Charter from the Grand Lodge of Illinois, and return our present Charter to the Grand Lodge of Missouri.
Grand Master Walker reported:
In June I had the happiness to terminate the then pending contro- versy between our Grand Lodge and that of Wisconsin on the subject of an infringement by that Grand Lodge of our jurisdiction at Galena and Elizabeth, by granting to Far West Lodge a charter, and to Kavanaugh Lodge, at Elizabeth, a dispensation in place of the authority under which each had before worked.
At Galena a second Lodge had been constituted by the Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin; but this irregular organiza- tion was speedily abandoned, and now all are united in Far West Lodge No. 5, working under the Grand Lodge of Illinois.
The reason for asking a charter from the Grand Lodge of Wis- consin was on account of the great distance to the Grand Lodges of Missouri and Illinois. Then the members were intimately connected with the lead mines in southwestern Wisconsin.
In 1846 a charter was issued to Far West Lodge No. 41; and a resolution
Resolved, unanimously, That the truly Masonic course of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, in relation to the disputed jurisdiction in the cases of Far West and Kavanaugh Lodges, demands the expression of the most cordial approbation of this Grand Lodge.
This brings the history of Far West Lodge up to the time it became a member of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. It ceased to exist in 1852.
Springfield Lodge No. 26
On January 27, 1839 the following brethren signed a petition to the Grand Lodge of Missouri, asking for a dispensation to open and hold a Lodge at Springfield, namely: J. Adams, late member of the lodge at Skaneatles, New York; James R. Gray, late member of Vesper
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Lodge, Kentucky; Alex'r Lindsay, late member of Star Lodge No. 197, Pennsylvania; Philo Beers, Montgomery Lodge, New York; Henry Colestock, Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; L. S. Cornwell, Bowling Green No. 73, Kentucky; Martin Doyle, Lodge No. 39, Ireland; J. R. Braucher, Lodge No. 33, Circleville, Ohio; Bela Webster, Whitesboro Lodge No. 315, New York; James Maxcy, Bowl- ing Green Lodge No. 73, Kentucky.
The petition being recommended by Harmony Lodge No. 24, a dispensation, dated February 25, 1839, and signed by S. W. B. Carnegy, Grand Master, attested by Richard B. Dallam, Grand Secretary, was issued. Brother Adams was named Master; James R. Gray, Senior Warden; and Alexander Lindsay, Junior Warden. Brother Adams was a visitor at the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1826, and Brother Beers was a charter member of Eden Lodge No. 11.
The minutes of the first meeting read:
At a meeting of Master, Wardens and Brethren of Springfield Lodge, No. - held at the "American House," on Saturday evening, April 20th, A.D. 1839, A.L. 5839.
Opened on the Master's Degree.
Brethren present: James Adams, W.M. James R. gray, S.W. Alexander Lindsay. J.W.
M. Doyle, James Maxcy, Samuel L. Hesser, James Zwisler Jr., Joseph Firey, M. A. Kelly, Wm. Cudmore, and Love S. Cornwell. Bro. Adams, M. in chair.
On motion of Bro. Lindsay.
Resolved, That the members present now organize, so far as to elect their officers for the ensuing year.
On motion of Bro. Firey,
That the officers be elected viva voce
Whereupon the following were elected unanimously:
Love S. Cornwell, Secretary,
Maurice Doyle, Treasurer,
James Maxcy, Tyler. and appointed by W.M.
Philo Beers, S.D. Wm Cudmore, J.D.
M. Helm, ist M.C. M. A. Kelly, 2d, M.C.
On motion of Bro. Lindsay,
Resolved, That we invite Bro. Helm to install the officers of this Lodge.
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On motion of Bro. Gray,
That we meet Thursday evening (25th inst ) at half past 6 o'clock, for the purpose of installing the officers.
On motion, adjourned.
J. Adams, Master L. S. Cornwell, Secretary.
The report to the Grand Lodge of Missouri reads:
From the abstract furnished by the Springfield Lodge of their work, it appears that their proceedings have all been done regularly, and in conformity with the By-Laws and Constitution of the Grand Lodge of this State, except in the practice of taking ballots in a lodge of Entered Apprentices.
Oct 28th, the lodge was duly constituted, the following brethren being present: A. B. Chambers, G.M .; Wm. B. Warren, D.G.M .; Wm S. Vance, S.G.W .; M. Helm, J.G.W .; M. J. Kelly, S.G.D .; W. Cudmore, J.G.D .; James Zwisler, G. Tyler; James Adams, James R. Gray; J. B. Braucher, R. C. Webster, S. L. Hesser, J. Wickersham, W. Briggs, J. S. Killaly, and J. F. Reed.
Oct. 7, 1840: The committee on petitions and memorials reported:
A memorial from Springfield Lodge, Ill., has also been laid before them. This memorial respectfully represents that as a Grand Lodge has been formed in the State of Illinois, they wish, for the sake of greater convenience, to Dissolve their connection with this Grand Lodge and attach themselves to that of Illinois. It appears to your committee that the said Lodge has acted in good faith toward this Grand Lodge, and have returned their Charter, together with a transcript of their Proceedings up to the time of their connection with the Grand Lodge of Illinois.
Resolved, Therefore, that the said memorial and charter be received, and that they have permission to determine their connection with this Grand Lodge.
On April 19, 1841 Brother Helm offered the following resolution:
Whereas, In the judgment of this Lodge, circumstances which are incompatible with the peace, harmony, and well-being of the Lodge, and which are otherwise incurable; therefore be it
Resolved, That Springfield Lodge No. 4 be and it is hereby dis- solved, and that it ccase to exist, work, or act in any manner or form from and after the close of the present meeting.
Resolved, 2d. That the Secretary be directed to return to the Sec- retary of the Grand Lodge our charter, together with a copy of the fore- going resolutions, signed by the Master, and countersigned by the Secretary.
The resolution was not adopted and a substitute was offered:
Moved, That if the brethren, members of this Lodge who are willing
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to withdraw and form a new Lodge, shall do so, this Lodge hereby agrees to recommend the petition of said brethren for a dispensation, and to pay them seventy-five dollars out of the funds of this Lodge to assist them in the formation of a new Lodge.
This was carried and on April 26 the following brethren asked leave to withdraw: Alexander Lindsay, Morris Lindsay, Alexander Shields, J. R. Braucher, George R. Webber, L. B. Adams, and W. T. Pride. A petition for a dispensation was then presented and, on motion:
Resolved, That this Lodge recommend said petition to the favorable consideration of the Grand Master,
Resolved, That so much of the first section of the 9th Art. of the by-laws as requires members withdrawing from the Lodge to pay ducs for the quarter current, be suspended, and that they, the brethren who have withdrawn tonight, be remitted their dues for the present quarter.
Whereupon the Deputy Grand Master (M. Helm) addressed the Lodge, and after having given the Lodge various wholesome advice, concluded by assuring them that in future he would refrain altogether from taking part in the ordinary business of the Lodge.
On June 24, Bro. M. Helm resigned as Master and Love S. Cornwell was elected to fill the vacancy. The dispensation for the new lodge was not granted.
Columbus Lodge
The dispensation was granted on June 3, 1839 and named Abraham Jonas, Master, Daniel Harrison, Senior Warden, and John G. Driskill, Junior Warden. Accompanying the dispensation was the following letter from the Grand Master S. W. B. Carnegy, Missouri:
Palmyra, 3d June, 1839.
To Bros. Jonas, Harrison, Driskill, Clarkson, Neil, Touzalin, McGorian, and Griffin
Gentlemen :- The dispensation for which you have petitioned is here- with enclosed, and I avail myself at the same time of this opportunity to express to you my brothers, and through you to those who may in future be associated with you in the glorious undertaking in which you have embarked, the very heartfelt pleasure which I have in contributing my little aid for the advancement of the ancient fraternity of Masons. Allow me, my brothers, at the same time to express my great solicitude for the honor and happiness of the Craft. Those that bear the high honor of being members among those who have entered into covenant with the fraternity, passed the square, and seen suspended the initial of the name of our celestial G.M., and been raised to the honor of bearing the emblem of power, and of using the trowel-those, permit me to say, should be holy, harmless and undefiled. Having separated themselves
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from the common mass of men, and taken their stand in front ranks of those who would be useful, charitable, and moral, let me urge you by every consideration, the honor of the name of Mason-the elaims of our fellow-men upon us, for examples of charity, frugality, temperance, fortitude, justice, and patriotism-by our high and holy origin-our honorable connections here, and our glorious destiny hereafter-to guard well the entering in of the sanctuary, and house of Masonry. Let no one that is immoral, or in the least degree predisposed to intemperance, so much as enter even the outer courts of your glorious temple. There are but very few in the world worthy of a knowledge of our art, and there ought to be but few Masons, therefore, and so long as we are but few in number, and consist of the true, the moral, and temperate, we are safe, and may be happy. The best evidence of speedy ruin to any Lodge, is that they increase very fast-that they are very numerous.
Hoping that none but the worthy will ever receive from your Lodge admission into our mysteries, and that you may now in this far western hemisphere and newly settled country, in this favored region, far removed from the storm of anti-Masonry which has with so much bigotry, hatred, and zeal swept over the eastern Lodges, so lay the foundation of the edifice, deep and strong, that in due time we may "bring forth the cape stone with shouting and praise," that we may receive the appellation of "good Master" each for himself, that may at last in that character "lay aside the level and plumbline, the gavel and trowel, the compass and square," and be greeted and welcomed to the Temple of God, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, is the anxious wish of your friend and brother.
S. W. B. Carnegy.
The lodge continued to exist but never prospered and in 1846 a letter from Past Grand Master Jonas said:
The few brethren who live at Columbus intend to surrender their charter, as they number too few to carry on a lodge.
The charter was surrendered in 1847. Membership in 1841 was 12; in 1842, 25; in 1843, 19. No further reports.
Temperance Lodge No. 27
On June 30, 1838 a dispensation was issued by the Grand Lodge of Missouri to William Hodge, Master, John D. Gorin, Senior Warden, Nathaniel M. McCurdy, Junior Warden and others to open and hold a lodge to be known as Temperance Lodge U.D. in Vandalia. The lodge did no work under this dispensation and at the meeting of the Grand Lodge in October stated the reasons why they had not been able to send a copy of their proceedings and asked for a renewal of their dispensation. Whereupon it was
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Resolved, That the Dispensation authorizing the opening of a Lodge at Vandalia be renewed, and that said Lodge be required to send up to the next Grand Annual Communication, a complete copy of their Proceedings, with a copy of their By-Laws, all of which is respectfully submitted.
Alex. T. Douglas Thomas Andrews
In 1839 the committee on work examined the proceedings of Tem- perance Lodge and found them conforming generally to the Consti- tution and by-laws of the Grand Lodge but some errors were noted:
such as receiving petitions and referring them to committees; re- ceiving reports of committees on petitions; and other business of the Lodge by Entered Apprentices; reading the proceedings of previous meetings to Entered Apprentices, even when a part of those proceedings related to the transactions of the lodge as Master Masons; such mode of work having heretofore often met the marked disapprobation of the Grand Lodge, your committee deem further comment unnecessary.
Your committee refrain from the expression of any opinion as to the propriety of permitting petitions to be withdrawn after presentation and reference, but before final action had, as has been allowed by that lodge. Your committee submit the following resolution, and recommend its adoption:
Resolved, That a Charter be issued to Temperance Lodge, at Van- dalia, Ill.
P. H. Mcbride W. S. Vance Th. Douglas
In 1843 the Grand Master said:
I am gratified at being able to inform you that the lodge at Vandalia, availing itself of the invitation extended to it and others by resolution of the last session, and of the permission granted through the courtesy of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, has accepted a charter from this Grand Lodge, and is now working under our authority.
This lodge was given the number "16" by the Grand Lodge of Illinois. The action of the Grand Lodge of Missouri reads:
Resolved, That Temperance Lodge No. 27, be permitted to with- draw from this Grand Lodge and attach itself to the Grand Lodge of Illinois.
1843: The lodge planned to celebrate St. John's Day and made arrangements with Brother Thomas Bayse to furnish dinner for one hundred persons for forty dollars, which amount they pledged them- selves to raise. They arranged with W. B. Herrick of Mount Moriah
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Lodge, who was Grand Master twelve years later, to deliver an oration. The Odd Fellows Lodge of Greenville desired to participate with them and to have one of their members speak. This was agreed to. All the neighboring lodges were invited to be present for the exercises. Among the visitors were W. B. Warren and J. R. Gorin, both future Grand Masters. The lodge formed under the direction of Brother Alexander and "left the hall preceeded by a band of music." At Gallatin Street the procession was joined by Clark Lodge of Odd Fellows and at the residence of "Col. Black" a large number of ladies joined. The proces- sion proceeded to the Methodist Church where J. M. Davis delivered an oration on behalf of the Odd Fellows. Brother Warren then in- stalled the officers, after which Brother Herrick addressed the audience.
June 10: A committee appointed at a previous meeting to procure a hall, reported that they had
procured from the trustees of the town of Vandalia, the perpetual lease of the old Representatives Hall, rent free.
November 12: sundry brethren at Greenville were recommended to the Grand Master for a dispensation for a new lodge.
Friendship Lodge No. 7
On August 21, 1840 the Kentucky record reads:
Brother Phillip Swigert, Grand Secretary, presented the petition of Sundry Brothers residing on Rock River, State of Illinois, praying for a dispensation to permit them to hold, alternately, a lodge in the towns of Dixon and Harrisburg - recommended by Ottawa Lodge U.D. Also a petition of Sundry Brothers residing in the town of Juliet and State of Ill. - praying for a dispensation to permit them to hold a lodge in said town - recommended by Ottawa Lodge U.D. The reading of which petitions being dispensed with, they were severally referred to the Com- mittee on Lodges under Dispensation.
Sept. 1, 1840.
DISPENSATIONS, ROCK RIVER, (DICKSON'S FERRY) AND JOLIET, ILL.
Your committee on Lodges U.D. find two petitions to this Grand Lodge - one from brethren residing on Rock River, Ill. and another from certain brethren residing in Juliet, State of Ill. - praying for Dispensa- tions to work under the authority of this W. Grand Lodge - they would, therefore, offer for consideration of this body, the following resolutions:
Resolved that this Grand Lodge consider the application of the brethren reasonable and that a dispensation issue, provided the usual customs are complied with by said brethren.
Samuel D. McCullough Wm. Caldwell Jas. G. Caldwell.
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Freemasonry in Illinois
The first meeting of the lodge was held with Samuel Johnson, Wor- shipful Master, presiding. The record reads:
At a meeting of Ancient York Masons, held in the town of Dixon, on the 6th of November, A.D. 1840, A.L. 5840, in the Phoenix Hotel, nine brethren were present. A committee was appointed to draft by-laws and a resolution was adopted
that the Regular Communication of the Lodge shall be held on Thursday, on or before the next full moon, at one o'clock P.M.
Another resolution was that
if any Brother chose to advance, or loan, money for the purpose of buying indispensable materials, that said money would be returned to the creditors from the first received-if required.
Whereupon two brothers advanced seven dollars which money placed the lodge on a solvent basis and the meeting was closed "in Peace and Harmony." The first petition was that of William Wilkin- son on February 11, 1841. On May 8, 1841, $8.00 was sent to the Grand Lodge of Kentucky to pay for the dispensation and $39.87 was voted to purchase silver lodge jewels. Each member was instructed to pro- vide himself with "a neat, white cambric apron," and twelve aprons were purchased to accommodate visiting brothers.
These articles were ordered for lodge furniture: "three wood candle- sticks, one wood mallet, one wood altar, one square and level, two wood columns and four rods." This equipment was made by John Dixon, the first settler and founder of the city of Dixon. He was paid $28.87 for his work. On August 29, 1841, a petition was filed with the Grand Lodge of Illinois for a charter which was granted on October 6, 1841 to "Friendship Lodge No. 7."
The minutes show this lodge as No. 8 until January 4, 1844, when the number was changed to "7." This closes the pre-Grand Lodge record of this lodge. Its record is complete to 1950, when 465 members were reported.
Harrisburg mentioned in the above was in Whiteside County and about twelve miles west of Dixon. It is now the east side of Sterling. This information was found after a long and tedious search in a history of Whiteside County written by Charles Bent in 1887.
Ottawa Lodge No. 114
Proceedings of Grand Lodge of Kentucky, August 21, 1840:
A dispensation was granted to form a new lodge at Ottawa, Ill, to be
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called "Ottawa"-Henry D. Gerbet, Master, Benj. Thurston, S. Warden, and Andrew Kirkpatrick, Jr. Warden, on the 19th day of December 1839.
Sep. 1. 1840
Your committee on Lodges U.D. has examined the records of Ottawa Lodge U.D. Illinois, and find the work to be in accordance with ancient usages and would therefore offer for consideration of the Grand Lodge, the following Resolution:
Resolved, that a Charter issue to Ottawa Lodge, No. 114, Ottawa, Ill.
Sep. 2, 1840.
Brother Stephens offered the following Resolution, which was read and adopted: Resolved, that the Grand Secretary furnish Ottawa Lodge No. 114. with her Charter, giving time to said Lodge to pay for the same -together with the remainder of the dues of said Lodge, at the present convocation; said amount to be forwarded to the Grand Secretary within sixty days from this time.
The meetings of the lodge were held on Thursday preceding the full moon.
Henry J. Reid, who lived on the Dayton road about two miles from Ottawa, rode horseback from Ottawa to Louisville, Kentucky to attend the Grand Lodge in August 1840. He returned with the charter which was dated September 1, 1840. The lodge started with a much larger membership than most others, having thirty-one members under the dispensation.
The Grand Lodge of Kentucky, September 1, 1841:
Resolved, That this Grand Lodge do absolve Ottawa Lodge No. 114 from all allegiance to this Grand Lodge, and with pleasure recommend said Lodge to the favorable care and protection of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Illinois; said Ottawa Lodge having conformned to all the regu- lations of this Grand Lodge while under its jurisdiction.
This lodge did not petition for admission to the Grand Lodge of Illinois, but in 1842 the Grand Master issued a dispensation for a lodge at Vermillionville, La Salle County, to Luther Woodward, Master, Andrew K. Patrick, Senior Warden, Junior Warden. Both were members of Ottawa Lodge.
The reason assigned for revoking the dispensation of Ottawa Lodge was
for having justly forfeited its being by non-use of its powers and a non-fulfillment of its duties.
Here ends the record of Ottawa Lodge. It was succeeded by Occi-
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dental Lodge No. 40 which has been successful and now has 643 members.
Juliet Lodge U.D.
Proceedings of Grand Lodge of Kentucky, August 21, 1840:
Brother Phillip Swigert, Grand Secretary, presented the petition of Sundry Brothers residing in the town of Juliet and State of Illinois praying for a dispensation to permit them to hold a lodge in said town- to work under the authority of this Grand Lodge.
The committee on Lodges U.D. reported:
Resolved, that this Grand Lodge consider the application of the brethren reasonable and that a dispensation issue, provided the usual customs are complied with by said brethren.
The committee also reported that they
find some part of their work very irregular, and portions of their by-laws in contravention of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. That to which your committee more particularly objects, is the violation of the old established usage of admitting candidates to the degrees without the necessary time of enquiry. In a great many instances this has been the case. In some cases the candidate has been received in about one week from the date of the petition, and some dozen brothers admitted on the same day of the presentation of the petition. This matter more particularly belongs to the committee on Returns, but it having been referred to this committee they deem it necessary to notice these innovations. In extenuation of this course, it is proper that the committee should inform this Grand Lodge that the brethren of Juliet Lodge U.D. have never received a copy of the Constitution or By-Laws of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.
Juliet Lodge U.D. ask to be dismissed from the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, and recommended to the Grand Lodge of Illinois, lately organized, and ask a specified time to pay the remainder of their dues. All this your committee deem reasonable. Under the circumstances and representations made to this Grand Lodge; they would recommend the adoption of the following resolution:
Resolved, That said Lodge (it being their desire), be dismissed from the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, so soon as they shall be received and acknowledged by the Grand Lodge of Illinois, to which Grand Lodge they are recommended by this Grand Lodge.
In 1841 Joliet Lodge U.D. presented a petition to the Grand Lodge of Illinois asking for a charter. The committee on petitions reported:
Resolved, That a Charter be granted to the members of Joliet Lodge, as soon as they shall comply with the 6th section of the By-Laws.
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The charter was issued as Juliet Lodge No. 10. After the close of the Grand Lodge in 1845 this charter was revoked and a dis- pensation issued for a new lodge to be known as "Mount Joliet Lodge."
Jacob Patrick was the first Master of Joliet Lodge. He was made a Mason in New York State in 1833, and soon after arrived in Joliet. He was instrumental in getting a petition for a dispensation signed and rode horseback to Lexington, Kentucky to present his petition and re- ceive the dispensation. William H. Zarley, who was Deputy Grand Master in 1831-32 was his grandson. The apron presented to Brother Patrick when he was raised is still in possession of the family.
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