USA > Illinois > The rise and progress of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1783-1952 > Part 13
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Chapter 11 MORMON LODGES
A dispensation was issued on October 15, 1841 to George Miller, Worshipful Master, John D. Parker, Senior Warden and L. N. Scovill, Junior Warden to form a new lodge in the city of Nauvoo, county of Hancock, Illinois.
In the journal of Joseph Smith, under date of March 15, 1842 he said:
I officiated as Grand Chaplain at the installation of the Nauvoo Lodge of Freemasons at the Grove near the Temple. Grand Master Jonas, of Columbus, being present, a large number of people assembled for the occasion. The day was exceedingly fine; all things were done in order. In the evening I received the first degree in Freemasonry in Nauvoo Lodge, assembled in my general business office.
The following day, he wrote:
I was with the Masonic Lodge and rose to the sublime degrec.
On May 2 a letter was received by Bodley Lodge from Nauvoo:
Inviting Bodley Lodge to participate with them in celebrating the anniversary of St. John, the 24th of June; and on motion it was resolved that the Secretary be directed to answer the communication declining to accept the invitation, on account of the great distance, and of our pecuniary exigence, and that the Secretary also say in his letter, that Bodley Lodge regrets that anything extraneous from pure Masonry, should be coupled with this communication, it having been throughout all ages, the peculiar characteristic of Masonry, that she has sent forth her pure flame of living light, before the world, uncontaminated by political doings, and untinged by religious distinctions.
On July 15 Bodley Lodge held a special meeting to consider charges against Nauvoo Lodge:
Whereas, it has come to the knowledge of Bodley Lodge, No. 1, Quincy, from sources of information which cannot be doubted, That Nauvoo Lodge U.D. have, since the granting of their dispensation, con- ducted in a manner unMasonic, and highly dangerous and injurious to
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our beloved institution, to subvert and destroy the great, good, and beneficial influence of Masonic principles; therefore
Resolved, That the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of this State, be requested and is hereby requested, to suspend the authority which has been granted the Nauvoo Lodge by the Grand Master of this State, without delay, and continue said suspension until the Grand Lodge of this State take the subject of said charges into consideration and dis- pose of the same in such manner as they shall deem essential to the ends of justice, and the welfare and prosperity of the institution of Masonry.
This was unanimously adopted together with another resolution reading:
Resolved, That Bodley Lodge No. 1, of Quincy, request of the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, that a committee be appointed at the next meeting of said Lodge, to make inquiry into the manner the officers of Nauvoo Lodge U.D., were installed by the Grand Master of this State, and by what authority the Grand Master initiated, passed and raised Messers Smith and Rigdon to the degree of Entered Appren- tice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason, at one and the same time, and that the proceedings of the committee be reported for the benefit of this Lodge.
From the statement made above it is plain that Joseph Smith acted as Grand Chaplain before he was a Mason. The resolution of Bodley Lodge had the desired effect and the Grand Master suspended work of Nauvoo Lodge on August 11. In nearly five months that lodge initiated 256 candidates and raised 243. A special committee was ap- pointed to visit Nauvoo and inspect the records and work. The com- mittee recommended that the lodge be permitted to resume labor. They did so much work that it became necessary to establish two more lodges in Nauvoo-Nye and Helm. A dispensation was issued for a lodge in Montrose, Iowa in 1842. This was chartered as Rising Sun No. 12. Another dispensation was issued for a lodge at Keokuk, Iowa. But complaints continued to be made. The lodges balloted upon several petitions collectively and conferred all the degrees on the same day that candidates were elected.
The committee was refused access to the minutes and, after a thorough discussion, the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That the charter of Rising Sun Lodge No. 12, be sus- pended, and that the Master and Wardens be cited to appear at the next Grand Annual Communication of this Lodge, to show cause, if they have any, why their charter should not be revoked.
Resolved, That in the opinion of this Grand Lodge, it is inexpedient and prejudicial to the interests of Freemasonry, longer to sustain a lodge
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in Nauvoo, and the disrespect and contempt that Nauvoo Lodge and Helm Lodge have shown in refusing to present the records of their Work to the Grand Lodge.
Resolved, That their dispensations be and they are hereby revoked and charters refused.
Resolved, That for irregular work and disregard of the resolutions and instructions of this Grand Lodge, the dispensation of Keokuk Lodge and Nye Lodge are hereby revoked and charters refused.
To further protect legitimate Masonry from these clandestine mem- bers, the special committee on Grand Lodge certificates reported:
1st Resolved, That this M.W. Grand Lodge recommend to the subordinate lodges working under her jurisdiction, that they acknowl- edge no certificates presented by strange brethren, but such as have emi- nated from the respective Grand Lodges from which they hail; and further that they admit no strange brethren within their Charities or Visitors but such as present certificates as above.
2nd Resolved, That this R.W. Grand Lodge request other Grand and Subordinate Lodges throughout the Globe to pay no attention to Certificates purporting to come from subordinate lodges working under this Grand Lodge, nor permit any Mason hailing from under their juris- diction, to visit their lodges or partake of their Charities, unless they present a certificate from this Grand Lodge, signed by M.W. Grand Master and attested by the Grand Secretary, and the seal of the Grand Lodge.
3rd Resolved, That the Grand Secretary be directed to furnish sub- ordinate lodges with a sufficient number of Blank Certificates as soon as practicable, that the subordinate lodges may be prepared to furnish their members without delay.
4th Resolved, That the Secretaries of the subordinate lodges work- ing under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, be required to register the names of those to whom certificates may be issued, and report same in their annual returns to this Grand Lodge.
This was evidently to prevent members of the Mormon lodges from gaining admission to regular lodges.
The Mormon lodges paid no attention to the order declaring them clandestine but continued to work, as will be seen by the report of Bodley Lodge:
Resolved, That the Secretary be instructed to inform the Grand Master of this State that the Nauvoo, Keokuk and other Lodges in and about Nauvoo continue to work, and they have given notice in a public paper of their intention to consecrate their Masonic Hall, on the 5th inst., and that the said Masons pretend not to be in possession of official notice that they were deprived of their charter and dispensation.
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The notice of the forthcoming dedication of the Masonic Hall was published in the Nauvoo Neighbor on March 13, 1844 and following dates until April 5.
Masonic Notice.
The Officers and brethren of Nauvoo Lodge would hereby make known to the Masonic world that they have fixed on Friday the 5th day of April, for the dedication of their Masonic Hall, to take place at 1 o'clock P.M. All worthy brethren of the Fraternity who feel interested in the cause, are requested to participate with us in the ceremonies of dedication. Done by order of the Lodge, Wm. Clayton, Secretary, March 13th, 1844.
In the "History of the Church" Joseph Smith said that he attended the ceremonies, that about 550 Masons from various parts of the world were present and took part in a procession that was formed, accom- panied by the Nauvoo brass band, that the exercises were in charge of Hyram Smith, Worshipful Master, that the principal address of the occasion was delivered by Apostle Erastus Snow, that he, Joseph Smith, and Dr. Goforth also addressed the assembly, and that all visit- ing Masons were given dinner in the Masonic Hall at the expense of Nauvoo Lodge.
An after effect of the dedication was the trial and convicition of a member of St. Clair Lodge for marching in the procession. The charge was
Holding Masonic communion with clandestine Masons, which fact is received from Bro. --- 's letter to Bro. Helm of Springfield and to G. S. at Jacksonville.
His letter reads:
With the Masons of Nauvoo I associated in procession ( not in work ) attended their dedication ceremonies of the Masonic Hall of Nauvoo as a Mason.
The lodge held it was not a Masonic procession unless the lodge had been previously opened.
If the above reasoning is correct, and we think it is, then it follows that Bro. --- associated with those individuals in their Lodge capacity, and of course involved himself in their pretended Masonic labor, of whatsoever character it was, and also by his presence and association gave countenance to their illegal and contumelious operations.
After a long report in which his action is clearly stated and shown to have been illegal, the report ended by saying:
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The committee do not wish to indulge in mere conjecture, but it does scem that Bro. --- was determined to participate in the Nauvoo display, though he should do it in contravention of the usages of Ma- sonry, if so he could not escape the expressed condemnation of the Order. We think it is evident from the fact that he stated to several before he left Belleville that he proposed going to Nauvoo to participate in the dedi- cation of the Masonic Hall erecting there, and also from the fact that he took his Masonic regalia with him for the occasion. Your committee are aware that no good end would be answered by inflicting punishment upon an individual who had acted innocently or ignorantly in the prem- ises, yet where there is a flagrant violation of the principles of the insti- tution, it should be met with rigor and severity. We feel, from the facts which have been stated, that Bro. --- acted knowingly in the case, and most wilfully violated Ancient Masonic usage. In view of the above, your committee feel it their duty to offer the following resolutions:
Ist Resolved, That Bro. --- , by participating with the Nauvoo Lodge, in procession &c., treated the authorities of the G. Lodge with contempt and violated an ancient established principle of the Fraternity.
2nd Resolved, That as Bro. --- has acted unmasonically as is shown, by the above report, and expressed in the resolution preceeding this, the Lodge deal with him according to Masonic usages in the Fra- ternity.
Dated June 14, 1844
C. B. Y. Taylor G. W. Hook J. Mace
committee.
The sentence as passed, was then carried into execution.
As late as 1848 the Grand Master received letters from individuals who joined the Mormon lodges asking about their status. In one case the individual joined before the sentence of suspension was issued; in others the writer was told to present his case to his local lodge for such action as they desired to take.
In 1845 the legislature cancelled the charter of the city of Nauvoo and the Mormons then began preparations to leave the state. The Grand Lodge had no further trouble with them.
Chapter 12 RITUAL
In 1843 Grand Master Helm said concerning the Baltimore Con- vention:
It is regretted that owing to the comparatively recent organization of this Grand Lodge, and our consequent inability to spare sufficient funds for that purpose we were unrepresented in that Convention. We should not hesitate, however, to avail ourselves as far as possible, of the benefits to accrue from their valuable labors; particularly such as were directed to the establishing of a uniform mode of work. In no State, perhaps, is some authoritative standard and exposition of the Lectures and Work more needed than in this. Coming as we do from all parts of the United States and of Europe, each bringing with him his pe- culiarity of mode, and a strong predilection in favor of that mode to which he has been accustomed, we necessarily differ among ourselves in many things unessential, but in some things materially. Even when these differences are not essential, and refer only to the most trifling minutia, the beauty, regularity and harmony of the work are marred, and its facility impeded by the want of uniformity, an inconvenience which will continue to be seen and felt until the defect, slight though it be, shall be remedied. I would, therefore, respectfully recommend that you ap- point at your present session a Grand Lecturer, whose duty it shall be as soon after this convocation as may be, to proceed, at the expense of this Grand Lodge to St. Louis, to confer with the delegates from Missouri to the Baltimore Convention, to become thoroughly instructed by them in the lectures and work as adopted by said Convention, and report the same to this Grand Lodge at its next annual convocation, for their approval or rejection.
Levi Lusk was elected Grand Lecturer and a resolution adopted authorizing him to go to St. Louis at the expense of the Grand Lodge and perfect himself in the ritual as above mentioned.
The next year Brother Lusk reported that he had carried out the instructions received and had met with Brothers Carnegy and Foster, had obtained the lectures and was now ready to report at the conven- ience of the Grand Lodge. No report appears to have been made that year but in 1845 we find that Brothers Walker and Stuart were in- vited to rehearse the lectures on the first three degrees in Masonry.
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The brethren named did rehearse the lectures on the first and second degrees but lack of time prevented the rehearsal of the third degree lecture. Their lectures were unanimously approved by the delegates.
No funds were appropriated for the Grand Lecturer as he was only required to visit such lodges as sent for him. Grand Lecturers con- tinued to be appointed but were confined to such lodges as desired their assistance. In 1858 Grand Master Dills divided the state into three districts with a grand lecturer in charge of each and Levi Lusk as Grand Lecturer at large.
The first intimation of the impending storm over the ritual was in 1860 when a resolution was introduced reading:
Resolved, That section 33 of the By-Laws of this Grand Lodge be amended by adding the words:
And the work known as the Webb-Preston work, promulgated by Bros. Samuel Willson and Phillip C. Tucker of Vermont, and Bro. Rob. Morris, of Kentucky, is hereby recognized as the original and only work of this jurisdiction, and this Grand Lodge hereby affirms it in every particular as binding upon its subordinate Lodges.
The resolution was not adopted but the effect would have been to declare the work of the Conservators' Association the Illinois work. This question caused serious trouble and almost split the Grand Lodge.
The history of the Conservators' Association will be treated in a separate chapter. In 1862 Grand Master Blair divided the state into seventeen districts with a Grand Lecturer in charge of each and Harmon G. Reynolds as Grand Lecturer at large. A resolution was adopted unanimously reading:
Resolved, That this Grand Lodge has never, either directly or in- directly, authorized the publication of any part of the Work, or pre- tended Key to the same; and that the publication and dispensation of the Work in this form, or of the use of Cypher, meets with the con- demnation of this Grand Lodge, and therefore is contrary to our obli- gations as Masons.
In 1863 a bitter contest was fought in Grand Lodge and the Con- servators' Association outlawed. Grand Master Turner issued an order declaring
The manner of opening and closing a Lodge as taught by Bro. Morris and the leading Brethren who taught his Work, is strictly and positively forbidden. Let there be no more calling from labor to refresh- ment in opening up or closing down. Let there be no joining of hands in opening or closing either the second or third degrees. Masters and
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Wardens may exceed the standard opening in no way whatever, except in extending the lectures, which they have a right to do.
Let there be no further lecturing of candidates when taking degrees in Lodge, by questions and answers, but let the lectures be given in a clear and narrative form.
I expect every Master and every Warden upon receiving this ad- dress to conform at once to the above orders and edicts; a failure to do so will probably result in the closing of their lodge until the next Grand Communication.
The next year two Masters were cited to appear and explain why they refused to abide by the edict of the Grand Master. The result was that it was
Resolved, That Bro. Joseph Robbins W.M. of Quincy Lodge No. 296, be suspended from all the rights and benefits of Freemasonry for the period of twelve months, for contumacy, and disobedience of the resolutions of this Grand Lodge, and the lawful edict of the Grand Master; and that Quincy Lodge No. 296 be ordered strictly to con- form to said resolution and edict; and that, in case of persistence in disobedience, the Grand Master be directed to demand their charter and records.
In the afternoon, by unanimous consent, Brother Joseph Robbins appeared in the presence of the Grand Lodge and made suitable ex- planations and acknowledgement; whereupon, on motion of Past Grand Master Turner, all the portion of the resolution which relates to punishment to be inflicted upon Brother Robbins was stricken out. But the case of James C. Luckey was different. The report on his case was:
Bro. James C. Luckey, W.M. of Mystic Tie Lodge No. 187, having in writing, refused to comply with the resolutions of this Grand Lodge and the lawful edict of the Grand Master, is hereby expelled from all the rights, benefits and privileges of Masonry. The M.W. Grand Master is directed to call upon Mystic Tie Lodge No. 187, for the charter, jewels and other records; and in case the said Lodge shall not, within fifteen days thereafter, deliver the same to the Grand Master, or his Deupty, by him appointed, the said Grand Master is directed to declare said Mystic Tie Lodge No. 187 a clandestine Lodge, and all Masons adher- ing to said Lodge, clandestine Masons.
Brother Luckey was not present at Grand Lodge, neither was his lodge represented. The following year Brother Luckey requested a hearing on the penalty inflicted upon him at the preceding session and the committee report was:
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In regard to the communication of James C. Luckey your com- mittee report that they have had the same under consideration, and after mature deliberation, having heard his personal explanation of his whole course and his utter disavowal and denial of any refractory dis- position or intentional wrong or contempt towards the M.W. Grand Lodge or any of its officers, recommend that no further proceedings be had in his case, but that he be recognized as fully restored to all the rights and privileges of Masonry.
The report was adopted and all trouble over unauthorized ritual ceased.
Further progress was made in ritualistic proficiency by the adop- tion of the following resolution in 1869:
Resolved, That a Board of four Examiners, to be nominated by the Most Worshipful Grand Master and confirmed by the Grand Lodge, be appointed, who, with the Grand Master, shall critically examine all applicants for commissions as Grand Lecturers, and appoint none who are not thoroughly conversant with the work of this State.
The Grand Master appointed M. D. Chamberlain, T. J. Wade, and T. J. Prickett as Overseers of the Work. This proved satisfactory for several years and ritualistic matters moved along without objection. In 1870 two meetings of a "Grand Lodge of Instruction" were held. Both were highly successful and much interest was manifest. In speak- ing of the school at Odin many years afterwards, Brother Barnard, one of the Grand Examiners, said all they tried to teach was the unwritten work and some floor movements; that Masters were permitted to use any standard monitor. In 1877 when Joseph Robbins was Grand Master no schools were held. His argument for not holding them was:
No schools of instruction have been held by the Grand Examiners during the year, as I could see no warrant in equity for requiring or per- mitting it at the expense of the Grand Lodge, whereby the lodges who have perfected themselves in the work at their own expense, are further taxed for the benefit of those who make no effort for proficiency. Nor is it in my judgment either just or desirable that anything which tends to keep an authoritative knowledge of the work within a close corpora- tion should be encouraged. Such a knowledge is the birthright of every lodge and every Mason; and while retaining, in the exercise of my constitutional authority, the Board of Examiners as a standard of ref- erence, and for assistance in determining the competency of those desir- ing to teach, I do not favor a course that shall tend to give the Board what I am sure none of its members desire, - a monopoly of teaching. I have, therefore, in response to inquiries on the subject, uniformly said that I should be glad, on the recommendation of any one of its members
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in each case, to give authority to teach, to a sufficient number of compe- tent brethren to place a correct knowledge of the work within easy and economical reach of every portion of the jurisdiction.
In 1878 and 1879 Grand Master Gurney did not call any schools but Charles F. Tenney held a school at Bement at his own expense in 1880.
As time went on there was a demand for a standard ritual ap- proved by the Grand Lodge, one that could not be changed except by action of the Grand Lodge. Grand Master D. D. Darrah appointed a special committee of nine members with himself as chairman to con- sider and report at the session of 1913. The changes were exemplified at the schools. The committee recommended that
The ritual or "work" as thus exemplified at said schools of instruc- tion be adopted and established as the ritual or "work" of this Grand Jurisdiction, and that the same shall be subject to change hereafter only by formal affirmative action of the Grand Lodge by two-thirds vote at an annual meeting.
The report was adopted and all doubt about a correct ritual was ended.
In 1913 a committee was appointed to prepare suitable vocal music for use in conferring degrees. This committee reported in 1914 and the list of songs is part of the report. The committee recommended that if vocal music be used that the words above mentioned should be sung with suitable musical setting. Also, that any other set of words appropriate may be used if approved by the Grand Master; that the Grand Lodge publish the report and supply copies to lodges at cost of publication.
The committee also recommended that a suitable musical service be prepared for instituting and constituting lodges, cornerstone lay- ings, dedications, installations and funeral services; these arrangements to be used in conjunction with the Book of Ceremonials.
During the early days of ritualistic instruction Masters were per- mitted to use any standard monitor that suited them. However, as ritualistic perfection increased it was seen that many monitors did not fit into the Illinois work. Therefore Edward Cook prepared a monitor which was adopted as the standard monitor of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Brother Cook had his monitor copyrighted and received a commission on all sales. Brother Cook died in 1915. The Grand Lodge then decided to take over the publication of the monitor and offered to buy the plates and rights from the publishing house that controlled
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them but was unable to secure the plates. In addition to handling the monitor the publisher sold cypher rituals. Complaints were made that when members wrote for monitors they would be offered a cypher ritual. To dispose of this source of trouble the Grand Lodge deter- mined to print its own monitor. The issue of the monitor of 1876 was free from all copyright protection. This edition the committee took as a basis for writing a new monitor. A few slight changes were made and the committee recommended its adoption, that the monitor be copyrighted by the Grand Lodge and that the printing and distribu- tion be under the control of the Grand Lodge. The complete text of the official monitor was published in the proceedings of 1916. After years of dispute about ritual from 1845 to 1916 the question was finally settled and today no change can be made in wording without formal action by the Grand Lodge.
From the first meeting of a lodge in Illinois Masters-elect have been required to take the degree of Past Master before being eligible to have the title of Past Master. This was a general custom in all states. In 1847 (Grand Lodge proceedings page 397) we read:
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