USA > Illinois > The rise and progress of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1783-1952 > Part 16
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When the lodge participated in forming the Grand Lodge of Ne- braska in 1857 it reported twelve members. This was the first lodge in Nebraska Territory.
In 1853 Grand Master Ames issued a dispensation:
To R.W. Brother Daniel C. McNeill as Master, Bro. George A. Blakeslee as Senior Warden and Bro. George Bennett as Junior Warden, and the requisite number of additional brethren to form and open a travelling lodge across the plains to Oregon by the name of Pilgrim Lodge.
The Grand Master said in his annual report:
The dispensation granted to R.W. Bro. McNeill and others for Pil- gram Lodge was returned to me from Iowa - the sickness of the Master prevented him from journeying farther. Not getting out of the jurisdic- tion of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, they never used the dispensation granted them.
In 1865 Grand Master Turner reported:
I also granted a dispensation, on the twenty-eighth day of August, to the requisite number of brethren, to open a new lodge at Nevada City, in the Territory of Montana.
There is no further mention of this dispensation in the Illinois records.
Chapter 18 MILITARY LODGES
1862
To Brother W. D. Craig and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Ninth Regiment, Illinois Vol- unteers, by the name of Dick Oglesby Lodge.
To Brother Albion F. Taylor and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Fortieth Illinois Regiment by the name of Egyptian Military Lodge.
To Brother John N. Niglas and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Sixth Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, by the name of Governor Yates Military Lodge.
To Brother Silas C. Toler and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Sixtieth Illinois Regiment by the name of Douglas Military Lodge.
To Brother Edwin H. Smith and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Second Artillery Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, by the name of Halleck Military Lodge.
1863
To Brother Joseph Fogue and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Sixty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, to be named Justice Military Lodge.
To Brother W. W. Jackson and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Sixteenth Army Corps, to be named Metamora Lodge.
To Brother Stedman Hatch and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Sixteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, to be named Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer Regiment Lodge.
To Brother George Broad and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Forty-seventh Regiment, Ill- inois Volunteers, to be named William A. Thrush Military Lodge.
To Brother D. D. Irons and the requisite number of brethren to
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form and open a Military Lodge in the Eighty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, to be named Wallace Military Lodge.
To Brother W. S. Post and the requisite number of brethren to form and open a Military Lodge in the Eighty-first Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, to be named Union Lodge.
Most of these lodges did little or no work on account of the condi- tions under which they labored but there was one notable exception. This was Halleck Military Lodge, which was located at a division point where soldiers rested before going south and those on the way home rested a few days. This lodge was under the control of Silas O. Vaughn, not a soldier but connected with the Ordnance Department through his friend John A. Ladd who was Master of Transportation. The first officers of the lodge resigned and Brother Vaughn was sent by the Grand Master to take charge of the lodge. This information was fur- nished by his son, William Vaughn, who was at Columbus, Kentucky as a boy and saw the life there.
Halleck Military Lodge reported 145 initiated; 137 passed; 123 raised; nine rejected. In 1864 the lodge paid $63 in dues and asked to have the dispensation continued, which was granted. Brother Wil- liam Vaughn is responsible for a statement that his father told him that General U. S. Grant had been elected to receive the degrees and ar- rangements had been made to confer all three the same night but shortly before the date set he received an order to go south to Vicks- burg and never came back so the degrees were not conferred.
Another lodge whose record is lost was Justice Military Lodge which in 1864 paid $100 of dues. Evidently this lodge did consider- able work to account for the large remittance for dues.
In 1864 the Grand Secretary published a list of Illinois army officers and men who were Masons. It included five Major Generals, eight Brigadier Generals; one Inspector General of the Army of the Cumber- land; forty-one Colonels; forty-two Lieutenant Colonels; thirty-five Majors; three Paymasters; ten Chaplains; twenty-seven Quartermasters; 278 Captains; six Assistant Surgeons; six Adjutants; five Assistant Pay- masters; 264 Lieutenants; nine Hospital Stewards; one Sergeant Major; 135 Sergeants; two Color Bearers; one Ensign; four Musicians; twelve Corporals; 545 Privates; one Second Eng. of gun boat; one Pilot; one Lieutenant Commander; one Farrier; four Teamsters; one Forage Master; one Saddler; four Clerks; twenty-three whose positions were not given.
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Military Lodges
1864
Grand Master Turner issued dispensations for four military lodges: Washington, One hundred-second Regiment, Illinois Infantry; Fuller, Thirty-ninth Regiment, Illinois Infantry; Illinois Second Cavalry; Smith D'Atkins Ninety-second Regiment, Illinois Infantry.
In 1865 Grand Master Turner said:
Previous to my installation several dispensations had been granted, by my predecessor, to open Military Lodges in the army then in the field. I have never been fully informed as to the extent of the powers granted by these dispensations; but I suppose they did not confer any authority to invade foreign jurisdictions, and make Masons from the citizen soldiery of other States. In all the dispensations for military lodges granted by me, jurisdiction was limited to the single regiment of Illinois troops to which the dispensation was granted. I am led to believe that some of the military lodges, working under dispensation from our jurisdiction, have greatly abused their privileges and brought reproach upon our Order. Instead of confining their operations to Illi- nois regiments and troops exclusively, as they should have done, they made Masons indiscriminately from soldiers and citizens of other states, with very little regard for the kind of material used. Wisconsin, Minne- sota, Iowa, and Missouri have especial cause to complain in that respect.
Grand Masters of those jurisdictions called his attention to the fact that the military lodges were admitting members
whose characters wholly disqualified them from becoming Masons.
About that time the war ended and these lodges ceased to exist, "having done some good and much mischief." Grand Lodge adopted two resolutions regarding members made in military lodges:
Resolved, That all Masons made in Military Lodges, under dispen- sations from this Grand Lodge, should upon the best evidence that can be procured of that fact, be acknowledged and received as such, and, if found worthy, should become members of subordinate Lodges where they reside, and be advanced if incomplete.
That our sister Grand Lodges are fraternally requested to take into their charge such Masons within their jurisdiction as have been made under these dispensations, and if found worthy, incorporate them into the Fraternity where they reside.
The experience of Union Military Lodge was reported in the Ma- sonic Trowel on June 17, 1863:
Quarterly report of Union Military Lodge with 81st regiment.
Our Masonic book with everything taken on expedition to Baldwin, Miss. June 10th was captured. Records had been left with the books of Co. I, and they are, therefore, gone with them.
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Then follows a list of seventeen names made from memory.
In 1916 the Grand Master received some applications for dispensa- tions for military lodges but all were refused.
In 1862 Barrington Lodge No. 370 returned its charter because they were unable to hold meetings in consequence of enlistment of members in the army.
While the military lodges came in for severe criticism it is well to . mention something in their favor. Asboth Military Chapter was es- tablished at Columbus, Kentucky in connection with Halleck Military Lodge. What applies to one equally applies to the other. On October 24, 1863 the Grand High Priest, Hiram W. Hubbard visited Columbus to ascertain its condition. His report reads:
I went there strongly prejudiced against Military Lodges or Chap- ters; made the acquaintance of officers and members, examined their work and assisted in conferring degrees; and from the short acquaint- ance and general conduct of its members, the frequent rejection of pe- titions, I was forced to the conclusion that the interest and prosperity of the Royal Craft could be promoted in the armies of our country, as well as in our peaceful and quiet retreats at home. Most of their mem- bers are officers in the army and navy, some high in rank - and where, I ask, could they better spend their lesiure hours (surrounded as they are, with the vices and allurements which a soldier's life is heir to) than in that sacred retreat where there is not heard the sound of axe, hammer, or any tool of iron? Their hands are ever open; to them no worthy brother need apply in vain; they have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and bound up the wounds of the afflicted; they have performed the last sad office of laying in the grave the remains of some of those dear ones who were bravely fighting for our glorious stars and stripes, and the sprig of acacia marks their last resting place.
In July, 1872 the Grand Master reported:
I received from our representative near the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, M.W. Bro. Charles F. Stanbury, a package of papers, being the records of "Jusice Military Lodge" 66th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. Said Lodge worked under a dispensation from this juris- diction issued by M.W. F. M. Blair. These papers fell into the hands of Bro. Stanbury by mere accident. He immediately forwarded them to me, and remarked in his letter that the records may be of great value in determining the history of some of the brethren made therein.
The only reports of any of these lodges were made by the follow- ing: Governor Yates Military Lodge: initiated 46; passed 42; rejected 7; died 2. Wallace Military Lodge: initiated 16; passed 8; rejected 2; died 1. Metamora Military Lodge: initiated 8; passed 1; raised 1.
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Military Lodges
Halleck Military Lodge was reported above. The names of fifty-four members of this lodge are contained in the record of Asboth Military Chapter.
At the beginning of the war of 1917-18 the Grand Master was asked by several members for dispensations to form lodges in the military forces; some to act as regular lodges and perform all the functions of a lodge while others merely were to have special authority to meet so- cially and confer degrees when lodges requested such action. After consultation with Grand Masters in other jurisdictions the Grand Master decided the best way to handle such situations was to have members organize Masonic clubs for social purposes only. No dispen- sations were granted, the experience of the Civil War lodges having caused so much trouble by lodges exceeding their authority over petitions from other states.
Chapter 19 PEACE CELEBRATIONS
With the close of the Civil War there was general rejoicing over the cessation of hostilities. Grand Master Bromwell, in his address to the Grand Lodge in 1866, said:
As the voice of harmony comes to us from every jurisdiction, while in our own a signal degree of concord has taken the place of former di- visions and disturbances, I venture to suggest, respectfully, but earnestly, to this Grand Lodge that a day of special celebration in honor of re- conciliation and harmony be proclaimed throughout this jurisdiction, to be observed by the Grand Lodge and all subordinate lodges - gathered together by districts according to convenience - with appropriate cere- monies.
The Grand Lodge agreed to his recommendation, whereupon the Grand Master issued a proclamation setting aside St. John's Day, June 24, as the day for the celebrations, but this falling on Sunday caused the celebrations to be on the twenty-third. Many large celebrations were held where hundreds of Masons gathered at some central point for a day of good cheer and festivities. A long list of towns where such celebrations were held is recorded. Inspired by the success of these meetings Grand Master Gorin, the next year, called for similar St. John's Day celebrations; several were held but there was not as much interest as in the year before.
Perhaps the largest was at Ottawa where the home of every Mason and many store buildings were decorated with some Masonic emblem made of evergreen. At one corner of the public square was a broken column with a young girl standing before it; behind her was an aged man counting her hair. An abundance of food had been prepared and more than a thousand ate at the Masonic hall while other hundreds were entertained at private homes. In the afternoon there was a band concert and speaking; at night, a ball.
The end of the war brought prosperity in another way. That year the Grand Master issued dispensations for forty-eight new lodges.
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Chapter 20 GENERAL U. S. GRANT AND MASONRY
It will be noted that the General was prepared to receive the three degrees in one night from Halleck Military Lodge at Columbus, Ken- tucky but was prevented by military orders. Here is the account of his attempt to join at Galena as written by John C. Smith, Past Grand Master, a resident of Galena at the time.
In July 1865, the writer, who had also been absent from home, re- turned from the military service to Galena, and in August of the same year General Grant was publicly received by the citizens of Galena on his return home "by reason of the close of the war." Following this, and but a few days later, General Grant and a few friends went by steamer to Dubuque, Iowa, where the General was warmly welcomed by the citizens. On that excursion Jesse R. Grant and the writer were of the company. During much of the time going and returning, "Uncle Jesse" and myself were together, and the conversation was of the Gen- eral and Freemasonry. It was then that the General's father told me that he would like his son to become a member of the craft, and said "General Smith, I wish that you would present a petition for initiation into your lodge to Ulysses, for I know that he would like to become a mason." To this I said: "Uncle Jesse, I would not like to present a petition to the General, but I will get one and you can give to him, as he will take it more kindly from his father than he would from me." The father re- plied: "I don't think it would be right in me to do so, as I am his father. I would rather you should present it, as I know that he would like to become a member of your lodge." Such in substance, was the con- versation between us on the excursion to Dubuque, Iowa, in the autumn of 1865. This matter was the subject of conversation between the Gen- eral's father, his brother Orville and myself, at subsequent times.
Galena Commandery No. 40, Knights Templar, was instituted in 1871, with the writer as eminent Commander, General Grant, President of the United States, being then at home. At 9 o'clock p.m. a recess was taken, and by appointment with the writer, President Grant received the Sir Knights, who were fully uniformed, at the house of Mr. L. S. Felt, whose guest he then was. A pleasant hour was spent in conversation with General Grant, after which the Sir Knights returned to their asylum.
At that reception the subject of masonry and the General's favorable opinion of it was spoken of, and it was then agreed that at the first favor- able opportunity the General would sign a petition for initiation, and, if
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accepted, would become a member of Miners' Lodge No. 273, of which the writer was then the Master.
During the political contest for the President's re-election (1872) the General visited his home, in Galena, and the subject was again mentioned. At this time I had a conversation with Brother James A. Hawley (M.W. Grand Master) and informed him of General Grant's intention to petition my Lodge and that for reasons not necessary to men- tion I would like to have the Grand Master visit my Lodge at such time as I should name and exercise his prerogative of "making a Mason at sight" - that is, without his being subject to a ballot, M.W. Bro. Haw- ley said it would give him pleasure to do so. Brothers Dr. N. F. Prentice, Robert Little, Loyal L. Munn and others, of Freeport; Dr. Gen- eral Fred W. Byers of Lena, and other brethren along the line of the Illinois Central Railway, having expressed a desire to be present on such an occasion, and having learned that I could have a special train at any time on a few hours' notice to run from Dixon (the home of Grand Master Hawley) to Galena, I felt fully provided for the event. When the General next visited his home, preparations were made, when some affairs of state recalled him to Washington earlier than anticipated and there the matter dropped.
My own ill-health and subsequent removal from Galena to Chicago, prevented my ever making any further effort to bring about the accom- plishment of the most ardent wish or desire of "Uncle Jesse" R. Grant, the father of the General.
Chapter 21 EDUCATION
Education of Children
A resolution was adopted in 1844:
Resolved, That we esteem the "Masonic College of Missouri," re- cently established in Monroe, County, Missouri, by the Grand Lodge of that State, an institution worthy of our highest regard, and claiming our deep interest and solicitude for its success.
Resolved, That we recommend the attention of every brother of the Fraternity, and of the friends of education generally to the facility which the institution affords for the acquisition of a thorough education.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by this Grand Lodge to ascertain whether beneficiaries will be received into the institu- tion from this State, and also to recommend what further action, if any, shall be taken by the Grand Lodge of this State for the purpose of advancing the cause and facilitating the means of acquiring an edu- cation, and that said committee make their report to this Grand Lodge at the next Grand Annual Communication.
The delegate to the Grand Lodge of Missouri reported in 1847:
In compliance with your appointment hereto annexed, I attended the M.W. Grand Lodge of Missouri, held in St. Louis, on the 16th of March last, and as your proxy, in writing presented a request that said Grand Lodge should make such propositions, through me, to the Grand Lodge of Illinois, as they should deem proper, relative to the Grand Lodge of Illinois, acquiring by purchase an interest in the Masonic College of Missouri, and also requesting any communication said Grand Lodge might see fit to make on the subject of education. Shortly after presenting my communication, I deemed it proper to withdraw the same until the question, then pending, of the final location of said college, should be disposed of, fearing that an influence might be produced on that question not intended on my part.
The Grand Lodge located the college at Lexington.
From 1844 to 1847 the college was located at Philadelphia, Mis- souri, which is near Hannibal and convenient for Illinois students. With the removal to Lexington, which is in the western part of the
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State, the location of the school for Illinois students was not so con- venient.
After withdrawing the first communication another was presented in which he said:
The Grand Lodge of Illinois and the fraternity desire to co-operate with their brethren of Missouri, in any practicable measures consistent with the spirit of Masonry, and tending to the public good. He there- fore requests such action as your Grand Lodge deems proper to take, on the subject of establishing a Masonic and Educational Journal, jointly by the Grand Lodges of Missouri and Illinois.
He also suggests, that should your Most Worshipful Grand Lodge see fit to contribute by way of subscription to such journal, the Grand Lodge of Illinois, would in his opinion, provide means to establish the same at her next annual communication. He therefore takes the liberty of presenting the following resolution for such action as your M.W. Grand Lodge may take on the same, at the same time requesting any other action of your Most Worshipful Grand Lodge may feel disposed to take, relating to the subject matter of said resolution, or the subject of education.
Resolved, That should the Grand Lodge of Illinois appropriate the sum of one thousand dollars in money, to the establishment and support of a weekly, monthly or semi-monthly Masonic and educational journal, which shall be free to Masonic intelligence from the Grand Lodge of Missouri and the brethren, members of the several lodges in Missouri, and which shall be located and published at some point on the Missis- sippi River, in the State of Illinois, and which shall be devoted Ist, to Masonic intelligence; 2nd, to information and communications concern- ing the Masonic College of Missouri; 3rd, to general intelligence and literature; and 4thly, and principally, to the subject of common schools and common school education, and to the dissemination of intelligence, knowledge and information, the tendency and object of which shall be the establishment of an uniform and permanent system of common school education in the Western States by the people and several State Governments thereof; said journal to be issued at a price not exceeding $2 per annum; that in such case the Grand Lodge of Missouri will take - copies of the same for one year; half of the said subscription the said Grand Lodge will pay to the order of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, on the appearance of the first number of said journal, and the balance in six months thereafter; said - copies to be subject to the order of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, and to be distributed, sent, and disposed of in such manner as said Grand Lodge of Missouri shall direct.
1848. The committee was discharged and a new committee ap- pointed
to report a plan for three schools, one to be located at the place of holding the Supreme Courts of the State in each grand division, or
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Education
some other more suitable places; said plan to be prepared with reference to economy and the greatest amount of usefulness, and the teaching of such elementary branches only as are necessary to an English educa- tion.
This committee reported at great length, the salient points were:
A high school or college education would be uncalled for, but that a good academy would be all that is necessary.
The committee then recommended
that the grand lodge purchase a farm situated at some point con- tiguous to its place of meeting, containing not less than 150 nor more than 200 acres, the cost of which will be from $2,000 to $2,500 with good dwellings. Begin by having one large family house for the re- ception of family boarders. Employ a respectable man with family, to take charge of the entire concern and act as steward. Let it be his business to direct the management so that it shall sustain the school. Begin with a plain school house, sufficient to accommodate fifty scholars which will cost three to five hundred dollars. Employ at first a young man as teacher, who will board in the family and take charge of the school, who can be engaged at a salary of $300 per annum, including his board. The school to be at first devoted entirely to English studies.
For commencing an establishment of this kind an outlay of $2,500 will be necessary at the beginning. The yearly expense will be as follows:
For Steward and family $400.
For teacher 300.
For family stores 500.
For stationery etc. 100.
Showing an expenditure of $1,300.
Against this it is fair to conclude that there may be realized as follows:
Say hay produced on fifty acres of ground, 100 tons,
which in case the establishment is properly located
will be worth $4 per ton.
$400.
For fruit produced on premises
100.
For paying students
300.
$800.
From which deduct expenses for field labor, &c.,
one man the entire year, and another six months in the year $225.
$575.
Which, against the annual expenses of $1,300, leaves $725 to be raised by the Grand Lodge,
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Your committee are persuaded that a school established on this plan, and properly conducted, would in a few years support itself.
Your committee would further recommend that a Female School be opened at a place to be designated by the Grand Lodge.
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