USA > Illinois > The rise and progress of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1783-1952 > Part 22
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Chicago Council, Princes of Jerusalem, 16°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, presented to the Association the crockery, tableware, and banquet furniture formerly used by the Council.
The following resolution appears on the minutes of the meeting of October 29, 1886:
Whereas the ladies whose names are embodied in the following resolution did in the year 1885 prepare by their own hands a beauti- fully embroidered Slumber Quilt, which being disposed of by raffle
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March 17, 1885, realizing thereby the sum of $612.40, which sum was donated to the Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home, being the first money that was received by the said organization, and was, in fact, the chief incentive to its organization, therefore, Resolved that the Mesdames George M. Moulton, Jno. J. Badenoch, G. B. Coffin, J. A. Crawford, T. E. Miller, Jno. Woodman, P. M. Bristol, D. H. McDaneld, W. C. Lyman, J. S. Zimmerman, G. W. Marbel, J. E. Dickerson, P. Button, Miss Jessie A. Button, and Miss Grace L. Freeman be elected the first honorary members of this Association in recognition of their charitable efforts and the ultimate good that has resulted thereby.
By a somewhat similar resolution Mr. and Mrs. Martin Losby, who donated the quilt to the Home, were elected to honorary membership in the Association.
The quilt referred to is displayed today, appropriately framed and inscribed, in a prominent location in the Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home, and all who visit the Home are told of its history.
For more than twenty years the Home grew, both in the number of children in its care and in the esteem and interest of the brethren. By 1895 it had become necessary to build an addition to the Home to care for the growing number of children. This building cost some- where about $21,000 with its furnishings, and was in fact a new home, the original building being used thereafter as an annex to house the hospital, library, storeroom, and employees' rooms.
The first superintendent and matron, Brother and Mrs. E. N. Ed- wards, resigned after some six months of service and were replaced by Brother and Mrs. J. G. Stebbins, who for more than two decades were in charge of the Home. The most difficult problem facing the Trustees throughout all this period was that of enlisting the financial support necessary to meet an annually increasing budget, for while there were only four children in the Home the first year it was opened, the popu- lation increased steadily until there were more than sixty children under its roof at one time. Difficult as was this financial problem, it was met and met splendidly. Annual memberships, life memberships, an annual Knights Templar charity ball, picnics, donations from the Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter and other bodies and individuals, and a few bequests, brought in funds sufficient not only to care for the children in the Home, but to make necessary repairs and additions to the buildings. A finer acceptance of financial responsibility, and a more successful fulfilling of that responsibility by a voluntary Board of Trustees would be difficult to discover.
During the early years of the Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home there
The Old Home became the annex when this building ( right ) was added.
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was growing among the members of the Lodges the feeling that there should be as definite a plan for the care of the aged brethren and their wives and widows as had been established for the orphans. In fact the question was under discussion twenty years before the orphans' home was founded. Grand Master Thomas J. Turner, in 1865, recom- mended that "steps be taken to found an asylum for aged, decrepit and decayed Masons," but his recommendation was not followed.
In 1901 a special committee was appointed by Grand Master Chas. H. Hitchcock to study and report upon the bequest and to this com- mittee was referred the following momentous resolution proposed by Worshipful Brother Ralph H. Wheeler:
WHEREAS, The organized Masonic charities of the Jurisdiction of Illinois are now conducted wholly under private auspices and indepen- dent of Grand Lodge control or supervision, and
WHEREAS, It is highly desirable that said Masonic charities should be officially controlled and maintained by the Grand Lodge and under its immediate supervision; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Grand Lodge of Illinois, A.F. & A.M., upon a proper transfer to it of all the property and effects of the Illinois Ma- sonic Orphans' Home and the Illinois Masonic Home for the Aged, will accept the trust of both these institutions and make suitable provisions for their maintenance.
A period of rapid growth and development followed for both Homes after they had been taken over by the Grand Lodge. It soon became evident that the Home at Carroll Avenue and Sheldon Street would not be large enough, nor was it designed for the increasing number of children in its care; so it was decided to sell the original home and use the proceeds for the purchase of a new site and the erection of a new building.
In 1909 the Grand Lodge approved the action of the special com- mittee which had been authorized to select and purchase a site for the new Orphans' Home. The committee had secured for $11,000 a tract of land comprising nearly four acres in the southeast part of the village of LaGrange, some fourteen miles from downtown Chicago.
The building operations were begun and carried on with remark- able dispatch, and the cornerstone was laid with Masonic honors by Grand Master Albert B. Ashley, who convened an Occasional Grand Lodge for that purpose on April 30, 1910. In the words of the annual report made in October, 1910, to the Grand Lodge,
The weather conditions were unpropitious, but in every other respect this historic event was conducted to a successful conclusion amid general
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rejoicing and with glad acclaim. With a silver trowel specially made and suitably inscribed for the use of the M.W. Grand Master the cement was spread whereby the chief stone of the corner found a secure and lasting resting place, marking the climax of more than twenty-five years of constant endeavor to provide a permanent Masonic Home for the orphan children of our deceased brethren whom fate would otherwise cast adrift on the troubled sea of life.
On March 15, 1911, 78 children said their last good-bye to their home at 23 Bishop Court and took up their residence in their beautiful new Home on South Ninth Avenue and Goodman Avenue, LaGrange.
Finally, on St. John's Day, June 24, 1911, with stirring music by several Commandery bands, a great parade of Masons from all over Cook County, including Oriental Consistory 32°, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Commanderies of Knights Templar, Councils of Royal and Select Masters, Chapters of Royal Arch Masons and a host of Lodges of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the home was appro- priately and impressively dedicated by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, and Grand Master Albert B. Ashley. Brother William White Wilson was Right Worshipful Grand Orator and Brother H. V. Holt acted as Grand Chaplain.
Almost immediately upon the locating of the Home in LaGrange there arose a problem in connection with the education of the children. LaGrange was a village with a population of under six thousand, and it seemed to the taxpayers scarcely just to require them to pay for the education in the public schools of a large and growing group of child- ren brought to the Village from all parts of the State of Illinois. The trustees of the Home and the Board of Education not being able to reach a satisfactory agreement, the courts were turned to for a solution of the problem. The decision was entirely in favor of the Illinois Ma- sonic Orphans' Home, the court holding that all children are entitled to a public school education in the district where they live.
The Grand Lodge having proved its right to use the city public schools gave the school board $6,000 to assist it in paying the expenses of the education of the children. This was continued until 1929 when the legislature provided for the payment from state school funds.
The number of children under care in LaGrange grew year by year from 78 in 1911 to 314 in 1931, and the original building was soon filled practically to capacity. In 1919 the Grand Lodge authorized the erec- tion of two dormitories to adjoin the main building as wings on the north and south, and a boiler room on the east end of the property connected with the main building by a tunnel, all for the sum of
A recent picture of the Home at LaGrange showing the north and south wings and Hospital additions.
1
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$250,000. Adjoining the south dormitory and a part of that building, a hospital was erected which was made possible by the bequest of Brother John H. Millen, amounting to $32,406.75. Oriental Consistory, 32° Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret donated $16,000 at this time for the purchase of additional land adjoining the Home property, and three years later the entire block south of the Home was added through the generous donation of $20,000 by Medinah Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S. In 1927 another wing was added at a cost of approximately $100,000, providing living rooms and sleeping accommodations for three groups of younger boys as well as quarters for several employees. There were several other smaller additions during these years of expansion such as the concrete wading pool and pavilion presented by the Grand Chapter of Illinois, Royal Arch Masons, additions to the boiler room, a small brick building for manual training shop, garden implements and garage, and a 100 ton coal storage silo with a spur from the Indiana Harbor Belt Railway.
Altogether the property of the Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home represents a total investment in land and buildings of over $580,000. Today the appraised replacement value of the buildings and equip- ment is $1,645,878.77.
The Village of LaGrange most generously vacated parts of two streets which ran through the property of the Home.
The number of children in the Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home which had been steadily increasing from the very beginning, after reaching a peak of 314 in 1931, started to decrease. Each year there- after for fourteen years more children graduated, or were removed from the Home for other reasons, than entered the Home until in 1945 only 52 remained. Then the trend turned upward again. The number under care on March 1, 1950 was 103.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Benjamin E. Patton President
James Green . Vice-President
Arthur I. Peters . Treasurer
Richard C. Davenport Secretary
Carrol T. Hughes
Milton T. Sonntag
THE ILLINOIS MASONIC ORPHANS' HOME LaGrange, Illinois
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THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
Harry H. Talcott Chairman
Carl B. Dunlap . Treasurer
Siegel C. Oxford Secretary
Robert J. Daly Chairman Emeritus
Fred S. Lynn Superintendent
The Illinois Masonic Home
In 1888 Brother Robert A. Miller of Sullivan Lodge No. 764, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons, provided in his will, that, at his death and the death of his wife, his farm of 264 acres should go to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois to be used as a site for a home for needy, worthy Master Masons, their wives and widows. In 1891 Brother Miller passed to his reward and ten years later Mrs. Miller answered the summons. The will was then probated and the Grand Lodge accepted the farm.
In 1903 the cornerstone for the first building, now known as the Men's Building, was laid, and in 1904 this building was dedicated and the first members were admitted. Thus the beginning of what we know as the Illinois Masonic Home.
All the facilities of the Home were contained in the first building, the heating plant, light and water system, laundry, kitchen and dining room, office, reception rooms and superintendent's quarters.
It did not take long to find that this was inadequate, and in 1907 the cornerstone was laid for the second building, now known as the Administration Building. In this building the first floor was used for offices, dining room, kitchen and the superintendent's quarters and the second floor was used for living quarters. In the basement of this building was the first provision for hospital care of our members. At the same time the present heating plant and power house was erected.
In 1914 the cornerstone of the Royal Arch Memorial Hospital was laid and thus, through the generosity of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, was provided a modern hospital or infirmary with a capacity of fifty beds for the benefit of members of the Home. The hospital was dedi- cated on July 5, 1915, and this was probably the red-letter day in the history of the Home, as it was estimated that more than five thousand Masons visited the Home on that day.
In 1917 the cornerstone for the fourth building, the Ladies' Build- ing, was laid. This was completed and occupied in 1918.
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Men's Building
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Administration Building
Women's Building ILLINOIS MASONIC HOME, SULLIVAN
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In 1925, again through the generosity of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, the forty-bed annex and auditorium was started and was completed and dedicated in 1926, bringing our hospital facilities to ninety beds. However, having no other facilities for nurses' quarters, we are compelled to use eleven of these for their quarters.
Soon after the erection of the Royal Arch Memorial Hospital our neighbor on the East and brother-in-law of Brother Miller, Edwin C. Swain, seeing the good that was being done, decided that he would like to contribute his farm of 200 acres to the cause. Not being a member of the Craft he made his wishes known to Brother William Irving Shuman and through him the transaction was completed and in due time the 200 acres was transferred to the Grand Lodge, making the 464 acres of land on which is located the Illinois Masonic Home.
The Home represents an investment of well over a million dollars and consists of the five main buildings, three of which we call the Home and two the Hospital, with the heating plant, water plant, garage and a greenhouse which was given by Medinah Temple of Chicago, as well as the well-improved farm buildings for dairy and stock raising and farming.
These are the material things of life and of the world and are seen and admired by all who pass this way, but back of all this and hidden from the eyes of many who pass, is that which makes it all worth while, service to mankind. In youth and in age we face a world that many times seems cold and cruel, but in youth we have the vim, vigor and will to fight, whereas in age these are lacking because it has been a long, hard battle well-fought. In youth it is words of encouragement that buoy us up and keep us going, but in age it is words of kindness and sympathy and a hand to steady our step, that makes the burden a little lighter and our day brighter at the close of the fight.
Since the opening of the Home, and the first guest was admitted in 1904, there have passed this way some 1,635 Brethren, their wives and widows. During that time and among that number there may have been some who did not appreciate the services that were theirs, but they were few. Our guests have come from all stations of life and from all parts of the world and by having passed this way, by far the majority have enjoyed a longer life, fuller and more pleasant years than would have otherwise been their lot. The length of their sojourn here has varied from a few days to many years, the longest stay being that of Mrs. Elizabeth Weddle, of Pana Lodge No. 266, Pana, Illinois, who lived in the Home for 35 years and 6 days.
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Application No. 1 was filed by Louisville Lodge No. 196, Louisville, Illinois, for Mrs. Elizabeth Locke Cunningham. However, she was not the first arrival at the Home. Brother Henry Ryan Fuller of Kish- waukee Lodge No. 402, Kingston, Illinois, arrived December 1, 1904, and may have been the first member, and it is noted on his application that he was eleven times elected Worshipful Master of his lodge.
To give you some idea of the things that are done and the ser- vice rendered, recently one member was called to his reward. He arrived there February 8, 1924, and passed away January 17, 1948, lacking a few days of twenty-four years; nineteen years of this was spent in the hospital where someone fed him every bite he ate or held the glass for him to take a drink of water, yet through all this, no matter how small the deed that was done, he always had a thank-you for your kindness, always having a good word to his Brethren and for mankind. This is only one among many that could be mentioned, but this we hope will give some idea of what the Masonic fraternity is doing.
The Ward Museum
During recent years an annual pilgrimage has been made to the Home for a basket lunch and inspection of the buildings and grounds and visits with the residents. The Ward Museum was the big attrac- tion. The Grand Master's report in 1948 said:
More than a third of a century ago, Brother and Mrs. A. L. Ward, of Shelbyville, Illinois, entered upon an adventure which they thought would bring contentment and happiness to themselves. That adventure was to travel over this land of ours and discover places where objects that were rare and unusual were to be found, with the thought in mind of collecting such as could be purchased in order that they might enjoy them in their home.
Over a long period of time, never losing sight of their objective, they continued upon this adventure, each year adding item after item, their happiness increasing in like proportion as their collection grew; finally it became too large for their home, so as to continue the adventure they built an additional room in which to display their treasures, thus making it possible to share their pleasure with their friends.
As more years passed and the collection grew, again their space for display became too small; many items were stored and so could not be thoroughly enjoyed; then came restriction of travel which removed the joy of making their collection more extensive; they had succeeded well in their adventure as theirs is looked upon as being one of the most complete and comprehensive private museums in the land.
View of Masonic Home at Sullivan.
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Realizing the uncertainty of life their minds turned to the future; what would become of their pride and joy; would it be scattered to the four winds after their days were done? Would the long years of collect- ing come to a commercial end?
Then the thought came to our good friends; The Illinois Masonic Home at Sullivan would be the ideal spot for the accomplishment of such a worthy objective; Conferences were held, agreements reached, plans formulated and carried through; a special room at the Home was con- structed; the collection has been moved and is now on display. Septem- ber 22 1948 it was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies as the Lincoln and Cora Ward Museum. Every lodge was invited to attend in order that our members might see for themselves this wonderful gift through the goodness and generosity of Brother and Mrs. Ward. The occasion also afforded an opportunity for hundreds of our members and friends to enjoy a picnic dinner and visit the Old Folks Home.
The collection, among other things, consists of over 10,000 sea shells of every known species, the largest such collection in the world; also one of the largest collections of unusual glassware, many of them rare antiques, and many other items found in a collector's stock. The value of the collection was placed at well over $50,000 and in addition Brother Ward gave $25,000 to build the additional building needed to contain the collection.
Now that the collection has been placed where it can be enjoyed by many hundreds, Brother Ward passed to the great majority and was buried on June 9, 1951 at Shelbyville, Illinois.
The trustees of the Home are having a sound movie made of scenes at the Home for use of the lodges, believing this would be of great help in letting the Craft know about the possibilities of the Home.
Chapter 26 FUNERAL OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS
On April 22, 1840 Stephen A. Douglas petitioned Springfield Lodge No. 26 for the degrees. The Grand Lodge was organized that year and No. 26 became No. 4. He received the degree of Entered Ap- prentice on June 11, Fellowcraft on June 24, and Master Mason on June 26, by Meredith Helm. His interest is evident from the record of his attendance: July 15; August 13, 24, 28; September 1; October 5; November 9, 16, 25, 30; December 7, 14, 21, 23 and 27, on which date he was elected Junior Warden. He filled his station on January 4, 13, 18; February 2, 23. On April 19, 1841 he resigned his office and moved to Quincy, having been elected judge of the Supreme Court in February, 1841, and stationed at Quincy.
On March 18, 1842, he petitioned Springfield Chapter No. 1 for the degrees and received the Mark degree from Meredith Helm on Sep- tember 3, 1842. No other degrees were conferred in Springfield. On June 28, 1847 he petitioned Quincy Chapter No. 5 and was elected to receive the degrees on July 1. He received the Mark and Past Master degrees on August 30 and those of Most Excellent Master and Royal Arch on September 3, 1847. The degrees were conferred by Abram Jonas who was High Priest of the Chapter. He remained a member until his death.
He was elected Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge in 1840 but was unable to attend the 1841 session. He was present every day at the Grand Lodge session in Chicago in 1849. He was a frequent visitor at lodges while travelling the circuit on the Supreme Bench.
On May 1, 1861 he addressed the citizens of Chicago at the Wig- wam. This proved to be his last speech. From the Wigwam he went to the Tremont House to rest but soon rheumatism attacked him and his malady took a typhoid form. On June 3 he breathed his last. He was unconscious and delirious but just before the end there was a lucid spell. His wife asked if he had any word to leave his sons. He replied: "Tell my sons to obey the laws and uphold the Constitution of the United States."
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Funeral of Stephen A. Douglas
Thus ended the career of the greatest leader of his time. The day following his death the body was conveyed to Bryan Hall where it lay in state, and in care of a Masonic guard of honor, until the day of the funeral. The Chicago Tribune said about 70,000 people passed be- fore the bier. On the evening preceding the funeral the Masonic funeral rites were performed.
A. W. Hitchcock, Master of LaFayette Lodge No. 18, called a meeting of the Craft to make arrangements for the services. Henry C. Ranney, Past Master, was appointed Grand Marshal and the Masters of the Chicago lodges, George F. Haines of Oriental No. 33; Charles Kauffield, Accordia No. 277; Gilbert E. Smith, Blaney No. 271; Nathan W. Huntley, Cleveland No. 211; Horatio N. Hurlbut, Dearborn No. 310; H. M. Wilcox, Garden City No. 141; H. M. Peters, Germania No. 182; J. E. Church, Wabansia No. 160; Charles Tunni- cliff, W. B. Warren No. 209; were appointed Assistant Marshals.
In the words of Ira A. W. Buck, Grand Master, who on the even- ing of June 6
convened an Emergent Grand Lodge at Chicago to pay such last sad rites as were in our power to his memory.
Assisted by Past Deputy Grand Master Blaney, as Deputy, Hon. Brother William A. Richardson as S. G. Warden and Bro. Captain John M. Pitman as J. G. Warden, accompanied by Lodges and Brethren of Chicago and from abroad, we repaired to the Hall where the body lay in state, when the public ceremonies were performed, an oration was pro- nounced by Brother H. A. Johnson, and a procession formed which occupied over an hour depositing the evergreen upon the body, singing all the while the burial dirge, it was, for its majesty, significance, awe and solemnity, the most imposing funeral pagent I ever beheld. Every feature of the face was natural, majestic and imposing, even in death, one could hardly resist the solemn impression that his spirit hovered over, hushed and awed the vast throng into a mournful silence, to sobs, grief and tears. In the meridian of life he has gone; of his public carcer, I will not speak, for I should only repeat what you all know; his manners, talents and endowments it is unnecessary to describe, for who, in all Illinois, has not seen the peoples tribune, Stephen A. Douglas.
About three thousand sprigs of acacia were deposited on the body. He was buried on his estate at Okenwald, almost upon the spot he selected for the erection of his house overlooking Lake Michigan at Thirty-fifth Street. Business was suspended the day of the funeral. At 10 o'clock the morning of June 7, the body was taken from Bryan Hall upon a special funeral car. It was carried a distance of nearly four miles to the place
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of interment. Bells were tolled and from Dearborn Park cannon boomed.
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