USA > Illinois > The rise and progress of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1783-1952 > Part 27
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The members of the Masonic Veteran Association of Illinois, United States of America, most heartily join their brethren wherever they may be on land or sea, and the people of all civilized nations around the globe, in congratulating your Majesty upon having attained the longest reign of any King or Queen who ever sat upon the throne of Great Britain and Ireland.
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We thank our Heavenly Father, the Great Architect of the Uni- verse, for having in his great goodness, spared your life to witness the most wonderful sixty years of progress in the world's history. No like period has seen so much progress in moral and religious thought, in effective effort for the freedom of mankind, in the advancement of industrial pursuits, in the development of the liberal arts and mechan- ics, the uplifting of humanity and the promotion of the general welfare of the people everywhere. In all this you have by constant effort, ex- ample of encouragement, borne a conspicuous part.
Wishing your Most Gracious Majesty continued years of usefulness and happiness, we ask your kindly acceptance of this tribute from the Veteran Freemasons of Illinois, United States of America, representa- tive of that Ancient Craft whose Patroness you have so long been, and of which your honored father, the Duke of Kent, and your son, His Royal Highness, Albert Edward Prince of Wales, have been and are such distinguished members.
John Corson Smith, Venerable Chief.
The following reply has been sent by her Majesty to our inde- fatigable brother Gen. J. C. Smith:
Its warm appreciation of the good wishes from the Veterans of Illi- nois leaves nothing to be desired, so that communication is certain to be widely read, and treasured by the brethren concerned, as well as highly valued by the Craft in America.
Windsor Castle, 12th July, 1897.
Dear Sir:
I am commended to convey to you and to the members of the Masonic Veteran Lodge of Illinois, the sincere thanks of the Queen for the kind expressions of congratulations and good will contained in the address which was forwarded by you through H.R.H., the Prince of Wales, for submission to her Majesty.
I am also commanded to thank you for the photograph of yourself which was enclosed with the address. I am, dear sir
Yours very faithfully, Arthur Biggs.
Gen. J. C. Smith, 65 Sibley Street, Chicago, Illinois.
The article given above was by George W. Warvelle.
The Association now has a set of by-laws that cover more ground than did the early meetings. The fee for membership is five dollars and the annual dues are three dollars. There are four classes of members: Active, Patriarch, Life, Honorary. Petitioners for membership must have been members of some regular lodge for a period of at least twenty-one years. Lodge membership is a requirement for member- ship in the Association. An active member who has paid annual dues
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for at least five years may become a life member by payment of twenty- five dollars which exempts him from the payment of further dues. A member in good standing for twice twenty-one years continuously shall thereby become a Patriarch member but will continue to pay dues. Honorary membership is by unanimous choice of members pres- ent at any annual meeting of such as have rendered distinguished service to Masonry but who, by reason of non-residence, are not eligi- ble for active membership. Such honorary members are exempt from dues but entitled to all the rights and benefits of the Association.
The Association usually holds four meetings a year which are called by the Venerable Chief. There is also one large meeting each year at which ladies are present.
At present there are 522 members.
List of honorary members elected during the administration of Venerable Chief, John C. Smith.
Milheim Abolkeir, Damascus, Syria George W. Bain, Sunderland, England William G. Bell, Winnipeg, Manitoba Sir Henry A. Blake, Hong Kong, China Marquis of Breadalbane, Scotland Andrew Brown, Honolulu, H.I. R. S. Brown, Edinburgh, Scotland J. L. Carson, Enniskillen, Ireland George A. Coudsi, Damascus, Syria Rev. J. C. W. Coxe, Oskaloosa, Iowa Henry C. Crozier, Cairo, Egypt J. E. Davar, Bombay, India A. V. Davoren, Donnybrook, Ireland Henry J. DeForest, Vancouver, B.C. Geo. A. Derrick, Singapore, Johore Dr. George Dickson, Edinburgh, Scotland Edward VII, London Earl of Euston, London Rev. W. Russell Finlay, London Charles A. Fisk, Nogales, Arizona Dr. John Foulds, Glasgow, Scotland C. D. Furdoonjee, Bombay, India Thomas Fraser, London Robert Freke Gould, Woking, England John T. Griffin, Yokohama, Japan Earl of Haddington, Scotland Alexander Hanauer, Cairo, Egypt Walter H. Harris, London William Hart, Melrose, Scotland
R. S. Haughton, Jamaica, W.I. George Hicks, Jamaica, W.I. Swift P. Johnston, Dublin, Ireland Jos. R. Kanawaty, Beyrout, Syria Gen. Sir Herbert H. Kitchener, S. Africa Sir Francis Knollys, London Sir Edward Letchworth, London Robert J. Levy, Constantinople H. Wales Lines, Meridian, Conn. Wm. Loeb, Jr., Washington, D.C. Sir Alexander Muir MacKinzie, Scotland Hugh McCurdy, Corunna, Mich. Wm. McMurdo, Motherwell, Scotland Bey Shasshine Makarius, Cairo, Egypt Charles F. Matier, London
William H. Mayo, St. Louis, Mo. Sir James C. Meredith, Dublin, Ireland Dr. Geo. R. Metcalf, St. Paul, Minn. Bey Col. Mousally, Khartum, Egypt Sereno D. Nickerson, Boston, Mass. Dr. James Ogilvie, Jamaica, W.I. Rev. Thos. A. Parker, Champaign Nathaniel G. Philips, London Sir Henry T. Prinsep, Calcutta, India Bey Idris Ragheb, Cairo, Egypt Prince Abdul Rahman, Singapore, Johore Kahlil Rayess, Beyrout, Syria Thomas M. Reed, Olympia, Wash. F. DeP. Rodriguez, Havana, Cuba
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Theodore Roosevelt, Washington, D.C. H. M. Rustomjee, Calcutta, India William H. Rylands, London Sir J. Sykes Rymer, York, England Henry Sedler, London Fred F. Schnitger,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England Gen. William R. Shafter, San Francisco Edward A. Sherman, Oakland, Calif. Gen. John H. Soper, Honolulu, H.I.
Henry G. Thayer, Plymouth, Ind. John T. Thorp, Leicester, England Rev. C. L. Twing, Brooklyn, N.Y. Col. Chas. I. Ward, Jamaica, W.I. Gen. Sir Charles Warren, England William Watson, Leeds, England Fred Webber, Washington, D.C. T. B. Whytehead, York, England Sir Henry T. Wood, London, England
Chapter 42 KING KAULAKANA VISITS ORIENTAL LODGE NO. 33
(FROM VOICE OF MASONRY, FEBRUARY, 1875)
January 15, 1875. The royal party consisted of the King, two of his governors, and suite; also Commander Whiting and Lieutenant Totten of the United States Navy, appointed by the Government as his escort.
The King is a member of Progress of Oceanica Lodge in Honolulu, and several of those who accompany him are Masons.
During their stay in New York, Boston and Washington they visited the leading lodges, and, in the first named city, saw the third degree conferred in the presence of the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of New York.
Our eastern brethren strongly urged them to visit Oriental Lodge during their sojourn in Chicago, and, accordingly, on the day of their arrival here, the King communicated his desire to do so to the officers. Fortunately, their regular communication was close at hand, and work on the third degree for which that lodge has a special celebrity, was on the program; so they were enabled to tender the party an invitation, and also to make the occasion interesting to them. Invita- tions were also sent out to the Fraternity, but to a limited number only, to prevent over-crowding the hall; the news, however, spread quickly, and the result was an unexpected rush which rendered it imperatively necessary to close the doors at an early hour. Those in the hall numbered over four hundred, and nearly as many more filled up the ample staircases and corridors, unable to gain admittance, but they did not desert their posts until long after they had witnessed the arrival of the royal party.
At 8 P.M., the lodge having been opened, a committee was sent to the Grand Pacific Hotel, consisting of Brothers W. C. Hunt, George Gassette, and Newton Lull, to escort the illustrious visitor to the hall.
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The party was formally received in the elegant reception parlor by another committee consisting of Brothers H. W. Johnson, W. A. Stev- ens and A. G. Burley, who conducted them into the lodge, where they were received by Brother Edwin Powell, Worshipful Master, on behalf of the lodge, and by Brother D. C. Cregier, Past Grand Master, on behalf of the Masons of Illinois.
The visitors were then seated in the East and the lodge proceeded to confer the third degree on John A. Lyndon, a Fellowcraft, with their appropriate ceremonies, which are distinguished by the introduction of appropriate scenery, picturesque costumes, calcium lights, and an abundance of music. The last solemn scene of all is indescribably beautiful, the room being darkened to a certain point, with only faint specks, or stars, of light visible in the long row of appendant burners, when suddenly a flood of calcium light is thrown upon the scene, changing in color until it ends in a rich crimson. The organ was pre- sided over by Brother W. H. Cutler, assisted by Brother John A. Far- well, and a quartet choir, consisting of Brothers Coffin, Bowen, Phillips and Coulston, and there was no stint of choice music. The chanting of the exquisite passages from Ecclesiastes and the very impressive delivery of the prayer may be mentioned as among the finest features of the ceremony.
At the conclusion, the King arose and made a few highly compli- mentary remarks followed in a similar strain by Governor Dominis and Lieutenant Totten, the latter bringing down the house with a gen- eral invitation to meet him in his Lodge at Hong Kong. Then followed a loud call for Honorable John Wentworth, the well-known Mayor and ex-Member of Congress whose gigantic proportions, so familiar to the oldest and youngest Chicagoan, speedily towered above the as- semblage. (Other speakers were D. C. Cregier, Rev. Thomas, First M.E. Church, T. T. Gurney, and H. A. Johnson.)
The King and his party returned to the Grand Pacific Hotel, where they afterwards entertained the officers of the lodge in a most hos- pitable manner, and thus ended one of the most memorable events in the annals of Masonry in Illinois.
The King was a Malay of the Sandwich Islands.
Chapter 43 AN OLD APRON
Bloomington, Illinois May 23, 1951
The following information is given pertaining to a Master Mason's apron that belongs to the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Bloomington, Illinois. The writing on the scroll is written in "long hand" and reads as follows:
Corning April 6th 65
To my son Scott Wolcott
My Dr Son this apron was at one time your Grand Father Oliver Wolcotts he was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It was given to him by the immortal Washington. It is over one hundred years old. It was given to me by your Grandfather. I give it to you. Keep it as a relic and a present from your poor old father who is now ninety six years old.
Your affectionate father John Wolcott
On the back of the scroll is written
dont fail to retain this letter. J.E.W.
The following history is in typed form and framed in connection with the apron in question:
Scott Wolcott traveling west sometime during the early or middle of the last century became ill in a small town in southern Illinois and was attended by Dr. Cleanthus Whitecraft, then a practising physician there. This apron and accompanying scroll were given to Dr. Whitecraft in pay- ment for his services. Dr. Whitecraft gave it to his son Cleve Whitecraft, now deceased, formerly of LeRoy, Illinois. Upon the death of Cleve Whitecraft it descended to his only child, Cleantha Keefe who conveyed it to Arlo E. Bane of LeRoy, Illinois through whose courtesy it is pre- sented here.
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Apron presented to Oliver Wolcott, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, by Gen. George Washington.
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An Old Apron
I, P. C. Somerville, Secretary of the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Bloomington, Illinois, am making the assertion that this apron, in a frame as it now is, was presented to the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Bloomington, Illinois by Brother Arlo E. Bane, LeRoy, Illinois.
Chapter 44 WAR RELIEF SERVICE
When the need for private recreation for soldiers and sailors arose, Grand Master Mohr promptly arranged to open service centers at Chicago, Waukegan, Highland Park, Fort Sheridan, Rockford, Rantoul and Belleville, this latter for the air service. His action was enthusiastically supported by the lodges.
In 1942 he stated the object of this service:
Our facilities are proffered alike to members of the Fraternity and those in uniform, regardless of whence they may come. A file, replete with grateful, enthusiastic, responsive and appreciative letters, evidences the value of our endeavors.
An appeal was made to the lodges to assist the Grand Lodge in financing these centers. There were 986 lodges in the state and 986 responded with 25 percent more than the amount asked for.
In 1943 he said:
This was service started quietly and without fanfare, without dream- ing of the magnitude of the undertaking. Humble in its inception, its work now has reached gigantic proportions that stagger the imagina- tion. Over 26,000 men in uniform, one-third of them brother Masons, have received letters from this committee, and have been the recipients of its activities.
In 1944 Grand Master Pierson said:
Words cannot express our appreciation to the members of the Order of the Eastern Star for their generous assistance in making our Service Centers a success. Without their contributions in money, food, time and more especially in actual work, it would have been well-nigh impossible to have given the Service Centers the home touch that has been so appealing to the men in our country's armed forces. Every day, Sundays and Holidays included, they have worked tirelessly and gladly cooking and serving delicious food, acting as hostesses, and doing all in their power to make a "Home away from Home" for the boys.
The Masons of Illinois can never forget the wonderful services they have rendered.
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In 1945 the elective Grand Officers had a conference on the twenty- first day of September and decided that as the Centers were primarily organized for the purpose of building morale and furnishing some pleasure and comfort for those who were being trained for combat duty, their principal function expired with the declaration of peace, and, therefore, it was decided to close the Centers on the twenty- eighth of September, and this was done.
Chapter 45 MISCELLANEOUS
1840: It was necessary to borrow money to finance the operations of the Grand Lodge until dues could be collected. $100 was borrowed from James Adams, Deputy Grand Master, and the interest was twelve percent.
1842: A committee on foreign jurisdictions was appointed. This became the committee on foreign correspondence which has func- tioned ever since. That year it was
Resolved, that a warden during the absence of the master may preside but that he has no power to confer degrees, without he is also a past master.
Resolved, that as the opinion of this Grand Lodge, that it is contrary and inconsistent with the ancient usages and precepts of our order to withdraw from a subordinate lodge, without some good cause; or to reside in the neighborhood of a subordinate lodge, without becoming a member thereof.
An attempt was made to limit the size of lodges.
Resolved, that whenever the members of any subordinate lodge shall exceed fifty, such lodge shall be divided; and whenever the average members in attendance during the year shall be less than ten, then such lodge shall cease to exist, and shall surrender the charter or dispensation to the Grand Lodge.
This was not adopted. If this was in effect today we would have 4,870 lodges.
[1844]: Resolved, that the Grand Lodge of Illinois would recom- mend to the lodges under its jurisdiction to do all their business in a lodge of Master Masons, except conferring the first and second degrees.
Formerly it was common practice to transact business in the En- tered Apprentice degree, except conferring other degrees.
[1845]: Resolved, that the privileges of our institution are em- braced in the three degrees of entered apprentice, fellow craft and master mason, to which a single ballot in favor of a candidate fully
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entitles him; and the last two of which he may receive, when qualified by suitable proficiency, unless by apostacy from duty after the degree last taken, he be proved unworthy.
This action was taken in response to a question from a lodge that re- quired a vote for each degree.
That year the fee for a dispensation for a new lodge was fixed at $15; that for a charter $7; minimum fee for degrees $15. Five copies of the proceedings were sent to each lodge.
Another resolution permitted lodges to confer the degrees upon ministers without fee.
The dispensation for the first lodge to work in the German language was issued this year. It was Herman Lodge at Quincy.
Every candidate was required to pass an examination before being advanced; also to pass the third lecture within one year from the time he was raised.
That year it was
Resolved, that this Grand Lodge approve the formation of a General Grand Lodge, and invites the co-operation of her sister Grand Lodges, by the appointment of delegates, to meet in convention for the purpose of reporting to the various Grand Lodges, a constitution for the govern- ment of a General Grand Lodge, so soon as the same may be approved by a majority of the Grand Lodges; and that all former resolutions re- garding any convention or conventions of Masons, be and the same are hereby repealed.
Another resolution that was repealed two years later was:
Resolved, that within this jurisdiction, an expulsion or suspension by an Encampment or Chapter, shall be deemed to carry with it an expulsion or suspension, as the case may be, from the Masonic institu- tion.
1847: John Barney, who was a noted lecturer, died and the Grand Lodge paid his funeral expenses.
1850: In the early years Grand Officers were elected who had not served as Master of a lodge. That year the law changed to provide that no member can be elected to the first four Grand Offices who has not served as Master of some lodge.
1852: Each representative was allowed five cents per mile and one dollar per day.
All lodges were requested to celebrate the one hundredth anni- versary of the reception of George Washington into the Masonic fraternity on November 4, 1752.
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That year the committee on mileage and per diem was first ap- pointed.
1853: $100 was appropriated towards a monument for John Barney.
Grand Lodge recommended that all lodges prepay postage on all correspondence. Also the Grand Lodge was invited to visit the State Fair.
[1857]: Resolved, that it is deemed inexpedient and prejudicial to the interest of Masonry to grant dispensations for new lodges, the location of which may be within five miles of another lodge, unless said lodge shall consist of at least forty members, or the lodge prayed for is to be located in a city or town containing a population of 3,000 inhabitants.
1858: In 1845 Grand Lodge approved the formation of a General Grand Lodge but this year it reversed itself by resolving, that it was opposed to such General Grand Lodge but offered to send delegates to discuss matters of importance to the Masonic fraternity.
1859: To keep the delegates in their seats Grand Master Buck said:
I shall require every brother desiring leave of absence, to make application in writing, setting forth his reasons for wishing to leave, which will be filed with the Grand Secretary, as a justification for issuing an order for mileage and per diem.
1861: On account of the uncertain value of money all dues were required to be paid in either gold or silver.
Henry Snow died in Quincy on December 24, 1860. He was De- puty Grand Master of the first Grand Lodge and Grand Lecturer. He acted as proxy for the Grand Master of Kentucky to institute Bodley Lodge U.D. He was one of the signers of the petition for the dispen- sation for Olive Branch Lodge at Alton in 1821.
1862: On account of the war only one proceedings was received from the southern states; it was from Louisiana.
The requirement that dues be paid in gold or silver was repealed. The Grand Master said:
I would recommend that the resolution requiring a lodge to pay their dues in gold or silver be repealed. The circumstances that sur- rounded us at the time this resolution was adopted are entirely different now. We had at that time a circulation of Bank Notes called "MONEY," but which in fact was from ten to forty percent discount, which, if received by the Grand Lodge at par would subject her to a loss of several hundred dollars. Now we have a circulation of United States Treasury notes, equal in value to gold or silver.
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1867: The Grand Master ordered all delegates to appear in Grand Lodge wearing the jewels of their respective offices.
Twelve district deputies were appointed.
1869: A district deputy was appointed for the German speaking lodges. He was to be an overseer or lecturer, one who could speak the language fluently.
1871: It had been the custom to remit dues of lodges whose prop- erty had been lost by fire. This year the finance committee reported:
It is the duty of every lodge to keep its property fully insured, and that in case of loss when insured, there is no justice or occasion for apply- ing for a return of Grand Lodge dues. When without insurance, it is their own fault, and that if in such cases this Grand Lodge assists them, it should be clearly understood that it is charity.
1873: Grand Master Hawley said:
The power vested in the Grand Master to "make Masons at sight" is one of the most important of his prerogatives, and should at all times be exercised with the utmost caution. But cases of emergency do arise when, to exercise this power, is, in my opinion not only proper and right, but is one of the means whereby the interests of Masonry are promoted.
The Grand Master had agreed to exercise this prerogative and make General U. S. Grant a Mason at sight, but publie business pre- vented (see article about Grant).
1883: A petition to establish a lodge to use the French language was refused.
1884: Financial trouble bothered the Grand Lodge and a resolu- tion was introduced to hold biennial meetings, thereby saving several thousand dollars, but it was declared contrary to the ancient usage of the order. The same year Grand Lodge delegates were invited to take a ride on the new cable cars.
1888: This was the first time board-covered proceedings were issued.
1894: A. T. Dixon died on February 15. He was Grand Tyler when the Grand Lodge was organized and was the last survivor of the origi- nal members.
1895: Milo D. Chamberlain died on May 8. He attended Grand Lodge in 1859 and every year thereafter until his death. He was cus- todian of the work for several years and was chairman of the Grand Examiners that held the first school at Odin in 1869. He was con- sidered "the father of the standard work."
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1909: Attention was called to David Dennison who was born in Kingston, New York, on November 17, 1737 and died in Chicago on February 28, 1852. He was made a Mason in Maine and is buried in Lincoln Park. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and was the last survivor of the "Boston Tea Party." He partici- pated in the battles of Bunker Hill, White Plains and Long Island and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. A resolution was introduced to place a remembrance of him at the grave but no action appears to have been taken.
1909: Fay Hemstead was crowned Poet Laureate of Masonry. This was the third time such an event took place. The first was in Cannon- gate Kilwinning Lodge at Edinburgh, Scotland when Robert Burns received that honor; the second was when the Grand Lodge of New York crowned Robert Morris. The third was under the auspices of Ravenswood Lodge No. 777 at Medinah Temple. A souvenir program was printed showing the pictures of the three poets. The ceremony took place on October 5, 1908.
1909: Grand Master A. H. Bell was presented with the first return of Western Star Lodge No. 107 by the Grand Master of Pennsylvania. It was for the year 1806.
Jewels were purchased for all Past Grand Masters.
1910: Brother William B. Grimes died. He was affectionately known as Father Grimes. He was raised in Pittsfield Lodge No. 56 in 1854. He was appointed a Deputy Lecturer in 1875 and in 1879 was made a member of the Board of Grand Examiners, and was chairman in 1892-99. He was elected Grand High Priest in 1898.
November 8, 1911: The seven Ross brothers were raised by Palmyra Lodge No. 463. They are the sons of one of the early mem- bers of that lodge. Their father, William Ross, was the fourth man to become a member of that lodge after it received its charter in 1866. The elder Ross was present on Wednesday, as was Thornton Capps, who was Master of the lodge at the time the elder Ross became a member.
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