USA > Illinois > The rise and progress of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1783-1952 > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
The same figure, that of the newly installed Grand Master, alert, prompt, decisive, but wielding the gavel with singular moderation, and with almost over-generous recognition of the rights upon the floor, of those who but yesterday had been his opponents - is the picture my memory retains of the executive of 1865 and 1866.
Such is my recollection of three aspects presented by the most singu- larly striking personality that has graced the presence and adorned the annals of this Grand Lodge since its organization. Looking backward through the perspective of the fleeting years, at him and his compeers, I am sure that I reflect the feeling of all those who were a part of the events of that period, when I say - there were giants in those days.
Failing of renomination for congress - of which he was a member during and after his grand mastership, he sought a new field for his energies in the Territory of Colorado. There his abilities were quickly recognized. He became a member of the territorial legislature, of the which framed the constitution and of the first and subsequent state legislatures, and later was the commissioner to revise the statutes of the state; and in these capacities he left his impress all over the consti- tution and jurisprudence of the commonwealth. His part in giving woman the ballot was so great that there was no one to dispute the title which he ever afterwards bore - that of the father of equal suffrage in Colorado.
His zeal for Masonry and his love for it knew no abatement with his change of residence; and while he lovingly remembered the Grand Lodge that honored him, and preserved his affiliation with it, he took an active part in the affairs of the Fraternity in Colorado. He was made an Honor- ary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Colorado at an early day, and from that day on no annual communication passed while he was in health, that some opportunity was not found or made to draw from him an address upon the principles or symbolism of Masonry.
As an advisor he was a principal factor in the revision of their code, and was the author of their funeral service containing a remarkable original Master Mason hymn - familiar, probably, to but few as not many copies of this service found their way to Illinois - a dirge which in its tremendous power of rhythm, language and thought at once recalls the Dies Irae, one of the notable poems of the ages.
At its last communication during his life, the Grand Lodge sent a committee to his bedside with greetings from his brethren and a
346
Freemasonry in Illinois
message of encouragement and hope. But the hope proved vain. Tossed by the storms of nearly eighty winters, his worn and frail bark slipped from its moorings and drifted out upon that silent, peaceful sea, of whose boundaries we know only from the hither shore.
Altogether, his was the most singularly striking personality that the Grand Lodge of Illinois has known since its organization. His mind was of that peculiar cast that it delighted in mysticism and symbolism, had he possessed any of the instincts of a Masonic piddler - of whom the Craft has known too many - he might have flooded his time with de- grees whose rituals would have been worth the study of any man. But he was too safely anchored for that. He had too profound an apprecia- tion of the value of Masonry, as defined and circumscribed by the land- marks, the Masonry of the Charges of a Freemason, the Masonry handed down to us in its simplicity and dignity by the fathers, to permit anything else with him to take its place. He recoginzed the fact that Masonry was the prophet of that altruism which permeates modern society, the environment of Masonry, where once it only permeated the Fraternity itself. Above all he recognized the tremendous power ex- erted by a pattern of free representative government - a pattern wrought out by the doctrine of equality springing from the brotherhood of man and making Masonry a model commonwealth long before the enfranchis- ing idea that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, had found lodgment in the world outside of Masonry.
He was born in Baltimore County, Maryland on August 26, 1823. He came west and studied law in Vandalia and was judge of the court of Fayette County. He also edited a paper "The Age of Steam and Fire." He moved to Charleston in 1857; was elected to Congress for 1865-69 and was a member of the constitutional convention in 1869-70.
He was made a Mason in Temperance Lodge No. 16 at Vandalia in 1854 and was Master in 1856-57. He was Master of Charleston Lodge No. 35. He was Grand Orator in 1861, 1862, 1864, 1869. He was ex- alted in Edgar Chapter No. 32 in 1858 and served as High Priest in 1861-62-63; affiliated with Keystone Chapter No. 54 in 1858. He was greeted in Paris Council in 1860 or 1861; Knighted in Elwood Com- mandery No. 6 in 1861. He received the Scottish Rite degrees as a compliment from A. G. Mackey in Denver in 1877.
He was an honorary member of Naval Lodge No. 4 and Pentalpha Lodge No. 25 in the District of Columbia. He affiliated with Denver Lodge No. 5 in Denver Chapter No. 2 and was Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Colorado in 1874; and in 1889 was made an honorary member of that Grand Lodge on account of distinguished services to the Craft. He was an honorary member of the Scottish Rite bodies in Denver.
347
Grand Masters
He originated the Society of Ancient, Free and Accepted Archi- tects, the object of which was to discover and preserve the lost work of ancient Masonry. There were five bodies-Washington, D.C., Charles- ton, Illinois, Portland, Maine, Denver, Colorado and one in California.
Here ends the record of one who was perhaps the greatest Mason that ever presided over the Grand Lodge.
JEROME RINALDO GORIN
Grand Master 1866-67
Born October 12, 1817 Died September 2, 1897
Brother Gorin was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky on October 12, 1817. He came with his parents to Illinois in 1828 and settled at Van- dalia. He was given the rudiments of an education in log schoolhouses in Kentucky and Illinois.
In those times the schools were held in some log-house, where the scholars would sit on seats made by splitting a log in two and smooth- ing the flat side as well as it could be done with a broad-ax; the round side had four pins inserted for supports.
Brother Gorin came to Decatur in 1832 when there were not more than a dozen houses in the place, and the whole county, then three times the size of the present county, had less than 250 voters.
Brother Gorin was admitted to the bar in 1842 and practiced law for several years. In 1855 and 1856 he was elected to the town board and was clerk and attorney in 1860. In that year he prepared the revised code of city ordinances. He also served as mayor and alder- man. In 1856 he was chosen a member of the General Assembly.
He served as Trustee and Steward and was an active officer in the Sunday School of the Methodist Church.
By profession a lawyer, he became cashier of the banking house of I. Milliken & Company.
He received the degree of Entered Apprentice at the first meeting of Macon Lodge No. 8 on October 16, 1841 and the degrees of Fellow- craft and Master Mason on the eighteenth. He was elected Secretary that year and was representative at Grand Lodge that October. He was Senior Warden in 1847 when he moved to Taylorville. He was the first Master of Mound Lodge No. 122 at Taylorville. In 1854 he was
348
Freemasonry in Illinois
Master of Macon Lodge No. 8 and served again for seven years begin- ning in 1861. He was Senior Grand Warden in 1855 and again in 1862 and Grand Master in 1866 and 1867.
He was exalted in Springfield Chapter No. 1 in 1842. In 1854 he signed the petition for Macon Chapter No. 21 of which he was the first King and High Priest in 1856. He represented his Chapter at Grand Chapter for eight years commencing in 1861.
He joined Springfield Council No. 2 in October, 1860. He was knighted in Belvidere Commandery No. 2 at Alton. In 1856 he was elected Commander of Beaumanoir Commandery U.D. and served ten years in all. In Grand Commandery he served two years as General- issimo, two as Deputy and in 1868 was elected Grand Commander.
On April 19, 1865 he was created a 32nd degree member of Occi- dental Consistory.
During his administration as Grand Master he issued dispensations for 92 new lodges. He called attention to the existence of the first Grand Lodge and appointed John C. Reynolds to write the history of that organization. The great day of his administration was the laying of the cornerstone of the State House; something that he did not mention in his report to the Grand Lodge.
He was about 6 feet in height, strongly built, of dark complexion, a pleasant, genial gentleman who made great numbers of friends. He represented both Grand Chapter and Grand Commandery at the meetings of the General Grand Bodies in St. Louis in 1868.
He died on September 2, 1897 at the age of 80 years. He had re- tired that night and when his daughter called him in the morning he was gone.
HARMON GANSEVOORT REYNOLDS
Grand Master 1868-69
Born December 21, 1810
Died December 31, 1891
Brother Reynolds was born in Morceau, New York on December 21, 1810. Soon after, the family moved to Berlin, Vermont where he was educated. He was admitted to the bar in Montpelier, Vermont in November, 1836. In his report to the Grand Lodge in 1870 he said:
349
Grand Masters
In April 1837 at Montpelier, Vt. I bid adieu to my father and mother for the last time on earth, exchanged farewells with my brothers and sisters. The father had suffered at the hands of anti-masons as few men suffered. The eldest son, myself - came by stage and boat to Detroit, and thence to Rock Island on foot and alone. Two other brothers and myself became Masons in this State.
In August 1839 he was elected Probate Judge of Rock Island County. On October 26, 1840 he married Miss Louisa Thompson. He was prosecuting attorney for Fulton County.
In January, 1843 he was initiated in Warsaw Lodge No. 21; in 1847 he was Junior Deacon of Cambridge Lodge U.D. and Master in 1850 of Cambridge Lodge No. 49. He first appeard in Grand Lodge in 1851 as a member of the committee on Lodges U.D. and was appointed Grand Secretary pro tem. That year he was elected Grand Secretary and served until he was elected Grand Master in 1868; he was again elected in 1869.
He was very active as a ritualist and was Grand Lecturer in charge of all state lectures for some years. In 1863 he made his famous de- fense of the ritual as adopted by the Grand Lodge and condemned that of the Conservators' Association at a time when his office was in danger of being taken away from him. However, he was signally vin- dicated by the Grand Lodge, as may be seen in another chapter. He was the most influential member of the Craft at the time. For his de- fense of the ritual his friends presented him with $1,000 to purchase a new printing press.
Brother Reynolds received the Royal Arch degree in Springfield Chapter No. 1 in 1847. In 1850 he was appointed High Priest of Cam- bridge Chapter U.D. at Cambridge. This chapter never functioned. In 1851-52 he was High Priest of Horeb Chapter No. 4 at Henderson. In 1851 he attended Grand Chapter and was elected Grand Secretary, a position he held for 18 years.
He received the Council degrees from Springfield Chapter in 1847. He was instrumental in organizing Illinois Council No. 1, located at Knoxville. On April 12, 1852 it is recorded:
At the request of several companions who had received the degrees of Royal and Select Master in Councils established under the jurisdic- tion of Royal Arch Chapters, Comp. Harmon G. Reynolds, high priest of Horeb Chapter No. 4 Royal Arch Masons, prepared a petition to Thrice Illustrious Companion Phillip Swigert, Grand Puissant of the Grand Council of Kentucky, of Royal and Select Masters, for a dispen- sation to be granted to Wm. A. Seaton, of Monmouth, in the State of
350
Freemasonry in Illinois
Illinois, and formerly a member of Louisville Council of R. & S.M. at Louisville, Kentucky, to heal Companion Harmon G. Reynolds (and eighteen other members).
He issued the call for the convention that formed the Grand Coun- cil, called the meeting to order and stated its purpose. He was elected Grand Recorder and appointed a member of the committee to draft a constitution, by-laws and rules of order and served as secretary of the committee. After the constitution was adopted the Grand Council was organized and Brother Reynolds elected Grand Recorder. He served until 1869.
In 1856 he received the degrees of the Scottish Rite in Occidental Consistory, Chicago, being a member of the first class. In 1865 he was crowned a 33rd degree Mason and when Carson Consistory was organized in Springfield he was Commander-in-Chief and special Deputy for the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.
He was knighted in Apollo Commandery No. 1 previous to 1860. To assist other commanderies in getting a start he signed the petition for the dispensation for Molay Commandery at Muscatine, Iowa in 1855 and for Peoria Commandery in 1856.
When Elwood Commandery No. 6 was organized in 1859 he was the first Commander, serving in 1859-60.
For several years he edited the Masonic Trowel, one of the most prominent Masonic publications in the country.
After retiring as Grand Master he moved to Kansas and became a member of Calvary Lodge No. 50 on November 18, 1874. This lodge consolidated with King Solomon Lodge No. 10 at Leavenworth, from which he dimitted on December 19, 1883. He died at Irving, Kansas, on December 31, 1891 at the age of 81 years. There is nothing in the minutes of Kirwin Lodge No. 175 to show that he was given a Masonic burial. His biographer said:
He was a Mason of many years standing and a power at the time in which he was active, occupying most responsible positions in our order. He was faithful in the discharge of his duties at a most critical time in the history of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He was a man of great strength and character, a man of brilliant mind, occupying a dis- tinguished position in the legal profession, attaining to the position of judge; which he filled with great credit. He was a patriot to whom this Grand Body owes a large debt of gratitude, and a Mason whose prac- tice of Masonry was a grand strength to his country and to the Ma- sonic fraternity.
351
Grand Masters
DEWITT CLINTON CREGIER
Grand Master 1870-71
Born June 1, 1829
Died November 9, 1898
The special committee consisting of Joseph Robbins, Daniel M. Browning and John M. Pearson said of him:
A rare man has fallen. DeWitt Clinton Cregier, who for more than the lifetime of a generation of men had been a pillar of strength in this Grand Lodge, upon whom we had learned to lean, we knew not how much until we missed him for the first time in thirty-seven years at the annual communication one year ago, and who by his qualities of mind and heart had found a place in all our hearts such as it rarely falls to the lot of man to find, has gone over to the majority. After weary months of waiting, borne up by the affectionate tenderness of those nearest and dearest to him, and by the echoes of the loving solicitude of the great Craft which held the next place in his affections, the tide whose slow but sure rising he had watched patiently, serenely, cheerfully, at last drifted his barque from its moorings to float out upon that great, peace- ful, silent sea, whose white sails all go thitherward returning never- more.
Brother Cregier was born in the city of New York on June 1, 1829. At 16 he was an engineer's assistant on Long Island Sound steamers, 1845-47; from 1847-51 he was employed with the Morgan Ironworks in New York; from 1851-53 he was engineer on the New York, New Haven and New Orleans steamers. He came to Chicago August 6, 1853. He received the lodge degrees in 1860 in Blaney Lodge No. 271. He was Master from 1864 to 1867 and again in 1874, 1884-85-86. He was elected Grand Master in 1870-71.
The Craft of Illinois were devoutly thankful that he was Grand Master at the time of the great fire of 1871. Again read the words of the committee:
Begrimed with the ashes of his own home and of the great works upon which the remnant of the city depended for its water supply, he strode into the committee hastily improvised by a number of his equally homeless brethren for the relief of the thousands of destitute Craftsmen about them, picked up the gavel and said :- "I am the chairman of this committee."
The record of his magnificant services as well as that of the com- mittee will be found under the heading "The Chicago Fire."
352
Freemasonry in Illinois
After retiring as Grand Master he became a member of the juris- prudence committee, most of the time as its chairman. The by-laws adopted some 25 years earlier were mainly his work and as chairman of the Book of Ceremonials committee he left an enduring impression on the Craft. After a long illness he died on November 9, 1898 and was buried with Masonic honors.
THE CREGIER JEWEL
Grand Master Cook called the attention of the Grand Lodge to a package he had received from the widow of Brother Cregier. With the package was a letter which reads:
Chicago, August 2, 1897.
To the M.W. Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, Wardens, Officers and Representatives of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois - Greeting:
Dear brethren:
When you receive this communication my labors on earth will have ceased, forever. During a period of thirty-six years I was one of your number, never missing a session of your great and good organization from that held in the year 1861 up to 1896, inclusive, and I may be permitted to add to these years, as the general assembly is within the next ensuing sixty days; but in view of my recent serious illness I deem it prudent to make this writing while comparative good health and strength serves, and thus anticipate the summons that must sooner or later come to me, as it will to all. But, as stated above, when you receive this writing I will have obeyed that summons and as I cannot longer enjoy the fraternal ties that bound me to the Ancient Brotherhood in general, and especially to the Grand Lodge of Illinois, to which I am greatly indebted for much kindly consideration, and from which I have been the recipient of so many honors, all of which, be assured, have at all times, been fully and sincerely appreciated.
In 1870 twenty-seven years ago, you called me to the "Grand East," and again in 1871 you again conferred upon me a like distinguished honor. Upon my retirement from the office of Grand Master in 1872, your kindness and fraternal consideration towards me did not cease, but was manifested by bestowing upon me a beautiful and costly jewel appropriate to a past grand master, profusely adorned with precious gems, and now, as before intimated, while enjoying a normal measure of mental and physical health but recognizing the inevitable, I have pre- pared this communication to you and request that the grand lodge will receive back the jewel it presented to me a quarter century ago, by the hand of her, who, although now executrix of my last will and testa- ment, has for nearly a half century borne the more endearing title of wife, and although confident that under this last title, my desire would
Presented to M.W. Brother Cregier by the Grand Lodge, in 1871 and by him bequeathed to the Grand Lodge
353
Grand Masters
be complied with, with exactness, if she shall survive me, nevertheless, for obvious reasons, I have deemed it proper to formally bequeath the jewel to the grand lodge by will. Its acceptance to be subject to the condition that the jewel shall be held as, and become and ever remain the property of the grand lodge to which it is willed. In addition to this con- diton I am moved to make the following suggestions subject to the approval of the grand lodge, viz;
(a) That the jewel be worn by the grand master presiding, when practicable, at all stated or special grand communications, as part of his official paraphernalia for the time being.
(b) During vacation or period between meetings of the grand lodge, the R.W. the grand treasurer thereof, to be custodian of the jewel.
(c) The grand lodge in its discretion, to supplement the existing inscription on the jewel as may be deemed appropriate.
I repeat that a, b, and c, are merely the suggestions of one who in life revered the ennobling principles of Freemasonry, and ere his facul- ties are stilled by nature's fiat, records the hope, that the grand old insti- tution may long continue to inculcate and practice her imperishable truth, the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man.
So mote it be. Sincerely and fraternally,
DeWitt C. Cregier.
Brother Joseph Robbins offered the following resolution, which, on motion, was adopted:
Resolved, That the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Senior Grand Warden be a committee to carry out the suggestions of the testa- tor in their own discretion, and that the same committee make due acknowledgement for the valued bequest to the executrix of his will.
Every Grand Master since has worn the jewel during his term of office.
JAMES ANDREW HAWLEY
Grand Master 1872-73
Born August 20, 1830
Died December 30, 1898
James Andrew Hawley was born in Penfield, now Webster, New York, on August 20, 1830. He received a better than average educa- tion at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. He became connected with a publishing house for several years. He came to Illinois in 1854 and continued his work as agent for prominent publishing houses. In this way he made many important friends and in 1857 was elected Super-
354
Freemasonry in Illinois
intendent of Schools for Lee County and served for two years. In 1861 he was elected county clerk, which position he continued to hold until 1882, a period of 21 years. He was a member of the Board of Education for 10 years and mayor of Dixon in 1876-79; cashier of the Dixon National Bank 15 years and first president of the Dixon Water- works Company and at the time of his death secretary and treasurer.
He was made a Master Mason in Lee Center Lodge No. 146, later affiliated with Friendship Lodge No. 7 and was Master of that lodge for nine years. He was exalted in Nachusa Chapter No. 56 on Septem- ber 5, 1859 and was High Priest for three years; received the council degrees in Peru Council No. 12 in December, 1864 and was Master for one year. He was created a Knight Templar in Sycamore Com- mandery No. 15 in June, 1866 and later affiliated with Dixon Com- mandery No. 21 and served as Commander for seven years. He was created a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret 32° in 1869 and received the 33rd degree in August 1875. He was Grand Master of Masons 1872-73; Grand High Priest in 1872; Grand Master of the Grand Council in 1867; Grand Commander Knights Templar in 1873.
He was buried on January 2, 1899 by the Grand Master with the four surviving active members of the Supreme Council acting as pall- bearers and many honorary 33rd degree Masons were present. His tomb is beneath the shade of lofty oaks, beside the Rock River.
GEORGE E. LOUNSBURY
Grand Master 1874-75
Born in 1837
Died August 4, 1878
Brother Lounsbury was born in Long Ridge, Connecticut in 1837. At an early age he came to Illinois and was raised in Cache Lodge No. 290 on May 1, 1865. He was elected Master on December 19, 1866. He attended Grand Lodge in 1867 as the representative of his lodge. In 1868 he was elected Junior Grand Warden and advanced regularly until he was elected Grand Master in 1874 and 1875. Soon after retiring from office he moved to Denver, Colorado where he hoped to regain his lost health.
He was exalted in Mound City Chapter No. 74 on June 15, 1865.
355
Grand Masters
He was Grand Captain of the Host in 1869, Grand Scribe the next year and became Grand High Priest in 1873. He was Grand Master of the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters in 1872.
The removal to Denver was a failure in his attempt to throw off the tubercular condition and he died on August 4, 1878. He was buried with the rites of Masonry by the Grand Lodge of Colorado.
JOSEPH ROBBINS
Grand Master 1876-77
Born September 12, 1834
Died July 19, 1909
Joseph Robbins was born at Leominster, Massachusetts on Septem- ber 12, 1834. He was made a Mason in Wyoming Lodge, Melrose, Massachusetts, from which he dimitted and affiliated with Quincy Lodge No. 296 on December 6, 1859. He was elected Master in 1863 and served seven consecutive years and was again elected in 1880. His first appearance in Grand Lodge was in 1862 when he was appointed a member of the committee on lodges U.D. From that time he at- tended every session of the Grand Lodge up to and including 1908 except in 1864, when for some unknown reason he was absent. For 46 years he was a prominent and often a dominant factor in the Grand Lodge. In 1869 he delivered the oration before the Grand Lodge. This oration has been characterized as the finest exposition of the princi- ples of Masonry that has ever been given in Grand Lodge. His great work was the correspondence reports that he wrote for 30 years. These were so highly appreciated that after his death it was proposed that a memorial volume consisting of extracts from these reports be pub- lished. This was done and stands today as the guide for all Masonic action by the Grand Lodge.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.