USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > History of Wayne Lodge, No. 25, F. & A.M., Fort Wayne, Indiana : together with by-laws and roster of memberships to September 1, 1911 > Part 1
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HISTORY OF WAYNE LODGE NO. 25
Gc 977.202 F77Frw
PUBLIC LIBRARY M. L.
FORT WAYNE & ALLEN CO., IND.
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01715 6511
Gc 977.202 F77frw
History of Wayne Lodge, No. 25, F. & A.M., Fort Wayne, Indiana
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history PUBLIC LIBRARY ORT WAYNE & ALLEN CO., IND Wayne Lodge No. 25 I. & A. M.
PAMPHLETS Fort Wayne, Indiana
PU.11.417
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
History of Wayne Lodge No. 25 F. & A. A.
Fort Magne, Indiana
Together with
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By-Dams and Roster of Membership to September 1, 1911
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HISTORY OF WAYNE LODGE NO. 25 F. AND A. M.
AN ADDRESS ON THE MASONIC HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE DELIVERED AT THE 88TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET OF WAYNE LODGE NO. 25, ON MARCH 30, 1911.
BY BROTHER ALBERT E. THOMAS, SENIOR WARDEN
To-night we have met to celebrate the 88th anni- versary of the founding of Wayne Lodge No. 25, the old- est Masonic body in northern Indiana. The history of Wayne Lodge is necessarily the history of Masonry in this part of the state, and, in fact, practically the history of Fort Wayne itself, as its early membership comprised the men whose names are inseparably linked with the history and development of northeastern Indiana. In 1823, when the dispensation was granted to a small hand- ful of Masons, who were authorized to meet and transact business under the name of Wayne Lodge, there was but a little cluster of cabins then constituting the village known as Fort Wayne, and all gathered closely about and within the protection of the fort, which had lately been abandoned by the soldiers. At that date, it is said, that there was not a white man's house between here and the Michigan line, and none between Fort Wayne and Chicago, which itself was but a fort and Indian trading post and of no more importance than Fort Wayne. The dispensation of Wayne Lodge dated March 22, 1823, and signed by John Sheets, G. M., and Wm. C. Keene, Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, ante- dates the formation of Allen County, as will be seen from the following language quoted from the dispensa- tion :
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"Whereas it has been represented to me that at the town of Fort Wayne, in the County of Randolph and State of Indiana, there reside a number of free and ac- cepted Ancient York Masons, who are desirous of asso- ciating together
"Therefore, I, John Sheets, G. M. etc., do hereby con- stitute and appoint the worshipful, Alexander Ewing, Master, John P. Hedges, S. W., Benj. Cushman, J. W., together with all such brethren as are now or may hereafter become members, a regular Lodge of free and accepted Ancient York Masons, by dispensation, by the title of Wayne Lodge, and do hereby ordain that the regular Lodges respect them as such; hereby granting them full power to assemble and work together as a regular Lodge, to receive and enter apprentices, pass fellowcrafts and raise masters according to the known and established custom of Ancient Masonry and not otherwise."
This dispensation was received by the officers men- tioned therein, and the record of the first meeting shows that there were also present James Hackley and B. B. Kerehival, resident members, and John Tipton, A. L. Davis, R. L. Britton, John McCorkle and Robt. A. For- scyth, visitors.
Work continued under this dispensation until the 10th day of October of the same year, when a charter was granted and John Tipton was authorized to consti- tute and form Wayne Lodge No. 25, which language in the body of the charter is the first appearance of this name and number together, but which has ever since remained the title of the Lodge which to-day exists un- der that name. The charter is dated at Madison, Indi- ana, and bears the signatures of the following grand of- ficers : John Sheets, Grand Master; Jonathan Jennings, D. G. M .; Thomas Posey, S. G. W .; John H. Farnham, J. G. W .; William C. Keene, G. S. On November 17th the Lodge was duly instituted under the charter and the officers installed were Alexander Ewing, W. M .; John Tipton, S. W .; B. B. Kirchival, J. W .; Chas. W. Ewing,
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Secy .; A. L. Davis, Treas .; James Hackley and H. B. Mc- Kean, Sr. and Jr. Deacons, and James Wyman, Steward and Tiler. The first election of officers was held Decem- ber 25, 1823, and John Tipton was elected W. M., which position he continued to hold, through successive elec- tions for five years, and was, in fact, as shown by the records of the Lodge of those days, the active, as well as the nominal head of the organization.
Tipton was known as Gen. John Tipton from serv- ices rendered in the Indian wars; was eventually a U. S. senator from Indiana, and a grand master of Masons, and for many years was in charge of the government land office in Fort Wayne. Alexander Ewing was a revolutionary officer and a keeper of the tavern on the southwest corner of what are now Barr and Columbia streets, and the progenitor of the family of that name, which to the present time, are extensive land owners in this city and vicinity. John P. Hedges had been an em- ploye of the Commissionary Department while the fort was garrisoned, and Benj. Cushman was shortly after elected one of the first associate judges of the Circuit Court. John McCorkle, among those who attended the first meeting, was one of the owners of the town plat of Fort Wayne, and Robt. A. Forscyth was a paymaster in the U. S. army. From this it will be seen of what sturdy characters the early membership of Wayne Lodge was composed, and in this connection, I want to name others who were prominent in the first ten years of the history of the Lodge, as found in its minutes book, and whose names and high character are known by everybody who has any knowledge of the early history of Allen County. Among these are Hugh Hanna, Wm. N. Hood, Cyrus Taber, Joseph Holman, Stephen Coles, Samuel Hanna, Wm. Rockhill, Henry Rudisil, Allen Hamilton, Francis Comparet, Samuel Edsell, and many others.
There seems to have been a fairly continuous ex- istence of the Lodge from the time of its institution until the month of May, 1832, when there was no meeting until the 20th of February, 1833, a period of about eight
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months. At the meeting in February, we find the follow- ing resolution recorded in the minutes book :
"Resolved that whereas, owing to the great ex- citement prevailing in this section of the country and elsewhere against the Masonic institutions and Masonry in general, this Lodge has not held her regular meetings for seven or eight months past, therefore,
"Resolved, by unanimous consent that the pro- ceedings of this meeting shall be as valid and have the same effect as if the same had been done and transacted at the regular meetings of the Lodge, and that the by- laws, rules and regulations in any way contravening any of the proceedings of this meeting is hereby suspended."
They then proceeded with the installation of the officers, who were elected on the 4th day of June pre- ceding, and the meeting closed to meet on the first Mon- day in June next. The minutes are signed by Henry Rudisil, W. M. No regular officers seem to have been present, as the record shows that they were all acting pro tem. The next meeting recorded was on June 3, 1833, and from this until 1856 there seems to have been no regular meetings, although on March 3, 1840, there is a record of a meeting pursuant to public notice, when it is recited, "The regular Masons of Fort Wayne and viein- ity met to take into consideration the propriety of organ- izing to work as a regular Lodge-whereupon, Bro. H. Rudisil presided as W. M. The minutes of the meeting are signed by Chas. E. Sturgis, Secy.
On June 10, 1823, the new Lodge met under dis- pensation and adopted by-laws, some of which may be interesting.
The first article fixed the Monday preceding each full of the moon as the regular meeting night, and such other times as the W. M. may think proper.
Article 2 provided extra meetings may be called at the request of any brother, he paying the expense of the same.
Article 3 fixed the following fees: For initiation $8.00; for passing to the Degree of Fellow Craft, $4.00;
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and for raising to the sublime degree of Master Mason, $3.00; and for admitting a member from any foreign Lodge, $2.00, which fees shall severally be paid in ad- vance.
Article 5 provided fines for non-attendance as fol- lows: W. M., the S. W. and J. W., the Secy. and Treas., 25 cents each-the S. D. and J. D., 121/2 cents each- steward and tiler, 25 cents each, and each member, 121/2 cents each.
Article 7 provides as follows: Any brother coming into the Lodge intoxicated shall, for the first offense, re- ceive a reprimand from the W. M. - for the second he shall be suspended, and for the third offense of the same kind, and for any non-masonic conduct, he shall be ex- pelled if the Lodge thinks proper.
Article 8 provided that all ballotting shall be con- fined to a Master Masons Lodge and in case the votes be equally divided then the W. M. shall have two votes, and in all other cases but one.
Article 11 authorizes the W. M. to draw on the treas- ury for any sum not exceeding $2.00 for charitable pur- poses.
Article 13 provided that the monthly dues should be 25 cents and that visiting brothers should be exempt the first attendance.
On August 18, 1823 W. M. appointed James Hack- ley, B. B. Kerchival and C. W. Ewing a committee to procure books, furniture, etc., and report to the next meeting. At the next meeting held September 15, 1823, the committee reported that they had procured one table and a blank book bound in parchment for a record book and had engaged the making of the balance of the furni- ture and ask further time until the next meeting to con- clude their report. This book, bound in parchment, con- stituted the first record book of the Lodge and is still in existence, and is the authority from which we gleaned most of the information we have been able to secure for this history.
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At the meeting of September 18, 1823, Wm. H. Lilly was appointed as the first representative to the Grand Lodge, and the same night John Tipton was admitted on demit from Pisga Lodge No. 5, Corydon, Indiana. On September 6, 1824, John Tipton was elected as the second representative to the Grand Lodge.
As might be supposed, increase in membership in the new organization was not rapid, and the first petition was received on April 12, 1824, more than a year after the institution of the Lodge under the dispensation, and curiously enough, this petition was rejected on June 7, 1824, on the report of the committee.
The first member to be initiated was Lambert Cush- ovis, who received the First Degree on August 16, 1824.
Among other doings of the Lodge, which hold inter- esting place because of having been the first transaction of their several kinds in the history of Masonry in North- ern Indiana, are the following :
The first financial report was made by a committee on December 13, 1824, and covers the financial condition of the Lodge up to October 13th of that year, and is as follows :
We the committee appointed upon the state of the Lodge funds, after due examination, make the following report, towit :
We find in the Secretary's hands $ 3.311/4
We find in the Treasurer's hands 6.35
We find in arrears due from members 7.50
Total 17.161/4
Lodge debtor to James Wyman, 6.75
Leaving a eredit in favor of the Lodge at this date, October 13, 1824 $10.411/4
A. EWING, R. N. HAISE.
On June 24, 1825, the Lodge held its first celebration of St. John's Day, and the minutes of that date recite:
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"The Lodge was called from labor to refreshment for the space of three hours, when a procession was formed and marched to the church where an oration was deliv- ered by John Tipton, W. M .; from thence they marched to the house of Bro. James Wyman and partook of a din- ner which was prepared for the occasion, and from thence to the Lodge room to resume their labors and con- clude the business of the evening."
This seems to have been a master stroke on the part of the Lodge, for at the next meeting, held on July 4, 1825, they acted upon six petitions, and on motion it was resolved that the committee of arrangements for the an- niversary of St. John's Day, the 24th of June last, call on the orator of that day for a copy of the oration and cause it to be published.
This would seem to imply that the community en- joyed newspapers in those days somewhat as they do now, but there probably was no newspaper nearer than Indianapolis at that time, for we find on a similar oc- cassion on June 27, 1826, when Bro. Tipton delivered an- other oration, that the resolution was "That a commit- tee be appointed to wait on Bro. John Tipton and pro- cure a copy of the oration delivered by him on the 24thı of June inst., that the same be published in the Indiana Journal a newspaper printed at Indianapolis.
While referring to this latter celebration of St. John's Day, when the Lodge was three years old, it might be interesting to the members to know that Ma- sons of those days were not unmindful of the inner man any more than are the brothers of today, while engaged in their larger work of endeavoring to uplift the moral tone of the community, and in the minutes of June 9, 1826, we find this recorded: "That the committee of ar- rangements be instructed to inquire of the tavern keepers what a dinner can be furnished at, for 20 to 40 persons with domestic liquors." And at the next meeting, which by the way, was on the next night, June 10, unlike most committees, in that short time the committee was fully able to report, and the minutes read :
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"The committee of arrangements reported sundry proposals to furnish the dinner at the ensuing anniver- sary of St. John's Day. On motion resolved that the Lodge close with the proposal of Bro. Alexander Ewing to furnish the dinner for $1.00 each."
While referring to these St. John's Day celebrations, it might be appropriate at this time to call attention to the first invitation, shown by the records to have been extended to neighboring Lodges. The minutes of June 2, 1828, when our Lodge was five years old, show the fol- lowing :
"On motion resolved that there be a committee of three appointed to invite the brethren of the Wabash to partake with the brethren of this Lodge on the festival of St. John's Day on the 24th inst. * Whereupon Bros. L. G. Thompson, Hugh Hanna and Wm. Rockhill were appointed as such committee."
The first Masonic burial in Fort Wayne was that of Capt. James Hackley, which occurred on May 26, 1826, when the brethren were confronted with the proposition of whether they might, with propriety, extend the honors of a Masonic burial to their deceased brother, who had committed suicide. From the minutes of that date we note :
"The Lodge was then opened in the Third Degree of Masonry, at which time the W. M. informed the Lodge that the purpose of the meeting was to take into consid- eration the propriety of giving Bro. James Hackley, who had committed suicide, the burial of a Mason. The Lodge adjourned for the space of one hour. Upon con- vening again, on motion it was resolved that the visit- ing brethren present be requested to discuss and be per- mitted to vote as members on any subject that may come before the Lodge relative to the occasion of the present meeting. The following resolution was then offered and adopted by the Lodge: Resolved that the Lodge truly deprecates the untimely end of Bro. James Hackley, and disapproves of his last act, but for the gratification of Mrs. Hackley and at her special request, the Lodge
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came to the resolution to inter the remains of the late Bro. Hackley with Masonic honors at 6 o'clock in the evening, and that the decision of the Lodge be made pub- lic at the place of burial. At which time the Lodge formed a procession and marched to the place of burial and interred the remains of the deceased brother with the usual ceremony, and marched from thence to the Lodge room."
The first public installation of officers occurred on December 27, 1825, and was held at the home of Hugh Hanna. The minutes of the meeting of December 10th contain the following resolution on the subject :
"On motion, Resolved that the Masons meet in the Lodge room on Tuesday, the 27th inst., at 12 o'clock, and walk in procession to the house of Bro. H. Hanna, and after the delivery of the oration we have a public instal- lation of officers for the ensuing six months."
Then in the minutes of the meeting under date of December 27th, we find :
"The Lodge was called from labor to refreshment for the space of two hours, when a procession was form- ed and marched to the house of Bro. Hugh Hanna, when an oration was delivered by Bro. Chas. W. Ewing, and a public installation of officers for the ensuing six months, and from thence to the Lodge room and resumed their labors and concluded the business of the evening."
A committee of two was appointed to wait on Bro. Chas. W. Ewing to return the thanks of the Lodge and request of him a copy of the oration delivered by him on that occasion for publication.
While the minutes of the meetings of these first ten years of the existence of Wayne Lodge are filled with interesting evidence of the strong character of the mem- bers and the high moral tone of the membership, among which are investigations of alleged immoral character, trials of brothers for unmasonic conduct, in which the evidence heard is set out as completely as in a court record, and one cannot read the same without being filled with respect for the earnest high-minded character of the
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members-yet perhaps the most interesting fact disclosed by the record is the earnest struggle made by the Lodge almost from the organization, to provide itself with a Lodge home. The first mention of this subject is found in the minutes of July 9, 1825, which is as follows :
"Bros. Joseph Holman, John Winchell, H. Todd, A. L. Davis and C. W. Ewing were appointed a committee to inquire and report Monday evening as to the propriety and means of erecting a Lodge home."
Two days afterward, on July 11th, we find the fol- lowing report :
"Bro. Chas W. Ewing, from the committee appointed to inquire into the expediency of building a Lodge room, asked leave to report that from the present state of the Lodge funds, said committee deem it inexpedient at this time to attempt to build a Lodge room. On mo- tion and second, the Lodge concurred in said report." This did not discourage our brethren, however, for six months later, on January 2, 1826, the subject is again revived, and we find the following entry in the minutes: "On motion, Resolved that a committee be appointed to inquire into the propriety of building a Masonic Hall, and that they report at our regular communication in March next, which committee consisted of Bros. Holman, Hanna and Carter." On January 6th it was reported that the actual worth of the Lodge was $104.16, and on February 5th ,we find this entry :
"The committee to whom was referred the expedi- ency or inexpediency of building a Lodge room, asked leave and reported, which report was laid on the table."
"A motion was made and seconded for the Lodge to close with the proposal of Judge Archer for the building of a Ldge room, which motion was rejected by the Lodge," and the further consideration of the report was postponed until the next regular meeting. At the same meeting, on motion it was "resolved that there should be a committee appointed, consisting of five mem- bers to procure a lot for the Lodge, which committee consisted of Bros. Benj. B. Kerchival, Joseph Holman, H.
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Hanna, Chauncy Carter and A. L. Davis, and to report at our next regular meeting." On April 3, 1826, the minutes show that "Bro. Anthony L. Davis, of the com- mittee, to whom was referred the subject of procuring a lot for the Lodge, reported that they had examined the town plat, and inquired of the proprietors on the subject of donating a lot to the Lodge, and Mr. McCorckle's an- swer of the proprietors submitted, and asked leave for further time to report until the next regular meeting, and leave was given." A resolution was then passed that the report of the committee at the last meeting on the subject of procuring a Lodge room continue to lie on the table. Nothing is then heard of the matter for two months, until June 5th, when the committee on lot asked further time, and this is the last that is heard of that committee, which apparently died, and its effort to pro- vide the new Lodge with a home.
On December 10, 1827, a year and a half later, a new committee was appointed, and we make the following quotation from the minutes of that date:
"On motion, Resolved that a committee be ap- pointed, whose duty it shall be to take into consideration the propriety of purchasing a lot and building a Masonic Hall, and report all of the information as to the terms a lot could be procured at. Also the price of building and the amount of available funds in possession of the Lodge. Said committee shall have discretionary power to loan the money at interest or dispose of it to the best advantage until it is wanted, whereupon the W. M. ap- pointed Samuel Hanna, A. L. Davis, A. Hamilton, Joseph Holman, I. B. Duret, Moses Thorp and John Tipton such committee."
This committee seems to have made more progress than the preceding committees, for on March 3, 1828, in the minutes of that date, we find the following report :
"The committee appointed to inquire into the ex- pediency of ascertaining at what price a lot might be purchased for the erection of a Masonic Hall, reported they had purchased a half lot for that purpose and had
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paid one-third of the purchase money, to-wit, $5.00, which lot is opposite the residence of Bro. Joseph Holman."
On motion of Bro. Samuel Hanna, Resolved that the foregoing committee be instructed to purchase the whole of said lot, to-wit, Bro. Holman's part, and pay the whole amount due the proprietor, or purchase a different lot and pay for the same, after disposing of that part of the lot now owned by the Lodge.
Whether this committee was ever able to carry out its instructions, or whether this original purchase was disposed of and another made, is not disclosed by the records, but evidently some lot was at the time procured, and the committee died. In November of the same year we find in the minutes of November 3d, the following:
On motion, Resolved that a committee of three be ap- pointed to ascertain what funds can be procured for the purpose of building a Masonic Hall in Fort Wayne by subscription or otherwise." The committee appointed consisted of Bros. Comparet, Davis and Thompson. On December 1st., of the same year, one month later, we find that a "committee of three was appointed to make a draft or drafts of a building for a Masonic Hall and re- port at our next regular communication. Said committee to consist of Bros. Ballard, Caswell and Thompson."
On February 2, 1829, we find the following minutes :
"The committee appointed to ascertain the probable expense of building a Masonic Hall, reported the same would cost $1,721.00. On motion of Bro. S. Hanna, the following resolution was adopted, to-wit, Resolved that Bros. H. Hanna, W. N. Wood, Ballard, Gerrard, Joseph Holman and D. Archer be appointed a committee to con- tract with some person for the building of a Masonic Hall, and that said committee shall have the right to re- ceive the present subscription raised for that purpose, which, together with any funds belonging to this Lodge are hereby appropriated for the purpose of building said Lodge and subject to be drawn by the committee, and the Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay over the same to their order, and be it further resolved that the afore-
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said committee be authorized to purchase a lot in the town of Fort Wayne for the purpose of building said Hall on, and have the right to sell the one now owned by this Lodge to pay for the one procured if they think it advisable, and should the funds of said Lodge not be sufficient to pay for the erection and finishing of such a Lodge, the committee may give a lien on the same to the builders as security."
Further evidence of the earnestness of the members to carry out this project of securing a Hall, is shown by the following minutes of this same meeting of February 2nd :
"On motion of Bro. Hamilton, it was resolved by the members of this Lodge to pursue the building of Masonic Hall," and on motion, "Bros. Hamilton, Hood and Davis were appointed a committee to address a respectful let- ter to Messrs. Barr and McCorkle on the subject of do- nating a lot to this Lodge."
That a lot was purchased is shown by the minutes of March 2, 1829, wherein we find that on motion of Bro. Hamilton, it was "resolved that the Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay to John McCorkle, John T. Barr and Joseph Holman any money that may be due on the lot purchased for the use of this Lodge," and a committee of three was appointed to call on the County Board of Jus- tices and make arrangements to borrow the county money to aid in building the Masonic Hall, which committee con- sisted of Bros. Davis, H. Hanna and Hood.
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