A history of freemasonry in Indiana from 1806 to 1898, Part 11

Author: McDonald, Daniel, b. 1833
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Indianapolis : By authority of the Grand Lodge
Number of Pages: 614


USA > Indiana > A history of freemasonry in Indiana from 1806 to 1898 > Part 11


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ANOTHER REMODELING AUTHORIZED.


The committee then presented plans contemplating a re- modeling of the building at a cost of $54,000. The Com- mittee on Ways and Means reported in favor of the plan suggested by the trustees, and recommended the appoint- ment of Brethren Harvey G. Hazelrigg, John M. Bram- well, Christian Fetta, E. W. H. Ellis and Ralph S. Gregory as legal agents, with full power and authority to borrow such sums of money, not to exceed $75,000, as they might deem necessary for the purpose aforesaid, to be expended in remodeling and improving the Grand Lodge Hall and buildings in such manner and upon such plans as in their discretion they might deem best. And thereupon the work of building and remodeling "for the third and last time" was entered upon with commendable zeal. On the 24th of May, 1875, the corner-stone was laid with appropriate Ma- sonic ceremonies by the officers of the Grand Lodge, Lucien A. Foote being the Grand Master. A lengthy and very in- teresting address on the principles and teachings of Free- masonry was delivered by Brother John Caven, Mayor of the city of Indianapolis. This address and a full report of the proceedings are printed in the proceedings of the annual communication of the Grand Lodge, 1875.


The "remodeling committee" was organized by appoint- ing H. G. Hazelrigg chairman and John M. Bramwell sec- retary. After adopting plans, they reported that they had secured a loan at 9 per cent. interest, payable semi-annu- ally, for $75,000, and out of forty-nine bids had let the con- tract for the erection of the building to Julian W. Hinckley to furnish all the material and complete the building for the sum of $67,422 by the first day of November, 1875.


When the Committee on Ways and Means got hold of the report and plans and specifications, they discovered that in the new building there was no Grand Lodge Hall (or home), and this omission, the committee believed, was not in ac- cordance with the views of a large majority of the brethren. But the committee did not despair of' having a Grand Lodge Hall-a "Masonic Home"-and that, too, they said, at no


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HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.


distant day. They recommended, however, that no imme- diate action be taken, and also suggested that the course pursued by the "remodeling committee" be concurred in, as any change in the plans at that time might prove disas- trous. The report was concurred in, but quite a bitter feel- ing had been aroused, and when Brother R. D. Brown offered a resolution authorizing the building committee to erect a building south, one hundred feet, more or less, front- ing on Tennessee street, and giving them authority to con- tract a further loan to pay for its erection, it was adopted with a shout of approval. Thirty cents dues were assessed on the membership throughout the State for each of the years 1875-6 to pay for its erection.


The building committee reported at the next meeting that the work was completed about the first of April, 1876, and was duly accepted by the agents. The work, in its progress, the committee said, was carefully supervised, both in material and workmanship, by the architect, and had been completed from foundation to cap-stone in a workman- like manner. The temple thus erected, they confidently believed, for the amount of the investment, was unsur- passed in excellence of design and finish by any in the land, and was a credit to the Fraternity throughout the State.


The total cost was $83,292.35. The Grand Lodge Hall was completed at the same time, at a total cost of $32,- 220.44, or a grand total of $115,512.79 for both. This amount was afterwards increased in extras and furnishings to over $120,000. The amount of indebtedness at that time was over $100,000, which seemed to be more than the Grand Lodge could hope to pay, but, with a determination equal to the emergency, the task was finally accomplished. Annual meetings were dispensed with, and for eight years the Grand Lodge met but once in every two years, which resulted in a saving during the omitted years of about $10,000 each. The dues were raised to $1 on each affili- ated Mason in the State, and so within the period of about ten years the entire amount was paid and the Grand Lodge was out of debt, with a handsome surplus in the treasury, and property worth nearly a quarter of a million dollars!


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HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.


This was the most exciting and trying period the Grand' Lodge ever passed through. Among those who little un- derstood the true situation much ill feeling was manifested against the building committee, which mostly fell on the chairman, Past Grand Master Hazelrigg. This feeling seemed to be so deep-seated and general that he announced to the Grand Lodge that his time as trustee expired at that session, and, owing to failing health, he did not deem it ad- visable to attempt to render further service to the Grand Lodge. Whatever mistakes had been made in the remodel- ing and construction of the new building had been mistakes of the head, and not of the heart, and, as one perfectly familiar with all that was done in connection with the build- ing, it is a satisfaction to be able to place on record here that the untiring labors of Brother Hazelrigg, bringing in their train trials, tribulations and annoyances hard to bear for one of his age, were performed entirely in the interest of the Grand Lodge, with which he had been so long connected and which he loved so well. He was succeeded as trustee by Brother John Caven, of Indianapolis. During this ses- sion of the Grand Lodge the following resolution was intro- duced :


"Resolved, That it is the sense of this Grand Lodge that. those having charge of the construction of the Grand Ma- sonic Temple have extravagantly exceeded their rightful powers, and thereby loaded us with a large unnecessary debt."


This resolution was not adopted, but the feeling exhib- ited on its discussion sank deep into Brother Hazelrigg's heart. The writer of this ate dinner with him at the Grand Hotel, Indianapolis, that day, and, in conversation in regard to it, he said the action had the effect of a vote of censure, and with tears in his eyes and a faltering voice he said he did not ever expect to be in the Grand Lodge again. He died in December following.


WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' HOMES.


F ROM time to time, since as far back as in the forties, the Grand Lodge has had before it various propositions for the establishment of "Manual Labor Schools," "Widows' and Orphans' Homes," and similar projects, none of which were ever adopted, although all, or nearly all, were reported upon favorably. In 1842 the following resolution was adopted:


"Resolved, That the lodges subordinate to this Grand Lodge be requested to give their views at our next meeting on the subject of attempting to establish a school on the manual labor system, and the best manner of obtaining a farm for that purpose for the education of the orphan chil- dren of Masons, and that they propose the best plan for such an establishment."


This proposition was made the special order for the next day, when, after free and full discussion, it was unani- mously


"Resolved, That the plan of a manual labor school re- ported to this Grand Lodge by Grand Master Philip Mason be adopted by this Grand Lodge, but, for the want of means, all further action on the matter be indefinitely postponed."


The plan proposed by Grand Master Mason was elab- orate, and if it could have been carried out would have been one of the greatest institutions of its kind in this country. It embraced the purchase of a large tract of land, say five hundred acres, to be operated on the joint-stock plan, in which the Grand Lodge and each of the subordinate lodges were partners. These, with such private stockholders as could be procured, were to constitute the company. The capital stock was to consist of about fifty thousand dollars in shares of twenty-five or thirty dollars each, to be sub- scribed and paid for in yearly payments, the school to be


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under the management of a board of directors to be elected annually by the stockholders. The directors were to be re- quired to visit the school at least once a year, and to make an annual report to the Grand Lodge embracing all matters connected with the school. The teachers, as well as the pupils, were expected to labor six hours each day, and to be paid by the piece, or for amount of work done or labor per- formed. The theory of the plan was that "information to the great mass of mankind is only beneficial as it can be ap- plied in the acquiring of a living, and that it is the advan- tage that knowledge gives in supplying the wants and de- sires of our nature that prompts men to study."


For the purpose of ascertaining the sense of the subor- dinate lodges and members of the Craft on the plan pro- posed, Brother Hugh Ferry was appointed agent for the purpose of procuring stock and donations; and he was in- structed, so soon as $25,000 was subscribed, to apply to the Legislature for an act of incorporation, and on procuring a charter he should proceed to select a site for the institution and report his doings to the next meeting of the Grand Lodge.


The year following the agent reported that he had visited all the lodges in the State, except LaPorte, and had circu- lated seventy-two subscription papers. The whole amount he had received was $207.62, of which $114 was paid for traveling expenses, leaving a net balance of $93.62 with which to begin the work! The whole amount subscribed was $1,810, of which only the amount above 'stated was paid. The Grand Lodge thereupon ordered that the agent be discharged from any further duties as such, and that the effort to purchase and improve a farm and establish thereon a manual labor school for the benefit of the widows and orphans of deceased indigent brethren be suspended for the present, and that the sums paid to the agent be refunded.


Later a proposition was presented and adopted looking to the free education of the children of indigent Masons by and within the limits of the several lodges, and the lodges within this jurisdiction were requested to communicate in- ยท formation in regard to educational matters within their


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jurisdiction, and their views as to the best plan of carrying out the scheme of the Grand Lodge in that respect. The committee reported that only eighteen lodges within its en- tire jurisdiction had taken any action on the subject; that thirteen of these recommended the furnishing of aid to the needy children of indigent and worthy Masons, and others in securing a competent education in the institutions of learning within the jurisdictions of the respective lodges. This exceedingly limited and meager action of one hundred and ninety-nine lodges on a subject of such importance was a matter of surprise and regret to the committee, but they felt constrained to make one more effort, and recommended the adoption of the following resolutions, which were con- curred in by the Grand Lodge:


"Resolved, That this Grand Lodge, in order to diffuse the benefits of education as widely as possible, especially among the children and orphans of Masons, will hereafter dis- tribute its unappropriated revenue, as it may accrue, among the subordinate lodges, to be appropriated by them respec- tively for the sole purpose of education, in such just and equitable ratio as the Grand Lodge shall determine.


"Resolved, That a standing committee be appointed to propose a suitable plan for carrying out the above resolu- tion, whose duty it shall be to make distribution of the sur- plus revenue of the Grand Lodge agreeably to that resolu- tion, subject to the approval of the Grand Lodge."


No committee was appointed, and no action, so far as is known, was taken as directed in the resolutions.


The question was not again seriously considered until 1871, when Brother Frank S. Devol, of New Albany, pre- sented a series of whereases and resolutions to the effect that there existed a necessity for a Masonic Widows' and Or- phans' Home within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge, stating that there were about twenty-five thousand Masons in the State whose Masonic standing, influence and liber- ality would cause them to feel deeply interested in the founding and sustaining of such an institution, worthy of the pride and charity of the Brotherhood, and recommend- ing that a committee of one from each Masonic district be


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appointed to confer with the lodges and, as far as possible, each individual brother in their respective districts, and ascertain their wishes and feelings on the subject, and, after canvassing the matter as thoroughly as possible, said com- mittee should decide among themselves whether such an institution could be built and maintained by the Order in this State. The committee were to receive subscriptions, proposals for a site, and the Home was to be located in the country, or near the city or town offering the best induce- ments therefor. The select committee to whom the propo- sition was referred reported that it was inexpedient to take any action on the subject at that time.


At the session of the Grand Lodge in 1876 Brother Stephen Albert presented a similar proposition, differing, however, in this, that the Grand Master was to be empow- ered to appoint a committee of one or more to visit every lodge in the jurisdiction and ascertain what they would be willing to give to establish and maintain said institution. The Grand Secretary was also to be instructed, in the name of the Grand Master, to ask the different railroad companies to issue a free pass to each member of the committee in such district wherein he was to work, "and if they refuse, see if he can get half-fare"! The special committee to whom the proposition was referred reported that they had given the resolution their careful attention, and they believed the mat- ter worthy and highly commendable, but they were of the opinion that, owing to the then status of the minds of the people and the financial condition of the country, further action should be postponed until the next annual meeting, which was accordingly done.


At the next meeting Frank S. Devol was Grand Master, and in his address he again brought the matter before the Grand Lodge and urged that action be taken at that session. The proposition was referred to a special committee, who reported that it would be unwise and inexpedient to take any action which would levy or tend to levy a contribution upon the subordinate lodges. The committee recom- mended, however, that a committee of nine brethren, of which Brother Devol was to be made chairman, be ap-


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pointed, who should have power, so far as the Grand Lodge could grant it, to raise funds and proceed to build said Widows' and Orphans' Home, under such rules and regula- tions as they might adopt, subject to the approval of the Grand Lodge. These resolutions were adopted and the committee was appointed, as follows: Frank S. Devol, William Hacker, Harvey G. Hazelrigg, Martin H. Rice, Christian Fetta, Lucien A. Foote, Daniel McDonald, Stephen Albert and N. R. Peckinpaugh. Not being in favor of the proposition to attempt the construction of said Home as a Grand Lodge enterprise, Daniel McDonald re- signed as a member of the committee, and the vacancy was filled by the appointment of Henry G. Thayer, of Ply- mouth. The committee met in July following and organ- ized the "Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Infirmary Asso- ciation of Indiana," by the election of Frank S. Devol, president, William Hacker, vice-president, L. A. Foote, sec- retary, H. G. Hazelrigg, treasurer, and Martin H. Rice, general agent. Owing to the "hard times" and the finan- cial embarrassments of the Grand Lodge, the president stated that the association had resolved not to actively urge the matter at that time. Since then nothing has been done, and in the meantime the vice-president and treasurer have died, and as the president is sorely afflicted with an incura- ble malady, the project, so far as that organization is con- cerned, may be considered at an end.


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INCREASE AND DECREASE OF MEMBERSHIP.


F IGURES and statistics are usually considered flat, stale and unprofitable, but the following, it is believed, with the accompanying comments, will be of interest to the Fra- ternity, especially in the years to come. The following table, taken from the annual reports of the Grand Lodge, shows the increase and decrease in the membership of this jurisdiction during the past forty years, with some of the causes that probably produced them :


Year.


Total.


In- crease.


Year.


Total. . 26,684 .


In- crease.


De- crease.


1856


7,903 .


463


1874 . . 27,584 . . 9.0. .


1857 .


8,594


691


1875 . . 27,879 .


295 .


1858 .


9,382


788


1876 . . 28,101


2:22 .


1859 .


9,727 .


345


1877 . . 26,665 25,045


. 24,066 979


1862 .


11,314 .


681


1880


. 23,700 366


1863 .


12,244


930


1881


1864


. 13,470 .


1,295


1882


. 23,143


557


1865 .


. 16,254 .


2,784


1883


1884 ?


. 22,548 .


595


1867


20,133


1,868


1885


1868 .


21,205


1,072


1886 }


1869


22,333


1,128


1887


. 23,015


. 424 . .


1870


23,308


975


1888 . . 23,339 .


324 .


1871 .


1889 . 23,890


. 551 . .


1872 .


24,324 . 26,216


1,892


1890 . . 24,776


886 .


1855 .


7,440


863


1873 .


. 468 . .


. 1,436


1860


10,550 10,633


823


83


1878 . 1879 .


1,620


1861 .


1866 .


18,265


2,011


1,016


This table furnishes much food for reflection and serious consideration. The Masonic Fraternity passed through the panic and consequent hard times of 1857 to 1860 without being materially affected by it. In 1861, the first year of the war, there came a lull, and the increase of members dropped from 823 the previous year to 83. The next year, however, the increase was up to the average, and there was a steady increase from year to year until 1865, when it reached 2,784, the highest in any one year in the history of the Grand Lodge.


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HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.


Why was this so? A great many lodges in the early part of the war had almost entirely suspended work; most of the young men and eligible material out of which Masons were usually made had gone to the war; financial matters were unsettled and business disrupted, except as to the man- ufacture of such things as were used in the army; society was much broken up, and social organizations of all kinds seemed to be generally demoralized. The Masonic Institu- tion, however, as indicated by the foregoing figures, never made so many Masons in the same length of time as during the four years of the war. There was a cause for this re- markable growth during a period in which business, finan- cial matters and social organizations in general were broken up and prostrated: but what that reason was is, of course, a matter of conjecture. The following facts, however, may throw some light on the subject:


About the beginning of the war the agitation of the ques- tion of the uniformity of work was at its height. It was the all-absorbing question, and served to keep the organiza- tion prominently before the public, as well as enthusing the "workers" in particular and the Craft in general. Schools of instruction were held in many of the lodges. Numerous District Deputy Masters were appointed, who visited and instructed the lodges in their various districts, and the "new work," as it was called, having been adopted by the Grand Lodge, district meetings were held at convenient points, the work exemplified, banquets spread, speeches made, and music and song in praise of the Ancient Craft made the welkin ring throughout the entire jurisdiction.


At that time the Masonic Order had only as a competitor the Odd Fellows, which then had not attained to that no- toriety it now enjoys. The Knights of Pythias, which has made such wonderful progress in membership in the past few years, was not then generally known, nor were the other numerous fraternal insurance and benevolent societies that have so suddenly grown into notoriety, heard of at that time. These were the conditions that existed then, and as


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men were seeking membership in fraternal organizations, there was a general knocking at the doors of Masonic lodges, with the result as above stated.


In 1870 there was a slight falling off in the number of applicants, for which there was no apparent cause.


In 1872, with two exceptions, the increase in member- ship (1,892) was the greatest it had ever been.


In 1873 the great panic came on; business affairs became very much unsettled, and the cry of "hard times" was heard on every hand. Masonry felt it the same as everything else, and a big drop in membership occurred, the increase being less by 1,200 than it was in 1872.


In 1874 the Institution rallied, and the increase went up to 900, about 500 more than in 1873. Here began the most serious trouble the Grand Lodge ever had, and which came near creating a stampede from its ranks that might, had it not been for a few of the faithful who stood in the breach until the storm was over, have proved extremely disastrous. The trouble came about in this way :


The Grand Lodge had ordered the trustees to "remodel" the Grand Lodge building. In doing so they had really torn down the old structure and erected a new building at a heavy expense. In the new temple no provision was made for a room or hall sufficiently large to accommodate the an- nual sessions of the Grand Lodge. This created much ill feeling, and, amidst the excitement, at the next session of the Grand Lodge a resolution was passed by a large ma- jority ordering the erection of the addition in which is the present Grand Lodge Hall. This added largely to the in- debtedness, bringing it up to nearly $100,000. To provide means to pay it, an assessment of $1 on each member in the State was made. This brought in a new element of discord, which later on made itself perceptibly felt. There was a decrease for that year of 1,436, which was supplemented in 1878 by a further decrease of 1,620, the greatest falling off in any one year that had ever occurred in the history of the Grand Lodge.


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HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.


The year following (1879) the decrease was about 1,000. That year the Grand Lodge ordered that, until the debt of about $125,000 was paid, only biennial sessions should be held, and so, between 1880 and 18SS, but one session was held in every two years.


At the meeting in 1887 the Grand Lodge began to re- cover its lost energy, the report showing an increase for that year-the first in seven years-of 424. Since that time there has been a steady and uniform increase in member- ship, as shown in the annual reports.


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PENALTIES FOR NON-PAYMENT OF DUES.


A MONG the numerous questions of law and jurispru- dence that have been almost constantly before the Grand Lodge ever since its organization up to the present time, none has been a more persistent bone of contention than the criminal code, especially that part of it relating to the non-payment of lodge dues, the penalties prescribed for the offense, the status of the delinquent member, and what removes the sentence of expulsion or definite or indefinite suspension. Whether this much-mooted question is yet finally settled, after eighty years of wrangling and jangling, cannot now be definitely stated.


The candidate, on his admission into the Fraternity, is required to pledge himself to faithfully obey all the laws, rules and regulations of the Order, especially the by-laws of the particular lodge to which he may belong. One of the laws or regulations in every regular and well-governed lodge is a provision fixing the amount of dues to be charged against each member, and when they shall be paid. When these charges become due and the member fails or refuses to pay them, he is guilty of a Masonic offense for obligating himself to pay the same and then neglecting to do so. In many lodges, in the early times, there being no rule of the Grand Lodge regulating the matter of dnes, the delinquent was considered suspended by operation of law, without the formality of being regularly charged, proven guilty, and the penalty affixed by a majority vote of the lodge. The Grand Lodge, however, did not long recognize this mode of procedure as being exactly the right method, and enacted that-


"No Mason can be reprimanded, suspended or expelled, for any cause whatever, except upon written charges and


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specifications, and ten days notice of the time and place of the trial; that all charges must be in writing, signed by the party making them, and must be presented at a stated meet- ing, read in open lodge, and spread upon the record, and a true copy of the charges sent to the accused, with date of trial."


In the early history of the Grand Lodge suspension or expulsion for the non-payment of dues operated only as to the lodge to which the accused belonged. The member was simply suspended or expelled from his own lodge, and could converse Masonically, and visit other lodges by per- mission, if he wished to do so. The fact of his suspension was certified to the Grand Lodge, and, under a rule for many years in force, his name was published in some desig- nated newspaper. The delinquent could only be reinstated by the Grand Lodge, and if it did not do so, no matter if the delinquent dues were paid and all cause for the infliction of the penalty removed, the lodge to which he belonged could not restore him.




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