USA > Indiana > A history of freemasonry in Indiana from 1806 to 1898 > Part 13
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 | Part 36 | Part 37
Brother Woollen, in his "Biographical and Historical Sketches," says of him: "Governor Whitcomb was an ac- tive Freemason. He was the first man knighted in In- diana, the honor being conferred upon him May 20, 1848. Raper Commandery was organized in his house, and for some time held its meetings there. He was proud of his connection with Masonry; in his affections Masonry stood only second to his church."
As chairman of the committee at the meeting of the Grand Lodge in 1825, above referred to, he reported "That
152
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
in the proceedings of the different Grand Lodges and other foreign communications, which are numerous and exten- sive, they have not been able to discover anything worthy of the particular consideration of your committee, more than the usual fraternal interchange of proceedings and salutations, except a communication from the Grand Lodge of Georgia recommending the erection of monuments to the memory of the late distinguished Generals Greene and Pulaski in the city of Savannah, and divers resolutions from the Grand Lodges of several States making sundry appro- priations for paying a just tribute of respect to the memory of our late illustrious Brother George Washington, by the erection of a monument near his remains at Mount Ver- non."
Resolutions recommending the brethren of the State to contribute for the objects named were adopted.
GENERAL W. JOHNSON was the chairman of the committee in 1828. He reported that he found among the papers a circular letter from the Grand Master of Louisiana pro- pounding the following questions:
"First .- Is, or is not the Grand Lodge of each State supreme within such State?
"Second-Is it competent for the Grand Lodge of one of those States to institute lodges within another State in which a regular Grand Lodge already exists!"
He recommended the following, which was adopted, and which has since been the law of this and all other Grand Lodges in this country:
"Resolved, That each Grand Lodge is, and should be and remain, supreme within its own State. That no other Grand Lodge should interfere with such exclusive privilege, or grant dispensations or charters within another State in which a Grand Lodge is regularly organized."
JOHN TIPTON was chairman of the committee in 1831. After examining the proceedings and documents, he said: "Masonry appears to be flourishing, notwithstanding the unjustifiable opposition set up against it; and confirms the belief that if Masons live up to the principles of the Order they have nothing to fear;" and added: "Your committee
153
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
do not discover anything in the documents referred to them that requires special notice from the Grand Lodge."
In 1832, DANIEL KELSO, chairman of the committee, said : "From the documents placed in the hands of the committee, Masonry appears to be gaining ground, notwithstanding the powerful and unjustifiable opposition against it; and it is the firm belief of your committee that nothing but a strict adherence to the principles of the Order is requisite for its future welfare."
In 1835, SHEPHERD WHITMAN, chairman, said: "Your committee are highly pleased to find in these documents substantial evidence of the growing prosperity of our Insti- tution in those places. Although the ruthless tongue of slander has attempted to fix an indelible stain upon her very name, yet she wears innocence for her robes and integrity for her ornaments. Fixed on such a basis, long will she en- dure to bless and felicitate future generations in all time to come." He found nothing calling for the action of the Grand Lodge.
In 1840, ISAAC BARTLETT said: "From the general tenor of the proceedings submitted to us, your committee are pleased to say they afford much ground for congratulation to the Masonic family, as presenting a most favorable state- ment of the prosperity of the Craft throughout the coun- try."
In 1841, W. H. MARTIN said: "The committee are highly gratified to find from the tenor of these documents that the sun of Masonry is fast dispelling the clouds that once cast a gloom over her prospects, and that there is a general mani- festation of an increase in the prosperity of the Order throughout the country."
In 1843, MICHAEL G. BRIGHT was the chairman. The committee advocated the representative system between the Grand Lodges; recommended that the Grand Master issue a circular upon the subject of Masonry to accompany the pub- lished proceedings of each Grand Communication; depre- cated the practice of receiving promissory notes for the fee necessary to the obtaining of the degrees, instead of de-
154
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
manding, unconditionally, payments therefor in advance before any degrees are given: and further, that the use of distilled spirits in the lodge rooms at the meetings of the lodges is undeniable of evil example and may be productive of pernicious effects: they urgently recommended that in this State the use of such liquors should be expressly for- bidden under any pretense whatever. They recommended that non-affiliated Masons be deprived of all lodge privi- leges.
ALEXANDER C. DOWNEY was the chairman of the commit- tee in 1845. Aside from the perfunctory duties assigned to the committee of reporting upon matters requiring the action of the Grand Lodge, he presented a review of the proceedings of such Grand Lodges as had been received, covering six closely printed pages of the proceedings. This was the first report of the kind that had been made to the Grand Lodge up to that time, and was the key-note of the many voluminous reviews that followed in later years. It is a model of brevity, elegance of diction and good taste, and seems to contain all of special interest in the several Grand Lodges at that time.
This review was followed in 1846 by a similar report by D. P. HOLLOWAY, covering twenty printed pages of the pro- ceedings. The following is an extract from the proceed- ings of the Grand Lodge of Ohio:
"In looking over the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, we are struck with the system and order which char- acterizes that document, being a complete system of the his- tory of Masonry within that State for the past year. And the report of the Committee on Foreign Communications (A. C. Downey) therein contained is the most perfect and best arranged of anything of the kind which has fallen under our notice."
The committee discussed most of the important questions then before the various grand bodies, among which was that of education. There being no public school system in In- diana at that time, there was a general feeling among the Craft that the Grand Lodge ought to provide for the edu- cation, at least, of the orphans of Master Masons. The
155
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
committee said: "We could endow a college that would reflect credit upon the Fraternity, but could we not do more good by commencing at least with common schools under the direct patronage and control of the Master, Wardens, and brethren of each subordinate lodge. Who will be the first to make the experiment?"
Nothing came of it, and in 1850 the State provided for our present unexcelled school system, which did away with any further necessity for the agitation of the school ques- tion by the Grand Lodge.
"The formation of a general Grand Lodge," and the "representative system," were questions that were thor- oughly discussed, but no action was taken by the Grand Lodge.
GEORGE W. WHITMAN, 1847, for the committee, presented a review of ten pages in which he touched upon the moot- ed questions of that day, such as "A General Grand Lodge;" "The issuing of membership certificates by Grand Lodges;" "Recording the Ayes and Nayes;" "Motions to Adjourn and Lay on the Table," etc., which he conceived to be innovations upon ancient usage and ought not to be tolerated or respected. He took occasion to "urge upon the Grand Lodge the great necessity of appointing the Com- mittee on Foreign Communications for the Grand Lodge at the present session" so that they might have time dur- ing the recess to examine and report upon the voluminous documents referred to them. No action, however, was taken.
COLLEY A. FOSTER made the reports for 1848 and 1849, covering for each year ten printed pages. Ilis report was well written, but contained no recommendations on which the Grand Lodge took action.
A. C. DOWNEY presented the review of the proceedings for 1850. Like all his work in that line it was well done, and although covering but twenty-six printed pages, it em- braced everything of special interest occurring in the United States.
156
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
For several years after 1850 until the close of the war, no reviews were made, and very little of importance was presented to the committee for action. In 1872 reviewing the proceedings took a fresh start with a sixty-page report from John Caven, which was doubled in 1876 by E. L. McLallen, and increased in 1884 to 141 pages and 1891 to 151 pages by Wm. Commons: in 1893 to 228 pages by Thomas B. Long, and in 1895 to 262 pages by Wm. Com- mons.
The following is a list of those who have served as chair- man of this important committee since its organization in 1821 to the present time:
ISAAC NAYLOR, 1821. A zealous Mason. Twenty odd years judge of the courts. Prominent in the early history of the State. Died at Crawfordsville, April 26, 1873.
JOHN H. FARNHAM, of Jeffersonville, 1822. Was Grand Lec- turer in 1820: Junior Grand Warden, 1822. He was a member of Posey Lodge at Jeffersonville, and W. M. three years. He dimitted from the lodge in 1826 and removed elsewhere.
ANSEL ABBEY, of New Albany. 1823. Was Grand Pursuivant of the Grand Lodge, 1821.
WILLIAM C. KEEN. Vevay, 1824. Was Grand Secretary, 1819 to 1825. A printer by occupation.
JAMES WHITCOMB, Bloomington. 1825. Governor of Indiana and United States Senator and Commissioner of the General Land Office under President Jackson.
HARVEY GREGG. Indianapolis. 1826, 1827. Senior Grand War- den, 1823; Grand Treasurer. 1826. 1827. 182S. 1829. He was in his earlier life a prominent citizen of the State, and was the first Worshipful Master of Center Lodge, Indianapolis.
GENERAL W. JOHNSON, of Vincennes, 182S. A prominent citi- zen. Established Masonry in Indiana. See sketch elsewhere, under Vincennes.
BETTRUEL F. MORRIS, of Indianapolis, 1829. Long a judge of the Indianapolis circuit, and a public speaker of ability. Grand Orator. 1828.
JAMES MORRISON. of Jeffersonville, 1830. Senior Grand War- den pro tem., 1830.
JOHN TIPTON, Corydon, 1831. Grand Master. See sketch.
DANIEL KELSO, of York, 1832. Grand Master. See sketch.
ZERAH T. PERCIVAL, Lawrenceburg, 1833. Deputy Grand Master. See sketch.
JOHN FINLEY, of Richmond, 1834.
SHEPHERD WHITMAN, of New Albany, 1835. Deputy Grand Master. See sketch.
JOSEPH DUNHAM, of Logansport, 1836. Junior Grand Deacon, 1836.
157
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
CALEB B. SMITH, of Connersville, 1837. Grand Master. See sketch.
AUSTIN W. MORRIS, Indianapolis, 1838. Grand Secretary. See sketch.
S. B. STANTON, Richmond. 1839.
ISAAC BARTLETT, of Logansport, 1840. Grand Master. See sketch.
WILLIAM H. MARTIN, of Rushville, 1841. Grand Secretary, 1841. See sketch.
CHAUNCY CARTER. of Logansport, 1842. Long W. M. of Tip- ton Lodge. An excellent man and Mason.
MICHAEL G. BRIGHT, of Madison, 1843. In his day he was one of the most prominent men in Indiana. He was a lawyer and Democratic politician, and was a member of the convention that framed our present Constitution in 1850. He has been described as above the common size, strongly built up, large head, broad forehead, full face, dark hair and eyes. He was the father of Richard J. Bright, former editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel, and at present Sergeant-at-Arms of the United States Senate.
CHESTER G. BALLARD, of Greencastle, 1844. Senior Grand Deacon, 1844.
ALEXANDER C. DOWNEY, of Rising Sun, 1845, 1850, 1867. Grand Master. See sketch.
DAVID P. HOLLOWAY, of Richmond, 1846. He was editor of the "Richmond Palladium," the leading Whig journal at that time in Eastern Indiana. He was not only an accomplished editor, but was a brilliant speaker as well. He was elected to the State Senate, afterwards to Congress from his district, and in 1861 was appointed Commissioner of Patents, after which he located in Washington City, where he engaged in the practice of the la w.
GEORGE W. WHITMAN, of Cambridge City, 1847. Deputy Grand Master, 18448, 1849. See sketch.
COLLEY A. FOSTER, of Evansville, 1848, 1849. Grand Chaplain. 1849. Deputy Grand Master, 1855. See sketch.
PHILLIP MASON, Connersville, 1851. Grand Master. See sketch.
ELIJAH NEWLAND, of Corydon, 1852. Deputy Grand Master. See sketch.
HENRY C. LAWRENCE, Lafayette, 1853. Grand Master. See sketch.
ANDREW M. HUNT, Indianapolis, 1854.
WILLIAM HACKER, Shelbyville, 1855, 1862, 1863. Grand Mas- ter. See sketch.
SOLOMON D. BAYLESS, of Fort Wayne. 1856, 1857. Grand Master. See sketch.
WILLIAM PELAN, of Connersville, 1858. Grand Chaplain, 1857, 1858, 1859, 1860.
ERASTUS W. H. ELLIS, of Goshen, 1859. Junior Grand Deacon. 1847. Grand Marshal, 1876. See sketch under head of Mis- cellaneous.
158
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
JOHN B. FRAVEL, of LaPorte, 1860, 1869. Grand Master. See sketch.
JOHN LEACH, of New Carlisle, 1864, 1865. Grand Chaplain, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865. 1866, 1867, 1869, 1870.
THOMAS R. AUSTIN, of New Albany, 1861, 1866, 1871. Grand Master. See sketch.
ROBERT M. WEIR, New Albany, 1868. Grand Marshal, 1866. JOHN CAVEN, Indianapolis, 1870, 1872. Grand Lecturer, 1872.
Trustee Grand Lodge twenty years. State Senator and Mayor of Indianapolis.
MARTIN H. RICE, Indianapolis, 1873. Grand Master. See sketch.
DANIEL McDONALD, Plymouth, 1874, 1875. Grand Master. See sketch.
ELISHA L. McLALLEN, of Columbia City, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1880. He was engaged in the banking business at Columbia City. He dropped dead without a moment's warning at his banking office, March 10, 1895. He had taken all the degrees of Masonry rec- ognized in this country; was a ritualist of rare merit, and prob- ably understood the laws, rules and regulations and the sym- bolism and history of the Ancient Craft in all its departments as well or better than many who made greater pretensions to Masonic knowledge than did he. He believed thoroughly in Masonry, and made it the rule and guide of his faith and con- duct in life. Masonry lost a bright and shining light when the spirit of Elisha L. McLallen took its flight to God who gave it. ALBERT P. CHARLES, Seymour, 1874. Grand Master. See sketch.
WILLIAM COMMONS, Union City, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1891, 1894, 1895, 1896.
SIMEON S. JOHNSON, of Jeffersonville, 1885-6, 1887-8, 1889, 1890. Grand Master. See sketch.
THOMAS B. LONG, of Terre Haute, 1892, 1893. Grand Master. See sketch.
NICHOLAS R. RUCKLE, Indianapolis, 1897, 1898. Grand Mas- ter. See sketch.
UNIFORMITY OF WORK AND LECTURES.
IT was about 1860 that the Grand Lodge began to wrestle with the great question of what was then called the "uniformity of work." The necessity for a more uniform system of work and lectures was admitted on all hands, but which was correct among the numerous works taught, and attempted to be taught, by Grand Officers and itinerant lecturers perambulating the country was a question con- cerning which there was a wide difference of opinion. In fact, the discussion of the question for several years revealed the fact that Indiana had no "uniform" or established work, and there seemed to be about as many different kinds of work-except as to what was called the "essen- tials"-as there were lodges in the Grand Jurisdiction! No one could tell where the work in use in this State came from, who brought it here, who was the author of it, or whether it was the genuine 18-carat Webb work or a spuri- ous article !
As far back as 1818 the Grand Lodge attempted to settle the question by adopting the following resolution :
"Resolved, That the Illustrations of Masonry published by Thomas Smith Webb, be adopted for the government of this Grand Lodge, and that they be recommended to be adopted by all the subordinate lodges of the State for the government of the same."
At that time the work-that is, that particular part of it that was understood to contain the principal secrets-was communicated from mouth to ear, and in this manner the secrets of Masonry were supposed to be transmitted. pure and unimpaired, from generation to generation! But. sad to relate, such was not the case. Almost every "bright" Mason became a "lecturer." and he knew he had the correct work, because he got it from so and so, and so and so got it
(159)
160
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
from so and so, and so on back to Webb himself! But as time wore on confusion became worse confounded, and the necessity for a radical change, and the adoption of a uni- form system of work and lectures, was conceded by all.
Many of the old fathers of Masonry, however, who be- lieved they had the true and unadulterated work, opposed any change as being contrary to the Ancient Landmarks and calculated to result in irreparable injury to the Ancient Craft in this jurisdiction. Before the question was finally settled the parties to the controversy became wider and wider apart, and, contrary to the teachings of the rituals about which they were contending, a good deal of crimina- tion and recrimination was indulged in on both sides. All the Masonic papers and magazines in the country and many of the secular publications took up the question and dis- cussed it from various standpoints, and even some enthusi- asts were threatened with charges and expulsion or sus- pension.
Robert Morris, Past Grand Master of Kentucky, was the originator of the idea looking to the general uniformity of work, which he promulgated through a cipher called "Mnemonics," a system so complex that the "brightest" Mason, with the key and full instructions, could hardly de- cipher it, and so the fears of the timid that the profane might get hold of it and discover the "secrets of Masonry" were not well founded! Evidence that these mnemonics contained the genuine Webb work and lectures was pro- duced, and its introduction throughout the State was very rapid, and was fully accomplished within a year or two, and really before it had been adopted and received the official sanction of the Grand Lodge. As a matter of fact, that was the only way it could have been introduced and gen- erally accepted as the original Webb work, with the feeling that then existed against this alleged innovation by a con- -iderable number of prominent Masons throughout the State.
The manner of disseminating the work was to select a number of active working members in each lodge, who
*
161
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
formed a sort of wheel within a wheel. A degree called the "Conservator" was adopted and conferred upon them, and they were obligated to secrecy in regard to everything in connection with the scheme. The degree, however, amounted to nothing beyond a means of recognition, and was soon abandoned. Copies of the mnemonics were fur- nished each member at a price which was deemed suffi- ciently remunerative to prevent the publisher from losing money in its distribution, and the task of deciphering the hieroglyphics was begun at once; frequent meetings were held, at which the work was rehearsed, errors pointed out and corrected, and preparations made for exemplifying the new work in the lodge. As a means of more thoroughly introducing it, lodges of instruction were frequently called, at which one of the brightest conservators would be selected as instructor, and so on at the succeeding meetings until all had an opportunity to show how much they knew about it. In this way it did not take long to thoroughly introduce the work into most of the lodges in the State, and as in nearly every instance the newly elected Master was a conservator, and therefore in favor of the uniform system of work, the Grand Lodge was soon composed of members favorable to the adoption by that body of the proposed change looking to what was then called the Webb work.
In 1860 W. C. Tarkington, then of Bloomington, intro- duced resolutions into the Grand Lodge looking to the ap- pointment of a committee of one from each congressional district who should determine the work and lectures that should be used by subordinate lodges and provide for teach- ing the same. These resolutions were referred to a select committee of three, of which John B. Fravel, of LaPorte, then Junior Grand Warden, was chairman. He had pre- viously taken a lively interest in the subject, and was fully committed in favor of uniformity on the basis of the Webb work. He reported in favor of dividing the State into eleven districts, corresponding with the congressional dis- tricts, and recommended that the delegates to the Grand Lodge from each of said districts at that session select a dis-
162
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
trict Deputy Master; that so soon as said district Deputies should be appointed they should meet together and rehearse the work and lectures; that they might call to their assist- ance any qualified Mason residing in or without the State, whose work and lectures were approved (by them?), to in- struct them; that each subordinate lodge in the district should possess the right to employ said district Deputy Master to exemplify the work and deliver the lectures in their several lodges. These resolutions were adopted and the district Deputies appointed, among whom were such dis- tinguished brethren as Past Grand Masters Thomas R. Aus- tin, William Hacker, John B. Fravel and H. G. Hazelrigg.
This was the action on the part of the Grand Lodge that established "a uniform system of work and lectures in this Grand Jurisdiction!" The Grand Lodge did not say in so many words what that uniform system was, but as the work adopted by the committee was to be the work, that was not necessary! Rob Morris and others had been laboring for years in compiling and arranging the esoteric and exoteric ritual of Webb and Preston, and at that time the work had just been finished.
The resolution stated that "they (the district Deputies) may call to their assistance any qualified Mason residing in or without the State, whose work and lectures are approved, to instruct them!". This was for the purpose and virtually did approve the "Rob Morris work," as it was generally designated, and gave Brother Morris legal authority from the Grand Lodge to disseminate throughout the jurisdic- tion "true Masonic light and knowledge to his uninformed brethren !"
At the same meeting of the Grand Lodge, Thomas R. Austin, who was at that session elected Grand Master, in his report for the committee reviewing the proceedings of other Grand Lodges, devoted considerable space to the ques- tion of uniformity of work as connected with our Grand Lodge. He stated that the importance, the essential im- portance of having but one system of work and lectures in all the lodges in Indiana could not be overestimated. The
. 163
HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
Grand Lodge had from the first ever and uniformly ad- mitted it. He said: "Having looked and examined for ourselves; having read all that is to be found upon this sub- ject in the mass of proceedings before us; having witnessed the practical workings of Masonry under quite a number of lecturers, we feel free to express ourselves in behalf of what is now termed the Webb-Preston work. This work we deem to be the only genuine continuation of the old work that is now in vogue. This we believe from various rea- sons. It has been openly, fairly and boldly exhibited in many of the States for several years past, under charge of national schools of instruction, of which Brother Morris, of Kentucky, is president. Your committee has attended sev- eral of them, and found that every portion of the work and lectures is systematically submitted to an analysis, philolog- ical and historical, which no other system could endure for an hour."
They found all the arguments in favor of the Webb- Preston work, and earnestly recommended its adoption by the Grand Lodge.
At a later meeting of the committee, held at Indianapolis ยท in December, 1860, Rob Morris was again present by in- vitation, and rehearsed and exemplified the work as at the previous meeting. The committee having formerly agreed upon the skeleton or outline of the Webb work as a correct basis, they took up the various subjects that made the filling up, and, after deliberation, adopted them one by one, and then unanimously adopted the whole!
Rob Morris was, by general consent, accorded the honor and distinction of being the originator and promulgator of the reformation that was then sweeping over the entire country, and within the period of a year or two he visited nearly all the lodges in the State, rehearsed and exemplified the work, delivered lectures, repeated poetry, and told stories, which resulted in working up such a degree of en- thusiasm and gave Masonry such a "boom" in Indiana as it had never had before, and surely such as it has never had since. At this session of the Grand Lodge the Committee
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.