USA > Indiana > A history of freemasonry in Indiana from 1806 to 1898 > Part 31
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HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY.
Fraternity, is evidence of the confidence and esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
THOMAS B. LONG, of Terre Haute, was born October 25, 1836, near Mansfield, O. He was school examiner (now called county superintendent) of Vigo county in 1868, 1869 and 1870. He was prosecuting attorney of the Vigo Com- mon Pleas Court from 1857 to 1858. In 1870 he was elected judge of the Vigo Criminal Circuit Court, and served twelve years, ending in 1882.
He has received all of the York and Scottish Rite de- grees recognized in this country, being raised a Master Ma- son and exalted a Royal Arch Mason in 1870; made a Royal Master and Select Master and Knights Templar in 1871, and Scottish Rite to the 32d degree in 1885, and the 33d degree in New York in 1889, and order of High Priesthood 1874.
In the various bodies at Terre Haute he served as Wor- -hipful Master, High Priest, Illustrious Master and Emi- nent Commander. In the Grand Bodies he served as Grand Master, Grand High Priest and Illustrious Grand Master.
He was the author of the Garfield memorial in the Grand Lodge in 1882; author of reports on correspondence in Grand Lodge, 1892-3, and in the Grand Chapter 1880, and from 1884 to 1895, inclusive. He was chairman of the Committee on Jurisprudence in the Grand Lodge in 1894, and wrote the obituaries of General Manson and Dr. New- land in the Grand Lodge in 1895, and of General Cruft in the Grand Commandery in 1883, and was the designer of the Grand Commandery coat-of-arms. He was semi-cen- tennial orator in the Grand Chapter in 1895, and was then appointed Historian, and was also appointed one of three. Historians of the Grand Lodge in 1895. He filled various chairmanships in all the Grand Bodies, including that of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1895-6, and was Worthy Patron of Terre Haute Chapter, 1895 and 1896. He served on committees in General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons in 1877, 1880 and 1894, being chairman of Committee on Doings of General Grand Officers in 1880,
Armar B. Long .
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and one of the Committee on Jurisprudence in 1894, mak- ing a minority report on physical qualifications.
He has, in all the bodies to which he belongs, been an in- dustrious, painstaking and accomplished worker. He is a firm believer in the principle that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well, and that is his rule of action. He is still in the prime and vigor of intellectual and physical manhood, is a congenial and accomplished gentleman, onc whom to know is to respect and admire.
He has written several poems of more than ordinary merit, one of which, as showing his ability in that direction, is inserted here. It was written for and read at the dedica- tion of a Masonic hall in the county in which he lived, on St. John the Baptist's anniversary, a few years ago. It is entitled :
THE DEDICATION.
Hail. Craftsmen! On this thrice auspicious day, Honored and blessed in memory of St. John. We meet a moral corner-stone to lay, And dedicate a temple fitly done.
Here, through long years, beneath the Orient ray. The Sons of Light in faith may labor on,
And love fraternal far and wide extend,
And true relief to all the faithful send.
Here Truth shall triumph over error's sway: Here Justice shall preside with bandaged eyes; Here Mercy's hand the extended sword shall stay, And Charity shall still the orphan's cries. And while the unfeeling great, with proud display, Give grudging alms to almsmen they despise, Our bounty shall be silent and unknown, Except by Him who sits upon the Throne.
Religion, noblest system of mankind.
Shall dwell with us, devoid of sect or creed; And in our heart of hearts we still shall find The love of God from all contention freed. With adoration filling every mind.
With reverence deep, then let our labors speed. And this new temple, and these brothers true, To the great purpose give its fullest due.
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Then bring forth corn-the rich and golden grain,
Wealth of the fruitful earth-and pour it here; When sown it dies, but dies to live again,
And decks and gladdens the succeeding year. So we, when death shall strike us down with pain, And o'er our dust fond friends shall drop a tear, To far more glorious being shall arise, Within the eternal portals of the skies.
Now with libation holier far than those That heathen custom made in some dark day, Pour out the wine whose generous color glows With the rich hues of autumn's flush array, It typifies refreshment. but it flows For us with no intemperate display;
But round our hearts bids one blest memory twine, Of Him who once turned water into wine.
And pour out oil, in consecration due- Symbol of prosperous life and happiness; Token of gladness to the just and true; Of joy to all, of freedom from distress. And may its use bring back to us anew How once it moved the Son of Man to bless- The while the holy benediction fell Upon the head who loved the Lord so well.
And thus our hall, in great Jehovah's name, To Masonry we dedicate and give; And through St. John, to Virtue we proclaim Its uses due while yet the Craft shall live: And whilst our Brotherhood is known to fame, Long as all lands its benefits receive. This Lodge we consecrate to acts sublime. To Universal Good throughout all time.
Almighty God! survey our labor here: Look on this temple dedicate to Thee: Teach us to make our actions all sincere; To live in love, and dwell in unity. Direct us through each swiftly moving year, That to each duty we may faithful be, Be with us ever as thou'rt with us now. And to Thy holy name we humbly bow.
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Craftsmen, farewell! The solemn scene is done,
And some of us will shortly speed away,
After a grasp of hands we journey on,
And rest not till we reach the close of day. We may not meet until life's race is run,
And stand again in brotherly array;
But if by duty here we win the prize,
We'll meet in that Grand Lodge beyond the skies.
JACOB J. TODD, of Bluffton, is a native of the old Key- stone State, having been born in Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania, March 12, 1843. IIe is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, his parents on both sides being of that descent. In 1851 he came with his parents to Indiana and settled on a farm in Wells county, where, in his youth, he lent effective assist- ance in the clearing and improving of the parental home- stead.
His preliminary educational advantages were such as were afforded in the common or district schools of that day, later attending the seminary at Roanoke and the Fort Wayne College, after which he taught school for several years, giving entire satisfaction.
In August, 1861, at the breaking out of the civil war, he enlisted as a member of Company A, 34th Indiana Infan- try, but was rejected on account of his impaired health. He again enlisted in 1864, becoming a member of Company D, 137th Indiana Infantry, serving during the summer, and was honorably discharged in October following.
In politics he has always been a stalwart supporter of the Republican party and the principles by it advanced, and his services have been enlisted to good effect in furthering party interests, serving as delegate to National and State conventions and filling many offices of trust and profit.
In his fraternal relations he is prominently identified with the Masonic Order and the Grand Army of the Re- public. He was initiated into Masonry in Ossian Lodge No. 227 in April, 1864. He was for four years Worship- ful Master of Bluffton Lodge No. 145, and in 1884 served as High Priest of Bluffton Chapter Royal Arch Masons; and in 1896 was elected as Eminent Commander of Bluff- ton Commandery Knights Templar. In the Masonic
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Grand Lodge of Indiana he served as Senior Grand Deacon, Grand Marshal, Junior Grand Warden, Senior Grand War- den, Deputy Grand Master, and Grand Master in 1890-1. He also served in the various offices of the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, including that of Grand Patron.
He has been twice married, and is the father of one child by his first wife-Nelson Kellogg Todd, who is a partner with his father as an attorney at law-and a son and daugh- ter by his second marriage.
Since boyhood he has been a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and here, as in- all other asso- ciations, he has been an active and zealous worker. For more than a quarter of a century he has been an official member of the church, serving in various capacities.
He is a man of high intellectuality, broad human sym- pathies, and imbued with fine sensibilities and clearly-de- fined principles. Honor and integrity are synonyms with his name, and he enjoys the respect, confidence and high re- gard of the people of the county where practically his entire life has been passed. His success in a professional way of- fers the best evidence of his capability in this line. He is a strong advocate with the jury and in his appeals before the court. Much of the success which has attended him in his professional career is undoubtedly due to the fact that in no instance will he permit himself to go into court with a case unless he has absolute confidence in the justice of his cli- ent's cause. Basing his efforts upon this principle, it nat- urally follows that he seldom loses a case in whose support he is enlisted.
NICHOLAS R. RUCKLE, of Indianapolis, was born May 8, 1838, in the city of Baltimore, Md., and removed with his parents to Madison, Ind., in 1847, and thence to Indianap- olis in July, 1852. He was educated in the private school at Madison of Rev. J. S. Green. In 1853 he entered the composing room of the Indianapolis Journal as an appren- tice, and remained until the war broke out in 1861, when he enlisted at the first call for soldiers, serving successively as a sergeant, orderly sergeant, lieutenant and captain, until his promotion to the colonelcy of the 148th Indiana In-
N. R Ruckle
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fantry, when he took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, and other sanguin- ary conflicts too numerous to mention, embracing a con- tinuous service from April, 1861, to October, 1865.
In civil life he served as sheriff of Marion county two terms, 1870 to 1874; president Board of Metropolitan Po- lice Commissioners, Indianapolis, 1887-8; Adjutant-Gen- eral of Indiana, 1889 to 1893; chairman of Board of Pub- lic Safety, Indianapolis, 1894-5.
He was made a Master Mason in Center Lodge, Indian- apolis, 1866; a Knights Templar in Raper Commandery in 1867: a Royal Arch Mason in Keystone Chapter, 1867; the Scottish Rite in 1866, the honorary 33d in 1870 and the active 33d in 1883, and was appointed Deputy for Indiana in 1884. He served as presiding officer in all these bodies, and was elected and served as Grand Commander Knights Templar Indiana, 1875, and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in 1891.
As a Mason, in all that the word implies, he stands at the very topmost round of the ladder. No matter what posi- tion he may be asked to fill in any of the bodies to which he belongs-and he belongs to all of them-he is always ready and willing, and is so well posted that he needs no prompting. Although quiet and unobtrusive, he is most genial and social among his associates, and no Mason in Indiana has made a more honorable record than "Nick Ruckle."
SIDNEY W. DOUGLAS, of Evansville, was born in Saranac county, New York, March 25, 1840, and is of Scotch an- cestry. His father was a practicing physician, and in 1854 removed to Milwaukee, Wis., taking his son, Brother Doug- las, with him. Brother Douglas spent such portion of his time as was not employed in acquiring an education in travel through Minnesota and the South and West. In 1861, at the first call for troops, he enlisted in Company A, First Wisconsin, and served in Virginia in the Potomac campaign. At the expiration of his term of service he was elected second lieutenant of Company I, 17th Wisconsin, and served in it as such officer during the campaigns in
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Tennessee and Mississippi. Later he resigned, and, return- ing to New York, he was married to Miss Lucy E. E. Tucker, and in 1873 moved to Evansville, where he has since resided, being engaged in photography, in which he has been eminently successful.
His Masonic career has been entirely in Evansville. He was made a Master Mason June 25th, and a Royal Arch Mason in August, and Knights Templar in 1877, Royal and Select Master in 1882, and the Scottish Rite in 1878, and the 33d in 1881. He has served as Worshipful Master, High Priest and Eminent Commander. In 1893 he was elected Grand Master, and conducted the business of the Grand Lodge with signal ability, and is at the present time in line of promotion in the Grand Commandery Knights Templar. He is a man of modesty, ever refusing to push himself to the front, and particularly dislikes public no- toriety. While he is thus retiring in his worldly life, such is not the case in Masonic intercourse. Being thoroughly and unusually well informed in Masonic jurisprudence, as well as in the ritual, he is constantly called upon for aid and advice, and thus he has in his Masonic career performed the duty of dispensing light and knowledge to his uninformed brethren. In his section he is a shining light in Masonry, and to his associates a guiding star.
DANIEL NOYES, of LaPorte, was born in Poultney county, Vermont, June 27, 1830. When quite young, with his parents, he removed to Seneca Falls, N. Y., where he at- tended the academy at that place, and graduated therefrom in 1813, after which he entered Genoa College and re- mained three years. Afterwards he entered Union Col- lege, Schenectady, from which he graduated in 1848 with high honors. He then entered upon the study of the law until 1851, when he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the State by examination, in which he achieved great distinction. In the spring of 1852 he came West and located in LaPorte, and entered upon the practice of his profession.
IIe was three times elected Mayor of the city of LaPorte, and was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and
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Frank , Savin.
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served until it was abolished by the Legislature. In 1876 he was elected judge for the circuit composed of the coun- ties of LaPorte and St. Joseph, and served continuously un- til 1894, when he declined to be considered a candidate for re-election.
He was made a Master Mason, a Royal Arch Mason, a Royal and Select Master and Knights Templar in the vari- ous bodies at LaPorte in 1887, and received the Scottish Rite degrees in Indianapolis in the same year.
His first appearance in the Grand Lodge was at the an- nual meeting in 1891, and so favorable was the impression made by him at that meeting that he was elected Senior Grand Warden; Deputy Grand Master in 1892, and Grand Master in 1893. His progress to the Grand East was re- markable. In the space of six years he received all the degrees from Entered Apprentice to the 32d of the Scottish Rite, and was elected and served in the three highest offices in the Grand Lodge.
He was imbued with the spirit and teachings of Masonry from the first. He studied its symbolic meaning, and by his lectures as presiding officer of the various bodies to which he belonged has added much to the interest of the Craft in the jurisdiction where he resides and wherever his intelligent work in known.
FRANK E. GAVIN, of Greensburg, was born in Greensburg, Ind., February 20, 1854. He is the son of the late James Gavin, Jr., who attained to an enviable distinction in the re- vision of the statutes of Indiana in 1860. In the fall of 1869 he entered the freshman class of Harvard College, from which he graduated in due course in 1873, at the age of nineteen, being the youngest member of his class. He then began the study of the law, and in February, 1875. was admitted to the bar. In 1892 he was the Democratic candidate for State Appellate Judge, and, having been elected, served with distinction a full term.
He was made a Mason in Greensburg Lodge in 1875, a Royal Arch Mason in Greensburg Chapter in 1889, and re- ceived the Scottish Rite degrees in Indianapolis in 1886.
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He has served several years as Master of his lodge and High Priest of his chapter. In 1891 he was elected Junior Grand Warden, and, advancing regularly, was elected Grand Mas- ter in 1894, in which position he served with distinction and entire satisfaction to the Craft.
Ile is a cultured and accomplished gentleman, a man whom to know is to love and admire. IIe possesses those elements of popularity which are irresistible, and, being a ready and eloquent speaker, at all public and private gath- erings of Masons he is always in demand, and never fails to please his audience.
Ile is happily married, the father of three children, and he is one of those sort of men of whom it may be truly said: "None know him but to love him; none name him but to praise."
EDWARD O'ROURKE, of Fort Wayne, was born in New Jersey, October 13, 1840. His parents came from Ireland in 1825. They belonged to the tenant farmer class of that country, and the farm on which the elder O'Rourke was born and brought up is still held by a member of the family.
Grand Master O'Rourke spent his boyhood days on a farm, and received most of his education in the common schools. While yet a boy, the family removed to Rich- land county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, and in 1865 he came to Indiana and located at Fort Wayne. On be- coming a resident of Fort Wayne he read law with the firm of Worden & Morris, and was admitted to the bar in 1867. In the fall of that year he was elected prosecuting attorney of the Criminal Court of Allen county, which had recently been established by the Legislature. He held this office five years, and during the time was re-elected without op- position.
In 1876 he was elected judge of the Allen Circuit Court, re-elected in 1882 and again in 1888 without anyone op- posing him for the place, and again re-elected in 1894 for. his fourth term of six years. He has now been on the bench twenty years, and has three years more to serve under his present commission.
He was made a Mason in Wayne Lodge No. 25, Fort
EL HOPKEY-INDPL'S
I. Sbillets
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Wayne, Ind., receiving the three degrees during the month of May, 1886. He became at once deeply interested in the work, and at the annual election of officers in December, 1887, was elected Senior Warden. The election in 1888 placed him in the East, which station he filled two terins. At the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge in 1890 he re- ceived the appointment of Junior Grand Deacon, was pro- moted to Senior Grand Deacon in 1891, and to Junior War- den in 1892. By regular advancement he attained the high distinction of Grand Master at the annual meeting in May, 1895. He received the Scottish Rite degrees in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis up to the 32d in 1893.
He is a most congenial and companionable gentleman, a man of the highest character, and one whom to know is to admire and respect.
SIMEON PALMER GILLETT was born in Rising Sun, Ind., November 2, 1840. He was educated at the United States Naval School at Annapolis, to which he was appointed in 1856, and from which he graduated four years later with the highest honors, being a star in a class of eighty-three. ITis first service was in the China squadron on the steamer Dacotah. Then ensued an exciting cruise through the West Indies after the privateer "Sumter." He was com- missioned lieutenant in 1862. In 1863 he was ordered to the "State of Georgia," then blockading Wilmington. He was assigned to several vessels engaged during the war, and was present at the surrender of Charleston, Savannah, Wil- mington and Richmond, going to the latter city with the advance. He was appointed lieutenant commander in 1866, and in 1869 was assigned to duty as the executive officer of the "Franklin." In 1871 he resigned his com- mission, since which time he has been engaged in the bank- ing business, and is now (1898) president of the Citizens' National Bank of Evansville, Ind.
For one who has attained to the exalted position of Grand Master, his Masonic career has been brief but brilliant. He was made a Mason at Evansville, receiving the three de- grees in the month of January, 1888, and the Chapter, Council and Commandery degrees during the same year.
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He was elected Master of his lodge in 1890 and 1891; was appointed Senior Grand Deacon, 1892; Junior Grand War- den, 1893; Senior Grand Warden, 1894; Deputy Grand Master, 1895, and Grand Master, 1896. Truly a brilliant record, and one rarely, if ever, equalled in the Grand Lodge.
His administration of the affairs of the Grand Lodge dur- ing his term as Grand Master was very successful and highly creditable to him as a Mason and thorough business. man. The closing paragraph in his annual address shows how indelibly impressed on his mind was his naval training. He said :
"Brethren: The cruise is ended; the good old ship is safely moored at her dock; I have rendered an account of the voyage; and while I am proud of having been assigned to this important command, for which honor I wish again to most sincerely thank you, I am now ready to haul down the broad pennant, in a full and complete knowledge that 'I shall be judged, not by what I might have done, but by what I have done.' "
MASON J. NIBLACK, of Vincennes, was elected Grand Master of Masons in Indiana May 25, 1897, and served as such until the annual meeting in 1898. He was born in Vincennes, Ind., and is a son of the late William E. Nib- lack, ex-Supreme Judge of this State. He is one of the best known and widely acquainted men in the State. He has been three times a member of the lower House of the Legislature, and has been twice Speaker of that body-be- ing the only person ever elected Speaker twice in succes- sion. He is a lawyer by profession, and, as in all his other undertakings, has been eminently successful.
He was made a Master Mason in Vincennes Lodge No. 1, October 18, 1880, and shortly after took the degrees of the Chapter, Council and Commandery. He has been Master of Vincennes Lodge No. 1, High Priest of Vincennes Chap- ter No. 7, Illustrious Master of Vincennes Council No. 9, R. and S. M., and Eminent Commander of Vincennes Com- mandery No. 20, K. T. He received the degrees of the AAncient and Accepted Scottish Rite at Indianapolis in De- cember, 1883, and the 33d degree in 1893 at Chicago.
Masopribeach
Simeon Johnson
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He has long been a member of the Order of the Mystic Shrine. He has filled all the line offices in the Grand Lodge, including Grand Master.
He has no family, and lives the life of a bachelor. IIe is acquainted with everybody in Vincennes, has an extensive acquaintance all over the State, and is respected and es- teemd by all who enjoy the pleasure of his acquaintance.
SIMEON STEVENS JOHNSON was elected Grand Master May 24, 1898, having previously filled the several subordinate offices.
He was born in Athens, Windom county, Vermont, July 27, 1836. His parents came from two of the oldest Ver- mont families, and their ancestors were prominent in the war of the Revolution, and also the war of 1812. He was a cousin of the late President Arthur. His father was Rev. Haynes Johnson, a noted Methodist minister. Brother Johnson was educated at Newbury Seminary, where he was fitted to enter Yale College, but the death of his father changed his plans, and instead of going to college he came West and located in Jeffersonville in 1856, where he has since resided. He taught school for a year and read law with Hon. Jonas G. Howard, and, being admitted to the bar in 1859, formed a partnership with Mr. Howard and actively engaged in the practice of the law. He soon rose to prominence in his chosen profession, and has for many years been recognized as one of the most capable and pains- taking practitioners at the Clark county bar. He is a Dem- ocrat, and has been honored by his party as their representa- tive in the City Council and as city attorney. He is public- spirited, and has always taken an active interest in all enter- prises tending to the promotion of his city. His integrity and ability have made him deservedly popular with all with whom he associates.
He was made a Mason in Clark Lodge, Jeffersonville, in 1866, a Royal Arch Mason and Royal and Select Master and Knights Templar and the Scottish Rite to the 32d de- gree, all in 1867. He served as presiding officer of all these bodies, except the Scottish Rite, and was elected and served as Grand High Priest, Illustrious Grand Master and
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Grand Commander of the State Grand Bodies. He re- ceived the order of High Priesthood in 1872. Masonry in all its branches has honored him beyond most of his breth- ren, and in reciprocation it can be truthfully said that in every station he has reflected the highest credit on the most ancient and honorable Institution.
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