A history of freemasonry in Indiana from 1806 to 1898, Part 7

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 7


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The next year, 1823, the following petition was pre- sented:


"Your petitioners, members of Vevay Lodge No. 7, working under your charter, would respectfully represent that for divers impending causes-among which are the want of a convenient room for working, and the scarcity of specie currency-we are unable to pursue our labors withi that laudable zeal which the great cause of Masonry justly merits. We therefore pray your honorable body to take into consideration our situation, and grant a suspension of our labors for three years; and in the meantime to suspend our payment of dues, both to our own lodge and the Grand Charity Fund; to give our present Master, Wardens and Secretary authority to grant demits, according to our pres- ent by-laws; to appoint a committee to take charge of our jewels, settle our accounts, and collect existing dues. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.


"JOSEPH MALIN. "JOHN MENDENHALL.


"RUFUS SCOTT. "STEPHEN WHICHER, JR.


"FREDERICK BURNHAM."


The committee to whom the matter was referred reported in favor of granting the request under certain conditions, but the report was not concurred in.


In 1825 it had nineteen members and was indebted to the Grand Lodge $71. At the session of the Grand Lodge in 1828 the committee to whom the affairs of the lodge was


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referred reported that "They have no hesitation in saying that Vevay Lodge No. 7 has forfeited its charter. Said lodge has not been represented for the last two years, and is in arrears for the years 1825-6-7-8: and that in 1825 said lodge was indebted to the Grand Lodge in the sum of $71, since which time no returns have been made. Your con- mittee, therefore, recommend the adoption of the following resolution :


"Resolved, That Vevay Lodge No. 7 be suspended from all the privileges of working until the further order of this Grand Lodge be known, and that the Grand Secretary take possession of the books and papers and jewels of said lodge, and that he report his proceedings herein to the next Grand Lodge."


It will be observed that by the above action the lodge was only suspended. At the next session, 1829, the charter was arrested, as follows:


"Resolved, That the charter of Vevay Lodge No. 7 * * be arrested," etc., and the Grand Secretary was authorized to take possession of all the property of said lodge.


At the session of the Grand Lodge in 1832 Daniel Kelso, as agent to settle with Vevay Lodge, made the following report:


"That, after many fruitless attempts to effect a compro- mise with Vevay Lodge No. 7, he did, in the month of March last, seize and take into full possession the following property belonging to said lodge, to-wit: One set of silver jewels (except the Junior Warden's jewel), one carpet, two columns, two rods, some furniture belonging to the Mark Master's Lodge, one ballot-box, one old sword, one Bible, one old Monitor, one book case (sold for two dollars), all of which is safely deposited in Vevay for the benefit of the Grand Lodge, except the jewels, which are herewith pre- sented. Your agent would further state that the books of said lodge are said to be in the possession of William C. Keen, and never, perhaps, will be seen by any person except himself. The whole amount of property now in the hands of your agent is worth perhaps sixty or eighty dollars."


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Nothing further was done until 1844, when Brother Ferry, who had previously been appointed to procure the carpet of Vevay Lodge, made the following report:


"In pursuance of a resolution of this Grand Lodge, I have called for the Master's carpet of Vevay Lodge, and found it in the possession of the Widow Patten, who re- fused to give it up."


In April, 1850, a dispensation was issued to form a new lodge. At the May session, 1851, of the Grand Lodge the Committee on Charters reported:


"In 1817 the brethren at Vevay obtained a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, and when the Grand Lodge of this State was organized the said brethren were granted a charter. In the year 1829 the conduct of the W. M. was so disreputable that the charter was returned to this Grand Lodge. From that time there was no lodge at Vevay until April, 1850, when a dispensation was granted by the Grand Master, and at the annual communication the dispensation was renewed." Thereupon a charter was granted, with the title of Switzerland Lodge No. 122, and George G. Knox, W. M., Joseph Malni, S. W., and Francis S. Lindley, J. W. Since then no change has occurred in the management of the lodge worthy of note.


It may be interesting to find out what became of "No. 7," one of the numbers composing the Grand Lodge at its or- ganization.


At the meeting of the Grand Lodge in 1844 a charter was granted to Versailles Lodge, and, as No. 7 was vacant, that number was given to Versailles. In 1851 dissatisfac- tion having grown up among the members, a petition to form a new lodge was applied for and a dispensation under the name of Fidelity Lodge granted. The Committee on Dispensations (1851) reported that they found the by-laws and proceedings regular and the brethren well calculated to conduct a lodge properly, "but," they said, "the Repre- sentative of Versailles Lodge No. 7 states that his lodge ob- jects to the establishment of said Fidelity Lodge in Ver- sailles."


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Then the committee took up the condition of Versailles Lodge and said: "Your committee is informed that the proceedings of Versailles Lodge No. 7 have been irregular in some respects, as, for instance, some of the members leaving the lodge room and going to a grocery, and, after indulging in intoxicating drinks, returning to the lodge room and quarreling among themselves until a late hour of the night;" and further, "that said Versailles Lodge No. 7 did in the year 1846 obtain from this Grand Lodge a remis- sion of dues, $45.50, in consequence of having constructed a lodge hall of the value of $500, and again in the year 1848 obtain a remission of their Grand Lodge dues, $52.25, because they had erected a lodge hall of the value of $500, thus reporting the same building twice, for the purpose of avoiding the payment of their Grand Lodge dues, thus de- frauding this Grand Lodge." The committee then offered a resolution requiring Versailles Lodge No. 7 to pay to the Grand Lodge the $32.25, the amount remitted in 1848, and recommending that its charter be arrested, and also re- fusing to grant a charter to Fidelity, the new lodge, thus leaving Versailles without a lodge. The resolution was adopted. The year following the matter was again pre- sented to the Grand Lodge, when the committee reported, "We are of the opinion that the best interests of the Order will be subserved by the annihilation of both lodges. * The committee are of the opinion that there ought not to be two lodges in the town of Versailles; that, independ- ently of this fact, there exists between the two such acri- mony of feeling as must necessarily stain the character of Masonry and stamp its name with infamy.


"But, worst of all, they learn that in both lodges there are unworthy members; that particularly in Versailles Lodge there are members whose conduct has been so dis- graceful as to render them worthy of nothing short of an expulsion from the Order, and that these are so numerous that no measure to sweep them out of their own lodge could be effectual." The charter of Versailles Lodges No. 7 and the dispensation of Fidelity were then arrested and both wiped out of existence.


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In 1854 the charter, carrying with it the original num- ber, 7, was restored. During the period of its suspension Pisgah Lodge, which was originally No. 5, whose charter had previously been arrested, was restored, and No. 7 was given to it: but when No. 7 was given again to Versailles, Pisgah was without a number, and was therefore assigned No. 32, which was then vacant. Since then, in all these lodges, "harmony has prevailed, and every moral and social virtue has cemented them."


PROMINENT MEMBERS OF VEVAY No. 7.


HEZEKIAH B. HULL was the representative of Vevay in the convention December 3, 1817. After that he did not appear in the Grand Lodge.


It seems from the records that in June, 1820, he was ex- pelled by the lodge for non-payment of dues. Later, from a letter from the secretary of Asylum Lodge No. 6, of Mis- sissippi, it appeared that Brother Hull had deposited the amount due Vevay Lodge and thereby became a member of Asylum Lodge. What sort of a regulation Mississippi had at that time that permitted a Mason expelled from a lodge in Indiana for the non-payment of dues, to rein- state himself to membership in one of its lodges by depos- iting the amount of the dues for which he was expelled, does not appear in the papers in relation to the matter. So far as is known he did not return to Indiana, and was never heard of afterwards.


JOHN MENDENHALL was the first Senior Warden of Switzer- land Lodge named in the charter September, 1818. Very little is known of him. He came from Virginia, and by profession was a physician. In politics he was a Demo- crat, but occupied no prominent position.


BROOKVILLE LODGE No. 11.


Some time prior to May, 1817, the resident Masons of Brookville-which was organized in 1808-met in private council and decided to petition for a dispensation to form a lodge in that place. At one of their meetings, possibly in April, Stephen C. Stevens, afterwards Supreme Judge, was.


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selected to procure a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, that body being most convenient.


On the 9th of May of that year, Henry Brush, Grand Master of Ohio, issued a dispensation which was certified by R. Kercheval, Grand Secretary. At the next session of that grand body, held at Chilicothe, August 4, 1817, the action of the Grand Master was approved and the lodge at Brookville, which was named Brookville Harmony Lodge No. 41, was ordered to work under dispensation until the next meeting of the Grand Lodge.


Shortly after high twelve, June 4, 1817, the gavel sound- ed in the east for the first time in Brookville. The follow- ing were the officers pro tem. at the organization:


Thomas Kelsey, of Hamilton, O., Worshipful Master; John Sheets, Senior Warden; A. A. Meek, Junior Warden; Jeremiah Sullivan, Secretary and Treasurer; W. S. Rose, Junior Deacon : Blair, Tyler.


A lodge of Entered Apprentices was opened and closed. A lodge of Past Masters was then opened, when Brother Stephen C. Stevens was introduced and installed the first Worshipful Master. The lodge of Past Masters was closed, and a lodge of Master Masons was opened, when John Jacobs was installed Senior Warden, and George L. Mur- dock Junior Warden.


The following visitors were present: A. A. Meek, Jere- miah Sullivan, and Robert Craven of Union Lodge No. 2, Madison, Indiana; Thomas Blair, Washington Lodge No. 17, Hamilton, Ohio, and John Hall, Samuel Davis, Joe S. Benham, and Eb. Ramsay, also of said lodge. Robert Breckinridge, Harmony Lodge No. 2, Cincinnati, Ohio, William Rose, Sharptown No. 32, New Jersey; Samuel Rockefeller, Olive Branch No. 6, W. S. Rose, Sharptown No. 32, Luther Heinman, Union No. S, New Jersey.


On June 17 petitions for the degrees were received from the following: Martin M. Ray, Noah Noble, Henry A. Reed, Enoch D. John, and Joe D. Clements.


August 4, 1817, the lodge was represented in the Grand Lodge of Ohio by S. C. Stevens, who was appointed on the Committee on Grievances. He also introduced an amend-


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ment to the By-Laws making the representatives from fif- teen lodges constitute a quorum. This was adopted the fol- lowing year by a vote of 25 to 1.


September 13, 1817, six dollars were appropriated out of the lodge funds for a Bible, which is still in existence, but in a very dilapidated condition. In the financial report of the lodge submitted at that meeting is found what is prob- ably the roster of the members, which is as follows:


Noah Noble, Governor of Indiana, 1831 to 1837, Enoch D. John, Joe D. Clements, Martin M. Ray, Harrison J. Robinson, John Allen, Jr., W. W. Wade, John Connor, S. C. Stevens, Luther Heinman, Chris. Dart, Thomas Ter- rell, N. D. Gallion, W. S. Rose, T. W. Colescott, W. B. Laughlin, John Allen, Sr., Wm. Bradley, John Shank, John B. Rose, David Oliver, Abraham Elwell, Abijah Bennett, G. L. Murdock, John Jacobs, John Test, Enoch McCartey, James Noble, James Backhouse, W. C. Drew, W'm. Syms, Sr., Harvey Bates (who built the Bates House, Indianapolis).


That our ancient brethren of this lodge believed that re- freshments meant to refresh is shown by a bill allowed at the end of the first six months' existence of the lodge. The total bill was $41, of which $23 was for brandy and sugar and rum!


At the meeting held in the town of Corydon, December 3, 1817, to consider the advisability of establishing a Grand Lodge for Indiana, this lodge was represented by Brother S. C. Stevens, who voted against the proposition to organize the Grand Lodge at that time. When the brethren met again January 12, 1818, at Madison, John B. Rose was vis- iting representative from this lodge, and was made an hon- orary member of the Grand Lodge at its fiftieth anniversary in 1868.


Andrew Wallace represented the lodge at the session of the Grand Lodge at Columbus, December 14, 1818, when this lodge was granted a charter.


John B. Rose was the representative at Columbus, Ohio, in 1919. He presented the petition of Harmony Lodge to withdraw from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, which was granted.


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In 1820 Harvey Bates represented the lodge in the Grand Lodge of Indiana at Jeffersonville. He presented :1 petition from the members of Harmony Lodge praying for a charter to work under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. The petition was granted and the lodge was permitted to retain its name, but its number was changed from 41 to No. 11 on the Indiana register. The Grand Lodge ordered that John Jacobs be the first Master, W. B. Laughlin, Senior Warden, and Noah Noble, Junior Warden.


Among the earlier members of this lodge a large number rose to distinction in various capacities in the State. S. C. Stevens, John T. MeKinney and Isaac Blackford all served as members of the State Supreme Court. James B. Ray, Noah Noble and David Wallace were Governors of the State.


Brookville Lodge did not unite with the other lodges in the organization of the Grand Lodge, but it was so inti- mately connected with that event that it is deemed appro- priate to present the sketch under the head of lodges taking part in the organization. Brother S. C. Stevens was pres- ent at the preliminary meeting at Corydon, December 3, 1817, and although he voted against the proposition to form a Grand Lodge, he was appointed one of the committee to draft an address to the Grand Lodges of Ohio and Kentucky that the lodges composing the conference, of which Brook- ville was one, would recede from their mother Grand Lodges as soon as the Grand Lodge was organized, and signed the address on behalf of the lodge.


At the meeting held at Madison, January 12, 1818, to perfect the organization, the Committee on Credentials re- ported the names of the several delegates entitled to repre- sent their lodges, among whom was "Brother John B. Rose, from Harmony Lodge, Brookville." The reason why the lodge did not unite with the other lodges in the formation of the Grand Lodge was because of the passage at that meeting of the following resolution :


"Resolved, That it is deemed unnecessary and inexpedi- ent to grant to representatives of lodges under dispensation permission by courtesy to take part in the deliberations of the Grand Lodge."


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At that time Brookville Lodge was working under dis- pensation from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and the resolu- tion, therefore, barred it out from representation for the time being. It was granted a charter by the Grand Lodge of Ohio in December following, and surrendered that char- ter to the Grand Lodge of Indiana, as above stated.


The lodge has moved along smoothly during its existence of eighty odd years. In 1848 charges were preferred for some infraction of the regulations. The committee re- ported that they had called on brethren residing in the neighborhood who were well acquainted with the parties concerned, and upon the testimony elicited they recom- mended the arrest of the charter and all books and papers, jewels, etc. The Grand Lodge, however, continued the charter one year, and at the end of that time the trouble was forgotten and nothing further came of it.


DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF BROOKVILLE LODGE.


STEPHEN C. STEVENS, of Brookville, represented the lodge at that place in the preliminary meeting for the formation of the Grand Lodge, held at Corydon, December 3, 1815, and was one of the committee to draft the address to the Grand Lodges of Kentucky and Ohio. Brookville Lodge, holding its charter from Ohio, declined to surrender its charter at the time of the formation of the Grand Lodge in 1818. In 1820, however, it acquiesced in the inevitable, and accepted a charter from Indiana, No. 11, which it has since retained. Brother Stevens did not again appear in the Grand Lodge, and later moved to Madison.


Ile was a lawyer by profession, and was considered one of the strongest advocates at that time in the State. He was a member of the State Supreme Court, and furnished many valuable opinions, which may be found in Blackford's Reports. He was active in politics, and took a prominent part in the crusade against slavery in Indiana. In his lat- ter years his mind gave way, and he died an inmate of the Asylum for the Insane at Indianapolis.


JOHN JACOBS was appointed first Worshipful Master of Brookville Lodge No. 11 by Grand Lodge at time of its or-


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ganization, September 11, 1820, and was re-elected in 1821, 1822 and 1826, and Tyler in 1827. He was a delegate to the Grand Lodge in 1826, at which session he was elected Junior Grand Warden.


GEORGE L. MURDOCK was the first Junior Warden in 1817, and Senior Warden in 1818 and 1821. In 1823 he was the representative to the Grand Lodge, and was elected Junior Grand Warden, and also Grand Visitor for the Sixth District.


JOHN B. ROSE, one of two surviving members of the Grand Lodge at its organization at the time of his death, May 9, 1875, was born February 15, 1792, in the State of New Jersey. He was made a Mason in Bridgton Lodge No. 2, New Jersey, March, 1817. In April following he came to Indiana, and in January, 1818, was a delegate from Brookville Lodge, then working under a dispensation from Ohio, to the meeting at Madison where the Grand Lodge was organized on the 12th of that month. At that time Brookville Lodge did not unite in the final organiza- tion. In December, 1819, he visited the Grand Lodge of Ohio and surrendered the charter of Brookville, which was afterwards given a charter by the Grand Lodge of Indiana. He was a member of and Master of Liberty Lodge, Union county, for three years, and also a member of Dublin Lodge at its organization. He removed to Wabash in 1855, where he united with the lodge and chapter, continuing his membership therein during the remainder of his life.


At a social meeting of Hanna Lodge No. 61, at Wa- bash, February 15, 1875, less than three months prior to his death, being too feeble to attend, he sent a letter to his brethren, of which the following is a copy:


"WABASH, February 15, 1875.


"Brethren of Hanna Lodge:


"I humbly greet you this night in your social meeting, and much regret that I cannot be with you and take you by the social hand, but hope you all will have a pleasant meeting.


"Through Brother Ross I will say to you that on the 15th day of February, 1792, I was born in New Jersey,


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making my age now 83 years. I received all the degrees of Ancient Masonry in Brearley No. 2, New Jersey, 53 years ago this February and March. I am a Mason! I have tried to live the principles of Masonry these 58 years, as an upright and good man, that I might make the Order and the world happier and better for my having lived in it.


"Brother Ross will present to Hanna Lodge for their acceptance my portrait, representing one of their pioneer fathers in Masonry helping to form the Grand Lodge of Indiana. I was a delegate to the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1819; helped to organize two chapters, three or four lodges, and, after a long, checkered career in life, settled in Wa- bash twenty years in April next and became a member of Hanna Lodge, in which company I have spent many happy hours.


"Now, brethren, I expect to live and die a Mason, and when my days are numbered, so that I can't meet any more with you in this lodge below, when you look on my portrait, believe my heart is with you. Hoping you may all live up- right as Masons, and when all our days are ended and num- bered, that we shall be prepared and fitted for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Peace be with you.


"JOHN B. ROSE."


Brother Rose was an exemplary man in every particular, and by his life and conduct, his zeal and fidelity to the sublime principles of Masonry, did much to build up the great Institution he so much loved.


Mention of Governors Noble, Ray and Wallace will be found ander Miscellaneous Biographical Sketches.


SALEM LODGE No. 21.


This lodge was represented in the convention held at Corydon, December 3, 1817, by Christopher Harrison. The lodge was then working under a charter from Ken- tucky, under the name of Melchizedek Lodge No. 44, its first Master being James R. Higgins. It was chartered in August, 1817. At the organization of the Grand Lodge at Madison, January 12, 1818, it was represented by Marston


.


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G. Clark, who afterwards became Grand Master. At this meeting he was elected Junior Grand Warden. Later in the proceedings Brother Clark, the representative of said Melchizedek Lodge, surrendered its charter and declined to receive a charter from the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Whereupon the following resolution was adopted :


"Resolved, That the Grand Lodge do now proceed to the election of a Worshipful Junior Grand Warden in the place of Brother Marston G. Clark, who has forfeited his seat in the Grand Lodge of Indiana by surrendering the charter of Melchizedek Lodge."


The election resulted in the election of Benjamin V. Beckes, of Vincennes, and he was duly installed as such.


A dispensation was granted for the formation of a lodge at Salem by the name of Warren. In 1822 a charter was granted by the adoption of the following:


"Resolved, That a charter issue to Warren Lodge at Salem, to be known as Salem Lodge No. 21; that Brother Joseph Durfrey be the first Master, William Baird the first Senior Warden and John Kingsbury the first Junior Warden."


There has been little in the history of this lodge either strange or startling. In the proceedings of 1835 is found the following:


"WHEREAS, Salem Lodge No. 21 has, some time since, lost their charter by stealth or otherwise (though not by any neglect of said lodge), and being anxious to continue as a regular lodge; therefore,


"Resolved, That a charter be granted to Salem Lodge No. 21, free of any fee therefor, the Grand Secretary's fee excepted."


In 1874 the hall of Salem Lodge, together with its char- ter, books and records and everything belonging to it, was destroyed by fire, and it is therefore impossible to trace its local history back of that time.


Of the early members of this lodge but little is known.


JAMES R. HIGGINS was the first Worshipful Master of Melchizedek Lodge No. 44, under charter from Kentucky


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in 1817. After completing the first court house in Salem, in 1818, he was awarded the contract for supplying the books and stationery for the county for $50.37. He served as county treasurer three years, 1818 to 1821. A short time afterwards he removed from Salem, and nothing fur- ther is known of him.


CHRISTOPHER HARRISON was a member of the convention held at Corydon, December 3, 1817, which took the prelim- inary steps which resulted in the formation of the Grand Lodge in January following. He was born in Baltimore just after the close of the Revolutionary war. He came West in an early day and assisted in the organization of Washington county, and the town of Salem in 1817. In the early history of the county it is recorded that "he was employed to make three maps of the county on a scale of half an inch to the mile." He was a prominent figure in the organization of the State. At the first election under the Constitution, which was held on the first Monday in August, 1816, he was elected first Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket with Brother Jonathan Jennings, who was elected the first Governor.


In 1818 President Monroe appointed Governor Jennings a commissioner to negotiate a treaty with the Indians, his associates being General Lewis Cass and Benjamin Parke. In October of that year Governor Jennings wrote to Lieu- tenant-Governor Harrison that, "understanding some offi- cial business is necessary to be transacted, permit me to in- form you that my absence is still necessary, and that it may be necessary for you to attend the seat of government to discharge such duties as devolve on the executive of In- diana." Brother Harrison thereupon went to Corydon, took possession of the executive office, and performed the duties of Governor until Governor Jennings returned from St. Mary's. The Constitution of the State prohibited the Governor from holding any office under the United States, and Governor Jennings having accepted the office of Indian commissioner contrary to this provision, Lieutenant-Gov- ernor Harrison claimed that the Governor had thereby for-




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