USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 17
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William Hacker Lodge. U. D., dated January 3. 1867. was located at the city of Shelbyville. Shelby county, upon the petition of Thomas F. Kirk. William M. Parrish, Joseph L. Irwin, William F. Mason, Daniel J. Shaw, John S. Tevis and David L. Conrey. This lodge was regularly constituted under charter dated May 20. 1867. as William Hacker Lodge. No. 360. Brother Jesse K. Jameson being appointed worshipful master: William F. Green, senior warden: John Messick, junior warden. This then became the youngest of the Masonic lodges within the county, and enjoyed a membership of thirty-six in 1871. Subsequently this lodge was merged in the parent lodge, Shelby No. 28. under date of June IT. 1879.
The first colony that was sent out from this original lodge in Shelby county, was located at Pleasant View. under charter dated May 20, 1852. denominated Pleasant Lodge, No. 134: John R. F. Shull. worshipful master ; Duncan MeDougall. senior warden and Stephen Gould, junior warden. This lodge was later transferred to Acton, Marion county.
Morristown Lodge, No. 193. Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered May 27. 1856, with Abram Reeves, worshipful master : Wareham W. Wood- yard, senior warden : Augustus C. Handy. junior warden. The present mein- bership is large and the order is prosperous.
Sugar Creck Lodge, No. 279. Free and Accepted Masons, was located at Boggstown, under charter dated May 27. 1862. with James Smelser, wor- shipful master: Eli Johnson, senior warden and Moses G. Tull, junior war- den. This lodge was later transferred to Fairland; in 1887 had a member- ship of forty-eight.
The Waldron Masonic Lodge was chartered May 25. 1858. with John C. Richey, worshipful master ; John Lewis, senior warden and David W. Fos- sett, junior warden. At this date ( 1909) the Masonic lodge of this place is in a very flourishing condition.
At Norristown'a Masonic lodge was instituted. known as Farmers' Free and Accepted Masons Lodge No. 147. May 27. 1853. with David Conger. worshipful master : David Flynn, senior warden. and Jesse Moorman, junior warden. This lodge was highly prosperous in 1886, and had a membership of about sixty, to which has been added many more.
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HIGHER DEGREE MASONRY.
Growing out of the original Masonic lodges within Shelby county have come up higher degrees in this most ancient and honorable fraternity. Shelby Chapter, No. 20, of Royal Arch Masons, was organized U. D., dated April 2, 1851. upon the petition of William Hacker. Fabin M. Finch. Henry B. Hill, Cyrus N. Williams. Jacob W. Mills, John W. Sullivan, Samuel White, Daniel Shew. James Elliott, Daniel Mowrer, Joseph L. Silcox and Benjamin J. Irwin, companions. William Hacker was appointed high priest. This chapter has never faltered during all these fifty-eight years of noble work. In 1909 its membership was one hundred and nineteen. Its officers at that date were: Robert W. Wood. M. E. H. P .; Julius L. Thomas, E. K. ; Wilbur W. Israel, E. S .; John Messick, treasurer: George W. F. Kirk, secretary ; G. R. Fleming. C. of H. : Frank Bass, P. S. ; Edmond R. Moberly. R. A. C .; Phillip E. Hoop. G. M. 3d V .; Oliver J. Glessner. G. M. 2d V .; L. Gordon Teal, G. M. Ist V. : C. S. Fleming. sentinel.
Shelby Council, No. 3. of Royal and Select Masters, was first organized U. D., dated August 31, 1855, and a charter granted by the Grand Council of Ohio. This council participated in the organization of the grand council of Indiana, December 20. 1855, at which time it received its "No. 3" regis- try of the grand council of Indiana and in 1886 numbered in membership, thirty-five. In April the membership was sixty. Its officers at that date were : Julius L. Thomas, Thrice Ill. M. : Harry S. Downey, Rt. Ill. D-M. ; Frank Bass, Ill. P. C. W .; John A. Young, treasurer; George W. F. Kirk, recorder : Robert W. Wood, C. G. : Thomas E. Yarling, C. C .; C. S. Fleming, steward ; Thomas E. Newton, sentinel.
Baldwin Commandery, No. 2, Knights Templar, was first organized March 25. 1851, at the town of Greensburg, Decatur county, under the title of Greensburg Commandery, U. D. from M. E. William Blackstone Hubbard, G. G. Master of Knights Templar of the United States, dated January 5. 1851. This commandery participated in the formation of the Grand Comman- dery of Indiana. when it received its "No. 2." on the registry, and continued to work until June 30, 1860. when its members ceased to meet, and the or- ganization was dissolved. But upon the petition of Sir Knights Thomas Pat- tison, William Allen. Jacob Vernon, Thomas H. Lynch, Daniel Stewart, Bar- ton W. Wilson. James Gavin, Putnam Ewing. Jacob V. Berensdaffer, Will C. Cumback, James Elliott. Robert Cones and John Elliott, Sir William Hacker as grand commander, authorized the transfer of the commandery to Shelby- ville, Indiana, on the 18th day of March, 1865. April 4, 1866, the comman- dery received a new charter and was changed to Baldwin Commandery, No. 2. By 1886 this commandery enjoyed a membership of sixty-two knights, which number has increased to ninety-six. Its present officers are: Julius L.
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Thomas, E. C .: Frank Bass, Gen .: Everett E. Stroup. C. Gen. : Thomas E. Yarling. S. W. : Edward P. Moberly, J. W. ; Harry S. Downey, prelate : John Messick. treasurer: George W. Kirk. recorder: Phillip E. Hoop. St. B .: Elliott S. Gorges, Sw. B. ; Oliver Jay Glessner, warder ; C. S. Fleming, sen- tinel.
The present officers of Shelby Lodge. No. 28. Free and Accepted Masons. at Shelbyville are as follows: Thomas E. Yarling, worshipful master; Harry G. Anman, senior warden : Elmer E. Webster, junior warden ; David L. Wil- son, secretary : John Messick, treasurer : L. Gordon Teal, senior deacon ; Rob- ert H. Mardis, junior deacon : Eden H. D. Young, tyler.
The Masonic order in Shelbyville has of late leased its lodge-room quar- ters. From 1852 to 1869 they owned a half interest in a building crected by themselves and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the three-story brick building on the northeast corner of the public square, the one now occu- pied by business and other offices. This property cost in all, five thousand five hundred dollars and was sold ( the half interest) to the Odd Fellows in 1869. for about three thousand five hundred, which money the Masons have had out on interest and had their lodge home in the Deprez building for over thirty years. In 1899 they loaned this sum to the parties who erected the business block on South Harrison street, in which the lodge is now located. and of which they have a long lease. Their hall is finely furnished and work in all degrees up to the Scottish Rite is carried on here with excellent effect, Those advanced to the last named rite attend at Indianapolis.
ODD FELLOWS.
The beginning of the history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellowship in Shelby county dates back to when the fraternity was yet in its infancy and was written up by the editor of the organ of the society. Rev. T. G. Beliar- rell and appeared in the April issue, 1877. of that magazine, and was the cor- rect history up to, and including. 1875, of the instituting and workings of Shelby Lodge No. 39.
A charter was granted by virtue of dispensation from the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Indiana. Joel B. McFarland, bearing date October 29, 1846, and upon the petition of the fol- lowing named brothers: P. G. Joseph L. Silcox. John L. Robinson. William Hacker, John Cartmill, John M. Wollen, and Hiram Comstock. "Shelby Lodge, No. 39" was instituted November 13. 1846, by D. D. G. M. Jacob Chapman officiating.
The first officers elected for the term of one year were: John L. Robin- son, noble grand: William Hacker, vice grand; John Cartmill, recording secretary : John M. Wollen, treasurer. The lodge met Monday evenings and
CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., INE.
consisted of twelve members, some of whom were really "borrowed" from neighboring lodges to help in the founding of the Shelbyville lodge. Notwith- standing the fact that this lodge was founded by some of the best men of Shelby county. it had a slow growth for about five years. The men connected therewith were not advanced in secret society matters, indeed the order at that time was but young in its history. Just what struggles were endured by this lodge in Shelby county will never be fully made a record, from the fact that on the night of October 26. 1849. the lodge room was destroyed, together with the charter, books of record, and valuable papers connected with the pioneer workings of the fraternity in this locality. Fire was the cause of this great irreparable loss to the young lodge. With the charter under which the lodge had worked gone. their authority was also gone. During the three years the lodge had been in existence it had grown to the number of twenty- five good, true and honorable Odd Fellows. Steps were at once taken to secure a new charter. The call was responded to by the grand officers of the state lodge. who immediately furnished a new charter, the same being issued by Right Worthy Grand Master Joel B. Eldridge, of Logansport. The new char- ter contained the names of the following brothers : Joseph L. Silcox. William Hacker, John Cartmill. Joseph S. Campbell. Samuel R. Day, Samuel B. Robertson, Milton A. Malone, and Dwight R. Hovey, whom the grand offi- cers empowered ( without any ceremony) to proceed to work in the good cause of Odd Fellowship. Hence Shelby Lodge No. 39 was once more allowed to occupy her rank. to which she was formerly entitled. Having met with this calamity, the lodge was obliged to call upon her sister lodges, and by per- mission of the Grand Lodge, circulars were sent forth throughout the state of Indiana, stating the loss and soliciting aid. In response to this call many hand- some contributions were received and these quite materially aided the strug- gling lodge to get squarely upon its feet again.
In 1851-52. after the loss just spoken of caused by the fire in Shelby- ville. in the autumn of 1849. Shelby Lodge No. 39. with Lafayette Lodge No. 28. Free and Accepted Masons, formed a "Joint Hall Stock Association". the object being to provide a suitable hall wherein both fraternities might have a suitable lodge home of their own. The proposition was well canvassed by members of the two orders after which it was decided to build such a build- ing. The plan was this: Each lodge agreed to take stock to the amount of $500; the members of each of the orders obligating themselves to take such amounts as they felt able, which they did to the amount of $2.500. The balance needed was provided by means of a loan secured by a mortgage on the property, when it should be completed, to the amount of $2.000. The struc- ture was to be built by Brother William Hacker, who acted as a commissioner for both lodges, and who by good management succeeded in buying in the individual stock, and in equal amounts. it was held and controlled by each of the lodges : and by so managing. the building was soon paid for in full.
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When finally finished, the hall was dedicated in the presence of many Odd Fellows from far and near. The dedication address was delivered by Brother Joseph L. Sileox. This building was used by the two orders until about 1868. when the Masons became the sole occupants of the building. A year later- 1869-the Masonic fraternity having grown rapidly, found the need of a more spacious hall. They then proposed to sell their interest in the property to the Odd Fellows. The deal was made and the price fixed was $3.500. The investment was of course a good one, as the original cost of the combined interests was $5.550: one-half of which was paid by the Shelby Odd Fellows order. or $2.775: amount paid the Masons for their interest. $5.500: total amount paid for building and grounds, $6.275.
Politics get into the lodge-great damage is done the fraternity. In the eventful years of 1854 to 1857. inclusive, when Know-Nothingism was running raging throughout the entire country, polities found its way into the sacred hall of Odd Fellowship, as well as other civic societies. It so invaded itself into the Shelby lodge that one time it verily seemed as if it would be wiped out of existence. Harmony and brotherly friendship, the elements on which the great fraternity had ever been based. did not prevail to any great extent at Shelbyville. It was brought about by the introduction of political measures brought to the lodge-room by discreet members. An Odd Fellow who stood high in the order, as well as in the community, was a candidate for public office and here trouble began. The transgressor was finally brought be- fore the lodges and the wrong brother was acquitted. The matter did not end there, but was appealed to the Grand Lodge and by it sent back for a re- hearing in the subordinate lodge. This time the right man was expelled from the order.
From 1849 to 1860 the membership of this lodge was greatly reduced and in 1863 had but twenty-eight members, in good standing. After the close of the Civil war, and when things had adjusted themselves once more. the peace- able movements in the country, as well as harmonious action within the lodge itself, partisan feeling was wiped out and in its stead the true principles of Odd Fellowship once more were duly enthroned. In 1886 this lodge had a membership of 125 and was in a flourishing emdition. In 1874, in the month of August, this order instituted a Rebekah degree.
The order has been the means of accomplishing much good in the com- munity. As early as 1875 one of the reports shows that there had been paid out for funeral benefits, $795: thirty widows, with their families. had been assisted at different times to the total sum of $456: total number of initiations. 385: withdrawn. 110: suspended. 56; deceased, twenty-four and eleven ex- pelled. July, 1877. the total membership was 75. The total receipts from 1846 to 1875 were $15,308: total resources of lodge. $9.092: liabilities. $2.133: total orphan fund at that date amounted to $3.660. Since that date to the
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present time Odd Fellowship has made a wonderful growth within Shelby county.
PRESENT STANDING OF THE ORDER.
The following paragraphs concerning this order have been kindly fur- nished from the records by William A. Neu, who has been the capable and painstaking secretary and scribe of the order in various degrees for a long term of years :
In the autumn of 1895 Shelby lodge moved into new headquarters, going from the east side of the public square to the south side of Broadway, near Harrison street. They had sold their old property to George C. Morrison. and then leased the third story of the brick building, at No. 15 West Broadway from the Dorsey heirs. The membership of the lodge at that date was one hundred and fifty. In the last rooms named this lodge remained for eleven years, when they bought ground at Nos. 16 and 18 West Broadway and erected a fine three-story brick building which they now occupy. This cost thein $24.000.
In 1906 when the lodge moved to its new quarters the membership had grown to 277, having made a gain of 127 while in the old rooms. At present the total membership of the subordinate lodge is three hundred (300), with plenty of work ahead. This lodge at Shelbyville has been on the upward move in its work in the degrees as well as in the increase of membership. At the ses- sion of the Sovereign Grand Lodge held at Indianapolis in 1901, Shelby lodge entered the contest of the Degree work, having made one entry of the Initiation Degree and was awarded the first prize-a cash prize of $200.
At the session of the Sovereign Grand Lodge, at Des Moines. Iowa. Shelby Lodge made two entries in the prize contest of Degree work. First entry -- Initiation Degree and secand entry in Second Degree work. Shelby lodge took third prize in Initiatory Degree, being a cash prize of $50, and also took second prize in Second Degree work, that being a cash prize of Sioo. Since that date the lodge has made no more entries. the sessions of the Sovereign Lodge having been held at such great distance that it was too expensive to trans- port a team of thirty members so far.
Shelby Lodge No. 39. is ranked as one of the best workers in Indiana and had exemplified the degrees before the Grand Lodge at various times in the last few years.
Its present ( 1909) officers are: Noble Grand. Harry L. Barlow; Vice- Grand, Philip G. Hunker : Treasurer, H. M. Neal; Financial Secretary, Louis Webb; Recording Secretary. William A. Neu: Trustees. Charles P. Sindlin- ger, James H. Phillipi and Morton P. Morris.
McQuiddy Rebekah Lodge was instituted April 9. 1891 and is a strong auxiliary to Shelby Lodge. No. 39. Its membership is at present 250; has a fine
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Degree team and is also ranked as one of the best working lolges of the state.
Shelbyville Encampment No. 162, was instituted November 15. 1885. and has a membership of 125. The Encampment is prosperous and harmony and good fellowship exist all along the line. Strife and discord are barred ont at all times. The present officials are :
Chief Patriarch, Oliver E. Gaines: Iligh Priest. Charles L. Keller ; Senior Warden, Louis Hunnebaum : Junior Warden, Edward Inman ; Seribe, William A. Nen ; Treasurer. M. A. Lemmon : Trustees. J. T. Inman, Thomas Tadleek and Charles H. Theobald.
The Millitan branch of this order is represented here by Canton Shelby- ville No. 40 and has a membership of about thirty-five, of whom eighteen are uniformed and its captain. Doney Van Pelt, is making a great headway in the perfection of the drill.
The subordinate lodges of Shelby county Odd Fellowship are as follows.
At Morristown. Valley Lodge No. 627, was instituted by members of the Shelbyville, Rushville and Greensburg lodges, February 24. 1887. The num- ber of instituters was thirty-seven. The first officers were : O. F. Fitch. P. G. : S. W. Deibert. N. G .: G. B. Jorden. V. G. : J. M. Tyner. R. S. : H W. Buck. P. S .; John Sleeth, conductor and E. T. J. Jorden, D. D. G. M. In 1887 this lodge had a membership of forty-seven. Its present membership is 78. Waldron Lodge No. 197 was chartered May 20, 1858, by charter mem- bers: W. V. French. Greenville Wilson. William Newton. Milton Corvin. Aaron Lewis. A. G. Thompson, George Canull. J. P. Knott. J. Deem and E. O. Wallace. A Rebekah Degree was formed : also an Encampment. At present the Waldron lodge has a membership of 104: they own their own hall.
Blue River Lodge No. 554 was established at Cynthiauna. November 22, 1877, by charter members as follows: M. L. Waggoner. Arrass Jones. E. T. Jones, S. H. Yager. Asa Foreythe, Smith Solomon. In ISS; the lodge was in a flourishing condition and had nine hundred dollars in its treasury. In their lodge room at that date hung an old chek that had been faithfully mark- ing the hours and minutes of the days for over fifty years. The present mem- bership is 122; they own their own building.
The lodge at Smithland was first instituted at Marietta but the Civil war almost broke the lodge up and later it was organized at Smithland, the date being early in the seventies. It is known now as Hiawatha Lodge No. 193. It has a present membership of 95 and owns a good building.
Lewis Creek Lodge No. 808, located at Lewis Creek, owns a fine build- ing, does good work and enjoys a membership of an even one hundred.
MIcQuiddy Lodge No. 355 of the Rebekah degree furnished one of the guest rooms and supports it at the Odd Fellows' Home at Greensburg. This home is one of the finest monuments of Odd Fellowship in the state of Indi-
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ana. It ranks equal to the best in the United States. Too much cannot be said of this great home.
The Grand Lodge buikling of Indiana, a fourteen-story structure, is the finest I. O. O. F. building in the world. It cost with grounds over one mil- lion dollars.
BENEVOLENT PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS.
Lodge No. 457 of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Shelbyville was instituted under dispensation from the Grand Ruler December 29, 1898, in the A. O. U. W. hall, by Indianapolis lodge, with thirty charter members. It has grown to 178 on April 1. 1909. In 1906 they moved to their own beautiful hall on West Broadway, between Harrison and Tompkins streets. It is a two- story structure, imitation of stone and is in a beautiful location, just opposite the new Carnegie Public Library and next door east of the high school building.
The present officers are ( April 1. 1909) : Exalted Ruler. Harry Karmire : Esteemed Leading Knight, Allen Green : Esteemed Loyal Knight, Earl Wilkes; Esteemed Lecturing Knight, C. H. Webben: Secretary, H. G. Montgomery; Treasurer, Frank Wilson : Esquire, Lee Davis: Tyler, Harry Hall ; Chaplain, A. L. Gutheil : Organist. F. Rembusch : Trustees-Moses Levinson. J. R. Mes- sick and Charles Davis.
The past Exalted Rulers are: T. C. Kennedy, J. H. Deitzer. D. A. Lev- inson, M. O. Sullivan. P. P. Pettig. Charles Morrison, C. H. Tindall. Morris Drake and Thomas II. Campbell.
It has been said of this benevolent order : "Scarcely can the cry of distress echo on the air. the wail of misfortune. or the moan of despair summon as- sistance. ere the Elks tender the best efforts to aid and relieve, questioning neither country or creed, doctrine or belief."
PYTHIIANISM IN SHELBY COUNTY.
On the 23d day of September. 1885. the first lodge of the Order of Knights of Pythias was instituted in Shelby county. This was Chillon Lodge, No. 129. of Shelbyville. The charter members of Chillon Lodge were the following named citizens of the city: Peter C. Akers, railway postal clerk ; Dr. John N. Lucas, physician : Charles P. Hales, painter : Judge Ken- dall M. Hord, lawyer; Edward H. Chadwick, lawyer; Robert W. Harrison, lawyer: David L. Wilson, lawyer: Joseph H. Akers, merchant: Robert B. Hale. painter ; James E. Walker, farmer : Lester Clark, insurance agent, Tay- lor Winterrowd, insurance agent : Henry Friday, barber: J. Edward Beggs. distiller: David B. Wilson, undertaker: Ernest Mueller, baker: George H. Dunn, shoe merchant : Frank Roth, merchant : John J. Wingate, newspaper publisher : James Magill, Sheriff : Richard D. Flaiz, butcher : John N. White-
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head, builder and contractor: Christian Steinhauser, jeweler : Frederick W. Mohr. baker, and Milton R. Senour, miller, a total initial membership of twenty-five.
Doctor Lucas, one of the pi meers of Pythianism in Shelby county, was an assiduous student in literature and history, and to him Chillon Lodge is indebted for its name, for he proposed the name, and it was adopted by the young lodge without a dissenting voice. It came about in this wise :
In Lake Geneva, in Switzerland, near its eastern extremity, is an isolated rock that is separated from the mountains which surround the famous lake by a narrow sweep of waters full a hundred fathoms deep. Upon this rock. rising just above the surface of the water, was built in the chivalric age, near- ly ten centuries ago, a huge and mighty castle. For many years this castle was the home of feudal chieftains, whose dominion extended far and wide around the lake. Often within its spacious halls the banquet board was spread, and often there the chivalry and beauty of that region gathered.
And then a change came over the spirit of that time. With the ad- vancing civilization of the sixteenth century came the Reformation. the mighty and far-reaching protest against the multiplied vices of established hierarchy. With a change in the religion came also a change in the national life and policy of European peoples. The feudal system surrendered up its power and dissolved away. The many old castles which dotted France and Germany, indeed. all Trans-Alpine Europe, fell into disuse as the abodes of chivalry, the homes of beauty. They were left to decay and ruin, or were transformed into dark and loathsome prisons of state.
An incident of the Reformation was the cruel and persistent persecution of what the then long dominant church was pleased to call religious heresy. The Inquisition, with its dreadful ordeals and tortures, was instituted : and in every nook and corner of Europe its spies and agents were to be found. In time they hunted down three brothers, brave dwellers of the snow-begirted Alps, who had embraced the Reformer's faith, and who, because they would not renounce or forsake it. were thrown into the dark dungeons of that old castle whose foundations were laid deep beneath the waters of the Genevan lake.
The castle of which we speak. at first a safe retreat. the home of love and joy, the haunt of mirth and revelry, but later the dread abode of hopeless pain, despair and death, was the Castle of Chillon. From the incidents which make up its history, and particularly from the incident of the martyrdom of the three Swiss brothers, their unyielding adherence to truth. their strong love for, their tender care of, their undying devotion to each other, even through the gloom and torture of the dungeon: from these strong exemplifi- cations of true manhood, from these sad but beautiful proofs of brotherly affection, the name "Chillon." was chosen for that lodge of which we have spoken-Chillon Lodge, the parent of Pythian Lodges in Shelby county.
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