Clark County, Indiana - Chapter 20, 1909

Chapter 20

The legal estaljlishment of IMasonary in Clark county took place when Blazing Star Lodge, No. 36, was established at Charlestown in 1816. by authority of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. The charter of this lodge is dated August 28. 18 16, and her lineage, which is also that of the other lodges in the county, as well as that of the Grand Lodge of Lidiana. adds distinction to an already distinguished society. They derive their ]\Iasonic authority from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. That Grand Lodge was the offspring of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and the Grand Lodge of Virginia was composed of lodges which had been chartered by the Grand Lodge of England. At the organization of the Grand Lodge of Indiana at Madison, Januaiy 12, 1818, Alexander Buckner, of Charlestown, was elected first grand master, and two other Clark county men from Charlestown were elected to offices in the Grand Lodge. Samuel C. Tate was elected grand treasurer and Isaac Howk was elected senior grand deacon. Charlestown was then selected as the site of the Grand Lodge until legally changed agreeably to the rules and regulations governing such matters.

Blazing Star Lodge, No. 3, of Charlestown. in 1818, at the time of the organization of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, had the following officers : Alexander Buckner, master; Joseph Bartholomew, senior warden; George Leas, junior warden ; Isaac Howk, secretary ; Evan Shelby, treasurer ; John Meriwether, senior deacon; \\'illiam Boven. junior deacon, and William Duerson, steward and tyler. The high regard in which Masonry was held by men of prominence at that time is shown by the character of her officers and members. Alexander Buckner became the first grand master ; Isaac Howk, later on speaker of the Indiana house of representatives ; Evan Shelby, Colonel Joseph Bartholomew, was wounded at the battle of Tippecanoe ; John Owens, Jonathan Jennings, the first Governor of Indiana, and others, who considered it not beneath their dignity to meet within the tiled recesses of the lodge. From 1830 to 1835 this lodge was stricken from the list of subordinate lodges by a resolution of the Grand Lodge, but its charter was not arrested. Nine years later, in 1844, the Grand Lodge remitted all the dues and arrearages of Blazing Star Lodge and reinstated her with all powers as if no forfeiture of her chartered rights had taken place. Her new officers were installed on May 15, 1845, by Brother Levi Sparks.

During the years 1846 andi847 the lodge made no report, her cliarter was forfeited, and lier number. 3. was given to Carlisle Lodge. In 1857 the Grand Lodge granted a dispensation to form another lodge at Charlestown by the name of Blazing Star, No. 226, and in 1858 a charter was granted, with Asa Glover as master ; Andrew J. Hay, senior warden, and David W. Dailey, junior warden. Since then the lodge has pursued the even tenor of her way. The following is a list of the past masters of Blazing Star Lodge :

It will be noticed that this lodge has been honored above any lodge in the state in having four of its masters elected grand master of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. In 1908 it has about sixty members and numbers among them the most prominent and influential citizens of Charlestown township.

Clark Lodge, No. 40, of Jeffersonville, -is the next oldest Masonic lodge in the county. She was preceded in Jeffersonville by Posey Lodge. No. 9, which was chartered by the Grand Lodge September 14, 1819. This lodge was named in honor of Governor Posey, and Samuel Gwathmey was the first master. Gwathmey was a distinguished citizen of Southern Indiana, and was one of the trustees who laid out Jeffersonville in 1802. Posey Lodge was a weak organization from the beginning, and in 1829 its charter was arrested and it ceased to exist. The first Mason to be made in Jeffersonville was James Nesmith. He was initiated in Posey Lodge October 2. 1819. The annual communication of the Grand Lodge met in Posey Lodge hall September 11. 1820.

Clark Lodge. No. 40, was organized January 26. 1835. and chartered December 17th the same year, with Thomas D. Lemon as master. The following is a list of past-masters with years of service:

Baird S History Of Clark Co., Ind. 21T

The first meeting place of Clark Lodge was in the old county court house, which stood on the north side of Market street, about where the present city hall is located; then on October 2. 1840, they moved to a building on the east side of Spring street, adjoining the north side of the alley between Market and Front streets. It then occupied the upper floor of a building on the northwest corner of Chestnut and Pearl streets. While occupying this building it burned, Sunday, March 3, 1861, and her charter was the only thing saved. The third floor of the building on the northeast corner of Spring and Chestnut streets was then used for a Masonic hall until 1898, when the third floor on the southeast corner of Spring and Maple streets was fitted up. This hall is now used by all the Masonic bodies in Jeffersonville.

Clark Lodge laid the comer stone of the Jeffersonville Orphans' Home, and was instrumental in having the Grand Lodge lay the corner stone of the Jeffersonville Carnegie Public Library September 19, 1903. On May 20, 1886, Clark Lodge was honored with a visit and lecture by Brother Robert Morris. The first [Masons made by Clark Lodge were Brothers B. C. Pile, Robert S. Heiskell and John Mitchell. They were initiated on April 21, 1835. Brothers Pile and Heiskell were raised in New Albany at 2 :oo p. m. in the Grand Lodge of the state there assembled, June 24, 1835.

New Washington Lodge, No. 167, is located at New Washington. This lodge was organized December 12, 1854, and chartered May 30, 1855, with Thomas S. Faltinburg as master. It is the only lodge in Washington township, but is an energetic and loyal supporter of the tenets of Freemasonry. The following is a list of her past-masters :

New Providence Lodge, No. 237, is located at Borden, Wood township. It was organized January 26, 1859. and chartered May 24. 1859, with David W. Voyles as master. The following is a list of her past-masters :

Bairds History. Of Clark Co., Ind. 2I5

Utica Lodge. No. 337, is located at \^'atso^. The lodge originally held her meetings at Utica, but owing to the change of residence of many of her members moved to Watson. Utica Lodge has suffered much loss from fires in the past, but a no more loyal body of Masons can be found in the state. It has had the honor of having one of its past-masters, Brother Calvin W. Prather, elected most worshipful grand master of Indiana. Brother Prather is now the grand secretary of the Grand Lodge. A lodge that makes Masons Hke Calvin W. Prather can certainly hold no mean place in the estimation of the fraternity throughout the state. The following is a list of her pastmasters :

Jefi'ersonville Lodge, No. 340, is located in Jeffersonville. She was organized August I, 1866, and chartered May 29, 1867, with William H. Fogg as master. Jeft'ersonville Lodge is an oft'shoot of Clark Lodge, having been formed by a number of members of that lodge. Brother Calvin \\". Prather.^ past grand master, and our present grand secretary, is also a past master of Jeffersonville Lodge. This lodge is the second largest Masonic body in Clark countv, ha\-ing about one hundred and twenty members. The following is a list of her past masters :

Buckner Lodge No. 631, is located at Sellersburg, in Silver Creek township, and was organized May 31, 1900. It was chartered on May 28, 1901, with Edward N. Wicht as master.

Henryville Lodge No. 651, of Henryville. was organized March 30. 1903, and chartered Alay 27, 1903, wit): Alichael L'. Harbold as master. It has about forty members. The following is a list of its past masters :

Capitular Masonry made its official advent into Clark county when Horeb Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, was organized January 26, 1867. This chapter was chartered on May 2;^. 1867, with James S. Caldwell as. high priest.

The history of Capitular Masonry in Clark county shows that it has attracted to its fold the most prominent and influential men of the county. The high standing of these members and the enthusiasm with which they labor, reflects credit on the community in which they live. Their apartments in the Masonic Hall are tastefully and appropriately furnished, and bear witness to the enthusiasm they have for this branch of Masonry. The following is a list of the past high priests :

Jeffersonville Commandery, No. 27, Knights Templar

Jeffersonville Commandery No. 27, Knights Templar, was organized August 28, 1875, and chartered April 26, 1876. The history of the commandery shows the high standing of the men who have been attracted to chivalric Masonry in Clark county. The following is a list of past eminent commanders: Simeon S. Johnson, 1875, '76. '80, '86, and right eminent grand commander in 1883. R. L. Woolsey, 1877, and right eminent grand commander in 1883. Calvin W. Prather, 1878, '82, '89;

Baird S History Of Clark Co., Ixd

On October ij, 1905, Jeffersonville Chapter. Order of the Eastern Star, was organized, and on April 26, 1906, a charter was granted by the Grand body at Indianapolis. The few years that the Order of Adoptive Masonry has been in existence in Jeffersonville have proved its popularity, and their roster shows about forty members.

Clark county also has a goodly number of Masons who have received the degrees of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. Valley of Indianapolis.

Freemasonry throughout the county has existed from the earliest times, and a full history of the order would be a history- of the county and its most distinguished citizens.