Marshall County, Indiana - Chapter 12: Marshale County, 1881

Chapter 12: Marshale County

Plymouth Lodge, No. 149, was organized under dispensation April 2, 1853, and chartered May 23, 1853, with seven members to begin with. Its place of meeting was on Center street, in the second story of a building opposite where the Christian Chapel formerly stood. John G. Osborne was the first Master, and served as such for a number of years. The petitioners were John G. Osborne, G. P, Cherry, H. B. Pershing, George Pomeroy, W. J. Burns, Jacob Knoblock, J. Y. Moore, W. K. Logan. The first admitted were John Coleman, John Hall and W. B. Moore, April 15, 1858. First initiated, U. D., Hiram Pomeroy, John C. Mathews, H. P. Steel, April 15, 1853. Its emblematic broken column commemorates the names of many distinguished citizens who have, from time to time passed over the "valley and shadow of death." But two who were members in 1857, remain : Horace Corbin and A. P. Elliott. Others, however, have taken their places, and the membership is now 125.

population, came the necessity for the organization of societies for mutual benefit and social amusement. The oldest of these, and the first established in Marshall County, was aybranch of the Masonic system. The traditions in regard to the history of Masonry are numerous, and so far as it is now known, its organization dates so far back in the world that the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.

Originally, Masonry was an operative organization, attaining its greatest degree of perfection at the building of King Solomon's Temple. Since that time, perhaps less than two hundred years ago, it was changed into a speculative science, still retaining the working tools of operative Masonry, and giving to them |

Plymouth Chapter, No. 49, Royal Arch Masons, was organized May 19, 1864. Martin H. Rice first High Priest, with nine members. It now has a membership of fifty-five.

ee ome Council, No, 18, Royal and Select Masters; organized May 22, 1866, Martin H. Riee, first Ill. Master, with nine members. It had a membership of fifty, at the time it ceased to work a year or two ago.

Plymouth Commandery, No. 26, Knights Templar, was chartered April 27, 1875, starting with a membership of thirteen. Henry G, Thayer first Em. Commander. It now has a membership of about fifty.

Bourbon Lodge, No. 227, was organized in June, 1867, with eight members, John W. Hagan being the first Master. It now has a membership of fifty-five.

The total membership in the county at this time in all the above organizations is about five hundred. In the State there are 20,000 members, and in the United States, 600,000.

The order of Eastern Star, whose membership is confined to Masons, their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters, established Chapters at Bourbon and Plymouth, in October, 1877, and now each has a membership of about thirty.

Independent Order Of Odd Fellows

This order is similar in its work and teachings to the Masonic organization. It differs only in the ceremonial ritual and the qualification of candidates for membership, and the manner of dispensing its charities. Each member disabled from sickness, receives a stipulated amount per week, and, in case of death, a specific amount is appropriated for funeral expenses. Thomas Wildy, whose mortal remains lie buried in the city of Baltimore,

Since that time it has increased in numbers more rapidly, perhaps, than any other similar organization. In Indiana it numbers about five hundred subordinate lodges, with a membership approximating thirty thousand, and in the United States about half a million. Its motto is F., L. & T., signifying Friendship, Love and Truth.

Americus Lodge, No. 91, was the first organized in Marshall County. It was instituted March 4, 1851. The petitioners were W. G. Pomeroy, Gilson 8. Cleaveland, William C. Edwards, Wesley Gregg, Grove O. Pomeroy and J. W. Bennett, and continued to work until July 92, 1855, when it ceased to oxist. It was again resuscitated July 14, 1859, and continued until July 18, 1862, when the charter was surrendered. The charter was again restored April 16, 1868, and has continued work until the present time, and is now in a healthy and prosperous condition, with a contributing membership of fifty, with a large general and orphans' fund at interest on first mortgage security.

A branch of the order is represented in what is called an Encampment. It is composed of 5th degree members, and is similar in its workings to the Masonic Order of Knights Templar. Plymouth Encampment, No. 113, was organized under charter May 24, 1872, R. McCance, J, C. Kuhn, J. A. Palmer, 5. Becker, S. Meyer, Henry Spier, A. L. Reeves and others, eighteen in all, charter members.

Attached to the order of Odd Fellows, is a "ladies' department," called the "Daughters of Rebeka." This degree was originated by the Hon. Schuyler Colfax several years ago, and has become quite popular among the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of Odd Fellows, who alone are entitled to receive it. Nightingale Lodge, No. 50, of this order, was organized at Bourbon, April 5, 1870, and has a present membership of thirty-six. Silver Star Lodge at Plymouth, began to shine Septomber 24, 1874. Its present membersbip is about thirty. Argos and Bremen have each a Rebeka organization. The total membership in the county is about one hundred.

Independent Order Of Sons Of Malta

An organization known as the Independent Order of Sons of Malta, was established in Plymouth about 1859. It increased rapidly in membership until about seventy-five were "sold," when the surplus funds of the organization were appropriated to the purchase of groceries and provisions, which were distributed one night about midnight to the destitute and poor of the town. The procession was resplendent with the pomp and glitter of circumstance. The members were masked, and marched in single file, preceded by the commander riding a white horse, and keeping step to the music of the fife and drum. About $150 worth of provisions were distributed during the night, and having fulfilled its mission, the organization disbanded and the members " departed."

Improved Order Of Red Men

This organization gained a foothold in Indiana about the time of the breaking out of the war. The ceremonial ritual of the' order is founded on the old Indian customs of adoption, and aim to bring the novitiate from a supposed low and degraded state to an improved and perfect condition of manhood Its system of fees, dues and charities is similar to the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, ete. It has a system of dates peculiar to itself. The months, beginning with January, are called Cold; Snow, Worm, Plant, Flower, Hot, Buck, Sturgeon, Corn, Traveling, Beaver, and Hunting, Moons. A day is called a "Sun." A night is called a "Sleep." Money is called " Wampum," and is divided into fathoms - feet and inches. The officers are designated as Sachem - Senior and Junior, Sagamore, Chief of Records, Keeper of Wampum, Prophet and Sanaps. The first tribe organized in Marshall County was Pottawattamie, No. 16, at Bourbon, May 22, 1870, with twenty charter members.

Shawnee Tribe, No. 19, was shortly afterward organized at Argos, but has since been moved to Walnut Station, four miles south, where it is flourishing like a green bay tree.

Patrons Of Husbandry

This was an organization confined to farmers, their wives, and also daughters and sons, of a certain age. It was first introduced into Marshall County in the spring of 1874, and during the year eighteen Granges were instituted, with a membership of about one thousand. The object of the Grange was to elevate farmers to a higher condition of independence and prosperity. Conceiving that a prosperous farming community is one made up of men who ply their vocation fearlessly, raise a variety of crops, breed and keep choice stock, encourage the mechanical arts and indus- horticulture, etc. ; it proposed to do everything calculated to ultimate in those desirable ends. The Grange encouraged farmers to labor heartily six days, worship God on the seventh, live in love and charity with their neighbors, and those whose transactions are established on the firm basis of honesty. The organization took like "wild fire" with the farming community, but for causes which are somewhat enigmatical, it has almost, if not quite, ceased to exist. TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.

The first case tried in the Circuit Court of Marshall County was on a complaint for violation of the liquor law, and to counteract the evil influences of the liquor traffic, a necessity seemed to exist for the organizations of temperance societies, and in accordance with this idea, a lodge of the Sons of Temperance, and Cadets of Temperance, anda Washingtonian Society, were organized in Plymouth, as far back as 1850. They met with indifferent suecess, and the order of Good Templars sprang up several years ago, and branches have been established in Plymouth, Bourbon, Argos and Maxenkuckee.

During the year 1574, what was known as the "Women's Praying Band," which first made its appearance in Ohio, found its way to Marshall County. At Bourbon the women organized, appointed committees, visited the saloons, prayed for the proprietors, stationed a committee of women at the doors of drinking places, and for several months created a furor of excitement in the community. A similar organization was effected in Plymouth, but with the exception of a visit by a committee to the saloonre

HISTORY keepers for the purpose of inducing them to abandon the traffic, their operations were confined to public prayer meetings in the churches and public halls. Like everything based on the excitement of the moment, it soon spent its fury and passed away, leaving behind only very indifferent remembrances.

Following the Praying Band came the "Blue Ribbon" and "Red Ribbon" temperance move, and out of this grew what is known as the 'Women's Christian Temperance Union. The meetings of the Ribbonites during the inception and perfection of the move were largely attended by all classes of people, and undoubtedly accomplished much good. The meetings were addressed by whomsoever the spirit moved to speak, and at the conclusion of the meeting cards, on which the pledge was printed and bearing the motto - 'With malice towards none; with charity for all," were circulated for signature, and in the county it is estimated that about two thousand enlisted in the cause. This organization, it is claimed, has accomplished more good without engendering strife, than any other popular move bofore or since inaugurated.

The Good Templars

is a secret organization having for its main object the inculeation of temperance principles and habits. The oldest lodge in the county is at Bourbon. It has been in existence ever since Good Templarism was first established in the State, and is still in active operation. A lodge was formed in Plymouth in the spring of 1S7S. It sprang up out of the Blue Ribbon excitement, and started out with a large membership, and continued to hold meetings each week until it disbanded, in the spring of 1850.

Church Societies

The following are the names of benevolent societies now in existence, not inciuded above. As their names indicate they are societies organized for the purpose of looking after the needy of the several organizations, and for other charitable purposes:

Building Associations

Plymouth Building, Loan and Savings Association, No. 1, organized 1870; Plymouth Building, Loan and Savings Association, No. 2, organized 1572.

These organizations were started with a capital stock of $100,- 000 each, with shares at $200. Each member pays $1 monthly op each share owned. The accumulations are loaned only to the members on first mortgage security at 6 per cent interest. The organizations expire as soon as the payments with accumulated interest, fines and discounts reach the full par value of the stock-

How Members Are Initiated Into Secret Societies

In the United States there are and have been, probably, three million people initiated into the various secret orders in existence in the United States. How these secret ceremonies are performed, so far as the outside world is concerned, remains as much of a sealed mystery now as it did in the beginning. The ceremonies in all the organizations are similar, that is, there are certain forms and ceremonies to be gone through with, varying according to the lessons attempted to be taught. A gentleman whose name shall | be mentionless, joined the Masons, the oldest of the secret societies, and thus divulges the ceremonies through which he passed: "I must tell you of the perils and trials I had to undergo to become a Mason. On the evening in question, I presented myself at the door of the lodge room, No. 66,666, sign of skull and cross bones. I was conducted into an ante-room, where five or six melancholy chaps in sashes and embroidered napkins were waiting to receive me. On my entrance, they all got up and turned back-somersaults, and then resumed their seats. A big fat fellow, who sat in the middle and who seemed to be the proprietor, then said: ' Sinner from the outer world, advance!' I advanced. ' Will you give up everything to join us? 'Not if I know myself, I won't,' there's my wife and fourteen fine - ' Another party here told me to say 'Yes,' as it was merely a matter of form. So I said: 'Yes, I give up everything.' The fellows in the towels then groaned and said, ''Tis well.' 'Do you swear never to reveal anything you may see or hear this evening to any human being, nor your wife?' I said: ''Pon my word, I will not.' They then examined my teeth and felt my muscles, and made me put out my tongue, and then groaned again, and I said: 'If you don't feel well, I've got a little bottle here that - ' The fat man here took the bottle from me, and told me to shut up. He then, in a voice of thunder, said, 'Bring forth the goat!' Another fellow then came np with a big cloth, to blindfold me. 'No you don't, Mr. Mason,' said I, 'no tricks on travelers, if you please; I don't believe in playing blind man's buff with a goat. I'll ride the devil, if you like, but I don't go it blind. Stand back, or Pll knock you into smithereens!' They were too much for me, however, so I had to submit and be blindfolded. The goat was then led in, and I could hear him making an awful racket among the furniture. I began to feel that I was urgently wanted at home, but I was in for it and couldn't help myself, Three or four fellows then seized me, and with a demoniacal laugh, pitched me on the animal's back, telling me, at the same time, to look out for squalls. I have been in a good many scrapes; I have been in an election fight; I've been pitched ont of a fourth-story window; I've gone down in a railroad collision, and up in a steamboat explosion, but this little goat excursion was ahead of them all. The confounded thing must have been all wings and horns. It bumped me up against all the tables and chairs, and the stove and the ceiling, but I held on like a Trojan. I turned front somersaults, and rolled over till I thought it was all over with me. I was just on the point of giving up, when the bandage fell from my eyes, and the goat bounded through the window with a yell like a Camanche Indian giving up the ghost. Iwas in a lodge of Masons. They were dancing a war dance around a big skull, and playing leapfrog and turning handsprings, and the big fat fellow of the anteroom was standing on his head in the corner, finishing the contents of my little bottle. Order was soon restored, and I was led up to the desk and told to stand at my ease. The Chief Engineer of the establishment then put his thumb to his nose, and stretching out his fingers toward me, commanded silence, The rest of the brethren did likewise, and were silent. The Governor then addressed me:

"Brother, you are now one of us. You are now a member of an institution that has lasted over ten millions of years. From this time forward your constitution is sound. You are impervious to light or heat, or any other atmospheric influence. You are water-proof, fire-proof and overproof. With impunity you may walk through the lake, or sit on a red hot stove; with impunity drink agua fortis, rye whisky, Wahoo Bitters, or any other poisonous substance. Yon are free from rheumatism, dyspepsia, whoop- ing cough, or the measles. The Sheriff dare not seize you for debt, nor the policeman arrest you for misdemeanor, You are one of us, and you are safe. Here is the password; with that and a big elub, you can get into any lodge in Christendom.' "

Having now become interested in the initiatory ceremonies of secret societies, he concluded to join the Good Templars, and this is the way he said that order initiate its members:

"Tn the first place, the victim of initiation is blindfolded, tied hands and feet, and thrown into a cider press, and pressed for five minutes, This is done for the purpose of pressing out 'old drunks.' He is then taken ont of the cider press, and by means of a force pump, is gorged with cistern water, after which a sealing plaster is put over his mouth, and he is rolled in a barrel four or five times across the room, the choir at the same time singing the cold water song. He is now taken ont of the barrel,

How long this organization continued the writer has no means of knowing. However, before it ceased to exist, it succeeded in accomplishing one good thing - the arrest and conviction of a horse thief, by the name of Richard Kno. Eno was a desperado of the worst type, and although he had many times been behind the bolts and bars, somehow he succeeded in making good his escape. Atone time he was confined in the jail of Fulton County. The Sheriff went into the cell to take him his meal, when Eno shoved him into one corner, took the key away from him, locked him up in the jail, and leisurely walked ont. Subsequently he

He is then cut down and a beautiful young lady hands him a glass of water. A cold water bath is then furnished him, after which he is showered with cistern water. He is then made to read the Water Works Act ten times, drinking a glass of cistern water each reading, after which the Old Oaken Bucket is hung round his neck, and fifteen beautiful young ladies with squirt guns deluge him with rain water. He is then forced to eat a peck of snow, while the brothers stick his ears full of icicles. He is then run through a clothes wringer, after which he is handed a glass of water by a beautiful young lady. He is then gorged with cistern water, his boots filled with the same, and he is laid away in a refrigerator. After remaining in the refrigerator for the space of half an hour, he is taken out and given a glass of cistern water, run through the clothes wringer, and becomes a Good Templar."

As to how much truth there is in the foregoing stories, the reader must be the judge. hey are given simply as illustrating prevalent notions in regard to these ceremonies.