| THE
first fraternal order of Decatur was the Masonic, which
began with the institution of Macon lodge, No. 8, A. F. and
A. M., July 17, 1841. It was the first lodge to be
started under the jurisdiction of the present Grand Lodge of
Illinois, through it was the eighth to receive its charter.
The charter members were:
George A. Patterson, Worshipful Master1;
Joseph King, Senior Warden: William Lefforge, Junior Warden;
Henry Prather, Secretary and treasurer; Elijah League,
Senior Deacon; Leonard Ashton, Junior Deacon; James Ashton,
Steward and Tyler. Master Masons - Warner W. Oglesby, Henry
Hummell, and Joel Seth Post. Entered apprentices -
John P. Tinbrook and Andrew S. Williams.
The Lodge met at first in a two story frame house on the north
side of the 100 block East Wood street. This house had been
built by Jacob Spangler as a home for himself and his bride,
but just before the time set for the wedding the young woman died.
Mr. Spangler then rented the house. In 1842 the Masons were
discussing the matter of a meeting place. At the same
time Decatur citizens were proposing to build a school
house. The Masons were asked to join in the move,
building an upper story to the school house to use as a
lodge room. This plan was carried out. The
cornerstone for the new building was laid June 24, 1842.
The building stood at Water and North Park streets, facing
south. Masonic bodies increased in number in the fifties.
Macon chapter, No. 21, Royal Arch Masons, was chartered
Sept. 29, 1854, with nine charter members. They were:
D. P.
Bunn, W. H. Ennis, J. R. Gorin, Josiah
Hunt, Warner W. Oglesby, Henry Prather, J.
J. Peddicord, J. C. Weaver, Joseph King.
FIRST MASONIC HOME Beaumanior Commandery No.
9, first called Centre Encampment, U. D. (under
dispensation), and then called Central Encampment, had its
beginning July 22, 1856.
The name was changed to Beaumanior Commandery in 1860. This
commandery attended the burial of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield in
May, 1865. It also assisted at the laying of the cornerstone
of the state house in Springfield. Ionic lodge, No. 312, A. F. and
A. M., came into being Nov. 10, 1859. The charter
members were A. B. Bunn, D. W. C. Hardy,
Joseph Lowenstein, George Goodman, G. R.
Moffett, S. S. Good and J. M. Lowry.
Decatur Council No. 16, Royal and Select Masters, was
chartered Oct. 7, 1864.
The Masons found they were needing more room, and accordingly
early in 1863 they arranged for the use of rooms on the third floor
of a building owned by Dr. J. B. T. Stapp, and the adjacent
floor of a building owned by Dr. J. B. T. Stapp, and the
adjacent building owned by Elisha D. Carter. These
buildings were in the 100 block North Water street. Again more
room was needed, and a new building was discussed.
Macon lodge sold its property at Water and Park streets to
James W. and George D. Haworth on Nov. 6, 1881, for
$14,000. Soon afterwards a lot at the southeast corner
of Water and William streets was purchased from James S.
Carter for $4,500. Contract for a new four-story
building was let to M. G. Patterson
for $16,233. Laying of the cornerstone for this
building on Aug. 10, 1882, was one of the biggest events in
Masonic history. In the building was placed the
cornerstone from the former building at Water and North Park
streets. Life memberships were voted June 1, 1883, to
Jerome R. Gorin, John Hatfield, William L.
Hammer, M. G. Patterson, William H. Gipson,
David L. Hughes, James L. Peake, Dewitt C.
Shockley
and George Dempsey, in appreciation of time and
services given in the erection of the new building.
Bestowing of such honor has never occurred again, since the
grand lodge soon after that adopted by-laws prohibiting life
memberships. In 1896 the Masons found it advisable to make
another change in headquarters and moved to the Loeb
building in the 300 block North Water street. Ten
years later, in 1906, they purchased the Methodist church
building at Eldorado and Franklin streets, formerly known as
Stapp's chapel. The Masons remodeled the
structure, and named it Eldorado temple. This was
their home until 1929.
FIRST MASONIC TEMPLE
(Sharon Wick's NOTE: This building has a
sign on the side that says W. H. Grindol. Mr. Grindol was the
owner of W. H. Grindol Marbleworks.)
SECOND MASONIC TEMPLE
ELDORADO TEMPLE Meantime the Masons were growing stronger,
and new lodges were organized. Stephen Decatur lodge,
A. F. and A. M., was organized in 1914, and had its first
meeting on Aug. 12. Another new lodge came in 1921
with the organization of Great Light lodge on May 4.
NEW TEMPLE For years the Masonic bodies discussed the
idea of erecting a temple to house all their activities.
This discussion crystallized in the organization in 192 of
the Decatur Masonic Temple association. All the lodges
conveyed their property to the new association, and drives
for funds were made among the members. As a result the
new temple, located at William and Church streets, was
erected at a cost of $850,000. The temple was
dedicated Feb. 8, 1929, by Grand Master Louis L. Emmerson.
NEW MASONIC TEMPLE Decatur chapter, 111 O. E. S.
was instituted Sept. 9, 1887, in the Masonic temple at Water
and William streets. Thirteen wives of Masons became
members. First worthy matron was Mrs. Lavonne Y.
Hildreth. A new Eastern Star chapter was organized
in 1929, and was named Owen
Scott chapter. A record made by no other man in
Decatur was that of Owen Scott, who attended the
annual meeting of the Illinois Grand Lodge of Masons for
fifty- one consecutive times, the last being in 1928,
several months before his death. Since 1921 he had
held the office of grand secretary. Mr. Scott
was one of the most widely known Masons of the state.
He had held every office in the grand lodge from
warden to grand master. He was a member of the board
of directors of the George Washington
Masonic National Memorial association, organized to erect a
memorial to Washington at Alexandria, Va. Besides
reaching high positions in the Masonic lodge, Mr. Scott
was honored in the same way in other lodges of which he was
a member, the Knights of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Order of the
Eastern Star, and Order of Red Men.
ODD FELLOWS The Odd Fellows were the second fraternal body
to organize in Decatur. They had their initial meeting
Feb. 26, 1850. S. W. Woodward, grand master,
had charge of organizing the lodge which became known as
Decatur lodge, No. 65. The charter members were Samuel
K. Thompson, Henry Hummell, J. R. Turner,
Benjamin F. Oglesby and John W.
Koehler. The meetings were held in Montgomery
hall, Water and East Main streets. At the first lodge
meeting Henry B.
Durfee was admitted by card. Warner W. Oglesby,
E. O. Smith, G. A. Smith, S. W.
Carter, Austin McClurg and Charles Mayers
were initiated. Officers were elected as elected:
Noble Grand - S. K. Thompson
Vice Grand - H. B. Durfee
Recording Secretary - W. W. Oglesby
Treasurer - E. O. Smith Celestial lodge, No. 186,
IOOF was organized Oct. 12, 1855, with the following charter
members: W. W. Oglesby, P. D. Kline, S.
K. Thompson, Henry P. Elliott, R. F. Jones,
Joseph King, James Shoaff, J. L. Peake, A. J.
Wolf, C. H. Fuller, George W. Baker, B. H.
Cassell, John J. Ballentine. Decatur
Encampment No. 37, I.O.O.F. was organized Dec. 10, 1856,
with a charter membership of eight. The charter
members were G. A. Smith, Henry Kain, B. F.
McCoy, W. T. Peake, Stephen Grimes, Peter
Terrell, Alonzo Pierce and Hamilton McCoy.
The Daughters of Rebekah were organized in Decatur Oct. 14,
1873, with nineteen charter members.
PYTHIAN ORPHANS HOME Isaac W. Ehrman,
who came to Decatur in 1853 and started a clothing store,
and in later years was in the laundry business, was a member
of the Odd Fellows lodge for 66 years. Before his
death in 1921 he had been a member since he was twenty.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS Coeur de Leon lodge, Knights of
Pythias, was instituted Feb. 22, 1871, only seven years
after the foundation of the order. Charter members
were B. F. Dodson, B. K. Durfee, M. F.
Kanan, W. W. Peddecord, W. W. Mason, E. M.
Misner, J. C. Carder, J. F. McChain and A.
P. Griswold. Chevalier Bayard lodge, No. 189, was
organized Aug. 10, 1889, as the result of the efforts of
Walter Hutchin. En Ami lodge No. 593 was organized
April 4 and 5, 1900, in the office of Dr. C. Taylor Ball,
Water and Bradford streets. The Myrtle Temple No. 2,
Pythian Sisters, was started in 1890, through the efforts of
Mrs. Mary Winegardner. It was the second such
organization in the state.
PYTHIAN OLD FOLKS HOME The Grand Temple of
Illinois of Pythian Sisters, which is composed of the
highest officials of their various temples in the state was
organized in Decatur in 1892 and Mrs. Hall of Myrtle
temple was chosen first grand chief. Two other temples
of Pythian sisters have been organized in Decatur.
They are Decatur temple and Fern Leaf temple. Decatur was
chosen as the location for the state home for aged Pythians,
their wives, widows and orphans, which the Grand Lodge of
Knights of Pythias voted to establish during its session
Oct. 17 - 19, 1905, held in this city. The cornerstone
for the new home in Decatur was laid June 9, 1908, and
dedication took place June 9, 1910. The cost of the
home was about $160,000. In 1916 another home was erected
four miles north of Decatur. This second building is
the home for the aged people, while the first building
erected is the home for the children only. The home
for the aged cost $50,000. In 1927 and addition
costing approximately the same amount was erected.
OTHER LODGES The Modern Woodmen of America, Decatur
camp, No. 144, was organized Dec. 8, 1885, at a meeting at
the St. Nicholas hotel. W. C. Rowe
camp was organized in 1908, but later merged with Decatur
camp. Other camps organized since are Easterly No.
1626 and Commodore No. 3469. The Red Men were organized in
Decatur Sept. 30, 1901, the tribe being known as Sangamon
tribe No. 145. This tribe and others organized later
went out of existence, but remaining members reorganized.
The present tribe is known as Iona tribe.
Triumph Court, Tribe of Ben Hur, was organized June 2, 1896, and
Voris court was started in 1921. In 1928 the two were merged
making the largest court in the state at that time. Decatur lodge,
No. 401, B. P. O. E., was organized Dec. 15, 1897. Dr.
B. L.
Maienthal was first Exalted Ruler. This lodge erected a
country club on the shores of Lake Decatur at a cost of
about $40,000. The Decatur Aerie of Eagles was instituted
Oct. 4, 1903. Mont Peniwell was past worthy
present, and M. C. Griffin
worthy president. On Jan. 23, 1913, the lodge bought
the brick building at the Northwest corner of Washington and
Water streets. It was sold to the city of Decatur in
1925 and remodeled into the present city hall. The Decatur
branch of the Loyal Order of Moose was organized Aug. 3,
1911, with 500 members. T. A. McGarry
was first dictator. In 1916 the Moose erected a club
house at Wood and Franklin streets costing $35,000, and in
1922 built a country club house on the shores of Lake
Decatur. Decatur has many other prosperous fraternal
bodies, whish are filling well their place in the life of
the city. ------------------
1.
George A. Patterson was the man who prepared the petition
asking the legislature to form a new county (Piatt county) in 1838.
Mr. Patterson lived near what is now Monticello. He
surveyed the town of Monticello, was foreman of the first grand jury
in Piatt, was county assessor there in 1843 and was a member of the
first board of school commissioners.
Mr. Patterson also surveyed many of the additions to Decatur,
among them the Allen, McReynolds addition, of which Central park is
a part. He was very faithful in attending the lodge meetings
in Decatur, though he had to ride horseback through mud for
twenty-five miles to get here. Often the grass was so high he
would lose the trail.
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