MUNCIE LODGE, No. 74-ORGANIZATION-PARTICIPANTS IN THE CEREMONIES OF INSTITUTION-ELECTION AND INSTALLATION OF FIRST OFFICERS-THE PLACE OF MEETING-HALL PROCURED-MASONIC HALL OCCUPIED TEMPORARILY-TRUSTEES ELECTED-CHAPLAIN ELECTED-BIBLE PRESENTATION-BY-LAWS AND SEAL ADOPTED-AUDITING COMMITTEE --JEWELS-LOT PURCHASED-NEW HALL PROJECTED-CORNER STONE LAID - DEDICATION OF HALL-REPORT OF FINAL COST -PRESENT OFFICERS -ORPHAN'S FUND.
On the 9th of November 1849, Lodge, No. 74, was instituted by District Deputy Grand Master, Thomas Wilson, assisted by Brothers David T. Haines, William Hutchens, William Bolander, and M. L. Hamish, J. C. Dill, Hoenish, and Dinwiddie, at which time Theodore J. Riley, Martin Galliher, William Walling, Thomas J. Matthews, John C. Helm, John Brady, Edward G. Keasbey and Eli J, Jamison, were admitted by initiation.
The five degrees were conferred at the same meeting upon said applicants. On the following day the organization was completed by the election and installation of the following officers:
David T. Haines, N. G.; John C. Helm, V. G.; Thomas J. Matthews, Secretary; John Brady, Treasurer; Eli J. Jamison, Warden; Theodore J. Riley, Conductor; Martin Galliher, R.S. to N. G.; Edward G. Keasbey, R. S. S.; William Walling, L. S. S.
At the same meeting, Tuesday evening of each week was adopted as the regular meeting night of the lodge, which has ever since continued to be the regular meeting night. The room in which the organization was perfected was situated on the south side of Main Street, one door east of the southwest corner of the public square, in what was then known as Anthony's building. A committee was appointed November 13 following, to procure a hall for the use of the lodge. At the meeting next succeeding their appointment, the committee reported that the room over D. T. Haines grocery store, in Galliher's building, west of the alley south of Main, between High and Walnut streets, could be had at a rental of $18 per year for a term of three years, and the proposition was accepted. This room was continued as the meeting place of the lodge from that time until the 28th of May 1852, the date of the last meeting there. On the evening of June 1, 1852, the first meeting was held in the Masonic Hall, under an arrangement that this hall was to be used only during the interim of building and completing their new hall immediately adjoining. This new hall was commenced under an arrangement with Judge Brady, by which the latter was to put a third story on the building then in process of erection by him, to be used for lodge purposes.
To consummate that purpose and secure a comfortable and commodious room, shares of stock were issued of the denomination of $10, to bear interest at the rate of 10 per cent, payable semi-annually. The building, completing and fitting up of this hall, were accomplished in May 1853, at which time they removed from the Masonic to their own hall, immediately east and adjoining, being located on the north side of Main street, between Walnut and Mulberry. The room was handsomely finished and furnished according to the customs and tastes of the day. Being constructed especially for a hall, it was arranged in convenient shape, with the necessary ante-rooms, etc. This continued to be the stated meeting place of the lodge until their final removal to the permanent hail erected on the northeast corner of Jackson and Walnut streets. Returning to the regular order of events, on the evening of November 13, 1849, William G. Ethell was initiated, his being the first single initiation since the organization of the lodge. At the meeting of December 25, 1849, Eli J Jamison, Theodore J. Riley and Martin Galliher were elected Trustees for the ensuing year-the first elected. A meeting was held on the 1st of January 1850, at which Brother Brady was elected Chaplin of the lodge for the year following, and, at the next meeting, January 15, 1850, Dr. John C. Helm presented the lodge with a handsome copy of the Holy Bible-an appropriate gift and thankfully received. Again, on the 29th of January 1850, the committee to whom was referred the task of preparing a constitution and by-laws for the government of the, lodge, reported the result of their labors, which was adopted. Subsequently, a special committee was appointed to procure a lodge seal. This committee made a report accordingly, on the 7th of May 1850, which report and the seal, prepared subject to the order of the committee, was adopted. On the 9th of July 1850, the auditing committee made its first report concerning the finances of the lodge as follows:
Received since the organization $265.35
Disbursed since the organization 207.64
Balance $57.71
Orphan Fund loaned $26.71
The Orphan Fund was only $26.33, consequently they loaned 18 cents more than that fund contained. Balance on hand and after all accounts are settled $31.00
W. G. ETHELL,
ELI J. JAMISON,
T. J. RILEY,
Auditing Committee.
Afterward, on the 1st of October 1850, the special committee appointed for the purpose, made report of the purchase of jewels at a cost of $26, and the report was concurred in by the lodge. At the meeting of November 12, 1850, the sum of $3 was voted to be appropriated by the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana, toward the purchase of a block of Indiana marble to be placed in the Washington monument, at Washington, District of Columbia. At the meeting on the 4th of July, 1871, the Trustees, who had been instructed thereunto, reported the purchase of forty feet on the south part of Lot No. 8, Block No. 24, in Brown's donation, to be used for the erection of a hall thereon, for the sum of $4,000. Afterward, on the 22d of April, 1872, a resolution was adopted authorizing the Trustees to devise plans for a stock subscription with which to build a hall on said lot, to be of the dimensions of 40x100 feet. Subsequently, at the meeting on May 7, 1872, the Trustees made report that $7,150 dollars had been subscribed toward the proposed building; and that, by the 28th of that month, the entire stock would be taken, $4,000 having been taken by the members of this lodge.
On the 8th of June 1872, the work had so far progressed that the corner stone of the new edifice, was laid with appropriate ceremonies by Worthy Grand Master Mcquiddy. These ceremonies were quite imposing and were witnessed by a very large assemblage of Odd Fellows and visiting spectators. Lodges came, from abroad and people came in large numbers giving by their presence appreciation of the enterprise in progress. Addresses were delivered by P. G. M. W. K. Edwards, Grand Secretary, B. F. Foster and P. G. W. W. Curry. The hall was dedicated on the 28th of October 1875. At that date, the lodge met at the old hall, and, headed by a band of music, marched in a body to the new hall, where the dedicatory exercises were conducted and the building set apart, according to the usages of the fraternity, to the separate occupancy of the Odd Fellows for the dissemination of the cardinal principles of Odd Fellowship.
The following account of the dedicatory services of the new hall is copied from the Muncie Times of November 4, 1875:
Early in the morning the trains began to pour in visitors and lodges, and later, large numbers came in from the country, till the city was literally jammed with people. The arrangements had been well projected and smoothly executed. The Odd Fellows and Knights Templar bands escorted the lodges to their respective places of rendezvous, and, at 10 o'clock, the grand procession formed and took up its line of March for the hall where the beautiful and impressive ceremonies of dedication were performed. The hall was elegantly decorated, and with its new furniture presented a grand appearance. The lodges and city have great reason to be proud of their enterprise. After the ceremony, the visitors repaired to the school grounds of District No. 1, where the tables of endless extent and laden with every thing good to eat, awaited them. After dinner the vast crowd listened with closest interest to a most eloquent and stirring address from Grand Past Master Thomas Underwood. It was a faithful delineation of the blessings resultant from the order and a marked impression on all who heard it. Short addresses of interest were also made by several other parties.
The occasion was enlivened with music and songs, and altogether was one of which the order may well feel proud. The New-Castle Lodge came in force attended by an excellent band of that place which was an object of interest throughout the day. The vast crowd of visitors left our city highly pleased with the hospitalities and kind treatment they had received.
The present Officers, April 1881, are as follows: Aaron Rothchild, N. G., William Lynn, Jr., V. G.; John A. Keener, Secretary; Joseph Hummel, Treasurer; John A. Husted, Frank Ellis, Wallace Hibbits, Trustees; total contributing members, 185.
The following contains the name and subscription of the several originally stockholders in the Odd Fellow's Hall Association:
James Boyce $ 500.00
J. R. Mason. 50.00
George W. Spilker 500.00
W. R. Maddy 50.00
W. Brotherton 500.00
George W. Taylor 100.00
J. M. Thomas 500.00
Jacob Calvert 200.00
J. L. McClintock 500.00
W. Hibbits 100.00
Samuel P. Anthony 500.00
A. J. Wilson 150.00
Adam Wolfe 500.00
J. R. Howell 150.00
A. B. Claypool 500.00
Bradley & Mellette 100.00
D. T. Haines 500.00
C. W. Moore 100.00
Henry Hamilton 500.00
William Truitt 100.00
W. B. Kline 300.00
Sidney A. Jewett 100.00
Samuel P. Anthony 500.00
Jacob Dodson 100.00
George W. Spilker 300.00
James A. Tomlinson 100.00
E B. Bishop 200.00
John A. Husted 100.00
Amos L. Wilson 250.00
Frank Ellis 100.00
L. & W. Slick 300.00
Charles Gass 100.00
Matthews & Bandey 300.00
Z. L. Simmons 50.00
L. Wilcoxon 200.00
F. M. Berger 100.00
J. M. Long 75.00
Stephenson, Bratton & Co. 100.00
J. C. Bacon 100.00
William Glenn 50.00
John Kirk 100.00
Joseph Hummel 50.00
John Mann 50.00
A. J. Buckles 200.00
J. R. Ervin 50.00
W. H. M. Cooper 50.00
(Pages 181-182)
CHAPTER VII.
MUNCIE ENCAMPMENT, NO. 30 I. O.O. F.
DATE OF INSTITUTION-DATE OF CHARTER-NAME OF INSTITUTING OFFICERS-FIRST DEGREES CONFERRED-FIRST OFFICERS ELECTED AND INSTALLED-THE NAME PROPOSED AND ADOPTED-FIRST PETITION FOR MEMBERSHIP RECEIVED-FIRST REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT-REPORT AND PRESENT, FINANCIAL CONDITION-OFFICERS FOR 1880-PLACE OF MEETING.
MUNCIE Encampment, No. 30, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted in the hall of Muncie Lodge, No. 74, I.O.O.F., on Wednesday, March 24, 1852, under a charter issued by authority the Grand Encampment of the State of Indiana, by Patriarchs David Dunwiddie, Acting C. P.; Samuel C. Meredith, Acting H. P. Michael L. Harnish, Acting S. W.; John C. Helm, Acting J. W.; John H. Jamison, Acting-Sentinel; William Silvers and J. S. Staidham, Acting G. of T. The following-named fifth-degree members of Muncie Lodge were proposed for membership, and, at this meeting and one, which convened on the day following, received the several encampment degrees, viz., Theophilus B. Burt, William G. Ethell, Eli J. Jamison, Edward G. Keasbey, Jacob Colclazer, Calvin P. Streeter, William Messner. The following were the first officers elected:
John C. Helm, C. P.; Jacob Colclazer, H. P.; John H. Jamison, Senior Warden; Eli J. Jamison, Junior Warden; William G. Ethell Scribe; Edward G. Keasbey, Treasurer. After the election the several officers so chosen were duly installed by Gr. W. P. Dunwiddie, Gr. H. P. Samuel C. Meredith and M. L. Harnish, Conductor. On motion, then, the encampment adopted .the first and third Mondays of each month as the regular meeting nights, which have not since been changed. Thereupon, the thanks of the encampment were tendered the Patriarchs of Hebron Encampment, No. 8, of Centerville, Lid, for their attendance and assistance in instituting the encampment. At the first stated meeting, April 5, 1852, a committee was appointed to draft by-laws. At the second stated meeting, the name "Muncie Encampment, No. 30," was adopted as the name by which it should thereafter be known. The committee previously appointed for that purpose, reported a code of by-laws, which were unanimously adopted without amendment. At the same meeting, the committee reported that Muncie Lodge, No. 74, had granted the request of the encampment to hold its meetings in the lodge hall. Ever since that time, the Encampment has occupied the said hall of Muncie Lodge, No. 74, for its meetings. The Encampment invested its surplus, amounting to $1,250, in the new hall building, recently erected by said Lodge, and this investment secures the Encampment a permanent place for meeting, free from rent or expense for light or fuel.
May 3, 1852, the first petition, after organization, received for membership, was A. M. Klein's, who was elected, and received the encampment degrees the same evening. July 5, 1852, Patriarchs John C. Helm and Jacob Colclazer were elected Representatives to the Grand Encampment. These were the first representatives chosen by this encampment to represent it in the grand body.
February 7, 1853, the Treasurer made his report of the financial transactions at the encampment during the preceding six months:
Receipts during the half-year just closed - $19.50
Received from former Treasurer - .48
Total received - $19 .98
Disbursements - $16.30
Balance on hand - $3.68
The resources of the encampment at the end of 1879, as shown by the printed report, are as follows:
Grand Encampment for 1880 - $1, 548.62
Receipts, for the year 1879 - 242.04
Relief paid for in 1879 - 87. 00
Total expenses of Encampment for 1879, including relief...158.25
Number of contributing members 93
The officers for the year 1880 are as follows: William Stewart, C. P.; Aaron Rothchild, H. P.; Alexander E. Lemmon, S. W.; James M. Williamson, J. W.; John A. Keener, Scribe; John A. Husted, Treasurer; John McConnell, William A. Hoyt, Charles Wildermuth, Trustees. The present place of meeting is in Odd Fellows Hall, on the corner of Jackson and Walnut streets. (Page 182)
CHAPTER VIII
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN.
EARLY FOUNDATION OF THE ORDER-VERNACULAR HABITS AND PECULIARITIES OF THE RED MED PRESERVED-ORGANIZATION IN MUNCIE-DATE OF INSTITUTION-PLACE OF ORGANIZATION-SUBSEQUENT PLACES OF MEETING-RANK-GRAND COUNCIL OF SACHEMS-CHARTER MEMBERS-FIRST OFFICERS-PRESENT OFFICERS.
The origin of this order dates back to a period commencing during the last decade of the of the fifteenth century, with the discovery of the American continent by Christopher Columbus, in October 1492. One of the purposes for which the organization was consummated, appears to have been the preservation of the habits, peculiarities customs and vernacular of the native tribes as they were observed by the early discoverers of America. True, in the preservation of these customs, peculiarities and characteristics of the aboriginal inhabitants of this country, by the inauguration of this society-it was not contemplated that anything more than the most striking of their peculiarities should find emblematical representation here, discarding all others-organizing upon a strictly practical basis affording charity, accumulating revenues and dispensing the material elements which most redound to the benefit of the needy and the alleviation of the distresses of all who are lighted by the friendly glow of the council fires. In Muncie, this benevolent order organized a wigwam on the twenty-sixth sun of the hot moon, G. S.D., 381, common era, June 26, 1873, by W. P. Berry, of Fort Wayne, Ind., who was made a special deputy for the purpose, by Daniel McDonald, Great Sachem of this State. The institution took place in the Odd Fellows' Hall, on the north side of East Main Street, between Walnut and Mulberry. In this hall the order continued to hold its meetings until November 19, 1872, when it moved to the hall in the northeast corner of the opera house. Here the fraternity met and performed its mystic rites for a period of six years and a half, ending May 8, 1879, when, after having fitted up the present hall at an expense of $500, and effecting a lease for five years, with Messrs. Adamson and Goddard, they established their wigwam there. This hall is located on the east side of Walnut Street immediately north of Jackson, and is one of the finest in the city. The order carries an insurance policy of $300 on furniture and fittings. It has a member-ship of sixty-five, with a Widows' and Orphans' Fund of more than $200, all safely loaned and a general fund of $100, or more, which, also, is safely loaned.
In size and importance it ranks third among the benevolent orders of Muncie, being excelled only by the Masonic Fraternity and the Odd Fellows. The Great Council of the State was held here in August, 1877, in attendance upon which were representatives from the subordinate wigwams located in the principal towns of the State. At this Grand Convocation, the Odd Fellows kindly tendered them the use of their hall, which was gladly and fraternally accepted. The impression left by this vast assemblage of the bright lights of the order upon our people was that of profound regard for the fraternity in its efforts to alleviate the distresses and administer to the wants of a common humanity. The original, or charter members were John R. Ervin, John Kirk, Harry E. Gatterell, William Glenn, J. C. Worcester, James N. Templer, Frank Ellis, Milton James and E. C. Kennedy. The first officers were:
William Glenn, Sachem; James N. Templer, Senior Sagamore; John C. Worcester, Junior Sagamore; Harry E. Gatterell, Chief of Records; John R. Ervin, Keeper of Wampum; E. C. Kennedy, Prophet. The present officers are: Charles Gass, Sachem, George Dick, Senior Sagamore, David Wilkins, Junior Sagamore, J. F. Sanders, Chief of Records, George F. Leager, Keeper of Wampum; W. W. Berry, Prophet. (Page 183)