As the early American pioneers began to move westward from the Eastern colonies, they crossed what is now Indiana and Illinois. When they reached the Mississippi River, they discovered an old Indian camp which we now call Kaskaskia. Soon a Jesuit missionary station began there and the settlement became an important French trading post. Trappers and traders came in increasing numbers and frontier villages replaced the old trading posts. The British captured the town in 1763, and nine years later, Kaskaskia became the British military headquarters for the Northwest Territory.
As Americans continued to move west, Masons took a prominent part in the exploration and settlings of the new lands. The outbreak of the Revolution had little effects on Illinois until July 1778, when Major George Rogers Clark, a Mason, and his small band of Kentucky volunteers captured Kaskaskia and the nearby settlements. This gave America control of the huge Northwest Territory for the rest of the war.
The history of organized Freemasonry in Illinois started on May 7, 1804; fourteen years before Illinois would be ratified for statehood. On that day, Brother James Edgar, of Kaskaskia, wrote to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania asking for a Dispensation to form Western Star Lodge located in Kaskaskia. The Dispensation was granted September 24, 1805, making Western Star Lodge #107 the first Masonic Lodge in the Indiana Territory.
The newly formed Lodge held their first meeting in a two-story brick building in Kaskaskia. The building would later be rented to the State of Illinois to serve as the first State Capital.
On April 30, 1733, this Provincial Grand Master Henry Price, who had received his appointment a short time before from Viscount Montague, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England convened a number of Brethren into a Provincial Grand Lodge, and then form and constituted a subordinate Lodge on Boston. This Lodge, later consolidated with two others, still functions in that city.
By 1816, several Masonic Lodges were operating in the Indiana Territory. They had been granted Charters by the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri and Indiana. However, the great distances to, and the methods of travel, made it almost impossible to communicate or attend the Grand Lodge affairs. As a result, these Lodges in the territory were largely left upon their own for work.
First Grand Lodge Of Illinois
A Masonic Convention on December 9, 1822 was held in the State Capital building at Vandalia. Several Lodges in the territory who had been granted Charters by Grand Lodges of other states decided that since the territory had become a state in 1818, to meet and form their own Grand Lodge. Two days later, they proceeded to organize and nominate officers. The nominations were then presented to the Lodges, approved and duly elected. The first elected Grand Master of Illinois was Shadrach Bond, who only a few days earlier had completed his term as the first governor of the State of Illinois.
The Grand Lodge of Illinois met in stated communication one year later. Several of the Lodges in Illinois, holding Charters from Grand Lodges of other states, squared themselves and received Charters from the Grand Lodge of Illinois. However, not all Lodges affiliated with the new Grand Lodge at that time. From 1805 to 1827, eighteen Lodges were formed in Illinois, sixteen of which affiliated with the new Grand Lodge.
For about four years after the organization of the Grand Lodge, Masonry in Illinois thrived. But in 1826, an anti-Masonic wave began in New York, following the disappearance and supposed murder of William Morgan, author of a book exposing the secrets of Masonry. When Masons in the New York court system seemed to be obstructing efforts to bring Morgan's alleged murderers to justice, a wave of anti-Masonic sentiment swept across New York and many other states. An Anti-Masonic political party was formed and an attempt was made to elect their presidential candidate in the 1832 election. Popular feeling was so strong against Masonry that many Masons terminated their membership, Lodges gave up their Charters and some Grand Lodges ceased to function. The effect of the anti-Masonic hysteria was disastrous in Illinois. The first Grand Lodge did not meet again after January 1827. From that date to 1835, a period of six years, organized Masonry in Illinois was non-existent.
Present Grand Lodge Of Illinois
By 1840, there were six Masonic Lodges working in Illinois. Delegates from the six Lodges met in the town of Jacksonville on January 20 of that year. It was resolved to ask the cooperation and assistance of the Lodges in the state for the purpose of organizing a Grand Lodge of Illinois.
On April 6, 1840, the delegates met again. Representatives from Harmony Lodge #24, Springfield Lodge #26, Columbus Lodge #20, Bodley Lodge #29, Far West Lodge #26 and Equality Lodge #102 by its proxy, proceeded to form and adopt the Constitution and By-Laws and elect the Grand Lodge Officers. Three weeks later, on April 28, the delegates met a third time and elected Abraham Jonas of Columbus Lodge #20 as Grand Master of the present Grand Lodge of Illinois. The next day, the Grand Lodge was called to labor again and Charters were granted to Bodley Lodge #1 at Quincy, Equality Lodge #2 at Equality, Harmony Lodge #3 at Jacksonville, Springfield Lodge #4 at Springfield, Far West Lodge #5 at Galena and Columbus Lodge #6 at Columbus. The Grand Lodge then closed in due form and harmony.
Today, the Masonic Fraternity under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Illinois is comprised of more than 500 Lodges and 70,000 Masons, men of character from every walk of life all working together to build a better world!
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