The White Apron

I A History of Occidental Lodge No. 40, A. F. & A. M., WHlTti Ottawa, Illinois. APRON -a^.eoe WILLIAM LEE ROY MILLIGAN. * ' i iiiii »' WW' nw i. i i i m ' ' "<"W . ww;iwn* t>tw tk'^î iMiiii." t" iiW ^ -L I B RARY OF THL UN IVLRSITY or ILLINOIS 3GG.1 Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. University of Illinois Library 5 ISSt; MAY30 984 ^ 9 1S96 '/ HAY 8 1396 L161 — 1141 The White Apron A COMPILATION OF THE Hiôry of Occidental Lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M., OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, With a Complete Li^ of Members from the Date of Dispensation, 1845, to Ocftober 10, 1906, and a Summary of her Daughter, HUMBOLDT LODGE, No. 555, A. F. & A. M., Together with a Hiôry of OTTAWA LODGE, No. 114, A. F. & A. M., Working under the Jurlsdidtion of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, 1839 to 1845. •Also a Resume of her Daughter, ST. JOHNS LODGE, No. 13, A. F. & A. M., Located at Vermillionville in 1841, and transferred to Peru, Illinois, 1843. Also a Synopsis of the Introducftion of Freemasonry Into America And the Fir^ Lodges in Illinois. BY W. L, MILLIGAN, 33"^ Past Master Occidental Lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M. Past High Priest Shabbona Chapter, No. 37, R. A. M. Past Thrice 111. Master Oriental Council, No. 63, R. & S. M. Past Commander Ottawa Commandery. No 10, K. T. Past Grand High Priest Grand Chapter, R. A. M., of Illinois. Past Grand Master Grand Council, R. & S. M., of Illinois. Anno Lucis 5907. REPUBLICAN-TIMES, PRINTERS, OTTAWA, ILL. Copyright 1907 by William Lee Roy MlUlgan, Ottawa, lUlnola. ubhhti) Of \ht WILLIAM LEE ROY MILLIGAN Worshipful Master 1884. 1885 and 1886 Ottawa, 111., Jan. i, 1907. W. L. MiLLiGAN, Ottawa, Illinois. Dear Sir and Brother: It gives me great pleasure to know that you have completed by many years of labor the compilation of the history of Occidental Lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M., con- taining a list of the members from the date of the dispensation in 1845 to and including October 10, A. D. 1906, a period of sixty years. This volume preserves to Occidental' Lodge the most interesting portion of her history, and, as the old records of the Lodge were destroyed by fire, it will be invaluable for future reference. The volume certainly should be, and I sincerely hope will be, in the possession of every member. Yours fraternally, RICHARD D. MILLS, W. M. of Occidental Lodsfe. LlBRAKY Of fHE UNIVEKJillY Of ILLSNOJS JOHN FISK NASH Master. Worshipful Master 1863 and 1864. The oldest living Past THIS WORK IS HOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE GOOD MAN AND TRUE MASON, JOHN FI8K NASH, Past Master Occidental Lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M. Past High Priest Shabbona Chajder, No. 37, B. A. M. Past Commander Ottawa Comniandery, No. 10, K. T. Past Grand Commander of tl\e Grand Commandery K. T. of Illinois. " Type of a generation dropping fast, Pillar of faultless worth and dignity, This record of the imreturning past Is dedicated with loving heart to thee.''^ History, in every age, is only popular among a few thoughtful men. It was scarcely known or understood in the early ages of the world, but the place of history was everywhere supplied by myths and legends. —de groot. HISTORY OF OCCIDENTAL LODGE. MASONIC CALENDAR. Ancient Craft Masons commence their ca with the creation of the world, calHng it "Ânno Lucis (A. L.), "in the year of hght." Scottish Rite same as Ancient Craft, except the Jewish chronology is used, Anno Mtindi (A. M.), "in the year of the world." Royal Arch Masons date from the year the second temple was commenced by Zerrubbabel, Anno Invcntionis (A. Inv.), "in the year of the discovery." Royal and Select Masters date from the year in which the temple of Solomon was completed, Anno Dcpositionis (A. Dep.), "in the year of the deposit." Knights Templar commence their era with the organization of their Order, Anno Ordinis (A. O.), "in the year of the Order." "^'Not claimed to be coeval with the creation, but has symbolic reference to the Light of Masonry. THE WHITE APRON. RULES FOR MASONIC DATES. 1. Ancient Craft—add 4000 to the common time. Thus 1907 and 4000 equal 5907. 2. Scottish Rite—add 3760 to the common era. Thus 1907 and 3760 equal 5667. After September add another year. 3. Royal Arch—add 530 years to the vulgar year. Thus 1907 and 530 ec[ual 2437. 4. Royal and Select Masters—add 1000 to the common time. Thus 1907 and 1000 equal 2907. 5. Knights Templar—from the Christian era take 1 1 18. Thus 1 1 18 from 1907 equals 789. THE PRESENT. Year of the Lord, A. D. 1907—Christian Era. Year of Light, A. L. 5907—Ancient Craft. Year oi the World, A. M. 5667—Scottish Rite. Year of the Discovery, A. In v. 2437—Royal Arch. Year of the Deposit, A. Dep. 2907—Royal and Select Masters. Year of the Order, A. O. 789—Knights Templar. LIBRARY OF fH£ UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS PREFACE. The introduction of Freemasonry in Ottawa, Illinois, is coeval with the transformation of the wild prairies of the Valley of the "Illini" to wheat fields and corn fields; of the wigwam of the red man to the beautiful homes of the white man. Where, not more than a century ago, the Indian was the sole possessor of the prairies and forests of this beautiful valley, and the buffalo, elk and deer were his herds, and the Indian wigwams were pitched in the shady groves, fragrant with blossoms of the wild plum and wild apple, along the banks of rippling streams of pure and crystal- like waters, from which the Indian maiden angled the most delicious of black bass and pickerel for the evening meal of the Indian warrior on his return from the chase, is now the center of the most highly civilized nation on the face of the earth. Only three-quarters oi a century ago the first white settler dared the western wilds and located in the Valley of the Illinois. In a few years, others began to arrive, and among them were members of the craft who brought some knowledge of Freemasonry from the East to the West. Many came from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylva- nia, Virginia and Kentucky. And when they would gather around the back-log fires in their log-cabin homes during the long, cold winter nights, far from the influences of schools and churches and former homes, their minds wan- dered back to their old Masonic homes and fraternal circles at labor and refreshment. Is it any wonder, then, that when Henry D. Gorbett, Benjamin Thurston, Andrew J. Kirkpatrick and Dr. James 9 lO THE WHITE APRON. G. Armstrong suggested the establishment of a Masonic Lodge at Ottawa in 1838. it was hailed with joy, and that Colonel Daniel Fletcher Hitt, in the bigness of his heart, opened his purse and gave the price to obtain a charter from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, and that Captain Henry J. Reid, who until recent years lived 011 the road between Ot- tawa and Dayton, rode on horseback across the wild prairies of Illinois, and through the trackless forests of Indiana, to attend the annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, held in Louisville in the month of August, 1840, and brought to Ottawa the charter for Ottawa Lodge, No. 114, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Ken- tucky ? Such elongations of the cable-tow were rarely witness- ed in the search for ''Light" as that exemplified in the organization of the first Masonic Lodge in Ottawa, and I am proud to have the honor of having my name enrolled as a member of a fraternity of Fireemasons organized in the Valley of the "Illini," when the atmosphere was sweet and pure with the fragrance of the wild rose of the prairie and the aroma from the blossoms of the wild plum and the wild apple. In compiling a history of Occidental Lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M., it has been a source of private pleasure to me, a labor of love, notwithstanding it has been attended with a considerable amount of time and labor, to search among the dusty records and brush the mould from the time-worn pages of the history of our fraternity, and trace the gene- alogy of Occidental Lodge far down the vista of time, a direct descendent of the mother Grand Lodge of England. In compiling this work, I found myself surrounded by sacred memories and historic associations. The gavel of Occidental Lodge has been sounded by HISTORY OF OCCIDENTAL LODGE. II strong right hands that wielded the victor's sword on the battlefields of our country. The voice of authority has been uttered in Occidental Lodge by lips of men that plead the cause of justice in our courts and swayed the minds of men in the halls of the Con- gress of our Nation. The Masters and brothers of Occidental Lodge have come from every walk in life—the mechanic, the artisan, the merchant, the banker, the editor and the farmer, and many have held positions of trust, not only in private enter- prises, but in public capacities. Many of our members have gone forth to found other Masonic homes and shed lustre upon the name of Occiden- tal Lodge, in which they first saw the Light of Masonry.

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