THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 35, Number 45 Thursday, November 14, 2019 The Bonds of Brotherhood by William Halliar Pictured at the 150th celebration are (from left) Thomas O’brien, Edward Davis and Larry Swiger. For the past 150 years, Acme Masonic Lodge 83 ed in 2000, stands proudly at 8700 W. Pahs Road. of Michigan City has forged a brotherhood dedicat- Anyone interested is welcome to inquire about in- ed to making good men better. A lifelong journey of clusion. But, lodge historian Thomas O’brien says, self-improvement, members pride themselves in be- “It is a society with secrets,” where allegories help ing part of something dedicated to mankind’s moral illustrate tenets of the fraternity. uplift. Members recently held a special 150th anni- Those who petition to become members do not versary/lodge rededication, attended by members, have to be any particular religion, but believe in a family and friends. During a solemn ceremony, the supreme being. Members have no political or busi- corners, walls and fl oor of the lodge were ceremoni- ness motivation, or any other motive beyond per- ally checked for trueness, alluding to the trueness sonal, intellectual and moral development. of heart that must be the goal of each brother in Freemasonry, as some would like to believe, is not creating a personal spiritual building. a secret society. Its members are active participants Corn, wine and oil were poured out during the in Michigan City’s social and political life. Member- dedication ceremony, their meaning explained to ship today stands at 150. Its new location, dedicat- Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 November 14, 2019 THE 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 %HDFKHU&RPSDQ\'LUHFWRU\ e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] 'RQDQG7RP0RQWJRPHU\ 2ZQHUV email: Classifieds - [email protected] $QGUHZ7DOODFNVRQ (GLWRU http://www.thebeacher.com/ 'UHZ:KLWH 3ULQW6DOHVPDQ PRINTE ITH Published and Printed by -DQHW%DLQHV ,QVLGH6DOHV&XVWRPHU6HUYLFH T %HFN\:LUHEDXJK 7\SHVHWWHU'HVLJQHU T A S A THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS 5DQG\.D\VHU 3UHVVPDQ 'RUD.D\VHU %LQGHU\ Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is 0LNH%RUDZVNL+RSH&RVWHOOR&KHU\O-RSSHN 3URGXFWLRQ also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. -RKQ%DLQHV.DUHQ*HKU&KULV.D\VHU'HQQLV0D\EHUU\ 'HOLYHU\ of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth we improve our Continued from Page 1 lives and hopefully the lives of our families.” The Bonds… Freemasonry, thus, is a fraternity or brotherhood those unfamiliar with the ritual. Corn symbolizes that teaches a “system of morality, veiled in allegory nourishment as lodge brothers support and uplift (which can be defi ned as a story, play or poem in each other. Wine symbolizes refreshment, as the hall is dedicated to virtue. Oil symbolizes joy as the which events and characters are used as symbols in lodge hall is dedicated to universal benevolence. order to express a moral, religious or political idea. O’brien, a longtime member steeped in Masonic An example might be the story of the Good Samari- history, gave a brief talk relating the history of Free- tan found in Luke 5 of the Bible).” The secrets of masonry in Michigan City, which had its beginnings the Masons rest in these allegories that illustrate in 1848, but of course, the traditions and symbolism tenets of the fraternity. of the Masonic brotherhood have their roots in the The Indiana Grand Lodge booklet further defi nes far mists of time. Freemasonry as “an organized society of men sym- According to the booklet Welcome to Freemasonry bolically applying the principles of operative mason- published in 2000 by the Grand Lodge Free Accept- ry (the practices of stone masons of old) and archi- ed Masons of Indiana, Freemasons “seek to improve tecture to the science and art of character building.” the community.” This is accomplished by impress- An important part of the knowledge each individ- ing upon members the principles of “personal righ- ual member must possess is a basic history of the teousness and personal responsibility.” The booklet Masonic Brotherhood. This is taught at each meet- further states, “By enlightening the mind and pro- ing and is an interesting study in the progress of moting peace, understanding and the basic tenets western civilization. Acme Lodge offi cers at the 100th anniversary celebration in 1969. They are (front row, from left), Tom Dieckilman, Edward Hedstrom, Manny Dieckilman, Stanley Ellison Jr. and John Lemons. The back row is (from left) Robert Blank, Paul Jones, Quintus McDonald Jr. and Arthur Upatel. THE November 14, 2019 Page 3 According to Indiana’s Grand Lodge, Freema- sonry can trace its origins back to the 10th century 'XQHODQG %HDFK ,QQ B.C., when builders and stone masons were em- ployed to construct the temple of King Solomon. In ,QQ· 5HVWDXUDQW· Bar fact, the Biblical record of Solomon’s temple serves as the basis of the Masonic Master Mason Degree. &DVXDO)LQH'LQLQJ These craftsmen were highly skilled and respect- ed in their community, considered indispensable to the welfare of church and state. By the middle ages, craftsmen of various skills and trades began organizing themselves into guilds. Most of these Gluten Free Available craftsmen were under bond to the lord of the land on which they worked, restricted as to where they could live and ply their trade. Stone masons, however, because of their impor- tance to building large cathedrals of the day, were free to travel anywhere in Europe that required their talent and skills. Thus, they were dubbed Ǩ “Free Masons,” or later in history “Freemasons.” Those who worked in the stone mason’s craft were Apple Cranberry Salad called “Operative Masons.” Butternut Squash Soup Before the 17th century, only those who actually performed the stone-mason trade were allowed in Roasted Tom Turkey Green Bean Casserole these guilds, or lodges, as they came to be known. Cranberry Relish Ȁǣ But during the 17th century, lodges became open Sage Dressing to accepting members who were not of the trade, or Sweet Potato Casserole “Operative Masons.” Whipped Potatoes ͆͛͠Ȁ͙͆͘ CARMELIZECARMELIZED PEAR SALADD PEAR SALAD Pumpkin Pie R OASTEDඵ ChocolateTURKEY Cake White Chocolate G RAVYRaspberry& DRESSING Cheesecake CRANBERRY RELISH Dinner reservations from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. 3RWWDZDWWDPLH7UDLO 6WRS 0LFKLJDQ&LW\,1 ZZZGXQHODQGEHDFKLQQFRP The former Masonic Temple at Sixth and Pine streets. It is posited that perhaps men were drawn to the mason’s guilds, or lodges, to become part of a frater- nity motivated by high moral standards. Perhaps they were drawn by the intellectual and spiritual instruction highly valued at the time. Becoming a member of such as brotherhood imparted upon the individual a certain status in the community. The practice of Freemasonry spread across Eu- rope and came to America as members of European Shop one-of-a kind treasures handcrafted by dozens lodges made their ways across the Atlantic. Soon, of regional artists, perfect for holiday gift giving. Masonic lodges formed in American colonies. The Members receive 10% off their purchase. fi rst documented Masonic lodge in America was in Market Hours* Philadelphia in 1730. Many of our founding fathers Weekdays: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (central) were members of Masonic lodges, including George Weekends: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (central) Washington, Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock. *closed Nov. 28, Dec. 24 & 25 Continued on Page 4 THE Page 4 November 14, 2019 The Bonds… Continued from Page 3 In 1790, Washington wrote, “Being persuaded that a just application of the principles, on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded, must be promotive of private virtue and public prosperity, I shall always be happy to advance the interests of the Society, and to be considered by them as a deserving brother.” As pioneers spread across the Appellation Moun- tains and into Indian territory of the west across the great prairies, Masonic philosophy and practic- es came along with them. When Indiana achieved Members attend the 150th anniversary celebration. statehood in 1816, discussions arose among Masons It is strange, then, that as soldiers who were here of the possibility of forming a Grand Lodge of members of fi eld lodges came back to Michigan City, Indiana, and on Jan. 12, 1818, the Grand Lodge of they were not readily accepted into the lodge formed Indiana was constituted. here in 1848. Discussion and debate continued as to In Michigan City, the fi rst Masonic lodge was ded- whether these solders should be considered lodge icated in 1848, and members included many promi- members. There was much controversy and fi nally, nent men of the community. The American Civil because of that, it was decided to dissolve the Michi- War began on April 12, 1861, with the fi ring on Fort gan City Masonic Lodge in 1868. Sumter, S.C. It is estimated 2.75 million Americans Not to be discouraged, the brotherhood continued fought for four long years, including 2,750 volun- to organize and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Indi- teers from LaPorte County. ana to re-establish a Michigan City lodge. Finally, on May 29, 1869, Acme Lodge 83 in Michigan City received its charter. Acme represents the highest point, the summit, and this lodge on the shore of Lake Michigan is the northern most lodge in all of Indiana. Lodge 83 has proudly born its name for 150 years. One hundred and fi fty years of brotherhood, of character building and charity for all.