The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-12

Lodge met at Jefiersorlville. Corydon, Madi-
son and Salem. john Upton, John Sheets,
Jonathan Jennings and Marston G.. Clark
served during this period as grand masters.
The largest number of lodges represented at
the annual communications during this
perion was %. At the communication held
at Corydon in 1922 communication was
presented of peculiar interest. II was
a communication from the EoD. Henry
Clay, Of Kentucky, John Marshall, OF Vir-
gipis, and other prominent Masons and
statesmen. The following appears in the
records of the Grand Lodge proceedings Of
that year:
on the subject Of organizing q
general Grand Lodge OF the United
of congress who belong to the Masonic frater-
nifty, and those visitors of the city who are or
have been members OF any stats Grand Lodge,
be held in the Senate chamber this evening, at
7 O'Clock, to take into consideration matters of
general Interest to the Masonic institution.
March 9, lS22."
Pursuant to the above notice published in
the National Intelli2encer, (printed in the
city OF Washington), a number of members
OF the Society OF Free Masons from various
of members OF congress and strangers as
sembled at the capitol in the city of Wash
ington, March 9sb, 1922. Brother Thomas
r. Ross, "a member of congress from the
state of Obio) was appointed chairman; and
Brother William Darlington, (member of
congress from Pennsylvenis) secretary.
Much conversation took place on the expe
diency of the general objects of this meet
ing; various propositions were
su6mittei and several brethren
offered their views at large. Finally, the
following resolutions offered, by Brother
Henry Clay, of Kentucky, were adopted
unanimously:
roosolx,o5 tn, II, f1,a o,ofpioo fbic W,
ing. il is expedient for the general interests of
Free Masonry to constitute general Grand
Lodge of the Uni,ed States.
Resolved, That it be proposed to the several
Grand Lodges in the United States to take the
at their next annual communications; and that
If they approve Of the formation OF General
Grand Lodge, It be Teeommended to them to az, 40
city OF Washington on the second Monday of
February next, TO agree on the organization OF
such Grand Lodge.
Oiher resolutions follow and long address
written by Henry Clay, the eloquent orator
and classical scholar, who SO often thrilled
the hearts of his cOuntrymen in later years.
It is powerful argument in favor Of
a general Grand Lodge of the United States.
The following paragraph quoted from it
shows its spirit
SUGGESTIONS FROM HENRY CLAY.
These reflections, drawn from the external
of Masonry, are strengthened by
foundation is fixed in the social feelings of the
best principles of the human mind. Its max
inns are the lessons of virtue reduced to
their practicable application. 1t stands
opposed to sordiness TO jealousy or revengeful
temper; TO all the selfish and malevolent pas
sions; il comedies with the highest motives of
patriotism, the most expanded philanthrophy
and concentrates all its precepts in reverence to
Divine Creator, and good will to man.
In another part OF this address Mr. Clay
IN Tr1ff fpA tofo e<l
contain $4,000 Free Mssons." They are
generally in the vigor Of manhood, and
capable of much active usefulness. It is
needless to say the suggestions of Clay and
his associates were not adopted by the va
rious Grand Lodges, aud no general Grand
Lodge OF Masons for the United states has
yet beep formed. More than fifty years
ago the "Mill-boy of the Slashes'' had left
his old home ct Hanover, Virginia,
and had become Harry of
the West. His clarion voice rang out
through the Western forests rousiDg his
countrymen IS no one before had done. In
the halls of congress he spoke for the rights
of man with power that thrilled the ns-
tion. If his wise suggestions regarding
Missionary had been adopted, il is reasonable
TO suppose the fraternity would have heen
strengthened and benefited. His remains
h have 1ga.o1 long rested mt in his his tomb s1n
quent words have not yet faded
from the memory of his friends and his
brethTen. Fifty years ago last October the
Grand Lodge met at Salem, a little town
nestled a,noog the hills Of Washington
county. Thirty-two lodges were repre-
ssnted, covering a territory extending lrom
the OHIO river TO the Wabash. Then there
was not a railroad in the state, and no pub
lie conveyance between the towns whore
lodges were located. The delegates rode
some of them more tnan hundred miles on
horse back. We can see in imagination the
sturdy yeomen assembled in a log cabin,
the grand old primeval forest about them,
and the wolves for sentinels. Less
than four hundred Masons were then
represented by all the lodges of the state.
THE RECORDS SHOW
that the Grand Lodge met at Corydon in
1917, 1921 and 1922; at Madison in 1878, 1919.
1923 and 1924; at Salem in 1925, 1926, 1877
and 1882; at Vincennes in 1881, and there
was an adjourned meeting at Cnarlestown in
1918. During the first ten years of the ex-
istence of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, In
diaoapolis was too insignificant town to
be recognized by the Grand Lodge. The
first meeting of the Grand Lodge in
this city was on the 18th day
OF November, 1925. The record does not
show the number of lodges represented
From the best information accessibleit ap-
pears that there was about thirty lodges,
and about four hundred Masons IN the state.
Indianapolis was in the midst of dense
wilderness, with less than q Thousand in
habitsnts. Forty-seven years have passed,
great change has taken place, it has be
come city of more than one
hundred thousand Inhabitants, with a
system of railroads, binding il TO
all parts OF the country, bringing to and
carrying from it the products OF all lands.
Ia place of the rude hovel, where the dele
gates of few feeble Il dges assembled, is tbs
Grand Masonic Temple. Where four or iv,
| hundred Mssons were represented more
than twenty-eight thousand will be repre-.
sented at the. next meeting of the Grand
Lodge. The city alone contains more than
twice as many Masons as could be found in
the state when the first Grand Lodge met in it.
For the next twenty years the Grand Lodge
met in the city OF Indianapolis. 1t had a
steady and prosperous growth. During
this period we find nothing of especial inter