The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-05

be published.
TINE old Broad Ripple school
Il house near the park was the
meeting place in 1902 of a number
Of Master NIasOns who held men,
bershipS in neighbOring lodges and
in whom had begun to take root a
desire for a lodge at home where
they might assemble with greater
convenience and more neighborly
a association.
During several meetings plans
were laid for the formation Of a
lodge, and finally a petition Tor
dispenSation to organize and oper-
ate Broad Ripple lodge No. SAB,
Free and Accepted Masons, was pre-
sented to the grand lodge of In
diana.
At this time Broad Ripple was a
f1ourishing little town, popular on
Sundays with indianapolis resi-
dents because of its park, fishing
facilities and rural attractions. Well
remembered are the town constable,
the justice of the peace, the town
lookup. the hand operated fire de-
partment, and the old street car
waiting station which then stood en-
the site Of what is today a modern
drug store.
Lights Eldorado hall, which was
located on the second floor OF a
building on the northwest corner Of
what is now SiXty-third and Belle
fontaine streets, was designated as
the meeting place for the new
lodge.
The petition named DR.. Joseph w.
Bates as worshipful master; Hugh
A. Cummings, senior warden, and
Arthur Jackson, Junior warden.
Other names on the petition were
Morton P. Dawson. John D. SulI-
van. John L. Compton, Frank E.
Watts. Benjamin J. White, Louis
Schetter, Oliver J. Purcell, Clarence
L. Kirk, DR.. Robert c. Light, Ben
iamin F. Osborn, Charles o. john
son. James NJ. Watts, Daniel w.
Heady. William Bosom, Charles Q.
CulbertSon, James P. johnson and
Thomas P. HeSsong.
Dispensation to operate lodge
was granted on March 7, 1902, by
Orlando w. Brownback, grand
master. OF those named in the
petition, Hugh A. Cummings and
Louis Schetter did not dimit from
their mother lodges, and their
names were deleted from the roster
The lodge Immediately started TO
function in active ritualistic work;
petitions were numerous; and before
the granting of a charter, several
petitioners had received the thirc
/ degree and we're, therefore, legally
included among the charter mem
bers of the lodge. They were John B
HaverStick. Larue Heady Charles F
Whitinger. Abraham H. Bowen
Charles Dawson Jr., Albert Newly
and James NJ. HeatOn.
q
XXTHILE the lodge was yet work
w ing under diSpenSation. it was
visited by a committee of three, ap-
pointed by the grand lodge, who
Z .Aade an inspection and investiga'
ton of the workings and proceed
lngs of the lodge. A copy OF theil
report NAV be found in the CRANE
lodge proceedings of 1902. Certain
errors concerning irregularities o.
/ petitions and balloting we're pointed
out. and the bylaws were described
as being too voluminOus. How
ever. the lodge was praised for it
rituahstic work, it financial condi
ton. and its general progress, anC
the granting of a charter was rec
commended.
On MAY IS. 1902. a charter Wa
granted. designating the lodge a.
Broad Ripple lodge No. 643. TIL,
charter was signed by the followin!
grand officers:
Orlando w. Brownback, granC
master; James w. Dunbar, deput,
grand master: William E. English
grand senior warden; George {
Grimes. grand junior warden, anC
Calvin w. Prather. grand secretary
The list of the three principal Of
fcers of the lodge. as designated il
the charter, differs from the list il
the petition for diSpenSation, anC
reads as follows:
Benjamin F. Osborn, worslipfu
master; Arthur Jackson. senior war
den, and Charles o. johnson, JUNO
warden.
Other officers named in the secre
tary'S report for the year, were Nor
ton B. Dawson, treasurer; Clarence
L. Kirk. secretary; John D. Sulli
van. senior deacon; James Nj
Watts. junior deacon; John /
Compton. senior steward; Charles F
WhiIinger. junior steward, and Oil
yer J. Pursel, tyler.
Benjamin F. Osborn, first maste