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

named for its donor, J. S. Mustard.
of the lodge, served in 1902 and
1903, and prior to demitting from
Hosbrook lodge Of New Augusta
Mr.. osborn also served as its mas
ter.
The secretarys report at the
grand lodge as of Dec. 81, 1902
shows that seventeen petitions were
favorably acted upon from the date
of dispensation to Dec. 81 of that
year Thirteen of these petitioners
received all three of the degrees
during the year, the other four re-
ceiving the first two degrees.
At that time candidates could be
drawn from the territory designated
as half the distance as the crow
flies" to New Augusta, Carmel, Cas-
Teton and Millersville, where Ma
sonic lodges already existed, and to
Thirty-eighth street in indianapolis
Stated meetings of the lodge were
scheduled to be held on the Fri
day, on or before the full moon of
each month. 1t is said this
schedule was arranged because get
ting from place to place at night
was more favorable by the light of
the full moon. The report also gives
the total membership as of Dec. 81,
1902, as thirty-siX, divided as fol-
lows: Charter members, nineteen;
affiliations, four; master masons
initiated by the lodge, thirteen.
nURING the next year an event
- tranSpired which had per-
hapS the most important effect of
all on the future of the lodge. j. S.
Mustard, whose father, James Mus
tard, had been made a Mason in
1889, belatedly learned of this fact,
and desired to follow in his father
footsteps. His petition was accept
ed, although he had then reached
the age of 80, and he was made a
Master Mason in Broad Ripple
lodge on April II, 1908.
He desired the lodge to possess
a permanent home of its own, and
to that end he presented the lodge
with a tract of twenty acres, near
Illinois and Forty-Sixth streets, to
be sold and applied on a building
fund His wife, Mrs. CaSSandra
Mustard, then prevailed upon Mr.
Mustard to add an additional ten
acres to the original gift, making
thirty acres in all. Just one year
later, in the following August, Mr.
Mustard passed on to the supreme
grand lodge above.
The lodge eventually disposed Of
the thirty acres for $4,000. With
this money in the treasury it pur-
chased three adjoining lots at the
southeast corner of SiXty-third and
Bellefontaine streets and drew up
plans for a three-Story building to
be erected on the center lot.
The contract was let for the build
ing in 1907
The proceeds from the sale of the
land purchased the lots and erect
ed the building, which has been the
home of the lodge ever since, anc
left only a minor Indebtedness in the
purchase of furnishings.
This building known to MaSOnS
of Marion county as the Broad Rip.
pie Masonic temple, bears the name
of j. S. Mustard hall and is dedi.
Gated to the memory of James Mus
tard. the father of the principa
donor A large marble tablet on the
main stair landing commemorate!
the generous gift of j. S. Mustard
and Mrs. Mustard.
For a number of years the tenn
pie was a landmark in Broad Rip.
pie. being a rather imposing struc.
ture at the time of its erection. anc
i housing the Broad Ripple STATE
bank on its ground floor which
/ bank served a large rural com
munity in its early years. In thos'
days. of course. Broad Ripple wa
town in itself. quite a distance
from Indianapolis by horse anc
buggy, the prevailing mode O.
travel at that time.
A row Of elaborate iron hitchins
posts adorned the south side Of thu
/ building then, for the convenience
/ of those who drove to lodge, while
/ those who walked often were obliged
to wade through mud and slush OF
the unpaved streets.
TINE lodge progressed and to it
/ Il roster were added the name
of many prominent men from Broa'
Ripple and the surrounding terri
tory. Beginning with the first ban
quet in the new building. under vii
liam c. Moffitt, worshipful mas
ter in 1908. many successful rallie
have been held within the temple
On May IS. 1921, Broad Rippl
/ lodge was granted concurrent juris
+ oiction with all Indianapolis lodges
/ Growth became more rapid Their
but some of the old family atmoS
I phere began TO fade with the ad
I vent of newcomers from the city.
/ just as the town of Broad Rippl
lost much of its identity after