The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-12

This is the sixth of series of articles
on Marion County Masonic lodges. The
next article will concern Calvin Prather
lodge.
DRAWN together by the desire
~ to form a lodge more pro-
portionate to their mutual aims
and ideals, a band of seventeen
young men founded Mystic Tie,
lodge No. 1898, F. & A. NJ, on Sept.
26, 1868.
This was a period in the history
of the country when the idealism
of young men was fighting to be
heard. From Europe into the
United States came a restless dis
satisfaction with the old order.
Youth felt that age had become
disillusioned and indifferent to the
problems that faced the world; that
many hallowed traditions had lived
beyond their day of usefulness. So
cieties and fraternal organizations
sprang up, manned by the young.
In this spirit, the seventeen men
gathered to petition for creation
of new Masonic lodge in Indian
apoliS. They were John CaVen,
George B. Engle Jr.. Joseph w.
Smith, John Reynolds. William S.
Cone. Erastus J. Hardesty, Azel B.
Howard, Charles E. Brigham, Austin
B. Prather. Gilbert w. Davis,
Charles w. Hewes Jr., Edward S.
Folsom, Melvin Strong, Eben Smith,
Henry c. Adams. George w. Sloan
and Heydon S. Bigham.
The dispensation for the lodge
with John CaVen as WOrShipful
master. George B. Engle Jr.. senior
warden. and Joseph w. Smith,
Junior warden, was issued by Martin
H. Rice. most wOrshipful master,
ON Nov. II, 1868.
Four years later at an anniver-
ssry celebration the spirit which
propmted tbs founding was eulo-
gized by Willis D. Engle in the
strong simplicity of sincerity.
He said:
We owe our origin as lodge to
few young and progressive men,
who. becoming weary Of the proSaic
ways Of rendering the work in the
respective lodges, and despairing Of
making a change by isolated efforts,
discouraged as they were by many
of the older brethren, thought by
combining a unity of action with
their unity of purpose. to make more
manifest the benefits our institution
by more earnest if not better work"
TINE character of the founders
Il had much to do with the sub
sequent success of the lodge. Their
inspiration was a torch that has
famed through the history of Mys-
tic Tie these siXty-siX years.
John Cayen. several times mayor
of indianapolis and first worship
full master, was an ambitious stu
dent. Born in 1924. he came to In
dianapolis in 1645 with 80 cents in
his pockets.
He studied law industriously and
practiced here. When German and
French groups began to rise here he
studied those languages and con-
Quoted business with the alieSn.
Mr.. Caven was elected mayor in
1868. the same year he entered Ma
sonry, serving two terms. He served
as state senator for four years and
then returned TO the office Of
MAYOR for three terms.
MFR. Caven is described by those
that knew him as an ardent stu
dent Of the lore of Masonic craft;
6 feet tall and with a resonant voice
we'll adapted to conducting the rit-
ual. Hebraic. biblical and Masonic
literature tempted his energetic
mind
The first home of Mystic Tie was
in the old Aetna building, on North
Pennsylvania street, and from there
it moved TO the old Masonic hall,
Washington and Tennessee streets.
THOMAS TAGGART. former
l. United States senator, de-
Scribed the old quarters in an ad-
dress given at the golden jubilee
and past masters night Of the or
ganization in January. 1919, saying:
Our lodge room was very I'M
inviting. dark from the feeble rays
Of the Pickering gas light. and the
added beauty of an old cannon
stove such as usually graced a rail-
road shanty, gave forth heat Of the
positive and negative type, burning
you up in front while you we're
freezing behind. The wall paper
was of the dyspeptic type, the
ceiling was freak in its imitation
Of the star bedecked heavens. there