HISTORICAL
SKETCH
History from a booklet put
out in 1967, Monitor Lodge’s 100th year anniversary.
Reprinted
December 2000 with additional information.
With the thought in mind that by forming a second lodge in Elgin they could better promote the general good of society, cultivate the social virtues and propagate the knowledge of the mystic art, the following Master Masons met in Yarwood’s building on Wednesday evening, September 26, 1866, A. L. 5866:
Worshipful
Past Masters Lodge No.
Paul B. Ring........... 33
Samuel A. French ........... 256
George Hunter........... 117
P. S Bartlett........... 117
G. A. Bowers........... 117
G. A. Powers........... 117
N. J. Bloomfield........... 117
Otis Hoyt........... 117
C. E. Mason........... 117
F. H. Moseley........... 117
H. C. Dean........... 254
G. S. Follansbee, D. C.
On motion Brother Hunter was called to the chair and Brother F. H. Moseley was appointed secretary. The chairman briefly stated that the meeting was called for the purpose of taking steps for the formation of a new lodge in the city of Elgin.
Brother Bartlett moved that we petition the M. W. Grand Master for a dispensation to open a new lodge in the city of Elgin and that the secretary be instructed to draw up the petition and obtain signatures.
On the motion, Brothers Follansbee, Hoyt and Bowers were appointed a committee to propose a suitable name, who immediately proposes the name of Paul B. Ring Lodge. The report of the committee was adopted. On the motion, the secretary was instructed to incorporate the name of the lodge and the names of the officers nominated and recommended in the petition, and present to Elgin Lodge No. 117 at their regular communication on Friday evening for recommendation.
On motion the meeting adjourned to meet Saturday evening at 7:30 o’clock.
F. H. Mosley, Secretary
Saturday Evening, September 29, 1866
Meeting called to order by Brother French. On motion the Chairman and Secretary of the last meeting were requested to resume their places. Brother French stated that the petition had been signed by sixteen Master Masons and the prayer of the petition recommended by Elgin Lodge No. 117. The brethren present were to donate $10.00 each for dispensation and incidental expenses. On motion a committee was appointed to procure a hall and aprons for the lodge should a dispensation be granted.
The petition was placed in the hands of Brother Paul B. Ring to be presented to the Most Worshipful Grand Master.
The meeting adjourned subject to the call of Brother French.
F. H. Moseley, Secretary
Organized as Paul B. Ring Lodge, by dispensation from Most Worshipful Grand Master,
J. R. Gorin, October 9, 1866, A. L. 5866.
Chartered as Monitor Lodge No. 522, by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois, October 1, 1867. A. L. 5867.
William D. Atchison George Hunter
N. J. Bloomfield Thomas E. Lawrence
George A. Bowers John A. Linnell
Dannial G. Currier Charles S. Moseley
Henry C. Dean Frank H. Moseley
George S. Follensbee Paul B. Ring
Samuel A. French Gen. M. Wheeler
Otis Hoyt George W. White
William D. Atchison Thomas E. Lawrence
C. H. Bagley John A. Linnell
P. S. Bartlett George F. Marshall
N. J. Bloomfield J. McNeil
George A. Bowers M. McNeil
Dannial G. Currier E. S. Merrill
Henry C. Dean Charles S. Moseley
G. W. Farrow Frank H. Moseley
George S. Follensbee George Preston
Samuel A. French Paul B. Ring
Otis Hoyt L. C. Stiles
George Hunter Gen. M. Wheeler
R. P. Jackman George W. White
L. B. Joyce
ANNUAL ORGANIZATION
Paul B. Ring Lodge, Under Dispensation - 1866 and 1867
Samuel A. French Worshipful Master
N. J. Bloomfield Senior Warden
George S. Follansbee Junior Warden
George A. Bowers Treasurer
F. H. Moseley Secretary
Monitor Lodge No. 522 - 1867
Samuel A. French Worshipful Master
N. J. Bloomfield Senior Warden
George S. Follansbee Junior Warden
George A. Bowers Treasurer
F. H. Moseley Secretary
Monitor Lodge No. 522 - 1868
Samuel A. French Worshipful Master
N. J. Bloomfield Senior Warden
Otis Hoyt Junior Warden
George A. Bowers Treasurer
F. H. Moseley Secretary
For many years the meetings were held in the old Bosworth Hall on Fountain Square. In 1887 John Lee Borden fitted up elaborate quarters on the fourth floor of the Home National Bank building. In 1901 quarters were taken up in the Masonic Temple on Spring Street, erected by Monitor Lodge.
On Tuesday, November 16, 1920 Monitor Lodge had the misfortune to suffer a fire, the loss of its Temple as well as all of its furniture, paraphernalia, books, records and all other property. Many of the lodges in the Elgin and Chicago area demonstrated that they learned well the lessons of Masonry by making generous offers to replace much of the equipment used in a lodge.
On November 24th, 1920 approximately 1200 Masons met at the Elgin State Hospital to discuss the need of a new Temple. This meeting proved to be the greatest gathering of men ever held in the city of Elgin. At the request of their respective Masters, Brethren: F. T. Norris,
W. C. Rippberger, L. W. McGill, C. W. Lehmann, E. J. O’Beirne, J. M. Stewart,
W. B. Kirkpatrick, E. F. Gardner, R. T. Hinton, E. H. Abbott, A. L. Paulson, O. M. Chappell,
P. S. Sawtelle, D. H. Rotcher, H. C. Eldred, and F. E. Hallock met as a committee and eventually made recommendations for financing and erecting a new Masonic Temple to be located a 310 E. Chicago Street. The following Brethren were elected to supervise this great and important undertaking: E. H. Abbott, J. C. Barclay and F. E. Hallock of Elgin Lodge, No. 117 with P. S. Sawtelle, E. J. O’Beirne and A. L. Paulson of Monitor Lodge, No. 522, who incorporated the project under the laws of Illinois as the Masonic Temple Association of Elgin, Illinois. The estimated cost of the building was about $200,000.
ADDITIONAL HISTORY
Traditionally a Mason’s charities although very expensive, are not advertised to the general public. However on July 13th 1933 after closing the Lodge, the Brethren visited Brother William Green, living on his farm about three miles North East of Elgin, who had the misfortune to be in the path of a tornado that visited Northern Illinois Sunday, July 2, 1933. His barns and granaries were razed and all crops beaten down and his residence damaged.
Armed with hammers, pinch bars, rakes and forks 75 members of Monitor Lodge augmented by several members of other Masonic bodies invaded the farm premises, straightened up the tornado swept yard and put it in A-1 order. Brother Clarence A. Reber, Worshipful Master and John H. Kern, Junior Warden together with several members unable to stand the physical effort, sent in contributions to help with the expense of the project. This event made the head lines of the local papers and the Lodge was in receipt of a letter from the Most Worshipful Grand Master commending the brethren of the lodge on the fine piece of work showing Masonry in action.
After years of foreseen financial problems, to keep and maintain the beautiful Masonic building, located at 310 E. Chicago St. in Elgin, it was decided to put the building up for sale. The building was sold for $163,000 on March 22, 1991 causing the Masons of Elgin and all appendant bodies to find new locations. Elgin Lodge #117 remodeled a vacant church.
Monitor Lodge #522 held its next stated meeting on Thursday April 18, 1991 in the Lodge rented from Lounsbury Lodge #751.
APPENDANT Bodies were:
Bethel # 36 Commandery
Loyal L. Munn Chapter # 96 Royal Arch Mason
Elgin # 212 Order of the Eastern Star
Bethel # 291 Order of the Eastern Star
Sharon # 36 White Shrine
Bethel # 61 Job’s Daughters
Due to the efforts of Norman E. Ebert, Worshipful Master of Lounsbury Lodge #751 and Stanford E. Warrenburg, Worshipful Master of Monitor Lodge #522, a plan was put together to merge the two Lodges. On Thursday March 16, 1995 Monitor Lodge voted to accept the invitation of Lounsbury Lodge to merge the two Lodges into one Lodge. Later in 1995 the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois granted permission for the two Lodges to merge, with the new name as Monitor Lounsbury Lodge #522.
SERVICE TO THE LODGE
The success of any organization often rests in the hands of a capable secretary and Monitor Lodge has been very fortunate in this department. Space will not permit comments on all those who have served so faithfully but this history would not be complete without mentioning Brothers:
W. H. Seeley 40 years
Edward G. Adamek 11 years
Julius Studer 11 years
John W. Collin 11 years (1968 – 1979)
William F. Barton 12 years (1980 – 1992)
. Among the various treasurers we find that George W. Glos served for a period of about thirty-four years and Albert J. Wilkening about twenty-four years.
So far as we can determine Brother Leslie J. Shearer is the only one commissioned as a Right Worshipful Grand Lecturer.
The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois has honored Monitor Lodge by appointing four of its members as Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master, all of which held that position in a very commendable manner.
Clyde T. Todson 1935 1 year
Carl R. Lind 1958 – 1959 2 years
H. Ivan Spring 1966 – 1969 4 years
William F. Barton 1980 – 1989 10 years
William F. Barton
Right Worshipful Regional Deputy Grand Master 1990 – 1991
Right Worshipful District Secretary 1991 – 1992