Moline Lodge 1014 - The first 69 years
So rapidly, in fact, that 37 Master Masons (13 from Doric Lodge in Moline; 10 from other lodges in Illinois; and, 14 from other Grand Lodge jurisdictions in the USA,) with the approval of Doric Lodge No. 319 AF&AM, in Moline, Illinois, affixed their signatures to a request for permission to form a new Masonic Lodge in Moline. This letter was attached to a "Petition In Regular Form," and sent to the MW Grand Lodge of Illinois, and Grand Master, sitting in the city of Chicago, at the time. This petition was dated August 16th, 1917, in the city of Moline, and included the following information:
1. The new lodge is to be known as Moline Lodge.
2. It is proposed that the new lodge will meet on the first Wednesday of every other month in a building located at 526 15th Street, in that city.
3. The population of Moline, Illinois, being 25,000 at the time.
4. The approval and recommendation of Trio Lodge No. 57 AF&AM, in the city of Rock Island, Illinois; and, East Moline Lodge No. 969 AF&AM, in the city of East Moline, Illinois. These being the nearest to Moline Lodge, and both being at least three miles distant.
Included with the petition was a certificate, signed by RW Bro. Charles H. Mangold, a grand lecturer and district deputy, stating that W. Bro. George E. Carlson, a Past Master of Doric Lodge No. 319, as being capable of opening and closing a Masonic lodge; competent to confer the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees; and, give the lectures and charges according to forms required by the MW Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois.
W. Bro. Carlson was nominated and recommended to be the Worshipful Master, and Bros. Charles S. Mason, Senior Warden; Charles H. Carney, Junior Warden; and, Llyod H. Foster, the Secretary.
It should be noted that Bro. Carlson had served Doric Lodge No. 319 as master in the years of 1904, 1905, and 1906.
A statement was included that they had procured a suitable and safe room wherein they could, and would, practice Masonic Rites; with convenient anti-rooms connected therewith and, a plat and description of which, together with a statement of ownership, use, and occupancy of the building, in which the same was situated. It did not, however, mention the fact that the location of the meeting place was, in fact, the Doric Lodge Hall, but this proves they had the blessing of Doric Lodge Members from the beginning, and that is true Masonic brotherly love.
Having dispatched the papers to the MW Grand Lodge of Illinois, and the Grand Master, sitting in the city of Chicago, there was nothing more to do, except wait and pray that the results of the grand lodge deliberations would be favorable. It did not take long, as the formal certificate of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, signed by the Grand Master, MW Bro. Ralph H. Wheeler was received.
This certificate stated:
"The most Worshipful Grand Master being unable to visit Moline, at the time, appointed RW Bro. Carlton G. Taylor, District Deputy Grand Master of the 35th District, as his deputy and proxy, to "Institute" the new lodge on Wednesday evening, September 5th, 1917.
The Grand Master had also instructed the appointment of W. Bro. George E. Carlson, as Master, and the other Brothers to the stations as recommended.
The big evening arrived, and the Grand Master s proxy formally "Instituted" Moline Lodge U.D., and installed the following Brothers to the remaining places: Albert T. Foster, Treasurer; Charles B. Hall, Chaplain; Frank L. Fugate, Senior Deacon; Emil J. Johnson, Junior Deacon; Frank J. Hogan, Senior, Steward; and, Clarence E. Selby, Tyler. All were ready and anxious to get to work, and they wasted no time doing so. At this very first stated communication, they read eight petitions for the degrees in Freemasonry. Having appointed the committees for each, again there was nothing to do until the next stated meeting. They must have held schools or practices, because at the stated meeting of October 3rd, 1917, they elected all eight candidates to receive the degrees in Freemasonry, as conferred by Moline Lodge U.D.
To say that they were ready is an understatement, as the records show four of the newly elected candidates were Initiated on October 10th; the other four, on October 17th. Five of these were passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on October 31st. This could be some kind of record, electing eight candidates at the stated, and Initiating and Passing all eight in the same month. Four of the eight were raised in the next month, November, and the others soon after. One might think there would be a lull in activities after such an auspicious start, but just the opposite is the real story.
On the evening they elected the first eight candidates, they also read twelve more new petitions, and all twelve were elected at the stated meeting in November. Things did slow up a bit in December, as they only read six new petitions, but the work carried on.
A summary tells us they Initiated twenty-six, Passed fourteen, and Raised six by year-end, which was only three months in duration.
The new lodge in the city of Moline must have done things right, as the Grand Lodge Proceedings of October 8th, 1918, included a report of the Committee on Lodges Under Dispensation, and Bro. William H. Beckman, chairman of the committee, gave the following report, which reads in part:
"Moline Lodge U.D., Moline, Illinois. A Dispensation was issued for this lodge August 30th, 1917, by MW Bro. Ralph H. Wheeler, Most Worshipful Grand Master, and Dispensation continued in full force under date of October 15th, 1917, by MW Bro. Austin H. Scrogin, Most Worshipful Grand Master. The lodge was "Instituted" by Bro. Carlton G. Taylor, District Deputy Grand Master for the 35th District. The work of the lodge is as follows: Number of petitions received 74, number Elected 61, number rejected 6, number Initiated 58, number Passed 48, number not acted on 7, number named in Dispensation 46, number named in Dispensation not signing petition for charter 1, number signing Petition for Charter 85".
The report also includes the names of all Charter Members, and a recommendation that a Charter be issued to Moline Lodge No. 1014 AF&AM, in Moline Illinois.
This was approved by the Grand Lodge of Illinois, sitting in the city of Chicago, and a charter dated October 8th, 1918, was issued with the following officers of the Grand Lodge affixing their signatures: Bros. Austin H. Scrogin, Most Worshipful Grand Master; RW. Daniel G. Fitzgerrell, Deputy Grand Master; RW. Elmer E. Beach, Senior Grand Warden; RW. Arthur E. Wood, Junior Grand Warden; and, RW. Isaach Cutter, Grand Secretary.
A Special Meeting of Moline Lodge No. 1014 was called to order, in Moline Illinois, at 8:00 PM on November 27th, 1918, and the Master, W. Bro. George E. Carlson instructed the Marshal, Bro. Frank L. Haynes, to notify the MW Grand Lodge of Illinois that Moline Lodge No. 1014 was ready to be installed. RW. Charles H. Mangold, Grand Lecturer and District Deputy Grand Master, was invited to the East where he was presented the gavel and requested to conduct the ceremonies. After presenting the Charter, Bro. Mangold declared Moline Lodge No. 1014 AF&AM to be duly constituted, and then proceeded to install the elected and appointed officers to their respective stations and places.
The records also show that they celebrated this momentous occasion with a dinner, cigars, and some professional entertainment.
Things went well for the new lodge, with a steady flow of petitions and lots of work for several years, until late in 1923. The records are not to clear, but we do know, through some mishap, the Charter was lost or damaged. The records are clear, however, that the MW Grand Lodge of Illinois issued a new Charter dated January 28th, 1924, with MW Grand Master Arthur E. Wood presiding.
It is interesting to note, that Grand Master Wood was the Junior Grand Warden when the first Charter was issued; that W. Bro. George E. Carlson, who accepted the first Charter, was the father of W. Bro. Clifford G. Carlson, who as the Master of Moline Lodge in 1924, accepted the replacement Charter.
Moline Lodge maintained a steady growth in Membership those early years, but all was not without a few problems. In February of 1924, they lost their happy home and had to find new quarters for their lodge. They requested, and received, a Dispensation from the Grand Lodge to move into the Industrial Home Building at 1330 1/3 5th Ave, in Moline. Only two meetings were held there, however, as Doric Lodge located a better meeting place, and again invited Moline Lodge to share it with them. In March, after receiving another Dispensation from the Grand Lodge, they moved to the Leedy Building, at the corner of 5th avenue and 16th Street, in the city. It is believed that both lodges stayed at this location until the new Scottish Rite Cathedral of Moline, which was dedicated in 1930, invited them to move their lodges to the new lodge room on the third floor. We know that Moline Lodge moved, and even furnished the new lodge room in the Cathedral, including carpeting and all furniture. We assume that Doric Lodge moved at the same time.
It is quite evident from the growth and success of Moline Lodge in the first sixty-nine years, that each of the sixty- nine masters have made a positive contribution to the continued improvement of the lodge. Those dedicated men and Freemasons who had the foresight to pioneer a new Masonic Lodge in Moline, and pass on the deep sense of responsibility and inspiration to carry on the management of lodge activities, must have done so in such a manner as to insure its continued progress, merit the pride and support of its members, and earn the respect of men and Freemasons everywhere.
The growth of the lodge was steady for many years, reaching a peak of 950 members in the post World War II period. At this writing, Moline Lodge has about 700 members, a respectable number.
Moline Lodge is to be congratulated for sixty-nine years of leadership in our great Fraternity, and for contributing to the growth and welfare of this wonderful country, and fine community.
