HR1519 LRB094 21920 KXB 60377 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Mahomet Lodge #220 was established on May 5, 1856,
3 when a dispensation from the Most Worshipful Grand Master W. B.
4 Herrick of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
5 of the State of Illinois was given to the Petitioners
6 proclaiming "that a regular Lodge of Mason, this Lodge
7 promising to render obedience to the ancient usages and
8 landmarks of the Fraternity. The Petitioners had been
9 recommended as Master Masons in good standing by the Master,
10 Wardens, and Otter brethren of Urbana Lodge #157. The Lodge
11 from this point on will be known as Mahomet Lodge #220 in
12 Middletown, Illinois, and therein to admit and make
13 freemasons."; and
 
14     WHEREAS, The first Master of Mahomet Lodge #220 was P.M.
15 Parks; the first stated meeting of Mahomet Lodge #220 in
16 Middletown, Illinois was held in Union Hall on June 16, 1856,
17 at which petitions were read for J.C. Kilgore, J.W. Pancake, R.
18 Williams, B. Chaney, B.F. Harris, and J.C. Hankins; the
19 membership of the Mahomet Masonic Lodge was comprised of some
20 of the oldest and most respected citizens in Middletown; and
 
21     WHEREAS, In 1871 Middletown was officially renamed
22 Mahomet, due to the fact there were two towns in Illinois with
23 the same name; and
 
24     WHEREAS, In 1876 the Masonic Lodge building burned, and all
25 of its furniture and archives were destroyed except for the
26 record books, which were in the safe of J.W. Starling, the
27 secretary; a new Masonic Lodge building was erected with the
28 help of 52 of its members; the Lodge continued to experience
29 growth through the turn of the century, World War I, and World
30 War II; and
 
31     WHEREAS, The Masonic Lodge building was rebuilt in 1949 on

 

 

HR1519 - 2 - LRB094 21920 KXB 60377 r

1 the current site of the old building; a new cornerstone was
2 laid on April 23, 1949, with approximately 800 in attendance; a
3 time capsule was sealed inside of the hallowed cornerstone; and
 
4     WHEREAS, From 1990 to the present day, Mahomet Lodge has
5 experienced sustained growth and has also impacted many of the
6 other lodges in the surrounding communities of Monticello,
7 Deland, Farmer City, Gibson City, and Fisher until those lodges
8 merged with Mahomet Lodge in 2003; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The Lodge also continues to support the Mahomet
10 community by giving monetary assistance through a College Gift
11 Fund to graduating seniors of Mahomet/Seymour High School and
12 sponsoring Boy Scouts of America Troop 103 and Girl Scout Daisy
13 Troop 2201; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Mahomet Lodge has the honor of having had in their
15 membership two past Grand Masters, four District Deputies, and
16 other brethren who have had the honor of serving the Grand
17 Lodge and other appendant bodies of the Masonic Fraternity;
18 therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21 we congratulate the members of Mahomet Lodge on the occasion of
22 their 150th anniversary; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
24 presented to a representative of the Mahomet Lodge.