HR1519 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1519 LRB094 21920 KXB 60377 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Mahomet Lodge #220 was established on May 5, 1856, when a dispensation from the Most Worshipful Grand Master W. B. Herrick of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois was given to the Petitioners proclaiming "that a regular Lodge of Mason, this Lodge promising to render obedience to the ancient usages and landmarks of the Fraternity. The Petitioners had been recommended as Master Masons in good standing by the Master, Wardens, and Otter brethren of Urbana Lodge #157. The Lodge from this point on will be known as Mahomet Lodge #220 in Middletown, Illinois, and therein to admit and make freemasons."; and

WHEREAS, The first Master of Mahomet Lodge #220 was P.M. Parks; the first stated meeting of Mahomet Lodge #220 in Middletown, Illinois was held in Union Hall on June 16, 1856, at which petitions were read for J.C. Kilgore, J.W. Pancake, R. Williams, B. Chaney, B.F. Harris, and J.C. Hankins; the membership of the Mahomet Masonic Lodge was comprised of some of the oldest and most respected citizens in Middletown; and

WHEREAS, In 1871 Middletown was officially renamed Mahomet, due to the fact there were two towns in Illinois with the same name; and

WHEREAS, In 1876 the Masonic Lodge building burned, and all of its furniture and archives were destroyed except for the record books, which were in the safe of J.W. Starling, the secretary; a new Masonic Lodge building was erected with the help of 52 of its members; the Lodge continued to experience growth through the turn of the century, World War I, and World War II; and

WHEREAS, The Masonic Lodge building was rebuilt in 1949 on the current site of the old building; a new cornerstone was laid on April 23, 1949, with approximately 800 in attendance; a time capsule was sealed inside of the hallowed cornerstone; and

WHEREAS, From 1990 to the present day, Mahomet Lodge has experienced sustained growth and has also impacted many of the other lodges in the surrounding communities of Monticello, Deland, Farmer City, Gibson City, and Fisher until those lodges merged with Mahomet Lodge in 2003; and

WHEREAS, The Lodge also continues to support the Mahomet community by giving monetary assistance through a College Gift Fund to graduating seniors of Mahomet/Seymour High School and sponsoring Boy Scouts of America Troop 103 and Girl Scout Daisy Troop 2201; and

WHEREAS, Mahomet Lodge has the honor of having had in their membership two past Grand Masters, four District Deputies, and other brethren who have had the honor of serving the Grand Lodge and other appendant bodies of the Masonic Fraternity; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of Mahomet Lodge on the occasion of their 150th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to a representative of the Mahomet Lodge.