History
History of Kinmundy Lodge #398
October 4, 2014
Sesquicentennial Celebration and Rededication of Lodge
Abraham Lincoln was President of the United States of America and the nation was embroiled in a civil war when nine men petitioned Most Worshipful Grand Master Thomas J. Turner for a Masonic charter. The charter members were B. H. Bodwell, who served as Worshipful Master, E. R. Risen, Senior Warden, J. S. Sweney, Junior Warden, James Potticary, Montgomery Wilson, J. H. Elkin, Joseph O'Brien, W. R. Booth and W. L. Arnold.
The first Masonic meeting place was the upstairs of Col. W. R. Booth's home located on Fourth Street near what is now the home of Peggy Harvey. Later, a hall was rented and fitted as a lodge room. This hall was located over Blakeslee's Store, which was located on the south west corner of Madison and Third Streets. The next meeting place was in a hall over the Haymond Bank on Madison Street. From there the lodge was moved into the West Building just two locations south.
In 1901, a building committee composed of Brothers A. M. Allen, Calender Rohrbough, W. H. White, J. W. Doolen and W. W. Neil, were given full power to construct a building and borrow the money to pay for the same. This was a very beautiful temple and stood on the same location as the Masonic building presently located on the west side of South Madison Street. The third floor was used as the lodge room and the second story as a banquet hall. The two floors were built at a cost of $4,465.13. It was dedicated on January 10, 1902, by Most Worshipful Grand Master, George M. Mouten.
The lodge had the use of this temple for almost two years when it burned with the rest of the business block on December 2, 1903, consuming all the property of the lodge except the ledger of membership, accounts, and the record book, except the record from March 21 to December 2, 1903.
As the charter was burned, the lodge was granted a special dispensation to hold meetings by Grand Master William B. Wright. The meetings were then again held in the West building, the furniture of the Knights of Pythias Lodge being used. But this did not last long because the membership wanted a temple of their own and they wanted it on the third floor, which in those days, seemed more essential than it does today. Finally, a motion was made and duly carried that the Master appoint a building committee to erect a building at a cost not to exceed $2,500. the following committee was appointed; Bros. Hugo Miller, J. W. Wilson and Henry Jackson. As only a temple was wanted. the second story rights were sold to W. H. Gray, who also held the ground rights. Finally a contract was let to Bro. A. M. Allen for the building of the temple that replaced the West Building at a cost of $2,250, exclusive of the stairway. The lodge was moved into its then home in September of 1904.
On July 13, 1974, Bro. Ted Lowe, a fifty year member of Kinmundy Lodge, turned the first spade of dirt to begin construction of the present Masonic Temple on land donated by the Heistand Family. The first meeting was led by Worshipful Master Glen B. Brasel in the unfinished building on November 20, 1974. Most Worshipful Grand Master Earl M. Potter led the ceremony for laying the cornerstone. Kinmundy members among the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony were Bro. Robert E. Ford, Wor. Grand Standard Bearer, Bro. Carl Dunlap representing the Master of the Oldest Lodge, and Bro. James L. Williams, Grand Architect.
On May 17, 1975, Farina Lodge #601 and Kinmundy Lodge #398 officially merged. Farina Lodge #601 received its charter on October 6, 1868 and had existed for nearly 108 years. The records and property of Farina Lodge #601 were transferred to Kinmundy’s new hall.
There are now 664 names signed to our lodge By-laws, our newest member being Bro. Clayton L. Keen, who affiliated from John D. Moody Lodge #510, which merged with Marion Lodge #130.
We find that we have had 70 brethren serve as Worshipful Master of this lodge, namely B. H. Bodwell, Joseph O'Brien, James W. Powers, W. R. Hubbard, and J. H. Elkins prior to 1869, then Montgomery Wilson, 4 years; T. W. Haymond; Thomas Bagott, 8 years; W. H. White; J. W. Wilson; Calendar Rohrbough, 11 years; A. M. Allen, 15 years: W. W. Lowe, 2 years; J. H. Ballance; J. W. Doolen; E. R. Hensley, 2 years; I. D. Ingram, 4 years; C. I. Doolen; J. W. Neavill, 2 years; and O. K. Miller. In 1926 the by-laws were changed and the annual election was held in June with installation the first meeting night in July. Then came C. S. Watson, 2 years; Chas. Gammon, 3 years; William T. Phillips. 3 years; Ray George, 2 years; A. A. Malinsky; J. N. Vallow, 2 years; D. J. Alexander 1939-40, 2 years; Glen Brasel, 4 years, Fred G. Alexander, 2 years; Erman Allen; John J. Pat James; Burdette Maxey; Carl Dunlap, 3 years; John W. McCulley; R. H. Schooley; Merle Jones; C. F. Gammon; Wyett H. Colclasure, 2 years; Dan Heistand, 2 years; James C. Stricker; Robert K. Bailey; Charles Bassett, 2 years; James L. Williams, 2 years; Gene Bailey; Joe Middleton; Dewey S. Lacey, 2 years; Robert E. Ford; Glenn H. Doolen; Dale E. Jahraus; Clarence Brainard; Kenneth E. McCarty; Forrest Doolen; Joe Medley; William Allen; James O. Eagan; Fred Miselbrook; Theodore F. Arnold; Brad Brasel; Jerry G. Osborne; Richard Meyer, 10 years; Robert F. Ingram; Danny L. Krutsinger, 2 years; Steven B. Bailey; James E. Atkinson II; Gerhard F. Shirr; Gregory R. Garrett, 3 years; Dale Richard Wright, 2 years; James E. Jones Sr., 2 years; David W. Thomson III, 2 years; and our present Worshipful Master, Christopher Lee Townsend.
We presently have twenty four 50+ year members and honorary members: Wor. Bro. Wayne Berry, 50 years; Bro. William L. Maxey, 51 years; Most Wor. Bro. Robert E. Ford, 51 years; R. Wor. Bro. Howard L. Graff, 51 years; Bro. James M. Brown, 51 years; Bro. Larry G. McCarty, 52 years; Bro. James W. Brasel, 53 years; Bro. John D. Milne, 54 years; Bro. Louis E. Engel, 54 years; R. Wor. Bro. George R. Stahl, 54 years; Bro. Larry D. Beal, 55 years; R. Wor. Bro. J. C. E. Weems, 56 years; Wor Bro. Cecil E. Bailey, 57 years; Wor. Bro. James L. Williams, 58 years; R. Wor. Bro. Robert Kalb, 58 years; Wor. Bro. Charles R. Bassett, 59 years; Bro. Richard O. Soldner, 61 years; Bro. Stanley R. Soldner, 61 years; Carl B. Vallow, 64 years; Wor. Bro. Gerhard F. Schirr, 64 years; Bro. Calvin L. Barbee, 66 years; Bro. Pleasant H. Robnett, 66 years; Bro. Michael L. Craig, 68 years, and Bro. Marion E. Brimberry, 68 years..
The Most Worshipful Grand Master, Richard L. Swaney, presented an eighty year membership award to Bro. Glen B. Brasel at his home on February 12, 2011. On July 3rd, 2013, our oldest lodge member passed away at the age of 105. Bro. Glen Benton Brasel was an 82 year member of Kinmundy Lodge.
With 150 years of history, we now have at least one family with five generations of Master Masons. Jacob Jahraus was raised September 1, 1874, his son Henry Florman Jahraus was raised December 13, 1922, his son Glenn Merle Jahraus was raised January 6, 1937, his son Dale Edward Jahraus was raised November 27, 1965, and his son Jared Clark Jahraus was raised April 21, 2001. Several Kinmundy Lodge families have three generations of members.
In 1989, Bro. Robert E. Ford was elected as the 86th Most Worshipful Grand Master of the State of Illinois, A. F. & A. M. He served two years, and among numerous accomplishments, he established what is now the Illinois Masonic Foundation Student Assistance Program. He appointed R. Wor. Bro. Elwyn D. Cheatum as Grand Orator in 1989.
R. Wor. Bro. Jerry G. Osborne served as Grand Representative to Alberta, Canada from 1990 to 2009.