The history of Bloomington Lodge #43 A.F&A.M. is interesting and important in the Masonic history of the state, and as an important factor in the rise and growth of the city. The lodge was organized October 17, 1847, just as the city, after a period of several years’ depression, the severity of which is hard to now realize, had begun to take an upward start, and to lay the foundation for its present greatness. The little hamlet of Bloomington then contained about 800 inhabitants.

Previously, the Masonic interests in the state had been under the charge of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, thereafter the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Shortly before 1847 the Grand Lodge of Illinois had been organized and the 23rd charter granted by it was to our lodge. The nearest neighbors then were Pekin #29, Clinton #19 at Petersburg, Springfield #4, Macon #8 at Decatur, Friendship #7 at Dixon, Mt. Joliet #42 at Joliet, Occidental #40 at Ottawa, and Peoria #15. Of the lodges still in existence, ours is the 24th in point in time. Our lodge was granted its charter October 6th, 1847 upon recommendation of Peoria Lodge #15.

First Meeting in McLean County

In the later part of February, 1847, a forest tree had been felled and was laying across Front Street, close to Main. Hazo Parsons, a hero of the war of 1812, with three other members of the Order sitting upon its trunk, resolved to take measures to organize a Lodge, and on March 1, the first formal meeting of Masons ever held in this county was convened. Pending the procurement of a charter, it was resolved to hold weekly meetings.
At this first meeting the following were chosen: John Foster, Worshipful Master; Elijah Depew, Senior Warden; and Andrew Johnston, Junior Warden. The others present were Hadley J. Short (afterwards the first Master of Heyworth Lodge), Owen Cheney, Hazo Parsons, Moses Baldwin, and Eli N. Powell. At these meetings a few were initiated as members. Among them was Dr. William C. Hobbs, second Master, who afterwards became a Grand Master of the state.
In order to receive the charter in time for the first meeting as an authorized body, Mr. Foster sent his son on horseback to Pekin for it. On October 17, the first meeting as a regularly constituted Lodge was held, at early candlelight, in a small, low room over the wagon shop of Abraham Brokaw, on the southwest corner of Washington and Center Streets.
Besides those mention above, others present were Simon B. Brown, Lewis Bunn, J. A. Simmons, James E. Parker, George C. Holmes, Allen Withers, John Mayers, Thomas Drain and Dr. Ezekial Thomas, a band of remarkable men who accomplished much in the formative period of our early days.
The lodge, from its inception has been harmonious, progressive and prosperous. It is the parent of Wade Barney Lodge #512, chartered October, 1866, of Mozart Lodge #656, chartered October, 1870, of Arts and Crafts Lodge #1017, chartered October, 1918, as well as in a sense, of all now in this county and of the other Masonic Orders of this county.

Lodge Has Had Many Homes

Our lodge remained in its first dwelling place for about a year. It was then moved to over Dr. Warriner’s store on the south side of front Street, three doors west of Main, where it was located until 1852. It then moved to the west side of Main, near Washington, where all its records and property, except its relic, the dipper presented to it by Dr. Hobbs at its first meeting, were destroyed in the great fire of October 16, 1855. This dipper continued to be used by the lodge until 1897, when it was put in a glass case and is on display in the lodge to this day.
The lodge then took up its abode, until 1867, on the third story of the building on the northwest corner of Main and Front Streets. Then for nine years, until 1876, in the Liberty Block. From then until 1901 it was housed in the old Post Office building which stood in the lot on the northwest corner of Front and Center Streets. The lodge then moved to the third floor of the Smith Building on the north side of the square. Nearing the end of its ten year lease at that location, plans were formulated for the erection of the Masonic Temple at the corner of Jefferson and Prairie Streets at a cost of $60,000 and which was dedicated in May of 1912. During the year of construction of the new temple, the lodge made its home on the second floor of 309 North Main Street.

Bloomington Lodge #43 has furnished the state with five Most Worshipful Grand Masters: Dr. William C. Hobbs (1849), Alex T. Darrah (1885-86), Delmar D. Darrah (1911-12), Barry D. Weer (2013-14), and Gregory L. Clark (2017-18).