Archimedes Lodge No. 377, Belleville, Illinois

Up until the late 1800s, a large number of Belleville residents spoke only German, therefore it was natural that there would be interest in forming a second lodge to cater to our German brethren.  A charter was granted on 9 August 1862 from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, giving them the authority to work under the name of Archimedes lodge No. 377.  This lodge was named for the great Greek mathematician.  The lodge worked in the German language for twenty-seven years when, on 30 March 1889, it united through consolidation with St. Clair Lodge No. 24.

Archimedes Lodge No. 377, Belleville, Illinois

Up until the late 1800s, a large number of Belleville residents spoke only German, therefore it was natural that there would be interest in forming a second lodge to cater to our German brethren.  A charter was granted on 9 August 1862 from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, giving them the authority to work under the name of Archimedes lodge No. 377.  This lodge was named for the great Greek mathematician.  The lodge worked in the German language for twenty-seven years when, on 30 March 1889, it united through consolidation with St. Clair Lodge No. 24.

Temple Lodge No. 35, Belleville, IL

Sometime in the Spring of 1820, Bro. David Blackwell, a local lawyer and former member of Solomon Lodge No. 5 of Shelbyville KY, along with several other Master Masons, petitioned the Grand Lodge of Tennessee to form a lodge.  On 28 June 1820, a dispensation was issued for Temple Lodge No. 35.  Unfortunately, the dispensation was surrendered in October of 1821, without the lodge having worked under it.  No reason was given.

 As a matter of historical importance, on Thursday, 28 June 1943, St. Clair Lodge No. 24 had the honor of receiving as a visitor, Brother Richard O. Ramsey, the Junior Warden of this same Solomon Lodge No. 5.

The Dark Years 1821 - 1840

            Following the surrender of the dispensation issued by the Grand Lodge of Tennessee, Masonry in Belleville "went dark" and there are no known masonic records from this period.  Between the years 1826 and 1841, Freemasonry in Illinois - and the entire country - underwent troubling times as a result of the "Morgan Affair" which occurred in New York and is described in detail at (www.kinghiramslodge.org/morgan.html)

St. Clair No. 60, Belleville, IL

 On 19 November 1841, a petition signed by eleven Master Masons, praying for a dispensation to form and open a Lodge at Belleville, Illinois, was presented to Naphtali Lodge No. 25 of St. Louis, Missouri, praying for a recommendation.  The first signer was John Hay who was one of the early petitioners to Western Star Lodge No. 107 at Kaskaskia, Illinois.  Research shows that Brother Hay petitioned Western Star Lodge No. 107 (later Western Star Lodge No. 1, Kaskaskia) in 1806 and was there made a Master Mason; he was one of the older brethren and within several months passed away, being laid to rest with Masonic honors on 16 October 1842.

            The dispensation was granted on 12 February 1842.  Joseph Bennett was appointed Worshipful Master; John C. Theill, Senior Warden; and Peter W. Randall, Junior Warden; Alexander Reaney, Treasurer; C.G.Y. Taylor, Secretary; Oliver Green, Senior Deacon; LuCius Don Turner, Junior Deacon and J. Rankin, Tyler.  No mention is made of Chaplain and Marshall.  The first meeting minutes of St. Clair Lodge No. 60 record "A committee was appointed to prepare by-laws, and the petition of J. L. D. Morrison, an entered Apprentice of Western Star Lodge was received and referred."

            Brother Christopher G. Y. Taylor, who served as Worshipful Master of St. Clair Lodge No. 24 in 1847, was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois in October 1850 when the Grand Lodge met at Shawneetown, Illinois.  Brother Taylor was one of the youngest members of the Fraternity to be elected and installed as Grand Master, however, he died in September 1843 at age 45 before he presided over his first Grand Lodge annual meeting.

            On 25 October 1842 the Lodge was duly constituted as St. Clair Lodge No. 60 by A.F. Douglas, Grand Visitor, Grand Lodge of Missouri, and the officers installed. 

            On 19 September, 1843, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:

"Whereas, Every interest and inducement, as well as fraternal feeling, prompts this Lodge to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Missouri and become subject to the Grand Lodge in our own State; therefore, be it Resolved, That St. Clair Lodge No. 60 respectfully intimate to the Grand Lodge of Missouri their wish to withdraw from her jurisdiction for the purpose of becoming subject to the Grand Lodge of Illinois."

            Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, 1843:  "We find some resolutions by our brethren in Illinois, relative to a withdrawal from this and uniting with the Grand Lodge of Illinois.  We would respectfully suggest that this Grand Lodge recommend them to the care and protection of that Grand Lodge, and earnestly hope that their union may be blessed to the prosperity and happiness of all."

            On 14 December 1843, the Master of St. Clair Lodge received a new charter from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois, giving the Lodge authority to work under the name and style of St. Clair Lodge No. 24, Belleville, Illinois.