HISTORY OF WHITNEY LODGE #229 F & AM
On March 4, 1857, Brothers
Thomas Whitney, John S. Hutchings, Able
Gibson, William Quigley, Benjamin G. Cunningham, Samuel Weidner, and
Samuel V. Jump, all members of Delaware Lodge No. 46, Muncie, Indiana,
and Jonas Harris of Hagerstown Lodge No. 49, Hagerstown, Indiana, met
it
the office of Dr. S. V. Jump to organize a Masonic Lodge in the village
of New Burlington, Indiana.
A dispensation dated May
28, 1857 was granted by the Grand Lodge of
Indiana. The Lodge was to be known as Whitney Lodge, U.D.
On June 13, 1857, the first meeting of Whitney Lodge, U.D. was held,
with
the following brothers as officers: S. V. Jump, W.M.; Jonas Harris,
S.W.;
Thomas Whitney, J.W.; Benjamin G. Cunningham, Treas.; John S. Hutchings,
Secy.; William Quigley, S.D.; Samuel Weidner, J.D.; Able Gibson, Tyler,
and R.V. Murray Secy., Pro-tem.
On May 25, 1858, a charter
was issued to Whitney Lodge No. 229 F. & A.M.
signed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Solomon D. Bayless of the
Grand Lodge of Indiana. Brother Samuel V. Jump M.D. was appointed as
the
first Worshipful Master of Whitney Lodge. Lodge dues were $2.00 annually.
The original Lodge was located
in the upper level of Dr. Jump's office
which was located in New Burlington, Indiana. On April 15, 1953,
construction began on what is now the site of Whitney Lodge. On April
7,
1956, the new Lodge Hall was dedicated by the Most Worshipful Grand
Master Joseph A. Batchelor of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Many Brothers
donated their time and efforts to erect the new Lodge hall and also
to
promote various projects to raise the necessary funds to pay for the
building.
It maybe said that the new
Temple was started on "FAITH", erected on
"HOPE", and completed by the cooperative efforts of interested people,
that may be termed "CHARITY". It is impossible to express our gratitude
individually to all the people, members and nonmembers of the Order,
the
organizations and business establishments, who contributed to our success
in this accomplishment.
In expressing our gratitude,
we can say, "To the Brethren, our friends,
neighbors and the community, we of Whitney Lodge No. 229 F. & A.M.,
present a Temple erected to the service of God and dedicated to the
practical application of the principles of Christianity."
Taken from the First 125 Years of Whitney
Lodge
Condensed By Jerry Zearbaugh PM