| Pisgah Lodge #32 |
Pisgah History, Volume I (1817-1899)
MAY 26, 1817
Corydon, the tiny frontier town and capital of the new state of Indiana, was but a mere nine
years old when, acting on the petition of several master masons of the area, the Grand Lodge
of Kentucky (Indiana had no grand lodge at that time) granted a dispensation for a lodge at
Corydon, the lodge to be known as “Pisgah Lodge.”
The Grand Master of Kentucky wasted no time in appointing Worshipful Master John Miller of
Blazing Star Lodge No. 36, Charlestown, to proceed to Corydon to install the new officers for
Pisagah. Those installed were:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master* (See Appendix A for a complete list of all Pisgah Worshipful
Masters.)
Milo Davis, Senior Warden*
Robert S. Collins, Junior Warden*
Robert A. New, Secretary*
Gordon Vigus, a visitor from Lexington Lodge No. 1, attended the installation. Others present
as shown on the register were:
William H. Lilly, Acting Tyler/Junior Deacon*
David S. Collins, Senior Deacon*
MAY 28, 1817
The lodge opened with the following in attendance:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master
Milo Davis, Senior Warden
David S. Collins, Junior Warden
Robert A. New, Secretary
Reuben W. Nelson, Senior Deacon*
Gordon Vigus, Junior Deacon*
William H. Lilly, Tyler
Visitors for the evening’s work were:
Armstrong Brandon, Harmony Lodge No. 5*
Spencer Smith, Farmer’s Lodge, New York (a house guest of Reuben Nelson)
Although there were a number of master masons in and around Corydon, not all of them joined
in the beginning and many came in later by demit from other lodges.
__________________
*See alphabetical listing in Appendix B for further personal information.
Initially there were not enough master masons to fill all the chairs in the new lodge and some
members filled more than one position. Material was plentiful, however, and the lodge was
soon able to fill all the chairs with its own members. It was not unusual, however, for a Fellow
Craft to be raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, and then be immediately elected
or appointed to one of the offices being temporarily filled by some other member.
As a matter of expediency and until they could write their own by-laws, Pisgah adopted the by-
laws of Blazing Star for its own. Although those by-laws required that a candidate’s petition be
held over for 30 days, this rule was often suspended in cases where the candidate was well
known to the lodge. For example, the petition of John Tipton was acted upon immediately as it
was common knowledge that he was General John Tipton, hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe,
and was then sheriff of Harrison County. He had come to Harrison County in 1807 and settled
near Brinley’s Ferry on the Ohio River. He was elected the first sheriff under the new state
constitution and would later serve in the senate. In 1818 he became Indiana’s Grand Senior
Warden, in 1819 Deputy Grand Master, and was Grand Master in 1820. He was elected
Worshipful Master of Pisgah Lodge in 1821. Nothing further is known about his masonic
career, and he died at Logansport on April 7, 1839.
John Tipton* and George Hite were then initiated into the first degree of masonry. Armstrong
Brandon was balloted for and was duly elected to membership in the new lodge.
JUNE 2, 1817
Brothers Tipton and Hite were examined in open lodge**, found to be proficient, and were
passed to the more honorable degree of a Fellow Craft. (**It was the usual custom to examine
candidates in open lodge each time they wished to receive their degrees. If found proficient,
they were then elected to receive that degree.)
JUNE 7, 1817
Gordon Vigus was elected tyler of the lodge; and John Tipton and George Hite were raised to
the sublime degree of Master Mason.
JUNE 13, 1817
Thomas C. Davis and John Mefford were initiated as Entered Apprentices. John Tipton was
elected Senior Deacon, and George Hite was elected as Junior Deacon.
It was resolved that on the morning of June 20, the lodge would march in procession to the
court house for the purpose of celebrating the day dedicated to the Holy St. John. It was
further resolved that a brother would deliver an oration, or a minister would deliver a sermon.
After the
festivities, the lodge members would meet for a dinner to be prepared for them by some
person yet to be named.
JUNE 20, 1817
The brethren marched to the court house where an appropriate oration was given by Brother
Robert A. New. After the ceremonies, the brethren marched in proper procession to Mr. Boone’
s where they had a dinner that had been prepared for them according to prior arrangements
The lodge continued to meet every few days whenever there was degree work or other matters
to discuss. It was not uncommon for the lodge to be opened and closed on all three degrees
in one day. Whenever there was degree work to be done on successive days, it was also
common practice to call the lodge from labor to refreshment for a day or two, then back to
labor for some purpose, then back to refreshment, etc.
Hereinafter not all of the meetings of Pisgah will be chronicled - only those of a more significant
historical importance.
AUGUST 5, 1817
Robert A. New was appointed to represent Pisgah at the Grand Lodge and was authorized to
negotiate for a charter for a Grand Lodge in Indiana. He was authorized to do whatever was
necessary and expedient in carrying out his mission.
PISGAH LODGE NO. 45, 1817
The minutes failed to mention a date, but this is the first time that a number was shown for
Pisgah, it being assigned by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1817
A dispensation was directed to GRC Floyd, Master of Abraham Lodge No. 8, from the Grand
Lodge of Kentucky. The officers appointed to govern Pisgah Lodge 45 were installed as
follows:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master
Milo Davis, Senior Warden
William H. Lilly, Junior Warden/Tyler
Robert A. New, Secretary/Treasurer
J. N. Dunbar, Senior Deacon
John Tipton, Junior Deacon
Gordon Vigus, Senior Stewart
Armstrong Brandon was then elected Treasurer, William H. Lilly was elected Secretary, and
Gordon Vigus was elected Stewart and Tyler. George Hite was appointed as Junior Deacon.
All officers were to serve until the next anniversary.
The by-laws of Blazing Star Lodge were formally adopted as the by-laws of Pisgah Lodge 45.
J. N. Dunbar was elected a member of Pisgah. The petition of Jonathan Jennings* was
approved, and he was elected to receive the first degree of masonry.
DECEMBER 4, 1817
Pisgah Lodge 45 was opened with the following officers present:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master
Milo Davis, Senior Warden
David S. Collins, Junior Warden
Reuben W. Nelson, Treasurer
J. N. Dunbar, Secretary
Robert A. New, Senior Deacon
John Tipton, Junior Deacon
Gordon Vigus, Tyler
Other members present included:
J. Mefford
J. McMahan
J. Houser
J. B. Slaughter
J. C. Davis
Jonathan Jennings
Armstrong Brandon
William H. Lilly
Visitors present that evening were:
Amos Lane, Scipio Lodge No. 59
James Dill,* Lawrenceville Lodge No. 44
Christopher Harrison,* Melchizedeck Lodge, Salem
Jeremiah Sullivan,* Union Lodge 49, Madison
H. Webster, North Star 51, New York
George White, Golden Rule Lodge 41, New York
H. Stephens, Newburg Lodge 43, South Carolina
A. A. Meek,* Union Lodge 49, Madison
Hezekial B. Hull,* Switzerland Lodge UD
Jonathan Doty, Solomon Lodge, New Jersey
General Washington Johnston,* Vincennes Lodge No. 15
John Connor, Brookville Harmony Lodge 41
Alexander Buckner,* Blazing Star Lodge 36
Colonel Abel C. Pepper,* Rising Sun Lodge UD
Major Henry P. Thornton,* Union Lodge 49, Madison
General R. C. Sullivan, Vincennes Lodge 15
Stephen C. Stevens,* Brookville Harmony Lodge 41
Nathaniel Hunt, St. John Lodge No. 21, Ohio
Robert Buntin,* Vincennes Lodge No. 15
This meeting was a prime example of the zeal exhibited by the masons of the frontier, as
evidenced by the large number in attendance, and the distance traveled in order to be in
Corydon for the meeting. It is difficult to fully appreciate the personal hardships and sacrifices
these men made to attend lodge as roads were little more than foot paths in many areas and
virtually non-existent in others. Very few roads were wide enough to accommodate a buggy or
carriage, and these masons had to travel on foot or horseback in order to reach their
destinations. That difficulty was coupled with a scarcity of acceptable lodgings and dining
facilities once they arrived, even though Corydon was then the state capital and saw many
visitors.
When 1817 came to a close, the lodge had raised 11 master masons and six others had
affiliated by demit from other lodges. Local enthusiasm for the lodge was high, but we will soon
discover that it soon began to wane. Although no one reason can satisfactorily be assigned
for the future decline, one possible cause appears to be that zeal for the masonic institution
caused some masons to take a very hard line in applying masonic principles
However, many masons freely gave of their time, talent, and assets to further the cause of
masonry on the new frontier so that men might enjoy the light of masonry more perfectly. In
their desire to establish a true masonic lodge and leave nothing undone in the quest for one,
John Tipton, Joseph Finley*, and Robert A. New were appointed the first committee on charity
and carried out their duties with both energy and gentlemanly decorum.
The Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, and Junior Warden were approved to be a committee
to meet with a delegation from the other lodges for the purpose of choosing the location of a
Grand Lodge in Indiana.
DECEMBER 22, 1817
The following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing six months:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master
David S. Collins, Senior Warden
John Tipton, Junior Warden
Gordon Vigus, Treasurer
William H. Lilly, Secretary
John Finley, Senior Deacon
Armstrong Brandon, Junior Deacon
Jonathan Houser, Tyler
DECEMBER 27, 1817
Pisgah Lodge 45 was opened for the purpose of installing the elected officers and to celebrate
the end of the lodge’s first year. Visiting brethren were:
N. Hunt, St. Johns No. 21
M. G. Clark, J. R. Higgins, and C. Harrison of Melchizedeck Lodge No. 43, Salem
Stephen C. Stevens, Brookville Harmony Lodge No. 41
H. B. Hull, Switzerland Lodge UD, Vevay
Patrick Baird and T. C. Byrn, M.R. Davy Lodge 3, South Carolina
GRC Sullivan and G. I. Floyd, Vincennes Lodge 15
J. Connor, Brookville Harmony Lodge No. 41
The Feast of St. John was a very important function of the early lodge, and Pisgah’s members
took its celebration very seriously. In keeping with the importance of the occasion, the lodge
was called from labor to refreshment to go to the court house to hear Dr. B. Adams deliver a
sermon relative to the day. Brothers Jennings, Tipton, Dunbar, and Nelson were appointed a
committee to wait on Rev. Dr. Adams and thank him for the fine sermon, while the rest of the
brethren returned to the lodge to continue work. The lodge was called from refreshment to
labor for the purpose of conferring the Master Mason degree on Nathan Taylor.
PISGAH LODGE NO. 45 (No Date)
Davis Floyd and John Tipton were elected by ballot as delegates to attend the meeting in
Madison relative to establishing a Grand Lodge in Indiana. Brothers Nelson and Jennings
were chosen as alternates.
PISGAH LODGE NO. 45 (No Date)
The constitution of the Grand Lodge was read. Brothers Tipton and Nelson, delegates to the
Grand Convention reported as follows: (See Addendum A to the minutes.)
FEBRUARY 17, 1818
This meeting is the only one for which any minutes have been located for 1818, and shows
that two Fellow Craft were raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons.
1821
Dr. David G. Mitchell, a local physician, was elected to membership in the lodge by demit from
his home lodge at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Mitchell was to become the nemesis of
Pisgah in particular and masonry in general. (See Appendix C for full particulars)
1822
Dr. Mitchell was elected Pisgah’s fourth Worshipful Master. The records contain almost
nothing to indicate what kind of lodge he guided, but apparently it was not a very good year for
either Pisgah or masonry.
1823
After serving as Worshipful Master for one year, Dr. Mitchell demitted from the lodge. The
records do not indicate whether or not he joined some other lodge.
1825
Dr. Mitchell was readmitted as a member of Pisgah.
OCTOBER 18, 1828
Brother D. Byrn presented the following charges and specifications against E. B. Wilson:
Charge: Quarreling with Brother David Mitchell in the street on the night of October 17.
Spec 1: Throwing Brother Mitchell down and choking him.
Spec 2: Using loud and disorderly language in the street thereby disrupting the adjoining
families.
At the trial, the lodge decided that Brother Wilson was justified in his actions toward Brother
Mitchell, and he was honorably acquitted of the charge and all specifications. Brother Byrn
then preferred the following charge and specifications against Brother Mitchell:
Charge: Unmasonic conduct in general.
Spec 1: Lying in the street drunk on the night of October 17.
Spec 2: When awakened by Brothers Wilson and Byrn accusing them of taking the key to his
office.
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Spec 3: Using unmasonic and very abusive language toward Brother Wilson.
Spec 4: Laying a violent hold on Brother Wilson and striking at him.
Spec 5: Repeatedly calling Brother Wilson a damned radical.
Spec 6: Threatening to cut Brother Wilson’s throat.
Spec 7: Telling Brother Wilson that he had ............ a mare, thereby inferring that Brother
Wilson had done so.
Spec 8: Using loud and disorderly language in the street, thereby disrupting adjoining families.
Spec 9: Giving alarm to the family of Thomas Farquar* and others, calling on them for
assistance saying that he was about to be murdered by the .......... masons.
On motion, it was ordered that Brother Mitchell be cited to appear in lodge on Saturday,
October 25, to answer the charge and specifications against him.
OCTOBER 25, 1828
The lodge met as scheduled and since Brother Mitchell failed to appear, the meeting was
adjourned until the next regularly scheduled meeting.
NOVEMBER 1, 1828
The masonic trial of Dr. Mitchell took place. He was found guilty of the charge and all
specifications without any dissenting votes. He was ordered expelled from the lodge.
After Dr. Mitchell’s expulsion was ordered by the lodge, it passed a resolution providing for the
lodge’s holdings to be moved to a secret room prepared for that purpose. The records do not
indicate directly where that room was located, but it is generally accepted that it was in the
home of Jacob W. Kintner*, a well-known estate on the banks of Indian Creek on the north
edge of Corydon.
Although this is the last recorded meeting until Pisgah again came to light in 1852, tradition
holds that there were a few meetings held after November 21, 1828, but that these were
suspended when even they became too dangerous to attend.
These records do not indicate when or where Brother Kintner took his degrees, but his record
was read into the minutes on March 21, 1871, and sets out his masonic career.
Not only did the anti-masonic frenzy sweeping the nation impact upon Pisgah, but it was to
suffer another devastating crisis when the capital of Indiana was moved from Corydon to
Indianapolis.
Nothing further has been found about Pisgah until it was stricken from the rolls of the Grand
Lodge on October 25, 1833, and remained out of mind until May, 1844, when John L.
Menaugh of the Salem Lodge was appointed by the Grand Master to investigate the location of
Pisgah’s jewels and to answer correspondence from Jacob W. Kintner of Corydon relative to
certain masonic property in his care, and what disposition should be made of the property. He
was also entrusted with the task of negotiating with the Harrison County Board of
Commissioners relative to the sale of the old Pisgah’s meeting rooms on the second floor of
the clerk’s office. (See Appendix D for a complete list of Pisgah’s meeting places.)
DECEMBER 2, 1851
The Past Master’s Degree was conferred on James G. May of Pisgah UD, and he was
appointed Worshipful Master of the lodge by the Grand Lodge of Indiana until such time as a
proper election of officers could be held.
FEBRUARY 4, 1852
In compliance with a petition from several master masons, none of whom were on record in
1828, (with the exception of Jacob W. Kintner.) The Grand Lodge of Indiana granted a
dispensation for a new lodge at Corydon. The following were duly installed as officers of the
newly lighted lodge:
James G. May,* Worshipful Master
S. F. Jones, Senior Warden
Russel Smith, Junior Warden
W. Goldman, Secretary/Treasurer pro-tem
Samuel Sherman, Senior Deacon pro-tem
Joseph Lewis, Junior Deacon pro-tem
Jacob W. Kintner, Tyler
Brothers Kintner, Sherman, and Goldman were appointed as a committee to draft new by-laws
for the lodge.
Brothers Sherman and Goldman were also appointed as a committee to negotiate with the
Sons of Temperance for the use of their hall for meetings.
FEBRUARY 9, 1852
The committee appointed to negotiate for the use of Sons of Temperance’s hall reported that it
could be rented for $15.00 per year. The committee was empowered to close the contract for
the hall.
After some amendments and discussion, the by-laws drafted by the committee were read and
approved as follows:
By-laws of Pisgah Lodge No. 7, F&AM, of the Town of Corydon, chartered May, 1852...........
JUNE 11, 1852
Pisgah Lodge was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of Indiana. This meeting was for
the purpose of Thomas Posey*, Worshipful Master pro-tem, installing James G. May as
Worshipful Master of Pisgah Lodge No. 7.
JUNE 21, 1852
The following officers were elected for the newly chartered lodge:
Thomas Posey, Worshipful Master
Jacob Kintner, Senior Warden
Joseph Lewis, Junior Warden
W. Goldman, Secretary
Joseph Timberlake, Senior Deacon
Samuel Sherman, Junior Deacon
JUNE 21, 1853
The following were elected officers of the lodge for the ensuing year:
Thomas Posey, Worshipful Master
W. W. Goldman, Senior Warden
Thomas Saltsman, Junior Warden
Thomas Farquar, Treasurer
Jacob W. Kintner, Secretary
James Irwin,* Senior Deacon
Joseph Timberlake, Junior Deacon
Samuel Sherman, Tyler
These officers were duly installed at the next meeting, June 25, 1853.
JULY 16, 1853
The Treasurer was directed to return the dues of Thomas Posey, and it was resolved that
Brother Posey would forever be exempted from paying lodge dues. This was to honor him for
his exemplary service not only to the lodge but to Indiana and the nation as well.
AUGUST 20, 1853
The Secretary was authorized to negotiate with the Board of Commissioners for the use of the
Senate Room in the Capital Building for the lodge. The Secretary was also authorized to
spend $30.00 to purchase a set of jewels for the lodge.
OCTOBER 1, 1853
The Board of Commissioners authorized the lodge to use the Senate Room under the following
terms and conditions:
1. Rent would be $10.00 per year.
2. The lodge must repair the ceiling and whitewash it.
3. The lodge may hold the key to the room and to the lower floor subject to the sheriff being
able to get it at any time that the room and building are needed for other purposes.
JUNE 3, 1854
Section 2, Article II of the by-laws was amended to state that six months absence from the
lodge without leave would constitute forfeiture of membership.
The thanks of the lodge was tendered to Thomas R. Austin for his services as a delegate to
the Grand Lodge in Indianapolis.
JUNE 16, 1855
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
Thomas Posey, Worshipful Master
Walter Q. Gresham, Senior Warden
David M. Jones, Junior Warden
Alma E. L. Smith, Treasurer
Samuel J. Wright*, Secretary
Thomas C. Slaughter*, Senior Deacon
John K. Youstler, Junior Deacon
Jacob W. Kintner, Tyler
The newly elected officers were duly installed on June 23, 1855.
AUGUST 1, 1855
The following communication was read from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of
Indiana:
“The number of the Versailles Lodge is and of right should be No. 7. Therefore, henceforth
Pisgah Lodge will be known as Pisgah No. 32.”
JANUARY 19, 1856
Jacob Kintner was appointed to chair a committee consisting of he, Thomas Slaughter, and
James D. Irwin to find a lot on which to build a new lodge hall. They were also authorized to
start a subscription of stock to finance the project.
DECEMBER 26, 1856
The building committee reported on its progress and was granted more time for its work.
Members were assessed five (5) cents per week; the money to be put into a building fund to
help finance a new lodge hall.
MARCH 3, 1857
The lodge voted to pay Ben Aydelott $100 for his lot and to continue to rent the stables
thereon; that lot being the southwest 1/4 of Lot 35, Cherry & Elm Streets, site of the present
court house. (Note: Mr. Aydelott was rejected for membership on October 27, 1817, but was
accepted into the lodge on February 5, 1818.)
JUNE 20, 1857
Officers elected for the ensuing year were:
Walter Q. Gresham, Worshipful Master
David M. Jones, Senior Warden
Thomas McGrain, Jr.*, Junior Warden
Samuel J. Wright, Secretary
Thomas C. Slaughter, Treasurer
Thomas J. Ryan, Senior Deacon
Jacob M. Fellmy, Junior Deacon
Jacob W. Kintner, Tyler
JULY 18, 1857
The construction of a new lodge hall seemed to be an impossible task, and a committee
consisting of Thomas J. Ryan, Jacob Kintner, and Thomas McGrain was appointed to look into
the possibility of purchasing a lodge room somewhere.
AUGUST 1, 1857
The lot previously purchased from Mr. Aydelott was sold to Thomas C. Slaughter and a hall
owned by Brother Slaughter was rented. In the meantime, the present lodge room was rented
for an additional year while repairs were being made to the new hall.
OCTOBER 3, 1857
A one-time tax of $5.00 was levied against all members over and above their annual dues in
order to help pay the lodge’s indebtedness and to furnish the new lodge hall. (Note: See
Appendix D for a complete listing of the lodge’s locations.)
MARCH 6, 1858
For the first time, the lodge voted that a board of trustees should be appointed to oversee the
business of the lodge in matters such as buying, selling, or improving real estate. Walter Q.
Gresham, David M. Jones, and Thomas McGrain were appointed to the lodge’s first board.
JUNE 25, 1859
Officers elected for the ensuing year were:
Walter Q. Gresham, Worshipful Master
David M. Jones, Senior Warden
L. W. Beckwith, Junior Warden
Thomas McGrain, Senior Deacon
John LaHue, Junior Deacon
John F. Bean, Tyler & Stewart
NOVEMBER 19, 1859
Official records showed the following 45 members of Pisgah: Walter Q. Gresham, David M.
Jones, L. W. Beckwith, Jacob W. Kintner, Samuel J. Wright, Thomas McGrain, Jr., Reuben M.
Smith, John Timberlake, James F. Beard, John K. Youstler, Jesse Chappel, George L. Waise,
John LaHue, John F. Bean, James D. Irwin, Alma E. L. Smith, Adam C. Highfill, William J. Irwin,
Samuel Sherman, John DeWeese, Thomas Posey, Thomas O. Slaughter, Thomas J. Ryan,
Jacob M. Fellmy, William Goldman, John Smith, Asa I. F. Jones, William M. Saffer, Flavius J.
Wolfe, Jacob Deutsch, James W. _____, Jonathan Beard, Samuel Thomas, James K. Harmon,
Jesse Brown, Jacob Hornez, Adam Highfill, Jr., Lawson Cooper, John W. McIntire,George W.
Wolfe, Milton Applegate, James A. New, Jacob Kessinger, Jamison Biggs, and Peter Glenn.
JUNE 16, 1860
Officers elected for the ensuing year were:
David M. Jones, Worshipful Master
Thomas J. Ryan, Senior Warden
William May, Junior Warden
Jacob Kintner, Treasurer
Samuel J. Wright, Secretary
James D. Irwin, Senior Deacon
Adam C. Highfill, Junior Deacon
John F. Bean, Tyler & Stewart
SEPTEMBER 1, 1860
The by-laws were amended to change meeting nights to the “First Wednesday after each full
moon.”
JUNE 15, 1861
The by-laws were again amended. This time it was to change the stated meetings to the first
and third Saturday evening of each month. James D. Irwin was elected Worshipful Master. All
past masters were requested to furnish their photograph to the lodge so that they could be
framed by the secretary.
JUNE 24, 1862
James D. Irwin was again elected Worshipful Master of the lodge.
SEPTEMBER 19, 1863
Due to not being able to hold the election of officers for circumstances beyond the control of
the lodge, the Grand Master granted a dispensation to the lodge to hold their election on this
date.
William M. May was elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year.
Appropriate resolutions were adopted for three fallen brothers who had recently died:
Thomas J. Ryan (September 11, 1863)
Colonel Thomas Posey (March 11, 1863)
Rev. Peter Glenn (July 9, 1863)(killed by Morgan’s raiders)
(See Appendix E for text of the resolutions.)
JUNE 19, 1864
William May was elected Worshipful Master for another term.
FEBRUARY 8, 1865
The lodge agreed to sublet to Brother Thomas C. Slaughter the front room of the lodge hall to
be used for an assessor’s office. Brother Slaughter was the owner of the ground floor of the
building and had earlier rented the upstairs to the lodge.
JUNE 4, 1870
A petition for a dispensation to form a new lodge at Mauckport was recommended and the
secretary was directed to make a certificate as required by the Grand Lodge.
John McIntire,George Windell, John Trotter, and William Purcell, Master Masons of Pisgah,
were the charter members and demitted from Pisgah in order to start the new lodge. There is
nothing to indicate that anything but the distance from their homes to Pisgah in order to attend
lodge was the cause for starting the lodge at Mauckport; coupled with the fact that Mauckport
was then a very thriving river community as opposed to Corydon which was undergoing a great
deal of stagnation.
Other members of Pisgah who lived near the new lodge also demitted: R. W. Smith on
December 3, 1870; James H. Anderson on December 8, 1870; and Henry Fechjew, Thomas
Pattison, Charles Reader, and Joseph Anderson on December 18, 1870.
The new lodge was designed as Mauckport Lodge 431 and by 1876, its continued existence
was in doubt.
By deed dated July 27, 1876, Mauckport Lodge’s meeting house and lot was sold to Thomas
McGrain and he further quit-claimed the property to Pisgah by deed dated August 23, 1877,
and recorded in Deed Record No. 2, Page 48.
Mauckport surrendered its charter in 1882.
Samuel J. Wright, who had previously taken possession of the Mauckport property, was
authorized to rent it under the best terms and conditions he could get. The records show that
it was rented for $2 per month with the stipulation that the renter would make all necessary
repairs at his own expense. The records also show, however, that the minutes of November
18, 1879, authorized Jacob Deutsch to arrange to have the fence around the lot repaired at
Pisgah’s expense.
JANUARY 20, 1871
A communication was received from James Leslie asking for relief and claiming to have been a
member of old Pisgah Lodge from 1819 to 1824, and had not been a member of any other
lodge. He was informed that the rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge prohibited relief to
a non-affiliated brother. (Note: Diligent search of the records failed to show that he had ever
in fact been a member of the old lodge, either as Pisgah UD, Pisgah 5, or 7.)
The by-laws were amended to change stated meetings to the first and third Tuesdays of each
month. (Note: Meetings continue to be held the first and third Tuesdays of each month to this
date.)
The first convocation of Past Masters was held.
FEBRUARY 4, 1871
Asa Jones, George Lamb, Jacob Kessenger, H. M. Biggs of Pisgah Lodge; and John Melton,
John Potts, Isaac Leffler, and Fred Wolpert, Master Masons of other lodges, were given a
dispensation to organize a new lodge at Elizabeth. A number of other members subsequently
demitted from Pisgah in order to affiliate with the new lodge which was closer to their homes
than Pisgah. (Note: The new lodge was chartered as “Elizabeth 437.” It remained in existence
until it gave up its charter in 1888.)
By the end of the year, only 36 members remained on the rolls of Pisgah.
MARCH 21, 1871
The masonic record of Jacob W. Kintner was read into the record:
He was initiated into Pisgah Lodge No. 5 on October 10, 1825, with Thomas Posey presiding.
He was passed on June 4, 1827, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on June
23, 1827. He was elected to represent Pisgah at Grand Lodge in Indianapolis on November
25, 1828. He demitted from Pisgah on October 1, 1860.
(See also resolution for Brother Kintner, Exhibit E, Page E-2)
DECEMBER 17, 1872
As 1872 came to a close, membership in the lodge was down to the following seventeen: Jacob
Deutsch, William H. Goldman, H. H. Hudson, George A.B. Kempner, Thomas McGrain, Samuel
J. Wright, Robert W. Dunn, Adam C. Highfill, James D. Irwin, Edward E. Fisher, Alma E.L.
Smith, George L. Weise, George W. Denbo, Jacob Horner, Andrew M. Jones, John LaHue, and
Thomas C. Slaughter.
MARCH 17, 1873
The lodge agreed to recommend to the Grand Lodge that a dispensation be allowed for a new
lodge at Valley City with James H. Bennett as Worshipful Master, John Trotter as Senior
Warden, and George Windell as Junior Warden. (Note: The records do not indicate why the
new lodge was never chartered.)
FEBRUARY 17, 1874
The lodge agreed to recommend that a dispensation be granted to establish a new lodge at
Georgetown with Silas Beard as Worshipful Master, Jesse Summers as Senior Warden, and
Thomas Burkhart as Junior Warden. (Note: The lodge was chartered as Georgetown Lodge
No. 480.)
NOVEMBER 16, 1875
The trustees were authorized to sell the upper floor of the lodge building (the lodge didn’t own
the ground floor) on Lot No. 58 to George W. Denbo, Henry Denbo, and Adam Rike for $600,
and that the offer remain open for no more than six months. (Note: The building later burned.)
JANUARY 18, 1876
This was a very important meeting as the main topic of discussion was to be for a location of
future lodge meetings. The lodge had previously built the upper floor of the meeting building
and the outside stairs. Much controversy had arisen with the owner of the lower floors as to
title to the building and to the lot on which it stood, lot No. 58. The lodge had offered to sell
the upper floors to Denbo, Denbo, and Rike for $600. The offer was refused and the trustees
were asked to negotiate to see what would be the best offer the lodge could get, and seeing if
an agreement could be worked out whereby it would be made clear and legal that all right, title
and interest in and to the second floor was vested in Pisgah.
On April 18, 1876, the desired agreement was executed making it clear as to the true and
lawful owners of the second floor, Pisgah Lodge No. 32.
The secretary was authorized to pay Mrs. Mary Shewmaker $1.50 for scouring the lodge
rooms, and Jacob Deutsch was appointed a committee of one to purchase 18 spittoons for the
lodge. They were purchased at a cost of $6.40.
The recapitulation showed that 12 master masons were raised in 1875 and that seven had
affiliated from other lodges, bring the total membership up to 27.
JANUARY 15, 1879
A memorial was held for Brother & Judge Thomas C. Slaughter. (See Appendix E for the text
of the accompanying resolution.)
JULY 20, 1880
The old lodge building was destroyed in a fire that claimed several buildings in the area, and
the lodge’s new temporary meeting place was approved by Calvin W. Prather, Grand Master.
(See Appendix D)
AUGUST 3, 1880
A committee consisting of James Denbo, George Applegate, and Samuel J. Wright was
appointed to confer with Brother Andrew Lawson as to building a new lodge hall over the
building he planned to erect on the lot where the old lodge had been. The committee was
authorized to make the necessary arrangements to raise the money for the new hall. They
were also authorized to purchase a space of ground south of the building.
Samuel J. Wright was also authorized to see about disposing of the property at Mauckport.
(He later sold it for $150, with $50 down and the balance in two semi-annual payments of $50
each.)
NOVEMBER 15, 1881
The new hall was completed and it was duly dedicated by the Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Indiana and other dignitaries, both masonic and local.
JANUARY 15, 1884
The following letter was received from the Grand Master and was read into the record:
Dear Sirs & Brothers:
In the year 1882 in May, Pisgah Lodge 32, in order to more quickly liquidate the indebtedness
brought upon by the building of a new lodge hall, raised dues, by the approval of the Most
Worshipful Grand Master, to 75 cents per month and, as we think the emergency that then
existed does not now exist to so great an extent, the following resolution will prevail:
RESOLVED, that Article 4, Section 1, of the By-Laws will be changed to read as follows:
Every member of this lodge shall pay monthly into the treasury as lodge dues, the sum of 50
cents and any member who shall be in arrears for one year’s dues may be suspended.
Bruce Carr
Grand Master
THE YEARS 1885, 1886, 1887, & 1888 PASSED IN AN UNEVENTFUL MANNER.
JUNE 18, 1889
For the first time, the Feast of St. John was observed with non-masonic guests in attendance.
The occasion was celebrated with an ice cream supper at the hall for masons, their families,
guests, and widows of deceased members.
AUGUST 16, 1892
The lodge voted to recommend a dispensation for establishing a new lodge at Crandall, it to
be known as Crandall 591.
JANUARY 21, 1896
After discussion over a period of several months, and after thorough investigation, the lodge
authorized an electric globe to be placed in the front of the lodge room at a cost of $7 for the
installation and one year’s service. (Note: The first electricity for Corydon was furnished by the
Keller Manufacturing Company with a wood fired generator.)
APRIL 16, 1898
Degree work was considered very important by the early lodges (as it is today) and huge
attendance was the norm. The degree work on this date is a good example of the seriousness
of the situation as three master masons were raised on this date with the following sixty-nine
master masons in attendance in addition to the three candidates:
C. W. Thomas, Worshipful Master
J. W. Riddle, Senior Warden
George Applegate, Jr., Junior Warden
C. A. Williams, Secretary
C. M. Miller, Treasurer
Samuel Pfrimmer, Senior Deacon
William Mitchell, Junior Deacon
Eli Wheat, Tyler
In addition to the officers, there were 26 other members of Pisgah present and the following
visitors:
16 from Bethlehem Lodge 574, Birdseye
8 from Posey 188, Leavenworth
4 from Dubois 520, Huntingburg
3 from Crandall 591
1 from Palastine 296, Obio, Tennessee
1 from Franklin 128, Franklin, Indiana
1 from Jefferson 104, New Albany
1 from Blue River 457, Fredericksburg
The brethren from Bethlehem 574 conferred the master mason degree on Frank R. Wright
and Pisgah raised Dr. G. N. Little. The hour then being low 12, the lodge was called from labor
to refreshment for the purpose of going to Kintner House for a dinner, after which the members
and guests returned to the lodge where the master mason degree was conferred on Paul C.
Bulleitt by Bethlehem 574.
THROUGHOUT THE 1890s the lodge met in both stated and called sessions for the purpose
of conducting routine business, giving degree work to candidates, visiting the sick, conducting
services for fallen brothers, and for other purposes as the need arose.
Although the lodge enjoyed a suitable meeting place as the century came to a close, there
began to be voiced a desire for better and roomier quarters.
Growth was slow during this time and a few of the members had difficulty in keeping up with
their assessments due to the economic conditions prevailing through the nation at that time.
The year, 1899, closed with a balance on hand of $222.02, and there were 39 members on
the rolls. The officers elected to lead the lodge into the new century were:
J. W. Riddle, Worshipful Master
G. W. Applegate, Senior Warden
J. B. LaHue, Junior Deacon pro-tem
Emery H. Breeden, Secretary
V. H. Bulleitt, Treasurer
Charles W. Thomas, Senior Deacon
Samuel Pfrimmer, Junior Deacon
Eli Wheat, Tyler
End of Volume I
Corydon, the tiny frontier town and capital of the new state of Indiana, was but a mere nine
years old when, acting on the petition of several master masons of the area, the Grand Lodge
of Kentucky (Indiana had no grand lodge at that time) granted a dispensation for a lodge at
Corydon, the lodge to be known as “Pisgah Lodge.”
The Grand Master of Kentucky wasted no time in appointing Worshipful Master John Miller of
Blazing Star Lodge No. 36, Charlestown, to proceed to Corydon to install the new officers for
Pisagah. Those installed were:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master* (See Appendix A for a complete list of all Pisgah Worshipful
Masters.)
Milo Davis, Senior Warden*
Robert S. Collins, Junior Warden*
Robert A. New, Secretary*
Gordon Vigus, a visitor from Lexington Lodge No. 1, attended the installation. Others present
as shown on the register were:
William H. Lilly, Acting Tyler/Junior Deacon*
David S. Collins, Senior Deacon*
MAY 28, 1817
The lodge opened with the following in attendance:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master
Milo Davis, Senior Warden
David S. Collins, Junior Warden
Robert A. New, Secretary
Reuben W. Nelson, Senior Deacon*
Gordon Vigus, Junior Deacon*
William H. Lilly, Tyler
Visitors for the evening’s work were:
Armstrong Brandon, Harmony Lodge No. 5*
Spencer Smith, Farmer’s Lodge, New York (a house guest of Reuben Nelson)
Although there were a number of master masons in and around Corydon, not all of them joined
in the beginning and many came in later by demit from other lodges.
__________________
*See alphabetical listing in Appendix B for further personal information.
Initially there were not enough master masons to fill all the chairs in the new lodge and some
members filled more than one position. Material was plentiful, however, and the lodge was
soon able to fill all the chairs with its own members. It was not unusual, however, for a Fellow
Craft to be raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, and then be immediately elected
or appointed to one of the offices being temporarily filled by some other member.
As a matter of expediency and until they could write their own by-laws, Pisgah adopted the by-
laws of Blazing Star for its own. Although those by-laws required that a candidate’s petition be
held over for 30 days, this rule was often suspended in cases where the candidate was well
known to the lodge. For example, the petition of John Tipton was acted upon immediately as it
was common knowledge that he was General John Tipton, hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe,
and was then sheriff of Harrison County. He had come to Harrison County in 1807 and settled
near Brinley’s Ferry on the Ohio River. He was elected the first sheriff under the new state
constitution and would later serve in the senate. In 1818 he became Indiana’s Grand Senior
Warden, in 1819 Deputy Grand Master, and was Grand Master in 1820. He was elected
Worshipful Master of Pisgah Lodge in 1821. Nothing further is known about his masonic
career, and he died at Logansport on April 7, 1839.
John Tipton* and George Hite were then initiated into the first degree of masonry. Armstrong
Brandon was balloted for and was duly elected to membership in the new lodge.
JUNE 2, 1817
Brothers Tipton and Hite were examined in open lodge**, found to be proficient, and were
passed to the more honorable degree of a Fellow Craft. (**It was the usual custom to examine
candidates in open lodge each time they wished to receive their degrees. If found proficient,
they were then elected to receive that degree.)
JUNE 7, 1817
Gordon Vigus was elected tyler of the lodge; and John Tipton and George Hite were raised to
the sublime degree of Master Mason.
JUNE 13, 1817
Thomas C. Davis and John Mefford were initiated as Entered Apprentices. John Tipton was
elected Senior Deacon, and George Hite was elected as Junior Deacon.
It was resolved that on the morning of June 20, the lodge would march in procession to the
court house for the purpose of celebrating the day dedicated to the Holy St. John. It was
further resolved that a brother would deliver an oration, or a minister would deliver a sermon.
After the
festivities, the lodge members would meet for a dinner to be prepared for them by some
person yet to be named.
JUNE 20, 1817
The brethren marched to the court house where an appropriate oration was given by Brother
Robert A. New. After the ceremonies, the brethren marched in proper procession to Mr. Boone’
s where they had a dinner that had been prepared for them according to prior arrangements
The lodge continued to meet every few days whenever there was degree work or other matters
to discuss. It was not uncommon for the lodge to be opened and closed on all three degrees
in one day. Whenever there was degree work to be done on successive days, it was also
common practice to call the lodge from labor to refreshment for a day or two, then back to
labor for some purpose, then back to refreshment, etc.
Hereinafter not all of the meetings of Pisgah will be chronicled - only those of a more significant
historical importance.
AUGUST 5, 1817
Robert A. New was appointed to represent Pisgah at the Grand Lodge and was authorized to
negotiate for a charter for a Grand Lodge in Indiana. He was authorized to do whatever was
necessary and expedient in carrying out his mission.
PISGAH LODGE NO. 45, 1817
The minutes failed to mention a date, but this is the first time that a number was shown for
Pisgah, it being assigned by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1817
A dispensation was directed to GRC Floyd, Master of Abraham Lodge No. 8, from the Grand
Lodge of Kentucky. The officers appointed to govern Pisgah Lodge 45 were installed as
follows:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master
Milo Davis, Senior Warden
William H. Lilly, Junior Warden/Tyler
Robert A. New, Secretary/Treasurer
J. N. Dunbar, Senior Deacon
John Tipton, Junior Deacon
Gordon Vigus, Senior Stewart
Armstrong Brandon was then elected Treasurer, William H. Lilly was elected Secretary, and
Gordon Vigus was elected Stewart and Tyler. George Hite was appointed as Junior Deacon.
All officers were to serve until the next anniversary.
The by-laws of Blazing Star Lodge were formally adopted as the by-laws of Pisgah Lodge 45.
J. N. Dunbar was elected a member of Pisgah. The petition of Jonathan Jennings* was
approved, and he was elected to receive the first degree of masonry.
DECEMBER 4, 1817
Pisgah Lodge 45 was opened with the following officers present:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master
Milo Davis, Senior Warden
David S. Collins, Junior Warden
Reuben W. Nelson, Treasurer
J. N. Dunbar, Secretary
Robert A. New, Senior Deacon
John Tipton, Junior Deacon
Gordon Vigus, Tyler
Other members present included:
J. Mefford
J. McMahan
J. Houser
J. B. Slaughter
J. C. Davis
Jonathan Jennings
Armstrong Brandon
William H. Lilly
Visitors present that evening were:
Amos Lane, Scipio Lodge No. 59
James Dill,* Lawrenceville Lodge No. 44
Christopher Harrison,* Melchizedeck Lodge, Salem
Jeremiah Sullivan,* Union Lodge 49, Madison
H. Webster, North Star 51, New York
George White, Golden Rule Lodge 41, New York
H. Stephens, Newburg Lodge 43, South Carolina
A. A. Meek,* Union Lodge 49, Madison
Hezekial B. Hull,* Switzerland Lodge UD
Jonathan Doty, Solomon Lodge, New Jersey
General Washington Johnston,* Vincennes Lodge No. 15
John Connor, Brookville Harmony Lodge 41
Alexander Buckner,* Blazing Star Lodge 36
Colonel Abel C. Pepper,* Rising Sun Lodge UD
Major Henry P. Thornton,* Union Lodge 49, Madison
General R. C. Sullivan, Vincennes Lodge 15
Stephen C. Stevens,* Brookville Harmony Lodge 41
Nathaniel Hunt, St. John Lodge No. 21, Ohio
Robert Buntin,* Vincennes Lodge No. 15
This meeting was a prime example of the zeal exhibited by the masons of the frontier, as
evidenced by the large number in attendance, and the distance traveled in order to be in
Corydon for the meeting. It is difficult to fully appreciate the personal hardships and sacrifices
these men made to attend lodge as roads were little more than foot paths in many areas and
virtually non-existent in others. Very few roads were wide enough to accommodate a buggy or
carriage, and these masons had to travel on foot or horseback in order to reach their
destinations. That difficulty was coupled with a scarcity of acceptable lodgings and dining
facilities once they arrived, even though Corydon was then the state capital and saw many
visitors.
When 1817 came to a close, the lodge had raised 11 master masons and six others had
affiliated by demit from other lodges. Local enthusiasm for the lodge was high, but we will soon
discover that it soon began to wane. Although no one reason can satisfactorily be assigned
for the future decline, one possible cause appears to be that zeal for the masonic institution
caused some masons to take a very hard line in applying masonic principles
However, many masons freely gave of their time, talent, and assets to further the cause of
masonry on the new frontier so that men might enjoy the light of masonry more perfectly. In
their desire to establish a true masonic lodge and leave nothing undone in the quest for one,
John Tipton, Joseph Finley*, and Robert A. New were appointed the first committee on charity
and carried out their duties with both energy and gentlemanly decorum.
The Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, and Junior Warden were approved to be a committee
to meet with a delegation from the other lodges for the purpose of choosing the location of a
Grand Lodge in Indiana.
DECEMBER 22, 1817
The following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing six months:
Davis Floyd, Worshipful Master
David S. Collins, Senior Warden
John Tipton, Junior Warden
Gordon Vigus, Treasurer
William H. Lilly, Secretary
John Finley, Senior Deacon
Armstrong Brandon, Junior Deacon
Jonathan Houser, Tyler
DECEMBER 27, 1817
Pisgah Lodge 45 was opened for the purpose of installing the elected officers and to celebrate
the end of the lodge’s first year. Visiting brethren were:
N. Hunt, St. Johns No. 21
M. G. Clark, J. R. Higgins, and C. Harrison of Melchizedeck Lodge No. 43, Salem
Stephen C. Stevens, Brookville Harmony Lodge No. 41
H. B. Hull, Switzerland Lodge UD, Vevay
Patrick Baird and T. C. Byrn, M.R. Davy Lodge 3, South Carolina
GRC Sullivan and G. I. Floyd, Vincennes Lodge 15
J. Connor, Brookville Harmony Lodge No. 41
The Feast of St. John was a very important function of the early lodge, and Pisgah’s members
took its celebration very seriously. In keeping with the importance of the occasion, the lodge
was called from labor to refreshment to go to the court house to hear Dr. B. Adams deliver a
sermon relative to the day. Brothers Jennings, Tipton, Dunbar, and Nelson were appointed a
committee to wait on Rev. Dr. Adams and thank him for the fine sermon, while the rest of the
brethren returned to the lodge to continue work. The lodge was called from refreshment to
labor for the purpose of conferring the Master Mason degree on Nathan Taylor.
PISGAH LODGE NO. 45 (No Date)
Davis Floyd and John Tipton were elected by ballot as delegates to attend the meeting in
Madison relative to establishing a Grand Lodge in Indiana. Brothers Nelson and Jennings
were chosen as alternates.
PISGAH LODGE NO. 45 (No Date)
The constitution of the Grand Lodge was read. Brothers Tipton and Nelson, delegates to the
Grand Convention reported as follows: (See Addendum A to the minutes.)
FEBRUARY 17, 1818
This meeting is the only one for which any minutes have been located for 1818, and shows
that two Fellow Craft were raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons.
1821
Dr. David G. Mitchell, a local physician, was elected to membership in the lodge by demit from
his home lodge at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Mitchell was to become the nemesis of
Pisgah in particular and masonry in general. (See Appendix C for full particulars)
1822
Dr. Mitchell was elected Pisgah’s fourth Worshipful Master. The records contain almost
nothing to indicate what kind of lodge he guided, but apparently it was not a very good year for
either Pisgah or masonry.
1823
After serving as Worshipful Master for one year, Dr. Mitchell demitted from the lodge. The
records do not indicate whether or not he joined some other lodge.
1825
Dr. Mitchell was readmitted as a member of Pisgah.
OCTOBER 18, 1828
Brother D. Byrn presented the following charges and specifications against E. B. Wilson:
Charge: Quarreling with Brother David Mitchell in the street on the night of October 17.
Spec 1: Throwing Brother Mitchell down and choking him.
Spec 2: Using loud and disorderly language in the street thereby disrupting the adjoining
families.
At the trial, the lodge decided that Brother Wilson was justified in his actions toward Brother
Mitchell, and he was honorably acquitted of the charge and all specifications. Brother Byrn
then preferred the following charge and specifications against Brother Mitchell:
Charge: Unmasonic conduct in general.
Spec 1: Lying in the street drunk on the night of October 17.
Spec 2: When awakened by Brothers Wilson and Byrn accusing them of taking the key to his
office.
‘
Spec 3: Using unmasonic and very abusive language toward Brother Wilson.
Spec 4: Laying a violent hold on Brother Wilson and striking at him.
Spec 5: Repeatedly calling Brother Wilson a damned radical.
Spec 6: Threatening to cut Brother Wilson’s throat.
Spec 7: Telling Brother Wilson that he had ............ a mare, thereby inferring that Brother
Wilson had done so.
Spec 8: Using loud and disorderly language in the street, thereby disrupting adjoining families.
Spec 9: Giving alarm to the family of Thomas Farquar* and others, calling on them for
assistance saying that he was about to be murdered by the .......... masons.
On motion, it was ordered that Brother Mitchell be cited to appear in lodge on Saturday,
October 25, to answer the charge and specifications against him.
OCTOBER 25, 1828
The lodge met as scheduled and since Brother Mitchell failed to appear, the meeting was
adjourned until the next regularly scheduled meeting.
NOVEMBER 1, 1828
The masonic trial of Dr. Mitchell took place. He was found guilty of the charge and all
specifications without any dissenting votes. He was ordered expelled from the lodge.
After Dr. Mitchell’s expulsion was ordered by the lodge, it passed a resolution providing for the
lodge’s holdings to be moved to a secret room prepared for that purpose. The records do not
indicate directly where that room was located, but it is generally accepted that it was in the
home of Jacob W. Kintner*, a well-known estate on the banks of Indian Creek on the north
edge of Corydon.
Although this is the last recorded meeting until Pisgah again came to light in 1852, tradition
holds that there were a few meetings held after November 21, 1828, but that these were
suspended when even they became too dangerous to attend.
These records do not indicate when or where Brother Kintner took his degrees, but his record
was read into the minutes on March 21, 1871, and sets out his masonic career.
Not only did the anti-masonic frenzy sweeping the nation impact upon Pisgah, but it was to
suffer another devastating crisis when the capital of Indiana was moved from Corydon to
Indianapolis.
Nothing further has been found about Pisgah until it was stricken from the rolls of the Grand
Lodge on October 25, 1833, and remained out of mind until May, 1844, when John L.
Menaugh of the Salem Lodge was appointed by the Grand Master to investigate the location of
Pisgah’s jewels and to answer correspondence from Jacob W. Kintner of Corydon relative to
certain masonic property in his care, and what disposition should be made of the property. He
was also entrusted with the task of negotiating with the Harrison County Board of
Commissioners relative to the sale of the old Pisgah’s meeting rooms on the second floor of
the clerk’s office. (See Appendix D for a complete list of Pisgah’s meeting places.)
DECEMBER 2, 1851
The Past Master’s Degree was conferred on James G. May of Pisgah UD, and he was
appointed Worshipful Master of the lodge by the Grand Lodge of Indiana until such time as a
proper election of officers could be held.
FEBRUARY 4, 1852
In compliance with a petition from several master masons, none of whom were on record in
1828, (with the exception of Jacob W. Kintner.) The Grand Lodge of Indiana granted a
dispensation for a new lodge at Corydon. The following were duly installed as officers of the
newly lighted lodge:
James G. May,* Worshipful Master
S. F. Jones, Senior Warden
Russel Smith, Junior Warden
W. Goldman, Secretary/Treasurer pro-tem
Samuel Sherman, Senior Deacon pro-tem
Joseph Lewis, Junior Deacon pro-tem
Jacob W. Kintner, Tyler
Brothers Kintner, Sherman, and Goldman were appointed as a committee to draft new by-laws
for the lodge.
Brothers Sherman and Goldman were also appointed as a committee to negotiate with the
Sons of Temperance for the use of their hall for meetings.
FEBRUARY 9, 1852
The committee appointed to negotiate for the use of Sons of Temperance’s hall reported that it
could be rented for $15.00 per year. The committee was empowered to close the contract for
the hall.
After some amendments and discussion, the by-laws drafted by the committee were read and
approved as follows:
By-laws of Pisgah Lodge No. 7, F&AM, of the Town of Corydon, chartered May, 1852...........
JUNE 11, 1852
Pisgah Lodge was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of Indiana. This meeting was for
the purpose of Thomas Posey*, Worshipful Master pro-tem, installing James G. May as
Worshipful Master of Pisgah Lodge No. 7.
JUNE 21, 1852
The following officers were elected for the newly chartered lodge:
Thomas Posey, Worshipful Master
Jacob Kintner, Senior Warden
Joseph Lewis, Junior Warden
W. Goldman, Secretary
Joseph Timberlake, Senior Deacon
Samuel Sherman, Junior Deacon
JUNE 21, 1853
The following were elected officers of the lodge for the ensuing year:
Thomas Posey, Worshipful Master
W. W. Goldman, Senior Warden
Thomas Saltsman, Junior Warden
Thomas Farquar, Treasurer
Jacob W. Kintner, Secretary
James Irwin,* Senior Deacon
Joseph Timberlake, Junior Deacon
Samuel Sherman, Tyler
These officers were duly installed at the next meeting, June 25, 1853.
JULY 16, 1853
The Treasurer was directed to return the dues of Thomas Posey, and it was resolved that
Brother Posey would forever be exempted from paying lodge dues. This was to honor him for
his exemplary service not only to the lodge but to Indiana and the nation as well.
AUGUST 20, 1853
The Secretary was authorized to negotiate with the Board of Commissioners for the use of the
Senate Room in the Capital Building for the lodge. The Secretary was also authorized to
spend $30.00 to purchase a set of jewels for the lodge.
OCTOBER 1, 1853
The Board of Commissioners authorized the lodge to use the Senate Room under the following
terms and conditions:
1. Rent would be $10.00 per year.
2. The lodge must repair the ceiling and whitewash it.
3. The lodge may hold the key to the room and to the lower floor subject to the sheriff being
able to get it at any time that the room and building are needed for other purposes.
JUNE 3, 1854
Section 2, Article II of the by-laws was amended to state that six months absence from the
lodge without leave would constitute forfeiture of membership.
The thanks of the lodge was tendered to Thomas R. Austin for his services as a delegate to
the Grand Lodge in Indianapolis.
JUNE 16, 1855
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
Thomas Posey, Worshipful Master
Walter Q. Gresham, Senior Warden
David M. Jones, Junior Warden
Alma E. L. Smith, Treasurer
Samuel J. Wright*, Secretary
Thomas C. Slaughter*, Senior Deacon
John K. Youstler, Junior Deacon
Jacob W. Kintner, Tyler
The newly elected officers were duly installed on June 23, 1855.
AUGUST 1, 1855
The following communication was read from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of
Indiana:
“The number of the Versailles Lodge is and of right should be No. 7. Therefore, henceforth
Pisgah Lodge will be known as Pisgah No. 32.”
JANUARY 19, 1856
Jacob Kintner was appointed to chair a committee consisting of he, Thomas Slaughter, and
James D. Irwin to find a lot on which to build a new lodge hall. They were also authorized to
start a subscription of stock to finance the project.
DECEMBER 26, 1856
The building committee reported on its progress and was granted more time for its work.
Members were assessed five (5) cents per week; the money to be put into a building fund to
help finance a new lodge hall.
MARCH 3, 1857
The lodge voted to pay Ben Aydelott $100 for his lot and to continue to rent the stables
thereon; that lot being the southwest 1/4 of Lot 35, Cherry & Elm Streets, site of the present
court house. (Note: Mr. Aydelott was rejected for membership on October 27, 1817, but was
accepted into the lodge on February 5, 1818.)
JUNE 20, 1857
Officers elected for the ensuing year were:
Walter Q. Gresham, Worshipful Master
David M. Jones, Senior Warden
Thomas McGrain, Jr.*, Junior Warden
Samuel J. Wright, Secretary
Thomas C. Slaughter, Treasurer
Thomas J. Ryan, Senior Deacon
Jacob M. Fellmy, Junior Deacon
Jacob W. Kintner, Tyler
JULY 18, 1857
The construction of a new lodge hall seemed to be an impossible task, and a committee
consisting of Thomas J. Ryan, Jacob Kintner, and Thomas McGrain was appointed to look into
the possibility of purchasing a lodge room somewhere.
AUGUST 1, 1857
The lot previously purchased from Mr. Aydelott was sold to Thomas C. Slaughter and a hall
owned by Brother Slaughter was rented. In the meantime, the present lodge room was rented
for an additional year while repairs were being made to the new hall.
OCTOBER 3, 1857
A one-time tax of $5.00 was levied against all members over and above their annual dues in
order to help pay the lodge’s indebtedness and to furnish the new lodge hall. (Note: See
Appendix D for a complete listing of the lodge’s locations.)
MARCH 6, 1858
For the first time, the lodge voted that a board of trustees should be appointed to oversee the
business of the lodge in matters such as buying, selling, or improving real estate. Walter Q.
Gresham, David M. Jones, and Thomas McGrain were appointed to the lodge’s first board.
JUNE 25, 1859
Officers elected for the ensuing year were:
Walter Q. Gresham, Worshipful Master
David M. Jones, Senior Warden
L. W. Beckwith, Junior Warden
Thomas McGrain, Senior Deacon
John LaHue, Junior Deacon
John F. Bean, Tyler & Stewart
NOVEMBER 19, 1859
Official records showed the following 45 members of Pisgah: Walter Q. Gresham, David M.
Jones, L. W. Beckwith, Jacob W. Kintner, Samuel J. Wright, Thomas McGrain, Jr., Reuben M.
Smith, John Timberlake, James F. Beard, John K. Youstler, Jesse Chappel, George L. Waise,
John LaHue, John F. Bean, James D. Irwin, Alma E. L. Smith, Adam C. Highfill, William J. Irwin,
Samuel Sherman, John DeWeese, Thomas Posey, Thomas O. Slaughter, Thomas J. Ryan,
Jacob M. Fellmy, William Goldman, John Smith, Asa I. F. Jones, William M. Saffer, Flavius J.
Wolfe, Jacob Deutsch, James W. _____, Jonathan Beard, Samuel Thomas, James K. Harmon,
Jesse Brown, Jacob Hornez, Adam Highfill, Jr., Lawson Cooper, John W. McIntire,George W.
Wolfe, Milton Applegate, James A. New, Jacob Kessinger, Jamison Biggs, and Peter Glenn.
JUNE 16, 1860
Officers elected for the ensuing year were:
David M. Jones, Worshipful Master
Thomas J. Ryan, Senior Warden
William May, Junior Warden
Jacob Kintner, Treasurer
Samuel J. Wright, Secretary
James D. Irwin, Senior Deacon
Adam C. Highfill, Junior Deacon
John F. Bean, Tyler & Stewart
SEPTEMBER 1, 1860
The by-laws were amended to change meeting nights to the “First Wednesday after each full
moon.”
JUNE 15, 1861
The by-laws were again amended. This time it was to change the stated meetings to the first
and third Saturday evening of each month. James D. Irwin was elected Worshipful Master. All
past masters were requested to furnish their photograph to the lodge so that they could be
framed by the secretary.
JUNE 24, 1862
James D. Irwin was again elected Worshipful Master of the lodge.
SEPTEMBER 19, 1863
Due to not being able to hold the election of officers for circumstances beyond the control of
the lodge, the Grand Master granted a dispensation to the lodge to hold their election on this
date.
William M. May was elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year.
Appropriate resolutions were adopted for three fallen brothers who had recently died:
Thomas J. Ryan (September 11, 1863)
Colonel Thomas Posey (March 11, 1863)
Rev. Peter Glenn (July 9, 1863)(killed by Morgan’s raiders)
(See Appendix E for text of the resolutions.)
JUNE 19, 1864
William May was elected Worshipful Master for another term.
FEBRUARY 8, 1865
The lodge agreed to sublet to Brother Thomas C. Slaughter the front room of the lodge hall to
be used for an assessor’s office. Brother Slaughter was the owner of the ground floor of the
building and had earlier rented the upstairs to the lodge.
JUNE 4, 1870
A petition for a dispensation to form a new lodge at Mauckport was recommended and the
secretary was directed to make a certificate as required by the Grand Lodge.
John McIntire,George Windell, John Trotter, and William Purcell, Master Masons of Pisgah,
were the charter members and demitted from Pisgah in order to start the new lodge. There is
nothing to indicate that anything but the distance from their homes to Pisgah in order to attend
lodge was the cause for starting the lodge at Mauckport; coupled with the fact that Mauckport
was then a very thriving river community as opposed to Corydon which was undergoing a great
deal of stagnation.
Other members of Pisgah who lived near the new lodge also demitted: R. W. Smith on
December 3, 1870; James H. Anderson on December 8, 1870; and Henry Fechjew, Thomas
Pattison, Charles Reader, and Joseph Anderson on December 18, 1870.
The new lodge was designed as Mauckport Lodge 431 and by 1876, its continued existence
was in doubt.
By deed dated July 27, 1876, Mauckport Lodge’s meeting house and lot was sold to Thomas
McGrain and he further quit-claimed the property to Pisgah by deed dated August 23, 1877,
and recorded in Deed Record No. 2, Page 48.
Mauckport surrendered its charter in 1882.
Samuel J. Wright, who had previously taken possession of the Mauckport property, was
authorized to rent it under the best terms and conditions he could get. The records show that
it was rented for $2 per month with the stipulation that the renter would make all necessary
repairs at his own expense. The records also show, however, that the minutes of November
18, 1879, authorized Jacob Deutsch to arrange to have the fence around the lot repaired at
Pisgah’s expense.
JANUARY 20, 1871
A communication was received from James Leslie asking for relief and claiming to have been a
member of old Pisgah Lodge from 1819 to 1824, and had not been a member of any other
lodge. He was informed that the rules and regulations of the Grand Lodge prohibited relief to
a non-affiliated brother. (Note: Diligent search of the records failed to show that he had ever
in fact been a member of the old lodge, either as Pisgah UD, Pisgah 5, or 7.)
The by-laws were amended to change stated meetings to the first and third Tuesdays of each
month. (Note: Meetings continue to be held the first and third Tuesdays of each month to this
date.)
The first convocation of Past Masters was held.
FEBRUARY 4, 1871
Asa Jones, George Lamb, Jacob Kessenger, H. M. Biggs of Pisgah Lodge; and John Melton,
John Potts, Isaac Leffler, and Fred Wolpert, Master Masons of other lodges, were given a
dispensation to organize a new lodge at Elizabeth. A number of other members subsequently
demitted from Pisgah in order to affiliate with the new lodge which was closer to their homes
than Pisgah. (Note: The new lodge was chartered as “Elizabeth 437.” It remained in existence
until it gave up its charter in 1888.)
By the end of the year, only 36 members remained on the rolls of Pisgah.
MARCH 21, 1871
The masonic record of Jacob W. Kintner was read into the record:
He was initiated into Pisgah Lodge No. 5 on October 10, 1825, with Thomas Posey presiding.
He was passed on June 4, 1827, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on June
23, 1827. He was elected to represent Pisgah at Grand Lodge in Indianapolis on November
25, 1828. He demitted from Pisgah on October 1, 1860.
(See also resolution for Brother Kintner, Exhibit E, Page E-2)
DECEMBER 17, 1872
As 1872 came to a close, membership in the lodge was down to the following seventeen: Jacob
Deutsch, William H. Goldman, H. H. Hudson, George A.B. Kempner, Thomas McGrain, Samuel
J. Wright, Robert W. Dunn, Adam C. Highfill, James D. Irwin, Edward E. Fisher, Alma E.L.
Smith, George L. Weise, George W. Denbo, Jacob Horner, Andrew M. Jones, John LaHue, and
Thomas C. Slaughter.
MARCH 17, 1873
The lodge agreed to recommend to the Grand Lodge that a dispensation be allowed for a new
lodge at Valley City with James H. Bennett as Worshipful Master, John Trotter as Senior
Warden, and George Windell as Junior Warden. (Note: The records do not indicate why the
new lodge was never chartered.)
FEBRUARY 17, 1874
The lodge agreed to recommend that a dispensation be granted to establish a new lodge at
Georgetown with Silas Beard as Worshipful Master, Jesse Summers as Senior Warden, and
Thomas Burkhart as Junior Warden. (Note: The lodge was chartered as Georgetown Lodge
No. 480.)
NOVEMBER 16, 1875
The trustees were authorized to sell the upper floor of the lodge building (the lodge didn’t own
the ground floor) on Lot No. 58 to George W. Denbo, Henry Denbo, and Adam Rike for $600,
and that the offer remain open for no more than six months. (Note: The building later burned.)
JANUARY 18, 1876
This was a very important meeting as the main topic of discussion was to be for a location of
future lodge meetings. The lodge had previously built the upper floor of the meeting building
and the outside stairs. Much controversy had arisen with the owner of the lower floors as to
title to the building and to the lot on which it stood, lot No. 58. The lodge had offered to sell
the upper floors to Denbo, Denbo, and Rike for $600. The offer was refused and the trustees
were asked to negotiate to see what would be the best offer the lodge could get, and seeing if
an agreement could be worked out whereby it would be made clear and legal that all right, title
and interest in and to the second floor was vested in Pisgah.
On April 18, 1876, the desired agreement was executed making it clear as to the true and
lawful owners of the second floor, Pisgah Lodge No. 32.
The secretary was authorized to pay Mrs. Mary Shewmaker $1.50 for scouring the lodge
rooms, and Jacob Deutsch was appointed a committee of one to purchase 18 spittoons for the
lodge. They were purchased at a cost of $6.40.
The recapitulation showed that 12 master masons were raised in 1875 and that seven had
affiliated from other lodges, bring the total membership up to 27.
JANUARY 15, 1879
A memorial was held for Brother & Judge Thomas C. Slaughter. (See Appendix E for the text
of the accompanying resolution.)
JULY 20, 1880
The old lodge building was destroyed in a fire that claimed several buildings in the area, and
the lodge’s new temporary meeting place was approved by Calvin W. Prather, Grand Master.
(See Appendix D)
AUGUST 3, 1880
A committee consisting of James Denbo, George Applegate, and Samuel J. Wright was
appointed to confer with Brother Andrew Lawson as to building a new lodge hall over the
building he planned to erect on the lot where the old lodge had been. The committee was
authorized to make the necessary arrangements to raise the money for the new hall. They
were also authorized to purchase a space of ground south of the building.
Samuel J. Wright was also authorized to see about disposing of the property at Mauckport.
(He later sold it for $150, with $50 down and the balance in two semi-annual payments of $50
each.)
NOVEMBER 15, 1881
The new hall was completed and it was duly dedicated by the Grand Master of the Grand
Lodge of Indiana and other dignitaries, both masonic and local.
JANUARY 15, 1884
The following letter was received from the Grand Master and was read into the record:
Dear Sirs & Brothers:
In the year 1882 in May, Pisgah Lodge 32, in order to more quickly liquidate the indebtedness
brought upon by the building of a new lodge hall, raised dues, by the approval of the Most
Worshipful Grand Master, to 75 cents per month and, as we think the emergency that then
existed does not now exist to so great an extent, the following resolution will prevail:
RESOLVED, that Article 4, Section 1, of the By-Laws will be changed to read as follows:
Every member of this lodge shall pay monthly into the treasury as lodge dues, the sum of 50
cents and any member who shall be in arrears for one year’s dues may be suspended.
Bruce Carr
Grand Master
THE YEARS 1885, 1886, 1887, & 1888 PASSED IN AN UNEVENTFUL MANNER.
JUNE 18, 1889
For the first time, the Feast of St. John was observed with non-masonic guests in attendance.
The occasion was celebrated with an ice cream supper at the hall for masons, their families,
guests, and widows of deceased members.
AUGUST 16, 1892
The lodge voted to recommend a dispensation for establishing a new lodge at Crandall, it to
be known as Crandall 591.
JANUARY 21, 1896
After discussion over a period of several months, and after thorough investigation, the lodge
authorized an electric globe to be placed in the front of the lodge room at a cost of $7 for the
installation and one year’s service. (Note: The first electricity for Corydon was furnished by the
Keller Manufacturing Company with a wood fired generator.)
APRIL 16, 1898
Degree work was considered very important by the early lodges (as it is today) and huge
attendance was the norm. The degree work on this date is a good example of the seriousness
of the situation as three master masons were raised on this date with the following sixty-nine
master masons in attendance in addition to the three candidates:
C. W. Thomas, Worshipful Master
J. W. Riddle, Senior Warden
George Applegate, Jr., Junior Warden
C. A. Williams, Secretary
C. M. Miller, Treasurer
Samuel Pfrimmer, Senior Deacon
William Mitchell, Junior Deacon
Eli Wheat, Tyler
In addition to the officers, there were 26 other members of Pisgah present and the following
visitors:
16 from Bethlehem Lodge 574, Birdseye
8 from Posey 188, Leavenworth
4 from Dubois 520, Huntingburg
3 from Crandall 591
1 from Palastine 296, Obio, Tennessee
1 from Franklin 128, Franklin, Indiana
1 from Jefferson 104, New Albany
1 from Blue River 457, Fredericksburg
The brethren from Bethlehem 574 conferred the master mason degree on Frank R. Wright
and Pisgah raised Dr. G. N. Little. The hour then being low 12, the lodge was called from labor
to refreshment for the purpose of going to Kintner House for a dinner, after which the members
and guests returned to the lodge where the master mason degree was conferred on Paul C.
Bulleitt by Bethlehem 574.
THROUGHOUT THE 1890s the lodge met in both stated and called sessions for the purpose
of conducting routine business, giving degree work to candidates, visiting the sick, conducting
services for fallen brothers, and for other purposes as the need arose.
Although the lodge enjoyed a suitable meeting place as the century came to a close, there
began to be voiced a desire for better and roomier quarters.
Growth was slow during this time and a few of the members had difficulty in keeping up with
their assessments due to the economic conditions prevailing through the nation at that time.
The year, 1899, closed with a balance on hand of $222.02, and there were 39 members on
the rolls. The officers elected to lead the lodge into the new century were:
J. W. Riddle, Worshipful Master
G. W. Applegate, Senior Warden
J. B. LaHue, Junior Deacon pro-tem
Emery H. Breeden, Secretary
V. H. Bulleitt, Treasurer
Charles W. Thomas, Senior Deacon
Samuel Pfrimmer, Junior Deacon
Eli Wheat, Tyler
End of Volume I
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