Kinmundy Masonic Lodge

Kinmundy Lodge No. 398 A.F. & A.M.

Kinmundy, Marion Co., Illinois

The Kinmundy Lodge is still active today! Click here to view their website.

We are looking for photos of people and/or places from around Kinmundy & Alma. Can you help?

Or maybe you have stories or memories from the "Good Old Days"? What do YOU remember?

The Kinmundy Historical Society would be honored to preserve your memories and stories. We also have the

equipment to scan (or copy) your photos so that they may be enjoyed now as well as for generations yet to come!

We would love to hear from you! For more information, please contact:

Dolores (Ford) Mobley – Dolores@ford-mobley.com

208 Joan Dr.; Divernon, IL 62530; (217) 625-7527

Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

408 S. Washington St.; Kinmundy, IL 62854; (618) 547-7731

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The above photos are from 2006-2009. The first featured photo is of the building which was built after the 1903 Kinmundy fire, and the lodge moved into the third floor of this place in September 1904. (You can still see the Masonic emblem at the top of the building.) The second photo is of the lodge building built in 1974. Both buildings are located on Madison Street in Kinmundy.

Earl M. Potter, Earl Jackson, Glen Brasel, Albert W. Bylden, Vance C. Vantassell, Norman R. Buecker, Clinton H. Lang, Paul R. Stephens, Harold R. Kopfman, S.H. North, John W. Barks, John T. Neeley, Robert E. Ford, Albert Shaffer, Charles A. White, Samuel V. Hurst, Osman O. Haile, Paul H. Bell, Brice Jon

es, Lawrence Lockhardt, Clarence O. Soland, Carl Dunlap, James L. Williams, C.R. Alderson, Charles DeFord, Herbert Hall, Gilbert Doolen, Earl Brimberry, Harvey Hanna, Jerry Mulvaney, Sam Lowe.

During the Civil War a group of men, in and around Kinmundy decided there should be a Masonic Lodge in Kinmundy. On Oct. 5, 1864 Kinmundy Lodge #398 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Illinois was chartered by the Grand Master. There were 9 charter members. They first used the upstairs of W.R. Booth’s home located on 4^th Street. After a short time the membership grew considerably, and a hall was rented over Blakeslee’s Store and was fitted as a Lodge room. The Lodge later moved to another hall, and again to another location on Madison Street.

Finally it was decided they should have a home of their own in 1901. A building committee was formed to construct the building and borrow the money for the same. They built a beautiful Temple. The third floor was used for the lodge room and the second floor as a banquet hall. It was dedicated on Jan. 10, 1902. The lodge burned in less than two years along with the whole business block on Dec. 2, 1903, consuming all the property of the lodge except the ledger of membership, accounts and record book. The meetings were again held in a rented building, but they wanted a building of their own, and they wanted the lodge to meet on the third floor. It was important to them to be the tallest building in town, and to be high enough to avoid outsiders hearing their “work”. A building committee was formed to build a new lodge for not more than $2500. It was completed, remaining on Madison Street, and they moved into their own home in September 1904, the only three story building on the street. They met there until the three story building with stairs to climb was becoming difficult for the older members. It was decided to build a new lodge across the street, but still on Madison Street on ground level. It was with the dedication and volunteer labor of members, especially Glen Brasel, Carl Dunlap, Gilbert Doolen, Jim Williams, James Brasel and others, the new lodge was completed and paid for. It was dedicated on Oct. 27, 1974. The Kinmundy Lodge has had the honor of having the elected State Grand Master, Robert E. Ford in 1990 and 1991; the Grand Commander of the Knights Templars, Kenneth McCarty in 1972; and the appointed Masonic Grand Orator, Elwyn Cheatum in 1990.

The present membership is 86. Dale Wright is Master, and Dale Jahraus serves as secretary. Other officers are James E. Jones, Greg Garrett, Richard Meyer, Jerry Osborne, Dan Krutsinger, Elmer Stevenson, Travis Osborne, Milt Morris, James Brown and Robert Ford.

Glen Brasel, 100 years old, is the oldest member and has been a member for 77 years. He was honored as a Grand Marshall in the Kinmundy Sesquicentennial Parade on Labor Day, 2007. The Masons were proud to have him represent them.

History of Kinmundy Lodge #398 - Sesquicentennial Celebration and Rededication of Lodge - Oct. 4, 2014

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, I.S. Sweney, Junior Warden, James Poticary, 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 southwest 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, Calendar 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 Hiestand family. The first meeting was led by Worshipful Master Glen B. Brasel in the unfinished building on Nov. 20, 1974. Most Worshipful Grand Master Earl M. Potter led the ceremony by 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 Oct. 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 Hiestand, 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., 2years; 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. Pleasant H. Robnett, 66 years; Bro. Michael L. Craig, 68 years; and Bro. Marion E. Brimberrry, 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 Feb. 12, 2011. On July 3, 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 Sept. 1, 1874, his son Henry Florman Jahraus was raised Dec. 13, 1922, his son Glen Merle Jahraus was raised Jan. 6, 1937, his son Dale Edward Jahraus was raised Nov. 27, 1965, and his son Jared Clark Jahraus was raised Apr. 21, 2001. Several Kinmundy Lodge families have three generations of members.

In 1989, Bro. Robert E. Ford was elected as the 86^th Most Worshipful Grand Master of the State of Illinois, A.F. & A.M. He served two years, and among numerous accomplishments, he established 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.

(By David W. Thomson III, Secretary; adapted from histories by J.N. Vallow (1940 and 1964))