HR1519

LRB094 21920 KXB 60377 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 

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    WHEREAS, Mahomet Lodge #220 was established on May 5, 1856, 
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when a dispensation from the Most Worshipful Grand Master W. B. 
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Herrick of the Grand Lodge
of
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons 
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of the State of Illinois was given to the Petitioners 
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proclaiming "that a regular Lodge of Mason, this Lodge 
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promising to render obedience to the ancient usages and 
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landmarks of the Fraternity. The Petitioners
had been 
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recommended as Master Masons in good standing by the Master, 
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Wardens, and Otter brethren of Urbana Lodge #157. The Lodge 
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from this point on will be known as Mahomet Lodge #220 in 
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Middletown, Illinois, and therein to admit and make 
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freemasons."; and



 
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    WHEREAS, The first Master of Mahomet Lodge #220 was P.M. 
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Parks; the first stated meeting of Mahomet Lodge #220 in 
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Middletown, Illinois was held in Union Hall on June 16, 1856, 
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at which petitions were read for J.C. Kilgore, J.W. Pancake, R. 
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Williams,  B. Chaney, B.F. Harris, and J.C. Hankins; the 
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membership of the Mahomet Masonic Lodge was comprised of some 
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of the oldest and most respected citizens in Middletown; and
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1871 Middletown was officially renamed 
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Mahomet, due to the fact there were two towns in Illinois with 
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the same name; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 1876 the Masonic Lodge building burned, and all 
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of its furniture and archives were destroyed except for the 
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record books, which were in the safe of J.W. Starling, the 
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secretary; a new Masonic Lodge building was erected with the 
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help of 52 of its members; the Lodge continued to experience 
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growth through the turn of the century, World War I, and World 
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War II; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Masonic Lodge building was rebuilt in 1949 on 
 


 






HR1519
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LRB094 21920 KXB 60377 r




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the current site of the old building; a new cornerstone was 
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laid on April 23, 1949, with approximately 800 in attendance; a 
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time capsule was sealed inside of the hallowed cornerstone; and 

 
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    WHEREAS, From 1990 to the present day, Mahomet Lodge has 
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experienced sustained growth and has also impacted many of the 
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other lodges in the surrounding communities of Monticello, 
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Deland, Farmer City, Gibson City, and Fisher until those lodges 
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merged with Mahomet Lodge in 2003; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The Lodge also continues to support the Mahomet 
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community by giving monetary assistance through a College Gift 
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Fund to graduating seniors of Mahomet/Seymour High School and 
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sponsoring Boy Scouts of America Troop 103 and Girl Scout Daisy 
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Troop 2201; and
 
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    WHEREAS,
Mahomet Lodge has the honor of having had in their 
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membership two past Grand Masters, four District Deputies, and 
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other brethren who have had the honor of serving the Grand 
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Lodge and other appendant bodies of the Masonic Fraternity; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we congratulate the members of Mahomet Lodge on the occasion of 
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their 150th anniversary; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to a representative of the Mahomet Lodge.