| In early 1950 Don Irwin and
Lawrence Williams, two area Masons, attended a Boy Scout Leadership
Meeting On their way home they discussed the possibility of forming
a Lodge in Griffith. They later called every Mason they thought
would be interested in such an idea and set up a meeting at Brother
Irwin’s house. Eighteen men showed up at Irwin’s home. The meeting
was opened up with a prayer and the Holy Bible placed on a flower
stand in the center of the room. At this meeting donations in the
amount of $170.00 were taken, the “Griffith Masonic Club” was
formed, and a request for a Charter of Dispensation was signed by
those present. The seeds of Griffith Lodge #735 were sown at that
meeting The Griffith Masonic Club began meeting in the basement of
the Griffith Methodist Church. Their principal goal was to gain
members and raise funds for their own Temple. Their membership grew
to around 200 and they were able to raise $1400.00 for the Temple.
Toward the end of 1950 an attempt was made
to construct a new Temple near the corner of Broad and 45th Streets.
The town turned down a necessary zoning change, however, the
Griffith Masonic Club went without a home of its own for some months
afterward. When Grand Lodge issued a Dispensation for Griffith Lodge
#735 U.D. in May of 1951, it had to do so at Lake Lodge, in Crown
Point. Griffith Lodge, U.D. held its first meeting on Friday, 20
April, 1951. Grand master John F. Baldridge read the Proclamation
creating the Lodge, and appointed the Junior Grand Warden, Newell A.
Lamb, as the official Guardian of the new Lodge, with Alan R. Tucker
installed as its Master.
By the time Griffith Lodge U.D.
received her Charter on 17 June 1952, she had moved twice;
from Crown Point back to the basement of the Methodist
Church and then to 132 Broad, above a clothing store. The
Lodge also boasted some 150 charter members, both by
affiliation and initiation.
The period of
1952-1966 was one of tremendous growth and activity for the Lodge.
The Lodge saw its numbers increase dramatically; from an original 18
in 1951 to 467 by 1959, with 1956 showing the greatest
growth--69 initiations in one year. #735 sponsored a Chapter of the
Order of DeMo- lay, a Job’s Daughter’s Bethel, and a Chapter of the
Order of the Eastern Star. |
The Lodge moved for good to the old
Methodist Church in 1961, this time buying the entire building it
was remodeled floor to ceiling, and its mortgage was burned in a
ceremony in 1966.
It
should be noted that it was also during this time that a sound
financial foundation for the Lodge was laid by the Treasurers and
Trustees. It will ensure Griffith Lodge’s security far beyond the
foreseeable future. From 1967 onward, Griffith Lodge sustained its
initial efforts, becoming the steady and established institution we
know today. Speaker’s nights, public events, special dinners, major
lodge improvements and the outstanding degree work Griffith has
become known for, all contribute to its reputation as one of the
premier Lodges in the state.
In 1971 the Lodge Secretary, W.B. Otto
Burkybile, took over the memorable “Square and Compass,” the Masonic
forum for the entire Northwest Indiana region. The Grand Lodge
acknowledged Griffith’s importance by bestowing upon it one of the
highest honors achievable. M. W.B. Ishmael D. Ison, Master of
Griffith Lodge in 1990, was called to serve in the Grand East during
the years 1999-2000. Griffith Lodge Masons can all be proud of this
honor. Over 1360 men have been members of Griffith Lodge since 1950,
and Griffith maintains an active membership of around 500 today.
From renting the basement of a building to owning the building and
renting the basement out to others; from an idea in two men’s heads
to a cornerstone of the community, Griffith Lodge owes a debt of
thanks to the hard work of many; those early brothers who laid the
foundation, today’s members and officers who build the framework,
and all those who are yet to come and adorn our wing of “that house
not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.”
By:
Phil Simcich, P.M.I
|
