A
Brief History of the Indiana Grand Chapter
Historical
material supplied by
Ann
Warr
, Indiana Grand
Chapter Historian
The
Grand lodge of Adoptive Rite began near 1866 as proven by its 1887 minutes of
its 21st meeting. This Grand lodge was formed in
Michigan
, but was not a
Grand Chapter as such and did not organize as a Grand Chapter until 1878.
A
Grand Lodge of Adoptive Masonry was also formed at
Elkhart
,
Indiana
, on
January 27, 1869
, (three years
alter
Michigan
's formation).
So
Michigan
is considered
the oldest Grand Jurisdiction. The second Indiana Grand meeting was held at
Orland in October, 1869 but it did not meet again until
May 6, 1874
, in
Anderson
. Ten
subordinate Chapter's delegates were in attendance at
Anderson
and this is
considered the ORGANIZATION DATE 0F INDIANA GRAND CHAPTER--
May 6, 1874
Past
Most Worthy Grand Matrons (P.M.W.G.M.)
&
Past
Most Worthy Grand Patrons (P.M.W.G.P.)
from
Indiana
W.
D.
Engle
, P.M.W.G.P.:
born at
Niles
,
MI
,
October 22, 1846
, died at
Indianapolis
, IN. Initiated
at age 26, he would, 50 years later, organize G.G.C. He married
Addie
C.
S.
Bario
, who was Worthy
Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Connecticut in 1875-1877. She was born
August 11, 1848
, in
Connecticut
and died
June 27, 1926
.
Mr.
Engle
was her second
husband and a member of Mystic Tie Lodge. He served as W.G.P. of
Indiana
(1877-1878) and
M.W.G.P. (1912).
Nettie
Ransford
, P .M. W.G.M.:
born
Antoinette
Helen
Campwell
at Little
Falls, NY,
November
5, 1838
. She married
William
Ransford
in 1858. She
joined
Queen
Esther
Chapter
#3 in
Indianapolis
on
June 13, 1872
, just two
months after its organization. She was the W.G.M. of Indiana Grand Chapter in
1879, 1880 and 1883. She was M.W.G.M. (1889-1892) She
was Grand Secretary of Indiana Grand Chapter for 34 years (1894-1928).
Abbie
Hanson
, P.M.W.G.M.:
Born
Abbie
Bailey
on
February 2,1892
. She married
Jacob
Hanson
October 30, 1915
. Served
as W.G.M in 1929 and M.W.G.M from 1949 to 1952 with
Franklin
W.
L.
Miles
,
W.G.P.
Dr.
Will
Grow
, P.M.W.G.P.:
From Danville, IN, he was W.G.P. of
Indiana
in 1907 with
Nellie Goodbar, W.G.M. He transferred membership
to
Missouri
about 1913.
M.W.G.P. during 1922-1925. His residence was at
St. Joseph
,
Missouri
when serving
General Grand Chapter.
David
J.
Miller
P.M.W.G.P.:
W.G.P. of
Indiana
(1962) with
Sara
Scott
, W.G.M. He was
M.W.G.P. during 1982-1985. He was a resident of
Elkhart
,
IN.
We
ask ourselves, have we been courageous, compromising and willing to replace
conflict with cooperation? And yes, we still continue to hear ourselves
described as "old fashioned," "out-of-date," "just
ritualistic" by some. It has been difficult to compete with an affluent,
fast changing and moving society, but we admit we are old-fashioned and
out-of-date if it means believing in God, showing fidelity, loyalty to others,
if we are frugal, if we have faith and love in and for those with whom we are
working. Ritualistic, yes, just as we live by God's Holy Word and his
teachings.
“A Century of Stars”