Terre Haute Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M.
Chartered September 13, 1821
Sep 16, 2021
Terre Haute Lodge No. 19, Free and Accepted Masons, will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the receipt of its charter with an open house and rededication ceremony on Saturday at the Terre Haute Masonic Temple, 224 N. Eighth St.
Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., visitors can go on guided tours of the Temple and view historic lodge records and artifacts. The open house will conclude with a rededication ceremony by the Grand Lodge of Indiana, which will be followed by an invitation-only banquet for members and their guests.
This Lodge, the first of 19 Masonic Lodges to have existed in Vigo County over the last two centuries, is the oldest organization of any kind (fraternal, religious, or civic) in Terre Haute and Vigo County. It was organized in 1819 when 13 local Freemasons received permission from the Grand Lodge of Indiana to establish a Masonic Lodge, although it wasn’t granted its formal charter until Sept. 13, 1821.
Many local, state, and national politicians, prominent businessmen, educators, inventors, and athletes have been members of Terre Haute Lodge No. 19 including Gen. Peter B. Allen; Abraham Markle; Gen. Charles Cruft; George Farrington; Eugene V. Debs; Chapman J. Root; Art Nehf; and Howard Sharpe. Three of its members have served as Grand Master of Indiana: Robert Van Valzah (1878-79); Thomas B. Long (1889-90); and John R. Hunter (1939-40). A charter member and early Terre Haute settler, Lucius H. Scott, returned to his home state of Pennsylvania and served as Grand Master there from 1865-66.
Article courtesy of TribStar.com
Terre Haute Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M. must express gratitude to the gentlemen of Speedway Demolay for their assistance with the Bicentennial Banquet! In addition to their assistance with finishing the set-up of the dining room, assisting to seat guests, serving the meal, and cleaning up the dining room, they took several pictures that help us preserve the event!
The Ceremony of the rededication of a Masonic Lodge is one of the public ceremonies of Freemasonry, along with installation of officers, and the funeral ceremony. It is a beautiful ceremony filled with symbolism of morality and acts as a visible tie to the ancient roots of our historic Brothers who practiced operative stonemasonry. Please enjoy this video of the Bicentennial Rededication of Terre Haute Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M.
View Grand Lodge Photo Gallery
This Bicentennial medal was made to commemorate the 200 year history of Terre Haute Lodge No. 19, F. & A. M. and was given, as a gift, to all members who were on the books as of the end of 2021, as well as a gift to Grand Lodge members who performed the rededication ceremony. Past Masters of the Lodge were issued a special medal with a white ribbon.
The idea of creating a medal came from the Centennial medals that were created for the Lodge's 100th Anniversary. One of each (Centennial and Bicentennial) have been saved in the archives of the Lodge.
