Illinois Freemasonry

Illinois Freemasonry

The origins of Illinois Freemasonry can be traced back to 1805 when Freemasons established the first lodge in Kaskaskia, which was then in Indiana Territory. Seven Freemasons from five Pennsylvania Lodges, a Canadian Lodge, and one New York Lodge came together to do so,  petitioning the "R.W. Grand Master of Masons in and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Masonic jurisdictions thereunto belonging" for a charter on March 9, 1805.

They were granted a dispensation on September 24, 1805, to found what became Western Star Lodge. Western Star, which was then called "a Lodge of York Rite Masons" rather than a blue lodge, was constituted and saw its officers installed on September 13, 1806.

Brother Shadrach Bond of Temple Lodge No. 26 in Maryland became a member by affiliation of Western Star Lodge on December 27, 1806, following his son, who had already joined. This affiliation marked the beginning of Brother Bond's long-standing relationship with Illinois Freemasonry. He served as the presiding officer of Western Star Lodge in 1815 and again in 1818, the year Illinois achieved statehood, and he became Illinois' first governor (October 6, 1818 to December 5, 1822).

In 1822, several lodges joined to establish the Grand Lodge of Masons of Illinois. Worshipful Brother Bond was elevated to Most Worshipful Brother Bond when he became the state's first Grand Master. The Grand Lodge flourished for several years under two Grand Masters before ceasing operations in 1827, coinciding with the short-lived anti-Masonic national political movement.

Though the records are lost, it is thought that Western Star Lodge went out of existence between 1829 and 1835. With the anti-Masonic period waning, by 1839, Freemasonry saw membership back on the rise. On April 6, 1840, the current Grand Lodge of Illinois was formed in Jacksonville.

The Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M.

Following the Civil War, Masonry's popularity flourished nationwide, and Illinois Freemasonry grew rapidly. By 1888 there were over 680 Lodges across the state, and The Grand Lodge of Illinois was second only to the Grand Lodge of New York as the most prominent Grand Lodge in the United States.

Since the 1880s, the Grand Lodge has supported various charities. In 1886, it opened a children's home in Chicago; in 1888, it opened a home and hospital in Sullivan. The Chicago Children's Home later moved to LaGrange, where in 1931, it cared for over 300 children. In 2004, it opened a second children's home in southern Illinois at Murphysboro. In addition, Illinois Freemasons support a number of charities, including the Academic Bowl, Illinois Masonic Student Assistance Program, and more.

Fast forward to today, and the Masonic Fraternity, under the Grand Lodge of Illinois's jurisdiction, comprises more than 420 Lodges and some 45,000 Masons. Men of character from every walk of life work together to build a better world.

Over the years, Illinois Freemasonry has had such prominent members as Senators Stephan A. Douglas and Adlai Stevenson, Broadway impresario Florenz Ziegfeld, heavy-weight boxing champion Jack Dempsey, Charles Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels, the Rev. Preston Bradley, Marshall Field (creator of the department store) and W. Clement Stone.