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July 10, 2007

Terre Haute's Masonic Temple celebrates 90 years

About 2,000 Freemasons use building today

By Arthur E. Foulkes

TERRE HAUTE — The fraternity of Freemasons traces its history back for centuries, and its Terre Haute presence is in a building well suited to its ancient history and traditions.

The Masonic Temple at 224 North Eighth St., which is 90 years old this year, also is suited to last for decades to come.

“This building is basically fire proof,” said Jerry Burns, a Freemason for the past 43 years and a past master of Masonic Lodge 19 in Terre Haute. “You could put 12 more stories on top of it and not hurt it,” he said.

The Temple building was built to be fireproof because just before its construction began in 1915, Terre Haute suffered a number of devastating fires. As a result of those fires, the city’s leaders demanded the building contain no wooden structures, Burns said. The building contains a number of unusual fire-safety features, he said.

Around 2,000 members of the fraternity of Freemasons use the old building today, Burns said.

“The purpose of Freemasonry is [to provide] a place for the guys to get together and not talk about religion and politics and find out that we all put our pants on one leg at a time,” Burns said.

“Basically, that’s it,” he said.

Well-known Freemasons from Terre Haute’s past include Demas Deming and Albert Lange, Burns said, pointing to ancient black-and-white photographs of the men on a wall outside one of the Temple’s 50 rooms.

“I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the relationships, friendships and experiences that we’ve had,” said Dave Everly, a Mason in Terre Haute since 1953. “We try to take good men and make them better,” he said.

Interesting features in the old Temple building include a banner more than 100 years old, a 160-year-old mirror bought by Terre Haute resident George Farrington in 1848, a large gas fireplace, a card-playing room, an old elevator designed to be large enough to hold members’ caskets, several meeting rooms and a pipe organ.

There also is a room where the swords of late past masters of the Freemasons are displayed.

“Mine will be up here one of these days,” Burns said, looking at the dozens of swords in glass cases.

The Terre Haute Freemasons plan an open house in September, said Alex Ruthmann, a professor at Indiana State University and a one-year member.

There has been a resurgence of interest in the organization since the movies “National Treasure” and “The Da Vinci Code” were released, Ruthmann said.

The Masons are not a secret society, Burns said. “Secret organizations don’t publish membership lists,” he said.

Like many organizations, the Freemasons do not have as many members as they once did, Everly said. But the active members are a very dedicated bunch, he said.

The Freemasons are a worldwide organization that traces its roots back to ancient times, Burns said. No one knows for sure how old the organization really is, he said.

The Masons also are one of the most charitable organizations in the world, Burns said, adding that they donate an average of $2 million per day to charitable causes.

“I don’t know any other organization that can make that claim,” Burns said.

Most people don’t know about the organization’s charitable donations because Freemasonry teaches that charity should be done “in the dignity of silence,” Burns said.

Apart from charitable giving, Freemasonry, which includes women’s organizations as well, gives its members a place to get away, take a break and see friends, Everly said.

As a new member, Ruthmann said he appreciates having the chance to meet “great men in the community” and around the world.

“About any town you run into you can find a local lodge and find somebody there willing to greet you,” Ruthmann said.

Ruthmann has visited Masonic lodges in Norway and Malaysia, he said.

“When we say it’s the world’s oldest fraternity, we think we’re right,” Everly said. “It’s also the world’s largest fraternity and, we think, the best.”

Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.

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