History

The history of organized Freemasonry in Illinois started on May 7, 1804, fourteen years before Illinois would be ratified for statehood. On that day, Brother James Edgar, of Kaskaskia, wrote to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania asking for a Dispensation to form Western Star Lodge located in Kaskaskia. The Dispensation was granted September 24, 1805, making Western Star Lodge #107 the first Masonic Lodge in the Indiana Territory.

The first stated meeting of Horicon Lodge, U.D. (under dispensation) was held in the Republican Hall, Lane Illinois (now Rochelle), on Tuesday June 2nd, 1857. This building, built in 1856, was also known as the "Corner Brick" or "Republican Block". This was a 3-story building standing on the southeast corner of Cherry Ave. and Lincoln Hwy.The charter was issued on October 12, 1857 and the following officers were installed as the first elected officers of Horicon Lodge No.244, A.F.&A.M.:

D.A. BAXTER WM
H.A. FRISBIE SW
H. BURLINGAME JW
W.S. COPELAND SD
J. FOREMAN JD
I.A. BUTTERFIELD SECY
A. CHAMBERLAIN TREAS
A. TENEYCK SS
S.H. DAVIS JS
M.W. GAYLORD TYLER

On January 6, 1873, W. Blakesley M.E. Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Illinois issued a Dispensation to Rochelle Chapter No. 158 R.A.M., and authorized H.H. Glenn to act as High Priest, Jacob H. Bushey to act as King and Delos A. Baxter to act as Scribe. The first regular convocation of Rochelle Chapter No. 158 was held in the Masonic Hall on Novemeber 14, 1873.

In 1878 the Brain Opera House was completed and the Lodge and Chapter moved to the third floor of that building, which was located on the present site of the City of Rochelle Municipal building. On April 3, 1897 Worthy Grand Patron N.D. Ricks gave a Dispensation to Emma Brundidge, E.A. Ward and Ella Baxter to form an Eastern Star Chapter at Rochelle, Illinois. Salome Chapter No. 372 U.D. (under dispensation) was instituated by the officers of DeKalb Chapter No. 357 on april 16, 1897. Salome Chapter No. 372 was fully instituated with all prerogatives of a chapter on October 7, 1897.Salome Chapter moved to Holcomb, IL in 1989 and then to Belvidere before returning to Rochelle as Star of Rochelle Chapter # 1030 Order of Easter Star. The new Chapter was received Oct. 2nd, 2001.

In 1906 the Lodge, R.A.M. #158 and Salome Chapter Eastern Star moved to the 3rd floor of the Stocking and Blinz building at the N.E. corner of Lincoln Hwy and 4th Ave. The Masonic emblems are still visible today on the upper corner of the building. The present Masonic building was erected in 1925 and 1926, through the generosity of Brother Emmanuel Hilb and his wife Pauline Hilb. The Lodge and the Royal Arch were each asked to borrow $2,000 and donate it to the Temple Assn to help build the new building. The corner stone was laid under the auspices of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Illinois on August 8, 1925. Rent was $600 per year for the Lodge and the Royal Arch, and $300 for the Eastern Star.

Alto Lodge No. 902 Steward, IL. consolidated with Horicon Lodge on January 9, 1989. Alto Lodge had met under dispensation from December 21st, 1906 until it was duly instituted on Novemeber 5, 1908.
Creston Lodge No. 320, Creston IL., consolidated with Horicon Lodge on May 5, 1995. The first Masonic Lodge in Creston was Dement Lodge No. 515. It had been granted a chater on October 1st, 1867. The first Master was Asa Dimon. Creston Lodge No. 320 was opened on January 25, 1886 when Malta Lodge No. 320 consolidated with Dement Lodge No. 515.