Pictures from Illlinois DeMolay Conclave 2025

 

Lloyd Loraine Lockard

 

The following is the text of a presentation given by Brother Dyke Rothenberger at Springhill Cemetery for the annual Founders’ Day Observance of Olive Branch Lodge 38 on September, 10, 2023.   

 

            We have now reached the grave of Lloyd Loraine Lockard otherwise known as LL Lockard.   The family headstone bears the names Hartman, Lockard, and Farnsworth.  Lloyd and his wife, as well as their parents are buried here.  Lloyd was born December 25, 1892, in Princeton, Indiana to Alfonso D. Lockard and Lottie J Neely.  Surely it was a Christmas they would never forget.  Later, in the early 1900’s, Lloyd and his mother Lottie would move to Danville, IL where she would remarry to Delmar W Farnsworth and live on West Madison St., not far from the recently erected new Carle Clinic Building.

Lloyd began working at an early age, as every young man did during this time.  He worked for Leonard F. W. Stuebe’s architectural firm here in Danville as a draughtsman. The firm is known to have designed such places as the Vermilion County Courthouse and the Danville Masonic Temple in Danville.  Later, they would also design the old Mattoon Masonic Temple. It was here Lloyd would change his life forever.  Worshipful Brother Stuebe would introduce Lloyd to the lifestyle of masonry.  Brother Stuebe served as Worshipful Master of Olive Branch Lodge #38 in 1918.

Lloyd would be elected to receive the degrees of Masonry in Olive Branch Lodge #38 on March 19, 1918.  He was initiated an Entered Apprentice on March 22nd, passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on April 9th, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on May 5^th, 1918.   Later that year Lloyd joined the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Danville’s Victory Class in December.  As a 32^nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, Brother Lockard was very active in the Valley.  He was the Valley’s 24^th Thrice Potent Master of the Danville Lodge of Perfection and the 20^th Sovereign Prince of the Walter A. Stevens Council Princes of Jerusalem.  Brother Lockard would also work his way through the chairs at Olive Branch #38 being elected Worshipful Master in 1924.

1924 would also be a momentous year personally for Lloyd as he would marry the love of his life, Madge Tacy Hartman, On June 24^th of that year.  Lloyd’s passion for masonry would now be shared by his wife Madge.  They would both join Eastern Star and become very active members-- each serving as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron of Danville Chapter 854.  Madge would pass away in 1985 and never remarried, showing her love and commitment to Lloyd.

In 1930 in Danville, the first steps were taken to start a new organization for young men aged 14 to 21.  The organization was called DeMolay.  DeMolay is an international fraternal organization that was founded as a club for boys in Kansas City, Missouri in March of 1919 and which was named for Jacques DeMolay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar.  The Order seeks to instill in young men seven cardinal virtues—FILIAL LOVE or love of family, REVERENCE FOR SACRED THINGS, COURTESY, COMRADESHIP, FIDELITY, CLEANNESS, and PATRIOTISM.  By living according to these ideals these young men have the best chance to become the best version of themselves as sons, brothers, friends, and citizens.  It was an influential Mason from Kansas City, named Brother Frank Land and 9 young men that started the Order of DeMolay.  Within 3 years DeMolay was established as a national organization with Chapters in 39 of the 48 states at the time.  Hundreds of Chapters were spouting up all over the United States in the 10 plus years after its humble beginning.  Brother Lockard would be instrumental in getting the Danville Chapter started in 1930, serving as a supervisor or “Dad” for the young men.  He would be the original Chapter Dad in Danville.

On February 12, 1931, his earthly work was interrupted as Dad and Brother Lloyd Loraine Lockard passed away at Lake View hospital following the amputation of his right leg between the knee and his hip.  In honor of Dad Lockard’s work in the creation of the Danville DeMolay Chapter, the boys were asked to attend his funeral as a body. 

As evidence of the esteem in which Dad Lockard was held, the Danville Chapter of DeMolay was named L.L. Lockard Chapter when it received its Charter in 1931.  L.L. Lockard Chapter of the Order of DeMolay operated under that Charter for over 50 years, finally surrendering it in 1985, the same year the Madge passed away.   That might have been the end of Dad Lockard’s legacy, but four years ago in 2019, the Order of DeMolay once again took steps to start a new Chapter of DeMolay in Danville.  When the young men involved in that effort learned of Dad Lockard, they chose to honor him again by naming this new Chapter L.L. Lockard Chapter Order of DeMolay.

As we think about the memories of the men we have talked about today, perhaps we might recognize some of the names—Sandusky and Hooton are still recognized locally with streets and neighborhoods named for them or their families.  Some of their stories still resonate today—what is a bigger story than historic bravery in the Civil War. 

Perhaps Brother Lockard’s legacy isn’t as easy to see, but I would propose that it is right in front of us.  Would the DeMolays here today, who welcomed and directed all of you as you arrived here today, please come forward.   Dad and Brother Lockard’s legacy is the difference made in the lives of young men for over 50 years.  It is the difference made in the lives of these young men here today.  Dad and Brother Lockard’s legacy is the FUTURE.  It is the FUTURE that will surely be better than it might have been because these young men are learning the values and virtues of the DeMolay—an organization that might not be here today were it not for the life of Lloyd Lorraine Lockard.

Historical membership numbers

Some members were discussing lodge Master Mason membership numbers recently.  Here are some historical membership numbers according to Lodge Annual Return Documents.

1900- 256

1910- 435

1915- 469

1929- 1053

1941- 699

1946- 883

1959-1260

From 1900 to 1929 the lodge increased in membership even as Anchor Lodge 980 and Further Light Lodge 1130  gained Charters and also grew.   Membership shrank from 1929- 1941.  In 1946, the 100th anniversary of the lodge, the membership was 883.  The lodge membership peaked in 1959 at 1260.

A Biography of John Charles Black

 Brother John Charles Black was elected to receive the Degrees in Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 on August 21, 1866.  He was initiated on August 28, 1866, passed on October 2, 1866, and raised on October 8, 1866.  This article is taken from the website: http://www.blackbrotherscollection.com/biography-of-john-charles-black-from-the.html

Prepared by the Abraham Lincoln Public Library and Museum (ALPLM)

John Charles Black was born in Holmes County, Lexington, Mississippi on January 27, 1839. His father, Rev. John Black (July 19, 1809-Feb.13, 1847) was married to Josephine L. Culbertson (Sept. 9, 1813-Feb. 25, 1887) on September 9, 1834. Four children grew up-John Charles, William P., Mary (Mrs. George Hart) and Josephine La Rose (April 12, 1845-Oct. 6, 1863).

 
After her husband's death, Mrs. John Black moved (1847) to Danville, Illinois where her brother James M. Culbertson lived. She married Dr. William Fithian (April 7, 1799-April 5, 1890), who had settled in Danville in 1830 and developed a fine medical practice and accumulated several thousand acres in Vermillion County.

In 1858, John C. Black entered Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, leaving it to enlist in the Union Army before April 14, 1861, as a private in the Montgomery Guards of Crawfordsville. This was two days (April 12) after Fort Sumter was fired upon. This Company became Company "I" of the 11th Indiana Infantry.  Black was enrolled in that Regiment and served as a Sergeant Major, promoted April 25, 1861) for the three months enlistment under Colonel (afterward Major General) Lew Wallace. He then returned to Danville and recruited a three year company which became Company "K" of the 37th Illinois Infantry, with Colonel (afterwards Major General) Julius White commanding. Black was appointed Major on April 15, 1862 then to Lieutenant Colonel on June 9, 1862 and then promoted to Colonel on November 20, 1862. On March 13, 1865, he was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General for gallant services in the assault on Fort Blakeley, Alabama. Before that time, he had served with his regiment in every state in the Confederacy except the Carolinas, Georgia and Texas, to which latter state his Regiment was ordered for guard duty, July 17, 1865. Black resigned August 15, 1865, within a month after his regiment was ordered on guard duty. He was wounded in the right arm at Pea Ridge, Arkansas on March 5-8, 1862 and lost use of that arm. He was then wounded in the left arm at Prairie Grove, Arkansas on December 7, 1862. He later served in the capture of Vicksburg, Red River campaign, the capture of Mobile and in Texas. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on December 7, 1862. After his resignation he read law in Chicago and was admitted to the bar in 1867 and to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1869. He developed a large practice in Danville.

He ran for Congress in the Seventh District in 1866 but was defeated. He ran again in 1876 and 1884 and was again defeated, although he led the Democratic ticket in 1884 by nearly 2,800 votes.

Joining the Grand Army of the Republic in 1866, he became Commander of the Department of Illinois in 1898, and was elected at San Francisco on August 17, 1903 as Commander-in-Chief of the Order. He was elected as a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States on December 3, 1884 and Commander of the Illinois Commandery in 1896. General Black was one of the managers of the National Soldiers' Home for disabled volunteer soldiers from 1878-1890; trustee of the Illinois Soldiers and Orphans Home at Normal from 1901-1904; trustee of Wabash College 1898- 1900 receiving an Honorary M.A. degree, and an LL.D. from Wabash College and LL.D. from Knox College.

General Black was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Cincinnati in 1872 and delegate-at-large from Illinois to the convention that nominated Grover Cleveland in 1884. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1872 and for the United States Senate in 1879.

From March 6, 1885 to March 27, 1889, he was Commissioner of Pensions by appointment of President Grover Cleveland. He inaugurated many reforms which reduced the expenses of the Bureau and at the same time saved not less than a million dollars in pension attorney's fees.

He served in the 53rd Congress from March 4, 1893 until January 12, 1895, resigning to become U.S.
Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, serving until 1899. President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Black to the Civil Service Commission in 1904. He was the minority party member of the Commission but was chosen President. Upon his resignation from the Commission in 1913, Black moved to Chicago, where he died on August 17, 1915; interment was in Spring Hill Cemetery, Danville, Illinois.
 

He married Adaline Griggs, daughter of C.R. and Leona Griggs, on September 28, 1867 in Champaign
County. Their children was Grace (who married F.B. Vrooman); John D., an attorney in Chicago; Josephine La Rose, deceased; and Helene.
 

Installation January 12, 2025 pictures