THE LIFE OF GENERAL ELY S. PARKER LAST GRAND SACHEM OF THE IROQUOIS AND GENERAL GRANT'S MILITARY SECRETARY

At the stated meeting of the lodge last Tuesday, October 5th, pages 96-98 from the book, THE LIFE OF GENERAL ELY S. PARKER LAST GRAND SACHEM OF THE IROQUOIS AND GENERAL GRANT'S MILITARY SECRETARY, were read for the Lodge’s education presentation—

In 1857 Parker was appointed superintendent of construction for a custom-house and a marine hospital in Galena, Illinois. Here he became acquainted with the clerk in the harness store and often had long "talks" with him, though the clerk did most of the talking. They became quite friendly especially after Parker had rescued the clerk from a serious predicament due to the "overflowing bowl." The harness shop clerk was Captain Ulysses S. Grant.

Parker found great comfort in his love of Freemasonry. Back in 1847, he had been "raised," as Masons say, in Batavia Lodge, No. 88. Later he affiliated with Valley Lodge, No. 109, of Rochester. This was on May 6, 1850. He became immediately active in Galena and with a few Masons that he found there, he became one of the founders of Miners Lodge, No. 273. He demitted from his home lodge September 6, 1858, and became the first Worshipful Master of Miner's Lodge in Galena. He was a member of both the Royal Arch and of the Knights Templar and his love of Masonry as well as his popularity with his fellowmen is shown in that he was Worshipful Master of Miner's Lodge in 1858- '59- '60, and M. E. High Priest of Jo Daviess Chapter of the Royal Arch in 1859- '60- '61. He was elected Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1861 but his duties as a Government engineer prevented his accepting the honor. In 1860,he was, however, grand representative near the Grand Lodge of Illinois. 

Among the distinguished men of his time who were initiated into Masonry by Parker was General J. C. Smith. General Smith in writing of this in the Masonic Chronicle says: 

May 25, 1861, Brother Parker as Worshipful Master of Miner's Lodge, No. 273, raised the Venerable Chief of the Masonic Veterans' Association to the sublime degree of Master Mason, having previously made him an Entered Apprentice and a Fellow Craft Mason. March 15, 1860, having at various dates conferred other degrees as High Priest of Jo Daviess Chapter, No. 51, he exalted the venerable chief to the Holy Royal Arch; hence, Do-ne-hoga-wa, the Six Nations Brother Ely S. Parker, was my father in Free Masonry.  

Brave and eloquent as was Red Jacket, so was our veteran brother. Of the bravest of the brave, tender and loving as a woman, courteous as a Chevalier Bayard, the soul of honor and integrity, he. too, was an orator who would have been deemed worthy of Grecian prizes.

General Smith refers to the oration delivered by Parker at the Masonic banquet in Chicago in 1859. Ely Parker spoke of himself as almost the last of what once was a powerful and noble people, of his struggle in early manhood of seeing his race disintegrating ; and he asked,

“Where shall I go when the last of my race shall have gone forever? Where shall I find home and sympathy when our last council fire is extinguished? I said, I will knock at the door of Masonry and see if the white race will recognize me as they did my ancestors when we were strong and the white man weak. I knocked at the door of the Blue Lodge and found brotherhood around its altar. I knelt before the great light in the Chapter and found companionship beneath the Royal rock. I entered the Commandery and found valiant Sir Knights willing to shield me here without regard to race or nation. I went further. I knelt at the cross of my Saviour and found Christian brotherhood, the crowning charity of the Masonic tie. I am most happy to meet you in the grand councils of this gathering. and sit with you at this festive board to share these greetings and hospitalities.

I feel assured that when my glass is run out and I shall follow the footsteps of my departed race, Masonic sympathies will cluster round my coffin and drop in my grave the evergreen acacia, sweet emblem of a better meeting. If my race shall disappear from this continent, I shall have the consoling hope that our memory will not perish. If the deeds of my ancestors shall not live in story, their memories remain in the names of your great lakes and rivers, your towns and cities to call up memories otherwise forgotten.”

His address concluded in a like strain and one of his auditors records, “Silence reigned as our brother sat down, eyes were dimmed and hearts were too full for speech."

Later Parker became a charter member of Akron Lodge, No. 257, near his birthplace, and became its first Worshipful Master. A portrait of him hangs in the lodge room today.

 https://www.electriccanadian.com/history/first/iroquois/lifeofgeneralely00parkrich.pdf

175th Anniversary of Lodge Charter

 Olive Branch Lodge 38 was chartered on October 6, 1846.  Here are pictures of proclamations, acknowledgements, and awards presented at last Saturday's Re-dedication ceremony and a link to a video of the ceremony.

175th Anniversary Celebration and Memorial Service Video

 The Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 175th Anniversary Celebration and Memorial Service, took place Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Spring Hill Cemetery in Danville, Illinois. This celebration and service was a Sunrise ceremony beginning at 6:30 am. It included a brief talk on the men who have been important to the creation and sustainment of the lodge and concluded with an exhibition of the Masonic Funeral Service in honor of all of our Brethren who have passed. The ceremony took place near the gravesites of both William E. Russell, the first Master of Olive Branch Lodge, and John P. Norvell, who served the lodge as Master more times than any other.  Please enjoy this video of the event.

OLIVE BRANCH 38 CELEBRATES 175 YEARS

 

Stated Meetings

First and Third Tues.

Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, A. F. & A. M.

Masonic Temple – 109 W. North St.; P.O. Box 1773

Telephone 217/446-7620

Danville, Illinois  61832

 

The year 2021 marks the 175^th anniversary of the Chartering of Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 by the Grand Lodge of Illinois on October 6, 1846.  In observance of this milestone, the lodge has shared several blog posts about the history of the lodge and its members at https://olivebranchlodge38.blogspot.com/.  The lodge has also planned two events scheduled for late September and early October to celebrate the occasion. 

The first of these events, the Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 175^th Anniversary Celebration and Memorial Service, is scheduled for Saturday September 25th at Spring Hill Cemetery in Danville.  This event is free, open to the public, and requires no reservations.  This celebration and service will be a Sunrise ceremony beginning at 6:30 am.  It will include a brief talk on the men who have been important to the creation and sustainment of the lodge and conclude with an exhibition of the Masonic Funeral Service in honor of all of our Brethren who have passed.  The ceremony will take place near the grave sites of both William E. Russell, the first Master of Olive Branch Lodge, and John P. Norvell, who served the lodge as Master more times than any other.  Please enter the south section of the Cemetery from Voorhees Street and follow the instruction of the parking directors on site and park on the right hand side of the road.  The gate will open at 5:30 am—please arrive well before the start time to allow yourself time to park and walk to the ceremony site.  The event should last 30-40 minutes.  Please bring your own lawn chair if you will need to sit during the ceremony.

The second of the events will be a Lodge Rededication Ceremony performed by the Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge of Illinois.  This event is scheduled for Saturday October 2, 2021 at the Danville Masonic Center at 109 W. North Street, Danville.  This event will rededicate the lodge for Masonic purposes and offer an opportunity for all of us to reflect on where the lodge has been in the past and where it is going in the future.  The doors to the Masonic Center will open at 11:00 am.  The Rededication ceremony will begin at noon.  There is no cost to attend this ceremony and friends and family are welcome. 

We invite you to and hope you will be able to join us at these events.

 

 

First Master's gravestone refurbished

 Earlier this year, members of the Olive Branch Lodge 38  visited the Spring Hill Cemetery grave of William E. Russell, the first Master of the lodge and the man most responsible for the establishment of Freemasonry in our area, and found his gravestone in a state of disrepair.  Knowing what needed to be done about it, the lodge voted to have the stone professionally refurbished.  The stone had been removed from the cemetery for repair and progress was being made.  Lodge members visited the gravesite on Wednesday, September 9th as they prepared for their 175th Anniversary Celebration and Memorial Service that will be held there at sunrise on September 25th.  They were pleased to find that the refurbished stone had been placed and looked great.  Here are some before and after pictures to see the difference.  To learn the story of Brother Russell and honor him and the other Brethren that have come before us, join us at the sunrise event to begin at 6:30 am at SpringHill Cemetery on Saturday September 25, 2021.

1946 G. Haven Stephens News article transcribed

 The September 29, 1946, Commercial-News article written by Dr. G. Haven Stephens describing the history of Olive Branch Lodge 38 at its 100th anniversary has been transcribed and can be read at a page of this website here https://olivebranchlodge38.blogspot.com/p/sunday-commercial-news-olive-branch.html.

Among those who served as Master of the lodge in the first decade of the 20^th Century we find George E. Cockerton.   We share this biographical sketch published in The Past and Present of Vermilion County, Illinois, published by the S.J. Clarke Publishing Company in 1903.  

GEORGE E. COCKERTON

Among the "captains of industry" in Danville may be numbered George E. Cockerton,  a self-made man, who at the outset of his business career realized that there is no excellence without labor and whose efforts therein have been exercised consecutively  in an endeavor to acquire a handsome competence. In this he has succeeded and at the same time he has won honor and respect which is accorded to those whose business careers will bear close investigation and scrutiny. As a boy in 1864 Mr. Cockerton came to Danville with his parents, John C. and Hannah (Pate) Cockerton, who are yet residents of this city.  The family is of English lineage and representatives of the name came from England to America, locating first in Chicago, Illinois,

afterward in Elgin and subsequently in this city. Both the father and mother of our subject were born in England and the year of their emigration to America was 1849. The father was engaged in finishing woolen goods. In the family were three children, but one brother, Frank, died in

Danville at the age of forty-seven years.  The sister, Mrs. Edgar C. Dodge, now in Chicago, was a teacher in the schools of Danville prior to her marriage. 

George E. Cockerton completed his education in the high school of Danville under the direction of Professor Spellman, leaving that institution at the age of seventeen years.  From the age of fourteen he has been connected almost continuously with the printing business.  He first entered the office of the Danville Plaindealer, owned by the firm of Clapp & Evans.  Subsequently he entered the office of the Danville Times, owned by A. G. Smith and closely applying himself to his work, he became one of the best printers in this portion of the country, being made manager of a plant. A weekly paper was published and a large jobbing business carried on, Mr. Cockerton having supervision of the mechanical department and business management of the Enterprise between the ages of eighteen and twentv-one years. On attaining his majority he went to the east where he remained for four years and there further acquainted himself with the line of work which he had chosen for a life occupation.  For several years he was also employed in Indianapolis and when the financial panic of 1877 involved the country he came to Danville in response to an offer which was made him to take charge of the Times.  He occupied that position for two years, managing the jobbing department.  In 1879 he formed a partnership with F. E. Bowman, in the establishment of a job and printing office on a small scale.  Immediate failure was predicted for the new firm by all, but in face of these dire predictions they have succeeded, their strong resolution, enterprise and good workmanship enabling them to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in their path.  At the expiration of three years their business was sold at a good advance. Later Mr. Cockerton established a job office alone and conducted it for four years.  On the expiration of that period the Press Company was formed, Mr. Cockerton becoming business manager and in that position he remained for two years.  In 1889 he established an exclusive job and book business, and in January 1901, he admitted his son to a partnership in the business. The new enterprise prospered from the beginning. The public had already become familiar with his good workmanship and comprehensive knowledge of the printing business in all its departments and it was not long before he had secured a liberal patronage.  In 1898 he added a book binding plant and also began manufacturing rubber stamps. The book binding and stamp manufacturing departments are now under the direct management of Herbert E. Cockerton, the junior member of the firm, and this branch of his business has had phenomenal growth.  The plant is valued at ten thousand dollars and the value is constantly being increased by the addition of new machinery and equipments calculated to promote the effectiveness of the work and advance the practical utility of the business. 

In 1876 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cockerton and Miss Lillian E. Jack, of Indianapolis. She was born in Centerville, Indiana, a daughter of Matbew W. and Ann (Sackett ) Jack.  Both parents are now deceased. In their family were ten children, of whom Mrs. Cockerton was the youngest. Thomas Carroll, of Carrollton, Maryland, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was an uncle of her father. Mr. Jack died in Chicago at the age of ninety-one years.  He was a tailor by trade and in later years carried on merchandising. He held membership in the Tippecanoe Club of Chicago and was quite prominent in public affairs there. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cockerton has been born one son, Herbert E.  He was married in November. 1901, to Miss Lola G. Young, who was bom in Danville in February, 1880, a daughter of C. M.

Young, one of the well known residents of this city and general agent for the Home Sewing Machine Company for Indiana and Illinois. Mr. Cockerton owns a residence at No. 310 Oak street, valued at five thousand dollars, and has a suburban fruit ranch at the northeast comer of the city covering two acres and planted to small fruit. His father lives at that place. The son owns

property at No. 710 Gilbert street.  Mr. Cockerton is a member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 38. A. F. & A. M. ; Vermilion Chapter, No. 82, R. A. M.: Danville Council, No. 83. R. & S. M. : and Athelstan Commandery, No. 45. K. T.  Of the last named he is past eminent commander and is past chancellor of Damascus Lodge, No. 84, K. P..  He likewise belongs to the Benevolent

and Protective Order of Elks and to Paughcaughnaughsinque Tribe, Improved Order of Redmen. He holds membership relations with the Cycling Club and has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce since its organization. His name is also on the membership roll of Danville Council, No. 160, of the National Union. In his life historv are many evidences of excellent business abilitv.  His prosperity cannot be attributed to a combination of lucky circumstances, but has arisen from energy, enterprise, integrity, and intellectual effort well directed. He is a man of strong individuality and indubitable probity and one whose influence has ever been exerted in behalf of measures contributing to the general good.