History of Masonry in Janesville
Thus, a new Masonic Lodge was born in Janesville. Sumner H. Rich was the first to petition the new lodge for membership, which petition was received on November 1, 1854. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice on November 22, 1854, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on December 11, 1854, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on December 18, 1854. A code of By-Laws, prepared by a committee composed of John J. R. Pease, Charles C. Cheney and William Addy, was adopted on November 1, 1854. Among other provisions, there was the following: “This Lodge shall be held on the Monday proceeding as at the full moon in each month at such O’clock P. M. as the lodge shall designate. Fee shall be by degree Entered Apprentice $10.00 including $5.00 for the petition fee; $5.00 for each degree and $1.00 for admittance to membership.” However, meetings were held each week and members summoned to attend. The Charter was granted June 13, 1855, and on June 18, Grand Master Billings officially installed the following as the first regular officers of Janesville Lodge No. 55, F. & A. M. William Murdock ------------ Worshipful Master William Addy --------------------- Senior Warden Sumner H. Rich ------------------- Junior Warden Charles C. Cheney ---------------------- Secretary |
The history of Masonry in Wisconsin dates back to the middle 1800's~Western Star Lodge held their first meeting in the Odd
Fellows Hall in June of 1847. The Grand Lodge was but 11 years old and Western Star Lodge No 14 just seven years old when Janesville Lodge No. 55 was charted. On the evening of Monday, October 3, 1854, a group of Masons, who were members of Western Star Lodge, met to open, in due form, another Masonic Lodge to be known as Janesville Lodge no. 55, F. & A. M. The records do not show why it was decided that another Lodge was needed, but since that time both Lodges have continued their Masonic work in this community until 1995 when Western Star Lodge No. 14 merged into Janesville Lodge No. 55. This resulted in renaming Janesville Lodge to Janesville-Western Star Lodge No. 55. Upon petition by Janesville Lodge #55, dispensation was granted by Grand Master Henry M. Millings of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin F&AM, who designated the following officers pro tem: John J. R. Pease ------- Worshipful Master William Murdock --------- Senior Warden William Addy -------------- Junior Warden Temporary subordinate officers were elected as follows: William P. Cobb --------------Senior Deacon Lyman Smith ----------------- Junior Deacon Charles C. Chaney ----------------- Secretary Theodore Kendall ------------------ Treasurer 
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On November 19, 1855, a hall was leased from Brother M. C.Smith for a term of three years and the Master, Junior and senior Wardens were authorized to buy furniture and fixtures for the Lodge hall.
On March 31, 1856, Dr. Lufties Martin who had come to Janesville from London, England, where he had been a member of Lion Lamb Lodge 227, presented the symbolic pillars which are still in the Lodge room in appreciation of the kindness rendered him and for the good work Janesville Lodge No. 55 was doing.
Brother Martin was presented on honorary membership in this Lodge from 1863 to
1867 and again in 1878. He later became Master of this Lodge. On December 8, 1856, Brother William Addy was elected Worshipful Master and Brother William Murdock then became Janesville Lodge No.55’s first Past Master, and was presented with a Past Master’s Jewel.
On August 16, 1869, the regular date of meetings was set by the By-Laws of the Lodge for the second and fourth Mondays of each month and this schedule has been retained to the present time.
It is rather difficult to determine where the early meetings were held, but it appears that in November, 1855, Worshipful Master Murdock rented a hall from Brother M. C. Smith and meetings were held there until February, 1857, when Western Star Lodge No. 14 invited Janesville Lodge No. 55 to share their Lodge rooms, which were in Lappin’s Block, now known as the Hayes Block. There is no indication as to whether Janesville Lodge accepted the offer of Western Star Lodge.
Records indicate that on December 28, 1857, Janesville Lodge rented rooms from Peter Meyers for $200.00 a year and in January of
1858 it appears that we rented the quarters to the Janesville Commandery with equal rent to be paid by the other Masonic bodies.
Our meetings were held there until 1905 when the building where Rock County Appliance is now located, was purchased from the Methodist Church, and the dedication was held December 27, 1906, with the Grand Lodge in attendance.
On March 31, 1856, Dr. Lufties Martin who had come to Janesville from London, England, where he had been a member of Lion Lamb Lodge 227, presented the symbolic pillars which are still in the Lodge room in appreciation of the kindness rendered him and for the good work Janesville Lodge No. 55 was doing.
Brother Martin was presented on honorary membership in this Lodge from 1863 to
1867 and again in 1878. He later became Master of this Lodge. On December 8, 1856, Brother William Addy was elected Worshipful Master and Brother William Murdock then became Janesville Lodge No.55’s first Past Master, and was presented with a Past Master’s Jewel.
On August 16, 1869, the regular date of meetings was set by the By-Laws of the Lodge for the second and fourth Mondays of each month and this schedule has been retained to the present time.
It is rather difficult to determine where the early meetings were held, but it appears that in November, 1855, Worshipful Master Murdock rented a hall from Brother M. C. Smith and meetings were held there until February, 1857, when Western Star Lodge No. 14 invited Janesville Lodge No. 55 to share their Lodge rooms, which were in Lappin’s Block, now known as the Hayes Block. There is no indication as to whether Janesville Lodge accepted the offer of Western Star Lodge.
Records indicate that on December 28, 1857, Janesville Lodge rented rooms from Peter Meyers for $200.00 a year and in January of
1858 it appears that we rented the quarters to the Janesville Commandery with equal rent to be paid by the other Masonic bodies.
Our meetings were held there until 1905 when the building where Rock County Appliance is now located, was purchased from the Methodist Church, and the dedication was held December 27, 1906, with the Grand Lodge in attendance.
The current building at 2322 East Milwaukee Street was built
in 1965 and dedicated in 1966.
This was a joint venture with Western
Star Lodge No. 14,
Janesville Lodge No. 55,
Knights Templar No. 2
and Royal Arch Masons No. 5.
In 1996, Western Star Lodge No. 14 merged with Janesville
Lodge No. 55 to become Janesville-Western Star No. 55.
Members of Janesville Lodge came from all walks of life and have contributed much to the welfare and well-being of Janesville. Its members included doctors, lawyers, business people, members of the city council, police and fire commissions, city manager, and many of the heads of the city departments, members of the clergy, and many other vocations.
Six of its members have advanced to the 33rd Degree of Masonry, Alexander Matheson, Theo Goldin, David H. Wright, Dr. Floyd G. Wolcott, the Hon. Harry S. Fox, Circuit Judge for the twelfth circuit of Wisconsin and Thomas Walton.
Some of the names listed as attending the first regular meeting of Janesville Lodge No. 55 should be familiar to us. Names appearing on the By-Laws are Robinson, Holmes, Wood, Caldwell, Allen, Clark, Curtis, Powers, Pease, Chaney, Murdock, Cobb, Burpee, Addy, St. John, Dodge, Van Kirk, Carey, Buford, Burdick, Avery, Prichard, Estes, Griswold, McKey, Martins, and many other familiar names.
The present roster carries many of these names, probably descendents of those early members.
in 1965 and dedicated in 1966.
This was a joint venture with Western
Star Lodge No. 14,
Janesville Lodge No. 55,
Knights Templar No. 2
and Royal Arch Masons No. 5.
In 1996, Western Star Lodge No. 14 merged with Janesville
Lodge No. 55 to become Janesville-Western Star No. 55.
Members of Janesville Lodge came from all walks of life and have contributed much to the welfare and well-being of Janesville. Its members included doctors, lawyers, business people, members of the city council, police and fire commissions, city manager, and many of the heads of the city departments, members of the clergy, and many other vocations.
Six of its members have advanced to the 33rd Degree of Masonry, Alexander Matheson, Theo Goldin, David H. Wright, Dr. Floyd G. Wolcott, the Hon. Harry S. Fox, Circuit Judge for the twelfth circuit of Wisconsin and Thomas Walton.
Some of the names listed as attending the first regular meeting of Janesville Lodge No. 55 should be familiar to us. Names appearing on the By-Laws are Robinson, Holmes, Wood, Caldwell, Allen, Clark, Curtis, Powers, Pease, Chaney, Murdock, Cobb, Burpee, Addy, St. John, Dodge, Van Kirk, Carey, Buford, Burdick, Avery, Prichard, Estes, Griswold, McKey, Martins, and many other familiar names.
The present roster carries many of these names, probably descendents of those early members.
Photos on this page courtesy of the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections:
http://uwdc.library.wisc.edu/
The Hourglass and Scythe are two prominent symbols in Freemasonry symbolizing Mortality
