The Vidette-Messenger Centennial EditionThe 1936 special edition celebrating Porter County's centennial year . . . .
The following article has been transcribed from the August 18, 1936, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, published in Valparaiso, Indiana. This particular special edition focuses on Porter County's centennial celebration and contains a 94-page compendium of Porter County history up to that time.
Return to the index of articles from The Vidette-Messenger's Porter County Centennial special edition.
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso,
Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1936; Volume 10, Section 3, Page 18.
TEMPLAR UNIT DATES BACK TO MAY 11, 1876
History of
Valparaiso Commandery, No. 28, Knights Templar, dates back to May 31, 1876, when
the commandery was organized under a dispensation dated May 11, 1876. The
charter is dated April 25, 1877, and bears the signature of Ervilla B. Bishop,
grand commander.
The first officers of the commandery were: John Eason, E. C.; Simeon Pierce,
Gen.; James M. McGill, C. G.; F. F. B. Coffin, prelate; John D. Wilson, S. W.;
Samuel A. Campbell, J. W.; S. R. Bryant, treasurer; Albert E. Letts, recorder;
John McCormick, St. B.; R. C. Wadge, Sw. B.; Marquis L. McClelland, warden;
Allen R. Nichols, sentinel.
A hall was leased on the third floor at the northwest corner of Main and
Lafayette street, where regular meetings were held until the building was
destroyed by fire in January, 1886. Soon after the fire the commandery took up
its quarters in the Academy block.
The Knights Templar are the uniformed rank of Masonry, being the highest degrees
in the "York Rite."
Valparaiso Commandery enjoys a membership of 195, which is widely scattered,
having three members of prominence in three foreign countries.
With Frederick William Alpen as commander for the present year work in the
Commandery has been heavy with all indications that there will be even more this
coming fall.
Like the other bodies of the "York Rite" Masonry in Valparaiso the Commandery is
housed in the Masonic Temple on East Lincolnway.
Article transcribed by Steven R. Shook