Above / During the City Council meeting on April 18, 2017, Councilwoman Rebecca Boyd-Obarski proclaimed May 1, 2017, to be Naperville Masonic Temple Day by reading a proclamation signed by Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico.
UPDATE, May 1, 2017 / May Day provided a little sunshine after four days of April showers to give members of the Temple and Euclid Lodge No. 65 of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Grand Lodge of Illinois a chance to place a time capsule in the cornerstone of their building along Jefferson Ave.
Above/ At 8AM, a tent was set for the ceremony at 9AM to mark the 100th anniversary of the first meeting in the building at 34 W. Jefferson Ave.
A Proclamation was made by City of Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico at the April 18 City Council meeting, establishing Monday, May 1, 2017, as Naperville Masonic Temple Day.
To commemorate the day, members of the Temple and Euclid Lodge No. 65 of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Grand Lodge of Illinois will be reinstalling the new time capsule into the cornerstone, honoring the 100th anniversary of the first meeting in that building back on May 1, 1917. The contents for the time capsule will be memorabilia of the Lodge and Naperville as well as other assorted items.
Above / In October 2015, several Masons opened a 100-year-old time capsule that had been in the cornerstone, also filled with newspapers, coins, a 48-star American flag and Naperville memorabilia from the schools, Naperville Woman’s Club, Naperville Association of Commerce, etc. Bryan Ogg, right, Curator of Research at Naper Settlement, participated in observing the collection.
Ceremony planned for 9AM Mon., May 1
The ceremony will begin at 9AM on the public sidewalk in front of the building located at 34 West Jefferson Ave., near the corner of Jefferson and Main Street.
Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternity in the world. Naperville’s Masonic Lodge, Euclid Lodge No. 65, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons was founded in late September, 1848, and chartered October 2, 1849, with the following Charter members: Captain Joseph Naper, Lewis Ellsworth, Nathan Allen Jr., Dr. Calvin Cole Barnes, Aylmer Keith, John Spaulding Kimball and Nahum Loring. Euclid Lodge No. 65, A.F.&A.M. is the oldest Masonic Lodge in DuPage County, Illlinois.
Euclid Chapter No. 13, Royal Arch Masons was chartered October 3, 1851, with the following Charter members: Aylmer Keith, Dr. John Eddy, Harry Thorndyke Wilson, Zadock Hall, Ezekiel Hall, John Bolton, Russell Horace Whipple, Nahum Loring and Vivaldi W. Potter. Euclid Chapter No. 13, R.A.M., is the oldest Masonic Chapter in DuPage County, Illinois.
Organizers note that Naperville has had 50 Village Presidents or City Mayors since the organization of the Naperville Village back in the mid-1800’s, and of those individuals, 22 were members of the Naperville Euclid Lodge No. 65 AF&AM.
In fact, during the first 100 years nearly 70 percent of those serving in that high office were members of that lodge.
The public is welcome to experience this event, and tour the building at that time or any time the building is open.
For more information, contact Tim Ory via email at tjory@sbcglobal.net.
Editor’s Note: On the northeast corner of Main at Jefferson, the Century Walk mural depicting “Faith, Hope and Charity” by Marianne Lisson Kuhn graces the building, recently sold where Russell’s Cleaners is currently. The mural features the names of 12 famous American Masons on one side, and 12 well-known Naperville Masons on the other, including city founder Joseph Naper. Two large portraits dominate the mural — on one side stands George Washington, one of 14 U.S Presidents who was a Mason, and on the other side is Naper.
“Faith, Hope and Charity” is now located on the exterior wall on the building facing Jackson Avenue on the westside of Main Street.
