Beginnings

Pentalpha Lodge No. 564 F. & A. M.,  Indianapolis, Indiana, was instituted Thursday, October 20, 1881, and  chartered Wednesday, May 24, 1882. Its name is derived from the Triple Triangle of Ancient Pythagorean usage.

On October 10, 1881, at 8 o'clock PM, a number of Master Masons residing in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, met in convention, at 27 1/2 South Delaware Street, for the purpose of taking the preliminary steps necessary to form a new Lodge of Masons. The following Brethren were present:

The convention was called to order by Brother Seidensticker, and immediately organized by electing Past Grand Master Martin H. Rice as president and William H. Smythe as secretary. Brother Rice (You will notice that in a lot of this History, the protocol of using formal titles has been ignored....Ed.) suggested the name of the proposed lodge to be "Pentalpha", which was adopted. The convention then selected the following Brethren as the officers to be named in the dispensation:
Martin H. Rice ................................Worshipful Master
Edward H. Wolfe..............................Senior Warden
Adolph Seidensticker......................Junior Warden

An assessment of $5.00 was levied upon each signer of the petition. Two committees were appointed, one for the purpose of procuring a hall for the meetings, and the other to draft a set of bylaws.

At the second preliminary meeting, held October 17th, 1881, the committee on location reported that the lodges meeting in the Masonic Temple, Capitol Avenue and Washington Street, and Centre Lodge #23, Meridian and Washington Streets, tendered the use of their halls for a temporary meeting place. Upon motion of Brother John R. Nickum, Thursday was selected as the day for holding the stated meetings, and this day has never been changed since that time.

This information was presented to Grand Lodge.

ORGANIZATION OF PENTALPHA LODGE U. D.

The first meeting under dispensation was held Thursday, October 20, 1881, and was called to order by the president, Martin H. Rice. The dispensation, issued by Brother Calvin W. Prather, Grand Master, was then read and accepted, wherein the Grand Master appointed Brother Martin H. Rice, Worshipful Master; Edward H. Wolfe, Senior Warden, and Adolph Seidensticker, Junior Warden. The Worshipful Master then appointed the following officers:
Brother Joseph Staub...........................Treasurer
Brother William H. Smythe....................Secretary
Brother Charles Feller...........................Senior Deacon
Brother N. B. Boilvin..............................Junior Deacon
Brother George W. Griffith.....................Steward
Brother Lorenz Schmidt.........................Steward
Brother William M. Black.......................Tyler
The lodge was then opened on the Master Mason degree, with all of the above officers present except Brother Adolph Siedensticker. The committee on bylaws then submitted a set of bylaws which were adopted. We give the following excerpts which may be of interest to our readers:

"The meetings shall be from April first to October first at * o'clock PM, and from October first to April first at 7:30 o'clock PM."
"The salary of the Secretary shall be one dollar and fifty cents for each meeting when performing the duties of his office."
"In addition to their duties in open lodge, it shall be the duty of the Stewards to provide watchers for any member who may be sick and require the same; and for that purpose it shall be their duty to keep an alphabetical list of the members, and call upon them in regular order to perform such services, and to see that watchers are provided in all cases when needed."
"Every member of the lodge shall pay into the treasury semi-annually the sum of two dollars and such payments must be made on or before the stated meetings in June and December."

The first warrant drawn on the treasury was for sixty dollars, in payment of the dispensation. The secretary was instructed to advertise the stated meetings in the Sentinel, Journal, News and Telegraph.

The first stated meeting under dispensation was held November 3, 1881. Two petitions for the degrees and two petitions for membership were received at that time. Those for degrees were Henry C. G. Bals and Charles Winslow Osgood, and for membership, Brothers Joshua A. Compton and George W. New. Among the allowances made at the meeting was one for $5.55 to Brother Black for tyling two meetings, washing aprons and for ice. Of course the ice was used in ice water.

At the stated meeting, held December 1, 1881, all four of the petitioners were elected. A petition for membership was received from Brother Charles Butterworth. The committee on Hall made the following report:

"We have received a proposition from Center Lodge No. 23 to rent us their hall for the sum of $200.00 per annum, and a proposition from Marion Lodge No. 35, Capital City Lodge No. 312, and Mystic Tie lodge No. 398, lessees of the hall in Masonic temple (temporarily meeting there) to lease Pentalpha Lodge said hall until March 1, 1886, upon the following terms, viz.: From November 1, 1881, to July 1, 1882, at ten dollars per month; and from July 1, 1882, to March 1, 1886, at the annual rental of $190.47 1/2, to be paid in semi-annual installments, the said lodges agreeing to give this lodge a lease upon the above terms and conditions."

The offer from the lodges in the Masonic Temple was accepted. A motion was defeated calling for an affiliation fee of $5.00. The secretaries report was submitted. No further business appearing, the lodge was closed on the Master Mason degree and opened in the Entered Apprentice degree. Mr. Henry C. G. Bals and Mr. Charles W. Osgood were initiated as Entered Apprentices.

There were seven petitions received at the fourth stated meeting held January 5, 1882. Brother Charles Butterworth was elected to membership.

The first called meeting of the lodge was held January 19, 1882, at which time Brothers Henry C. G. Bals and Charles W. Osgood were passed to the degree of Fellow Craft.

At the fifth stated meeting held February 2, 1882, there were six petitioners elected to membership. The first rejection occurred at this meeting. A committee was appointed to confer with like committees from the other lodges to adopt some feasible plan of escape in case of fire.

A called meeting was held February 9, 1882, at which time Brother Henry C. G Bals was raised to the degree of Master Mason, giving him the honor of being the first to be raised by Pentalpha Lodge. Brother Charles W. Osgood was raised at the next called meeting held February 16, 1882. The secretary stated "that it is worthy of note to state that every member and visitor present remained until the lodge was closed", and the lectures were given in full.

At the March 2nd stated meeting, there were four petitions for membership read. A committee was appointed to ascertain the cost of a robe and crown for the Worshipful Master. At the April stated meeting, the four petitioners were elected.

Two petitions for the degrees were received at the stated meeting of May 4, 1882. As this was the last stated meeting under dispensation, the secretary made the following report:
Original Members..........................45
Initiated............................................2
Received by Affiliation...................13
Total..................................................60
A resolution was introduced and adopted "That the records and the bylaws of this lodge be submitted to the Grand Lodge for approval, praying that a charter be granted Pentalpha Lodge No........ and that the present officers be named for appointment". As five of the original petitioners failed to file their dimits, they were not enrolled as charter members, which brings the number of charter members down to fifty-five.

CONSTITUTION

The prayer of the petition for a charter for Pentalpha Lodge having been granted at the recent session of the Grand Lodge, the brethren, with numerous visitors, assembled in the lodge hall at 8 o'clock PM on Thursday June 1, 1882, and received the charter from the hands of Past Grand Master Calvin W. Prather (who had been deputized by the Grand Master, MW Bruce Carr, to constitute the lodge).
After the charter had been read and accepted by the lodge, Most Worshipful Calvin W. Prather then proceeded to open, constitute and dedicate   Pentalpha Lodge No. 564 and install the Officers as follows:
Brother Martin H. Rice..........................Worshipful Master
Brother Edward H. Wolfe......................Senior Warden
Brother Adolph Seidensticker.............Junior Warden
Brother Joseph Staub...........................Treasurer
Brother William H. Smythe...................Secretary
Brother Charles Feller..........................Senior Deacon
Brother N. B. Boilvin..............................Junior Deacon
Brother George W. Griffith..................Steward
Brother Lorenz Schmidt......................Steward
Brother William M. Black......................Tyler

Two petitioners were elected to receive the degrees. After remarks by the Grand Master, MW Bruce Carr, and Past Grand Master MW Calvin W. Prather, the lodge was closed and the members and visitors repaired to the banquet room where refreshments were  served to the satisfaction of all.

At a called meeting held June 15, 1882, Mr. J. W. Staub and W. S. Conner were initiated as Entered Apprentices. To Brother Staub, therefore belongs the honor of being the first man initiated in Pentalpha Lodge after it had received its charter. Brother Staub died in 1927, about 45 years after he was made a Mason, and during all those years he was a most active worker in Pentalpha Lodge, as well as in all the other bodies of Masonry.

We have briefly recorded the events of perhaps the most important meeting that Pentalpha has ever had. As we record these events one-hundred and seventeen years later we can not help but feel depressed and sad but with a keen appreciation of the splendid fellowship during those years. In many ways, we wish that we could have been there to appreciate what our stalwart Brethren achieved.

Original Members

AFFILIATED

INITIATED

A Century of Pentalpha by Frank E. Krumreich, PM

A CENTURY OF PENTALPHA

At the Annual meeting held December 1, 1898, the Secretary reports the membership is 162, and a balance in the treasury of $469.78, with $1,000.00 invested in Building Association Stock. The same officers were elected and appointed as last year, and were installed by Past Master Vestal W. Woodward.
The Lodge endorsed a petition for a new Lodge at New Bethel, Indiana.
On June 22, 1899, a meeting was called to confer the Fellowcraft Degree on a number of candidates. Before the Lodge was opened on the second degree, Brother William R. Evans presented himself and stated that he had been commissioned as a Special Deputy by Grand Master Geake to inspect the work of the local Lodges. He requested the Worshipful Master to open the Lodge on the Entered Apprentice Degree, which was done, and Brother Evans then examined the candidates in open Lodge as to their proficiency. The Officers of the Lodge protested, saying that the candidates had been examined by the Worshipful Master and found proficient, but Brother Evans insisted, and the candidates were examined, as stated, and found to be proficient.
At the next Stated meeting of July 6, 1899, all reference to the above matter was ordered stricken from the minutes.

100 YEARS AGO
July 6, 1899

The Secretary submitted a complete report of actions taken at the last session of the Grand Lodge, wherein, fraternal relations were severed with the Grand Lodge of Washington on account of the Grand Lodge of Washington formally recognized Negro Masonry as "legitimate" Masonry.
On September 7, 1899 the Lodge received an edict, from the Grand Lodge, stating that fraternal relations had been re-established with the Grand Lodge of Washington.
At a called meeting on September 28, 1899, two brothers were raised to the degree of Master Mason. Among those present were:
- Grand Master Wm. Geake
- Deputy Grand Master Olin E. Holloway
- Past Grand Master Frank E. Gavin
- Junior Grand Deacon Theodore P. Davis
After the work, the Lodge repaired to the banquet hall, where refreshments were served, after which complimentary talks were made by the distinguished visitors. The Grand Master, in his address, complimented the Lodge on the fact that it had rendered the "Webb work" , as adopted by the Grand Lodge, in a perfect manner.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The "Webb work" is synonymous with "ritual work".  Thomas Smith Webb is the author of our modern ritual and Monitor.  This is an early indication that Pentalpha has always been known for great ritual work as complimented by the Grand Master.  It is a tradition we are proud to carry on.  For more information, see:  http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/royalarch/raeduc003.htm

Further History
At the Stated Meeting of October 5th, 1899, Brother William H. Smythe gave notice that he would retire from the office of Secretary at the close of the present year (see if you can find his picture on the ante room wall of the Lodge).
At the Annual meeting held December 7th, 1899, the Secretary, in his report, gave a short, but complete, history of the Lodge from its organization to the present time, and reiterated his statement that he could not accept the position as Secretary on account of the condition of his health. Brother Frank T. McQuiddy was elected Secretary at this meeting. The Building Association in which the Lodge has $1000.00 invested was in receiver's hands, and Brother Smythe moved "that all loss, if any, on account of the money invested in the association be charged to profit and loss, and that the Secretary be so instructed". Motion prevailed unanimously.
The elected Officers were installed at the January 4th, 1900, Stated Meeting by Past Master J. W. Staub. The annual dues were reduced to $3.00 per annum

Fraternally,
Frank E. Krumreich, PM