1851 to 1951 Switzerland Lodge No. 122 History

A History of Switzerland Lodge No. 122, F. and A. M., VEVAY, INDIANA, 1851 to 1951

By Dwight L. Smith, Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Indiana

The Lodge wishes to thank Dwight L. Smith, Grand Secretary, for permission to reprint this history, which first appeared in The Indiana Freemason as one of a series of articles on the first nine Lodges.

HISTORY OF SWITZERLAND LODGE No.  122

While Indiana was yet a territory nine Masonic Lodges were organized under the Kentucky dispensation. All of these had to struggle through lean years in the early days of Indiana Masonry.

With only one exception each Lodge went down under the difficulties of that era.  But every one came back after a dormant period and each one today carries its Masonic tradition proudly.

To one familiar with early Masonic history in Indiana, there can be no doubt that Switzerland Lodge at Vevay was called upon to suffer most. The story of its trials and failures, brought about not through shortcomings of its membership but rather by the lack of principle of one dominant figure, is not a pleasant story. But in justice to Switzerland Lodge, let it be said that for close to a century it has carried on gallantly and manfully in its determination to overcome an unfortunate start.

Of the many fascinating episodes in early Indiana history, Vevay provides one of the most interesting. Situated on the Ohio River midway between Cincinnati and Louisville, at the foot of majestic hills, it was, in early days, a veritable transplanted Switzerland. The town was laid out in the spring of 1813 by John Francis Dufour, a Swiss vineyard grower and winemaker. The Dufour family emigrated from Switzerland in 1801 and came to Kentucky, where, in 1796, John James Dufour had purchased 630 acres of land near Lexington for the purpose of establishing a huge Swiss settlement.

The immigrants, all French Swiss from the commune of Chatelard, District of Vevey, Canton de Vaud, arrived at the “First Vineyard” near Lexington in July, 1801. Later, a group of these pioneers crossed the Ohio into Indiana, and there, among hills that reminded them of their native land, established the “Second Vineyard.”

Switzerland County, formed out of portions of Dearborn and Jefferson Counties, was organized Oct. 1, 1814, one of the few counties to be established before Indiana became a State. Alexander A. Meek of Madison, Indiana’s second Grand Master, was one of the three commissioners appointed by the Territorial Legislature to locate the county seat. A proposal made by John Francis Dufour was accepted, and Vevay has been the county seat from the first.

When and by whom the first Lodge of Masons was organized at Vevay we do not know, and in all probability that chapter of history never will be written. Because all early records were lost more than a century ago, its beginnings must remain shrouded in mystery.

Several years ago in an article for The Indiana Freemason, Benjamin V. Welch, then Secretary of Switzerland Lodge No. 122, said: “The Lodge existed less than a score of years, was in difficulties from the start and ended in disgrace. Yet that first Lodge deserves a proper place in Masonic history because of its participation in carrying the lights of Masonry into a vast wilderness and because of its part in the organization of the Grand Lodge of Indiana . . . One man, given too much authority and being greedy for self-aggrandizement, an opportunist given the opportunity, was the only transgression. Early records state that William C. Keen was the life of the Lodge. He was also the cause of its untimely death.”

Judge Joseph Malin and Dr. John Mendenhall probably were responsible for bringing Masonry to Vevay. Both were natives of Virginia, and both contributed much to the development of the new settlement. Judge Malin, in addition to his practice of law, was an expert saddler who established a thriving industry in the frontier town as early as 1816.

In all probability the Lodge was organized sometime during the fall of 1817. It was next in rank below Rising Sun Lodge, and the Lodge at Rising Sun was created by dispensation in November of that year. It was never chartered by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, because only a few weeks after the dispensation had been issued, the existing Lodges in the new State of Indiana met in Convention at Corydon to lay plans for the establishment of a Grand Lodge. Vevay Lodge was represented at that Convention by its two most prominent members, General William C. Keen and Hezekiah B. Hull.

The two delegates cast a favorable vote for a Grand Lodge of Indiana, and some six weeks later General Keen was the representative of his Lodge at the organization meeting of the Grand Lodge in Madison. General Keen, described as a “blatant, swashbuckling cavalier,” was named temporary Secretary while the Grand Lodge was being created, and later was chosen as the first Grand Marshal-this in spite of the fact that Vevay Lodge was Under Dispensation and therefore not entitled to a vote in the Grand Lodge.

Thus Vevay Lodge U. D. was one of the three Lodges Under Dispensation at the time the Grand Lodge of Indiana was created. Since all three were creatures of another Grand Lodge, they were not chartered at the first meeting at Madison in January, 1818. Instead, their dispensations were allowed to elapse and new dispensations were issued by the new Grand Lodge.

Rising Sun Lodge received the first charter, issued Sept. 14,1818 at the first called meeting of the Grand Lodge. Two days later a Lodge at Vevay was created with the following resolution:

Resolved, That letters of Dispensation issue, authorizing a Lodge to be held by the petitioners in the town of Vevay, in the State of Indiana, to be known by the name of Switzerland Lodge and that Brother William C. Keen be the first Master, Brother John Mendenhall first Senior Warden and Brother Alexander Hutton first Junior Warden.

One year later, on Sept. 14, 1819, a Grand Lodge committee reported that it had “examined the working of Switzerland Lodge, at Vevay, (U. D.),” and that its findings disclosed “their workings are regular.” Accordingly, a charter was granted with this resolution:

Resolved, That so much of said report of the committee to examine the workings of Lodges under Dispensation, as relates to Switzerland Lodge, be received; and that a Charter issue to said Lodge. under the name of Vevay Lodge No. 7, to be held at the town of Vevay, Indiana, that Brother William C. Keen be the first Master, Brother John Mendenhall the Senior Warden and Brother Jesse Lindsey the Junior Warden.

Among the charter members of the new Lodge were Judge Joseph Malin, William Pierson, Joseph Bentley, William Carpenter, James Lindsey, Rufus Scott, Stephen Wicher and Fred Burnham.

Thus, the Lodge at Vevay, which seems to have been called alternately by the names of Vevay and Switzerland, was the second Lodge to be chartered by the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Little is known of its early members, its doings or its meeting places. Masonic tradition in Vevay for many generations has accepted the old Armstrong Tavern at the corner of Market and Liberty Streets, as the first meeting place. This house, erected in 1815, was occupied at that time by Thomas Armstrong.  It is now the home of Russell Pickett.

Early Grand Lodge records reveal that the meeting night for Switzerland Lodge was the Thursday on or before the full moon. In 1820, one year after the Lodge was chartered, General Keen is listed as Worshipful Master and Nathaniel S. Porter as Secretary. In 1822 Stephen Wicher Jr., was named Worshipful Master and General Keen Secretary.

But difficulties came thick and fast.  General Keen was Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Indiana from 1819 until 1826, but either he was not strong enough to save the Lodge from dis­ solution or his interests were not sufficiently unselfish to keep the little band together. At the Grand Lodge meeting in 1823, Stephen Wicher Jr., representing his Lodge, presented a petition which gives some hint as to the trials then being endured:

Your petitioners, members of Vevay Lodge No. 7, working under your Charter, would respectfully represent that, for divers impending causes-among which are the want of a convenient room for working, and the scarcity of specie money­ we are unable to pursue our labors with that laudable zeal which the great cause of Masonry justly merits.

We therefore pray your most honorable Body to take into consideration our situation, and grant a suspension of our labors for three years; and in the meantime, to suspend our payment of dues, both to our own Lodge and the Grand Charity Fund; to give our present Master, Wardens and Secretary authority to grant demits according to our present By-Laws; to appoint a committee to take charge of our jewels, settle our accounts, and collect existing dues. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.

The petition was signed by Joseph Malin, John Mendenhall, Rufus Scott, Stephen Wicher Jr., and Frederick Burnham. It was referred to a committee consisting of Harvey Gregg of Indianapolis, Alexander A. Meek of Madison and James Nesmith of Jeffersonville. This committee reported:

That the sum which said Lodge is in arrears to this Grand Lodge shall be paid in three annual installments, to-wit, one at the Communication of the Grand Lodge in I 824; one-third in 1825; one-third in 1826—until which time said Lodge shall cease to work. And if the above conditions are complied with, their Charter shall then be returned to them without charge, and in the meantime the members shall be exempt from contributions and fees to the Grand Lodge. and the Master and Wardens shall have power to demit any member who shall apply for it; and upon a failure to comply with the above conditions, to be struck from the list of Lodges working under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge.

A rather unusual arrangement, but one which might have saved Switzerland Lodge had it been adopted. But the Grand Lodge thought otherwise, for on motion the committee’s report was postponed indefinitely.

Matters then became worse with each succeeding year. By 1825 the Lodge had only 19 members and was indebted to the Grand Lodge for $71. It was represented in Grand Lodge regularly until the time of Grand Secretary Keen’s disgraceful exit in 1826, and from then on nothing was heard from it. By 1828 a special committee was moved to report that “they have no hesitation in saying that Vevay Lodge No. 7 has forfeited its Charter,” and went on to adopt the following resolution:

Resolved, That Vevay Lodge No. 7 be suspended from all the privileges of working until the further order of this Grand Lodge be known; and that the Grand Secretary make known this determination to the Worshipful Master and Brethren of said Lodge; and that he take possession of the books, papers and jewels of said Lodge; and that he report his proceedings herein to the next Grand Lodge.

One year later (1829) Philip Mason, then District Master for the Third District, reported on the matter by saying that “this Lodge ceased to work more than three years ago. l received a promise from the former Worshipful Master to be furnished with a true situation of the affairs of the Lodge; but have only received verbal information that the books, papers and jewels arc in the hands of Brother W. C. Keen, and nothing certain could be had from him on the subject.”

The same year Harvey Gregg, reporting for another committee, said that “Vevay Lodge has not been represented, or heard from, since 1825, and, from the best information, has ceased to work for several years.” Accordingly, the Grand Lodge arrested the charter with the following resolution:

Resolved That the Charters of Vevay Lodge No. 7, Zif Lodge No. 8, Palestine Lodge No. 14 and Hindostan Lodge No. 26 be, and the same are hereby arrested by this Grand Lodge; and the Grand Secretary is hereby fully authorized to take possession of the papers, books, dues, tools, jewel and furniture of said Lodges, as soon as he can get possession of the same, for the use of this Grand Lodge; and that he report specially what he has done in the premises, to the next Annual Grand Communication thereof; and that he inform said Lodges of the determination of this Grand Lodge as soon as possible.

Then began an effort, lasting more than fifteen years, to secure the books, papers and jewels of the late Vevay Lodge. In 1831 Daniel Kelso, a resident of Switzerland County and later Grand Master, was appointed an agent for the Grand Lodge “with full power to demand, receive, and, if necessary’. to sue for all tools, jewels, books, papers and other effects of said Lodge which have been so forfeited.”

The following year Brother Kelso reported partial success:

That. after many fruitless attempts to effect a compromise with Vevay Lodge No. 7, he did, in the month of March last, seize and take into full possession of the following property be­ longing to said Lodge, to-wit: One set of silver jewels (except the Junior Warden’s jewel), one carpet, two columns, two rods, some furniture belonging to the Mark Master’s Lodge, one ballot box, one old sword, one Bible, one old Monitor, one book case (sold for two dollars); all of which is safely deposited in Vevay, for the benefit of the Grand Lodge (except the jewels, which are herewith presented). Your agent would further state that the books of said Lodge are said to be in the possession of Wm. C. Keen, and never perhaps will be seen by any person except himself.

Here the matter reseed until 1844, when Hugh Ferry made a final attempt to get some of the missing property. Brother Ferry reported that “in pursuance of a resolution of this Grand Lodge, I have called for the Masters’ Carpet of Vevay Lodge, and found it in the possession of the widow Patten, who refused to give it up.”

The “Widow Patten” is believed to have been the widow of an Irishman, William Patton, who lost his life trying to win a wager that he could cross the Ohio River by holding to the tail of one of his race horses.

Thus ingloriously did Vevay (or Switzerland) Lodge come to its end. At best, it existed only about six years. Its charter was arrested after four years, and for 15 years thereafter the disposition of its property remained a live issue. The records never were secured-hence the absence of authentic material to throw light on the early days of the Lodge.

Freemasonry remained dormant in Vevay until 1850, when the Masons then living in the town sent a petition to Grand Master Elizur Deming asking for a dispensation to hold a Lodge. The petitioners were Elijah Collins, George G. Knox, E. Charles Sugg, Joseph Malin, F. S. Lindley, S. P. Crawford, J. M. Froman and Simon Messinger.

The Grand Master issued a dispensation dated April 11, 1850, naming Elijah Collins as Worshipful Master, George G. Knox a Senior Warden and E. Charles Sugg as Junior Warden. First meeting Under Dispensation was held April 30. at which time Deputy Grand Master Alexander C. Downey and Past Grand Master Abel C. Pepper, both of Rising Sun, were present. Brother Pepper opened a Lodge of Master Mason and appointed Brothers Sugg, Knox and Froman a committee to draft By-Laws.

The By-Laws, adopted at the next meeting on May 30, fixed the dues at 10 cents per month and fees at $15. To make sure the reputation of the Lodge did not suffer by laxity in morals, the Brethren adopted this article:

Any Brother forgetting the moral duties so essential to the preservation and credit of our institution as to be seen in a state of intoxication or to be guilty of habitual profane swearing it shall be the indispensable duty of every brother knowing the same to report it to the Lodge, whereupon the brother so offending shall be admonished by the master in open Lodge for the first offence, for the second offence he shall be suspended for six months, and for the third offence shall be expelled.

Petitions at that first meeting were received from Charles T. Jones, George H. Kyle, I. R. McGinnis and Henry Mayers. The new Lodge was being builded carefully, on more secure foundations than its unhappy ancestor.

Worshipful Master Collins attended the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge at Indianapolis, and the minutes of the June stated meeting hint at some additional difficulties faced by Indiana Masonry at that time:

Brother Collins presented a Grand Lodge scrip for sixteen (dollars) being the sum allowed him by the Grand Lodge for his wages as a Representative for this Lodge to that body, which scrip was ordered to be paid in Cash and the Grand Lodge debited with that amount, to be deducted out of the Dues to the Grand Lodge at the next grand communication in 1851.

A charter was not granted at the 1850 Grand Lodge meeting because the infant Switzerland Lodge U. D. had been working only a few weeks. Instead, a second dispensation was granted, signed by Grand Master Deming and the Brethren set to work on probation for another year.

In June of that year a committee appointed to procure a seal for use of the Lodge recommended that “as the Lodge was young and possessing slender means, that it would not be prudent to purchase a Seal as the Lodge is compelled to work under a Dispensation until the next Grand Communication.”

The memory of the old trials and tribulations had not passed away when the new Lodge was established, for in July, 1850, “a motion was made and seconded That a committee of one be appointed to visit the Lodges in Rising Sun, Aurora, Lawrenceburg and Manchester to obtain what information may be learned as to the Jewels belonging to the former Switzerland Lodge and to demand and receive the same on behalf of this Lodge, under and by the authority of the Grand Lodge of Indiana which motion was passed unanimously.”

E. Charles Sugg, Junior Warden, was designated as that committee. He reported at the next stated meeting chat he had “attended to the duties assigned him, but without any present or probable success in the future.” He was allowed $8 for his mileage, and once again the subject of the Switzerland Lodge jewels had to be dropped.

Apparently the first Worshipful Master, Elijah Collins, had previously been a member of Versailles Lodge No. 7, for in August of that year (1850) notice was received that Brother Collins had been suspended for non-payment of dues on May, 28,1850. “Bro. Collins being at this time absent in Virginia, on Motion It is ordered that the secretary write to Bro. A. W. Morris, G. S., asking his opinion and advice in the Matter &c.”  The matter was settled amicably, however, for in November Versailles Lodge No. 7 reported that Brother Collins had satisfied the account.

No meetings were held in June or July of that first year because, as the minutes state, “of sickness in the Town and surrounding Country.”

The Lodge received its charter from the Grand Lodge on May 30, 1851. In the charter George G. Knox is named Worshipful Master; Joseph Malin, Senior Warden, and Francis S. Lindley, Junior Warden.

Instruction was not neglected by the infant Lodge.  In its first year of existence it decided to secure the services of Grand Lecturer H. T. Kinman for one week and to pay him $20 and expenses for his work. Meetings were therefore held on January 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Degrees were conferred and instruction in ritualistic matters was given.

The financial problem was no small matter for a tiny Southern Indiana Lodge in 1851. In the minutes of meeting after meeting appear evidences of the struggle to furnish the Lodge Hall. It was resolved “that the committee on seal & jewels be instructed to purchase a Set of Silver Jewels & percussion Seal & also 2 doz. split bottom chairs.” After many months the committee secured jewels for $30.50, then a seal at $6. Other committees were set to work to procure deacons’ rods, a master’s carpet, a sword for the Tyler and a desk for the Secretary.

By 1856 the Lodge had 23 members.  Growth was slow, for in 1857 a net gain of only one was reported, and in 1858 there were only 29 members. But however slow the gain, the Lodge was building on solid foundations. No evidences of the former strife and weakness were on hand, and the minutes of every meeting conclude with the notation “Lodge was closed in due and ancient form, Peace and Harmony prevailing.”

Although the Civil War undoubtedly made its ugly mark on Switzerland Lodge No. 122, no direct mention of the conflict appears in the records. Meetings were held without interruption until the summer of 1864, when a number of meetings had to be postponed because of the absence of a quorum.

During the year 1864 John F. Doan was instructed to invest “as soon as convenient One Hundred Dollars of the Lodge Funds on hand in Five Twenties U. S. Bonds.” Brother Doan reported at the next meeting “that he could not procure any Five Twenties U. S. Bonds at less a rate than from 2 to 3 per cts. premium whereupon motion he was directed to loan $100 of the Lodge money to the county commissioners of Switzerland County at 6 pr. cts. interest.”  The county commissioners were not in need of a loan, however, so a loan to an individual was authorized.

In the ‘seventies and ‘eighties Indiana Masonry experienced what probably was its most trying period from a financial standpoint.  The old Grand Lodge Hall, erected in 1848, had fallen into such a poor state of repair that the need for an entirely new Temple was apparent. A building to cost $75,000 was authorized and construction was begun. But the delegates to the 1875 meeting of the Grand Lodge did not like the new building because it provided no Grand Lodge Hall, so they administered a verbal spanking to the Building Committee and directed that, if necessary, a new wing be added to the Temple, which stood at the corner of Washington Street and Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis. An assessment of 30 cents per member for each Mason in the State was levied and an additional loan authorized to cover the cost.

As usually is the case, the total cost of the building was much greater than had been anticipated, and by the time construction was completed and furnishings installed, the total debt was more than $120,000. Then the lean years began.

In 1877 the minutes of Switzerland Lodge reveal the economic stress under which the Grand Lodge was working and the reaction of one small Lodge of rugged individualists to the problem:

A communication was read from the Trustees of the Grand Lodge property addressed to the Grand Master, bearing date June 7, 1877, stating that some heavy obligations of the Grand Lodge are now falling due & that there is no money in the Grand Lodge Treasury with which to pay them & that they are unable to borrow money & that unless some action is taken by the Grand Lodge indicating its intention to pay these obligations the holders of them will institute legal proceedings to subject the Grand Lodge property to their payment, thereby sub­ mitting it to the loss of its entire property &c, and also a communication from the Grand Master in conjunction therewith ad­ dressed to this Lodge & dated June 14, 1877, submitting the three following propositions to this Lodge & ordering that its answer be returned at once to the Grand Secretary at Indiana- polis.

First—Are you in favor of a called or special communication of the Grand Lodge to consider the present emergency and to devise means to relieve it?

Second—Will you send a representative to such a Communication?

Third—Are you in favor of an assessment upon the Lodges to relieve the Grand Lodge from its present embarrassment?

The above questions were submitted to the Lodge and voted on and the Lodge voted Nay unanimously to all three of the propositions.

Apparently most of the Lodges voted “nay” on the questions, for no special meeting was called. Instead, an assessment of $1 per member was levied in 1877 and continued in following years until the debt was paid. The Grand Lodge payroll was met in scrip and annual meetings were dispensed with. For eight years the Grand Lodge met only once in every two years, thus effecting a saving of about $10,000 for each omitted meeting. By means of such rigid economy the entire debt was retired in about ten years.

One other shot at Grand Lodge spending appears in the minutes of Switzerland Lodge in 1879:

A communication from Eureka Lodge in reference to G. Lodge debt was read and on motion it was agreed that this Lodge concur in the resolutions adopted by Eureka Lodge that it was better for the G. Lodge to pay the G. L. debt with the G. L. building than to enter into a 30 years term of financial slavery which would be the consequence of the plan proposed by the G. L. and now in operation.

The Ohio Valley was the scene of a devastating flood in February, 1884. Because of its high location, Vevay itself was dam­ aged but little, although about seventy-five persons were made homeless. At the next stated meeting (March 6) a letter from Grand Master Bruce Carr, appealing for contributions for the relief of Masons and their families in the Ohio Valley was read and the Lodge sent $15 to be used for this purpose.

Although the minutes of Switzerland Lodge shed little light on national events of the day, the First World War is mentioned more than once in the records of 1917-18. Less than six weeks after the declaration of war on Germany the minutes tell of the appointment of a committee consisting of Will G. Klein Sr., Charles Pleasants and Joe Danner to purchase $300 in Liberty Bonds. At the next meeting Hugh M. Thieband, Charles Anschutz and Joe Danner were named a committee to purchase a flag for the Lodge. In September “by Consent the Lodge agreed to keep all Brothers that are called to the war in good standing until their return,” and another committee, consisting of Joe Danner, Chester Kiesel and Harry Siefert was directed to purchase an honor roll.

Of particular interest are these excerpts from the minutes records of the ‘sixties, ‘seventies and ‘eighties:

1860—”An  interesting  Lecture  was  delivered  by  our M. W. G. A. C. Downey.”

1860—”Bro. Black, Tyler, having a verry sick child the Lodge Room was not lit up-consequently the Lodge was not opened.”

1865—Apparently this was the first public ceremony of any kind celebrated by Switzerland Lodge. The Brethren marched in procession to the court house, where officers were installed by Past Grand Master Alexander C. Downey. Joseph Cotton, also of Rising Sun, delivered the address.

1872—”A communication from Bro. Grand Secretary J. M. Bramwell was presented asking for aid for the invalid daughter of our former Grand Secretary Francis King; on motion it was received and $5 were donated for that purpose.”

1877—”A motion was made that this Lodge have a meeting on the evening of the 27 of December next and that the ladies be invited to attend said meeting to be held for the purpose of Conferring the Eastern Star Degree on any and all of the ladies who desire to take said Degree & are entitled thereto. Motion carried.”

1878—”On motion a Bro. who wished to be examined and who was waiting in the ante room was asked to retire as we had no Bro. who could speak his language.”

1883—”Bro I. W. Lewis proposed a Steamboat excursion for the benefit of the Lodge; after a free discussion by the members pro and con on motion the Lodge decided in the negative.” At the next meeting, however, the Brethren reversed their position and made arrangements to charter the Louis A. Sherly for a trip up the river to Cincinnati for $160. The excursion realized a net profit of $55.49.  The Relief Committee presented a bill for $2.25 for excursion expenses of “two indigent Master Masons.” A short time afterwards one Brother proposed that “the walls of the Lodge room should be decorated with paintings appropriate of the principles and character of our ancient order and the proceeds of the late Masonic excursion be devoted to the object.” A special committee was appointed, but its investigation revealed that the proposed project would be too costly.

1887—”The subject of celebrating St. John’s Day was in­ definitely postponed until the completion of the L. C. & D. Railroad when a grand demonstration of the order, united in by Masons from all sections of the state will assist in the inauguration of this great event.” Both the railroad and the Masonic celebration proved to be only dreams, however for the Louisville Cincinnati & Dayton Railroad never came into being.

1888—”ln consequence of the frequent interruptions of Lodge by the beating of drums and other noise emanating from the room below occupied by the Vevay Band, Brother Dyer offered a motion that a committee be appointed to consult Bro. A.G. Craig the Lesser of the Hall to abate the disturbances which have been so frequent of late, which motion was carried by a unanimous vote.” A committee at the next meeting reported Brother Craig “has arranged that the Lodge shall not suffer from the annoyance hereafter.”

First meeting place of Switzerland Lodge, according to tradition, was the tavern at the corner of Market and Liberty Streets known as the Armstrong Tavern. If this is true, it probably remained the meeting place throughout the short life of Vevay Lodge No. 7, even though, in the petition of 1823, the Lodge complained of the “want of a convenient room for working.”

After the Lodge was revived in 1851 the Brethren met for at least two years in the hall of Indiana Lodge No. 6, I.O.O.F. In 1853, according to the minutes, the meeting place was in the Temple of Honor hall.  Two years later (1855) the Lodge moved to a room in the old Switzerland County Court House, which had been erected in 1815.  This original court house was torn down in the early ‘sixties.

In 1858 an arrangement was worked out with the Odd Fellows whereby Switzerland Lodge might again occupy the hall, this time at a rental charge of $20 per year. This lasted about three years, then, apparently because of differences over the rental charge, Switzerland Lodge moved out of the hall of Indiana Lodge of Odd Fellows and into the hall of Phoenix Lodge of Odd Fellows in a third story room of the LeClerc House. Here the rent also was $20 per year. In 1863 a letter from Phoenix Lodge advised the Masonic Brethren that “in consequence of the high prices of fuel, lights, &c &c, they had to raise their rent of this Hall to $25 per year.”

For 15 years various committees sought without success to find a suitable Lodge hall, then, in 1877, a third story room was leased of Ulysses P. Schenck in his brick building on Lot 59 at the northwest corner of Pike and Ferry Streets. First meeting in the new location was held July 19, 1877. Rental charge was $60 per year.

For more than sixty years this was the home of Switzerland Lodge No. 122 until, on July 1, 1938, the present location at the northwest corner of Main and Ferry Streets above the Vevay De­ posit Bank was leased.

In naming the prominent members of old Vevay Lodge No. 7 and Switzerland Lodge No. 122 it is unfortunate that so much emphasis must be placed upon two individuals whose actions did little but reflect discredit upon the Lodge and the Fraternity in general.

Two of the early members who were prominent in Indiana Masonry were CALIB H. HORTON, Senior Grand Deacon in 1852, and GEORGE H. KYLE, Junior Grand Deacon in 1856. Little or nothing is known about Brother Horton, but George H. Kyle was county treasurer from 1853 to 1855 and associate judge of the county in 1850-51, the last to serve in that capacity before the office was abolished by the new State Constitution.

GEORGE G. Knox, charter Worshipful Master when the Lodge was revived in 1851, was a native of Kentucky and one of the early settlers of Vevay. He was largely responsible for the organization of the Methodist Church in Vevay, and, in all probability, was one of the first to receive the Degrees of Masonry in old Vevay Lodge No. 7. He was county treasurer from 1830 to 1841.

HEZEKIAH B. HULL, an attorney, was the representative of Vevay Lodge U. D. at the Corydon Convention. Admitted to practice law in courts between the time of the organization of Switzerland County and the formation of the State government, Brother Hull was one of the early Indiana lawyers along with James Dill, Miles C. Eggleston, John Lawrence, Samuel Merrell, Reuben Kidder, Stephen C. Stevens, Alexander A. Meek, Amos Lane and Joseph F. Farley.  In July, 1818, upon the resignation of Stephen C. Stevens as prosecuting attorney, Brother Hull was appointed his successor. His Masonic record, sadly enough, is none too impressive, for he was suspended for non-payment of dues on June 22, 1820. In the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge for 1822 it was reported that Hull had deposited the amount due his Lodge in Asylum Lodge No. 6 in Mississippi and thereby became a member of that Lodge, although it is difficult to know just how such a procedure was arranged. The Grand Lodge of Indiana was directed to enter into correspondence with the Grand Lodge of Mississippi in an effort to secure the amount due Vevay Lodge, but two years later the Grand Secretary reported that no answer to his correspondence had been received.

GENERAL WILLIAM C. KEEN, known as the “life” and also the “death” of old Vevay Lodge No. 7, was one of those individuals who could not be ignored in spite of his many and varied operations of a shady character. First Worshipful Master of Vevay Lodge, he was chosen as Grand Marshal at the organization meeting of the Grand Lodge in 1818, served as Grand Secretary from 1819 to 1825 and was Grand Marshal an additional term, 1826, before his unsavory career in Masonry ended.

General Keen was a pioneer printer and newspaper man in Switzerland County. He had served in Commodore Perry’s fleet and was awarded a medal for valiant conduct in the War of 1812. He came to Vevay in the fall of 1815.  His printing equipment he had left at Hamilton, Ohio, ready to be shipped, but mortgaged for $200, which he was unable to pay. He persuaded John Francis Dufour, founder of Vevay, to pay the mortgage, which was done. The equipment was brought to Vevay, where Keen, in 1816, started the Indiana Register under the firm name of Keen & Company. This firm lasted until December, 1817.

In 1820 Keen started publishing the Register again and continued until 1826, when he moved to Printer’s Retreat, a tiny settlement between Vevay and Jacksonville, where, in partnership with a man named Child, he published the Weekly Messenger until 1836, when Child went to Warsaw, Ky., taking the press and type with him.

General Keen was a brigadier general of the Indiana Militia about 1818 or 1819. In 1825 he was Representative from Switzerland County to the State Legislature, was justice of the peace at Vevay and first judge of the probate court. A description of him published in the old Indianapolis Sentinel, says:

A soldier who had seen actual service, he easily procured the appointment of General of the State Militia, and on the days of muster he was seen riding his horse with dignity of bearing, with an averdupois (sic) of three hundred and fifty pounds, and a voice commensurate with his weight. This, coupled with a shining sword, a sash and a red plume, made him an object of admiration to all who were fortunate enough to see.

Benjamin V. Welch, former Secretary of Switzerland Lodge, adds this bit of description of Keen the printer:

A personal item which he printed offended an inebriate, wild Irishman so much that he entered Keen’s office with a gun threatening to kill the General on the spot. Keen calmly drew back his coat and invited his irate visitor to proceed. Admiration for such unprecedented bravery cooled the assailant’s lust for blood, and tradition tells us that Keen so gently proceeded to tame this wild son of Erin that, before he departed, he was induced to run for county clerk in the pending election on the Democratic ticket, was elected and served 17 years in that capacity. Indeed, the General was renowned for his hearty support of every moral, political, religious and fraternal movement and voiced his opinions at the least provocation.

An old newspaper account tells of the Fourth of July celebration in 1824 at which General Keen served as chairman. Toasts were drunk “amid repeated cheering, accompanied by much firing of cannon and small arms.”

The same year (1824) General Keen was an enthusiastic supporter of Henry Clay for the Presidency. The followers of Clay met January 31, 1824 and formed an organization. General Keen was named a member of the committee to draft a suitable address to the voters of the Third Congressional District whereby they might be induced to nominate Clay for President and Andrew Jackson for Vice-President. The message was brought to a stirring climax with this paragraph: “In the language of the children of Israel on a certain occasion we say, ‘Let this good man rule over us’.”

In Perret Dufour’s manuscripts which now constitute a history of Switzerland County, the following incident is related:

In November 1817 the Grand Masonic Hall Lottery commenced drawing, and in December, 1817 William C. Keen gave notice that a few tickets, warranted undrawn could yet be had at the original price of Ten Dollars; this lottery its believed also failed in realizing the expectations of those who had the management of its affairs.

The lottery referred to was sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky and was a failure.

General Keen was printer for the Grand Lodge for a number of years while serving as Grand Secretary.  He was awarded the contract for printing the Proceedings in 1823 at 37½ cents per 1,000 ems for composition and 37½ cents per token for press work. The following year his bid was  31 cents, and he promised “the work to be done in a neat, workmanlike manner, and the copies for distribution to he delivered in sixty days from next Monday into the post office at Vevay.” Again in 1825 he received the contract, but on a higher bid this time.

Along with Abel C. Pepper of Rising Sun and George L. Murdock of Lawrenceburg. he was Grand Visitor for the Sixth District in 1823.

ln 1826, after seven years’ service as Grand Secretary, he was elected Grand Marshal and James F. D. Lanier of Madison was named Grand Secretary. The Committee on Accounts had no report from Grand Treasurer William H. Lilly of Corydon, and thus had to rely solely on Keen’s report of the financial condition. Keen was directed to turn over his books to the new Grand Secretary.

The following year (1827) neither Keen nor Lilly was present at Grand Lodge. At the next meeting Lilly’s death was reported, and it developed that he was short  in his accounts $223.94. General Keen’s indebtedness was fixed at $75.87. The next year it was found that Harvey Gregg, Lilly’s successor as Grand Treasurer, had failed to account for funds amounting to $455.50, and he, too, died before the next Grand Lodge meeting. Thus a Grand Secretary and two Grand Treasurers had been short in their accounts in a space of three years. Keen was summoned before Grand Lodge, but never appeared.  His shortage, together with that of Lilly and Gregg, had to be charged off.

After this unpleasant episode, which resulted in the death of Vevay Lodge, General Keen became postmaster at Printer’s Retreat, where, in the winter of 1839, he was charged with the theft of a bank note from the United States mails and convicted in the U.S. District Court.

It is said that the marshal came to take General Keen to Indianapolis for trial in a wagon drawn by two horses. While traveling through Ripley County the wheels mired down. Ordered to descend from the wagon and help push out of the mud, the General replied that Uncle Sam had paid his fare and he would not work his way into court.

General Keen was sentenced to a ten-year term in the Federal penitentiary at Jeffersonville. Here also his genial personality served him well, and he soon became a “trusty.” Although he had bitterly attacked President Martin Van Buren in his paper in the campaign of 1836, the President pardoned General Keen in 1840. He returned to Switzerland County and set up a small steam mill in Florence. After operating this plant a few years he moved to Philadelphia, and died at Germantown, Pa.

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1951 to 2015

Switzerland Lodge #122 celebrated its Centennial on August 16, 1951 with the following officers presiding:
Max Rosenberger, Worshipful Master
Dutch Peters, Senior Warden
Ben Welch, Junior Warden
Charles Cheevers, Senior Deacon
Dick Trinkle, Junior Deacon
Chuck Geiger, Tyler
Paul Merz, Mas­ter of Ceremonies.

Switzerland Lodge moved to the Reveille Building over the Post Office on Pike Street, July 1, 1981. Records state that the Charter was moved the 28^th day of October 1981 to that location.

Bennington Lodge #257 gave up its Charter and transferred to Switzerland Lodge #122, August 12, 1996, after many years in the county.

Switzerland Lodge #122 celebrated 150 years on April 28, 2001 with the fol­lowing officers presiding:
Thomas Conroy, Worshipful Master
Jason Jenkins, Senior Warden
Glenn Taylor, Junior Warden
Donald Allen, Treasurer
James F. Baker, Secretary
George Armes, Senior Deacon
Ray Bruce, Junior Deacon
Nelson Turner, Senior Steward
Robert Curlin, Junior Steward
Dennis Napier, Chaplain
Ronald Thornton as Tyler

Brent Wayne Judy, the youngest Master Mason ever in the history of Switzerland Lodge #122, was appointed ambassa­dor for the 200^th year Anniversary, by Grand Master Gail Kemp.

In 2006, members of Switzerland Lodge started actively looking for a building that they could purchase and renovate into a new Masonic Hall. Brothers Tom Conroy, Ron Thornton and Nelson Turner were tasked with the job of finding a suitable building to purchase. No existing building for sale was ever found during that time.

In 2008 Switzerland Lodge located a piece of property in the front of the old Randall/Textron plant in Vevay. The price was $35,470.50 and it was decided to purchase the property to build a new building.

Several attempts to progress in the building project were met with failure. It seemed that the members of Switzerland Lodge would never get the new building they wanted.

In October of 2010, Ron Thornton brought up the construction of the new building again to its membership. A committee was formed consisting of Roy A. Leap, Richard D. Lock, James L. Parker and Ron Thornton who was appoint­ed Chairman of the committee. Additional committee members were soon added which consisted of Steve Coplen, Chuck Schmidt and Tom Conroy. The Ben­nington Chapter of Eastern Star #407 pledged $35,000.00 to help with con­struction.

The members of Switzerland Lodge #122 quickly learned that a massive amount of donated labor was needed to complete the project with little or no debt. The committee was concerned that they would not have the funds to pay off a mortgage. The members agreed that they did not want to go in debt to build a building. The committee stalled for a long time as they could not come up with a good solution.

On 09/21/2012, Switzerland Lodge #122 lost its Tyler and Chairman of the building committee. Brother Ron Thornton passed away without ever realiz­ing his dream of opening a meeting in a new Lodge building. The remainder of the committee held a meeting shortly after his funeral to discuss the building project once again. Tom Conroy assumed the lead as Chairman of the com­mittee. There had been talk previously of reducing the size of the building so the project could be completed under budget. Brother Conroy stated, “We need to keep the original size of the building. If we start the project, we will raise the money to finish.” These words, coupled with the recent loss of Brother Thornton fueled the desire to push forward with the building project. In a leap of faith, the committee voted to proceed with the original size of the building.

In June of 2013, Switzerland Lodge #122 broke ground on the new building. Members of the Lodge volunteered countless hours of labor to get the new building under roof. The building was under roof and wiring was installed before cold weather with the generous support of J.J. Sullivan and his company. The project slowly continued throughout the winter months.

In March of 2014, Switzerland Lodge #122 faced more sorrow. Brother Nelson Larry Turner passed away unexpectedly. Brother Turner had donated count­less hours of labor and provided monetary support for the building project.

His loss was devastating to the Lodge. With loss comes great hope. Brother Turner’s wife asked for donations to be made the building project. Masons came from all over the area to perform the Masonic Services for our dearly departed brother. Over $3,000.00 was raised in his honor. Greg Sigmon of Sigmon’s Heating and Cooling heard that Brother Turner had been working on installing the HVAC for the building and volunteered his labor to finish the job. Community support, like that of Sigmon and Sullivan, was essential to the completion of the project.

In a true display of Brotherly Love, Jackson Lodge #147 donated $5,000 to the building project to finish the kitchen. Local citizen Rod Dickerson donated appliances for the kitchen and other materials to help with the project. With a definite end in sight, local members made one final push for donations to complete the project. Members donated countless hours of labor to finish the Lodge before winter came.

Members of Bennington Chapter of Eastern Star #407 and Florence Lodge #27 volunteered labor and monetary support to help with painting and finishing of the building.

On December 5, 2014, the Grand Master granted official permission for Switzerland Lodge #122 to permanently move their charter to the newly constructed temple, located at 712 Bob Slawson Avenue in Vevay, Indiana. Switzerland Lodge held their first meeting in the new Lodge on December 18th, 2014.

Thus Switzerland Lodge No. 122 history goes on. Not for the sake of any one man or idea, but for the eternal brotherhood of men united together in common cause.

2015 Officers of Switzerland Lodge #122
Richard Dale Lock                                            Worshipful Master
Charles A. Schmidt                                           Senior Warden
Thomas A. Conroy                                            Junior Warden
Roy Alan Leap                                                   Treasurer
James F. Baker                                                  Secretary
Steven E. Coplen                                              Senior Deacon
Gary L. Clark                                                      Junior Deacon
Kenton C. Banta                                               Chaplain
Andrew R. Christman                                      Senior Steward
James T. Ray                                                      Junior Steward
Corey Ryan Lay                                                 Tyler

Indiana Masonic Home & Foundation Ambassador: John S. Stafford

Switzerland Lodge #122 – Trustees
Floyd R. Whitham Roy Alan Leap David L. McFadden

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2015 to 2024 Switzerland Lodge 122 History

Coming Soon

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