Evansville Lodge No. 64 received its charter on May 26, A. D. 1848, A. L. 5848. The Worshipful Master for 2018 is Jeremy Hoesli.
Early History of Freemasonry in Evansville
In the early years of the 19th century, Evansville was growing rapidly in part because of the doctrine of Manifest Destiny. Some of the Masons living in the area decided to start their own Lodge. Early in 1819 these Masons petitioned the Grand Lodge of Indiana for a grant of dispensation. Upon issuance of the dispensation, the first Masonic Lodge in Evansville was formed as Olive Branch Lodge #10. Olive Branch was chartered on 15 September 1819 by Grand Master Alexander Meeks. The Lodge was formed with Jay Morehouse as Worshipful Master, William Olmstead as Senior Warden and Amos Clark as Junior Warden. According to the records, nineteen brothers were on the rolls. Olive Branch Lodge #10 continued until 1833 when the property and Charter were surrendered to the Grand Lodge of Indiana as a result of the anti-Masonic sentiment infecting the nation.
Evansville Lodge U.D. was founded on 3 April 1848. We received our charter on 26 May 1848 as Evansville Lodge #64. Some of the brothers who founded our Lodge were members of the erstwhile Olive Branch Lodge. The brethren requested the Grand Lodge to return the jewels of Olive Branch Lodge to the newly chartered Evansville Lodge. When the charter was presented to the Lodge, the jewels were also returned and are still in our possession. The first Worshipful Master was C. A. Foster who was supported by John Hibbard, Senior Warden and James Walker, Junior Warden.
The following is from the original Lodge affairs that are mentioned in the records: Upon receiving an invitation from the County Commissioners, the Officers and Members of Evansville Lodge performed the duties of laying the corner stone of the Vanderburgh County Courthouse, 29 September 1852.
In 1865, it was ordered on motion that the Lodge Hall be draped in mourning for a thirty day period to mark the death of President Abraham Lincoln. The minutes also reflect that President Lincoln was referred to and considered a Mason; however, there is no historical evidence that the 16th President ever received any of the Masonic Degrees.
In 1867, the Mount Vernon, Indiana Lodge extended an invitation to Evansville #64 to attend the laying of the corner stone for the Masonic Lodge in Mount Vernon. The Evansville brethren were inspired to make their first visitation out of the city. The trip was made on the river boat "The Charmer." The cost of the trip was $200.00 for one hundred members of the Lodge.
