History
Compiled from "Masonic Organizations and Allied Order and Degrees" - Harold V. B. Voorhis
and other Sword of Bunker Hill historical documents.
Founded:
October 15, 1912, in Oregon, Illinois, by Frank Goodspeed Taylor, Superintendent of Schools at Oregon, a native of Vermont.
Purpose: "To promote the interest of Masonry by encouraging a more regular attendance at its meeting. To form a social and
fraternal organization to perpetuate the principles of American liberty. To instill into the minds of each generation the sacrifices of our Masonic forefathers in forming our great republic. To forever inspire patriotism and loyalty by administering to every candidate for our Order the oath of allegiance to state and nation. To provide a time and place for good clean fun. To further
cement our friendship and brotherly love by providing social entertainment. To contribute a portion of our initiation free to a worthy Masonic charity."
Degrees and Honors:
"Order of the Sword".
Officers:
Eleven, with a Most Honorable Grand Commander in Chief presiding. The National body is called The Grand Order Sword of the Sword of Bunker Hill. Local bodies are termed "Orders" and have nine officers, with an Honorable Grand Commander in Chief presiding. The Grand Order also has a Noble Council, District Commanders, Liaison Officers, and Ambassadors at Large.
Meetings:
The Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill holds a Grand Order Session that is hosted annually by a local Order from across the United States.
History:
The Founder, Frank G. Taylor, was born in Middletown, Vermont on May 19, 1878 and died in Saratoga, New York on July 21, 1949. He went to Illinois in the early part of the Twentieth Century and settled in Oregon where he was Superintendent of Schools. He became a Freemason in Oregon Lodge, No. 420, A.F.&A.M. March 11, 1908; was Exalted in Rock River Chapter, No. 151,
R.A.M.; Greeted in Dixon Council, No. 7, R.& S.M.; and Knighted in Vermont. He served as High Priest, Thrice Illustrious Master and was a District Inspector in Grand Chapter. Each year Brother Taylor returned to Vermont for his summer vacation. Upon his return a year or so before 1912 he conferred a ritual he had written upon a Brother F.W. Gantz. They then conferred it on some Royal Arch Masons, mostly in Rock River Chapter, No. 151, where Companion Taylor believed such a "play-house" would eliminate horse-play in the Chapter itself. Finally, on October 15, 1912, a charter was issued for "Liberty Hill Order, No. 1" at
Oregon. That same year Ralph Wheeler, then Junior Grand Warden, and Grand Lecturer Albert Jampolis, were initiated into the mysteries and symbolism of the Sword of Bunker Hill. They were so impressed with this degree that they requested a charter for an order to be located at Lincoln Park. On October 13, 1913, Lincoln Park Order, No. 2 was Charted in Chicago with 88 charter members. In 1914, Sterling (Illinois) asked to have an order constituted there at the close of the Grand Lodge School of Instruction that was being held in their city. At that time, River Rock Order No. 3 was formed and the members of the Grand Board of Examiners who were present were initiated among the charter members. Shortly thereafter a state Order was formed. After more than fifteen years of operating, at the insistent request of Blue Lodge Masons, the Founder issued an edict changing the requirements of membership from Royal Arch Masons to Master Masons. Taylor also established the Grand Order in Illinois, and guided it through its infancy. The Grand Order has issued all charters since - it being virtually the national body. By 1927 there were 16 subordinate Orders, all located in Illinois.
Brother Taylor returned to Vermont in 1942, demitting from all his Illinois Masonic affiliations, and affiliated with their Vermont counterparts. On June 17, 1943, the Founder requested that he retire as the head of The Grand Order and Ernest M. Campbell, now P.G.H.P.; P.G.I.M.; Grand Captain General of the Grand Commandery of Illinnis, K. T.; and Past Prior of Illinois Priory, No. 11, Knights of the York Cross of Honour, was chosen to head The Grand Order.
It might be mentioned that Frank G. Taylor, Jr., the son of the Founder became the charter presiding officer in Robert Livingston Order, No. 90, New York City, on May 8, 1951. This group inducted 364 members by May 13, 1952.
For a complete listing of all chartered Orders from 1912 to present, please follow this link.
There have been eight Most Honorable Commanders-in-Chief since the establishment of the Grand Order: Frank Taylor, Ernest M. Campbell, Andrew S. Ryan, Charles O. Bauer, John C. Belmar, William E. Wenger, Bob L. Bonds, Walter W.
Doyle, and currently Lawrence J. "Larry" Mersberg.
and other Sword of Bunker Hill historical documents.
Founded:
October 15, 1912, in Oregon, Illinois, by Frank Goodspeed Taylor, Superintendent of Schools at Oregon, a native of Vermont.
Purpose: "To promote the interest of Masonry by encouraging a more regular attendance at its meeting. To form a social and
fraternal organization to perpetuate the principles of American liberty. To instill into the minds of each generation the sacrifices of our Masonic forefathers in forming our great republic. To forever inspire patriotism and loyalty by administering to every candidate for our Order the oath of allegiance to state and nation. To provide a time and place for good clean fun. To further
cement our friendship and brotherly love by providing social entertainment. To contribute a portion of our initiation free to a worthy Masonic charity."
Degrees and Honors:
"Order of the Sword".
Officers:
Eleven, with a Most Honorable Grand Commander in Chief presiding. The National body is called The Grand Order Sword of the Sword of Bunker Hill. Local bodies are termed "Orders" and have nine officers, with an Honorable Grand Commander in Chief presiding. The Grand Order also has a Noble Council, District Commanders, Liaison Officers, and Ambassadors at Large.
Meetings:
The Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill holds a Grand Order Session that is hosted annually by a local Order from across the United States.
History:
The Founder, Frank G. Taylor, was born in Middletown, Vermont on May 19, 1878 and died in Saratoga, New York on July 21, 1949. He went to Illinois in the early part of the Twentieth Century and settled in Oregon where he was Superintendent of Schools. He became a Freemason in Oregon Lodge, No. 420, A.F.&A.M. March 11, 1908; was Exalted in Rock River Chapter, No. 151,
R.A.M.; Greeted in Dixon Council, No. 7, R.& S.M.; and Knighted in Vermont. He served as High Priest, Thrice Illustrious Master and was a District Inspector in Grand Chapter. Each year Brother Taylor returned to Vermont for his summer vacation. Upon his return a year or so before 1912 he conferred a ritual he had written upon a Brother F.W. Gantz. They then conferred it on some Royal Arch Masons, mostly in Rock River Chapter, No. 151, where Companion Taylor believed such a "play-house" would eliminate horse-play in the Chapter itself. Finally, on October 15, 1912, a charter was issued for "Liberty Hill Order, No. 1" at
Oregon. That same year Ralph Wheeler, then Junior Grand Warden, and Grand Lecturer Albert Jampolis, were initiated into the mysteries and symbolism of the Sword of Bunker Hill. They were so impressed with this degree that they requested a charter for an order to be located at Lincoln Park. On October 13, 1913, Lincoln Park Order, No. 2 was Charted in Chicago with 88 charter members. In 1914, Sterling (Illinois) asked to have an order constituted there at the close of the Grand Lodge School of Instruction that was being held in their city. At that time, River Rock Order No. 3 was formed and the members of the Grand Board of Examiners who were present were initiated among the charter members. Shortly thereafter a state Order was formed. After more than fifteen years of operating, at the insistent request of Blue Lodge Masons, the Founder issued an edict changing the requirements of membership from Royal Arch Masons to Master Masons. Taylor also established the Grand Order in Illinois, and guided it through its infancy. The Grand Order has issued all charters since - it being virtually the national body. By 1927 there were 16 subordinate Orders, all located in Illinois.
Brother Taylor returned to Vermont in 1942, demitting from all his Illinois Masonic affiliations, and affiliated with their Vermont counterparts. On June 17, 1943, the Founder requested that he retire as the head of The Grand Order and Ernest M. Campbell, now P.G.H.P.; P.G.I.M.; Grand Captain General of the Grand Commandery of Illinnis, K. T.; and Past Prior of Illinois Priory, No. 11, Knights of the York Cross of Honour, was chosen to head The Grand Order.
It might be mentioned that Frank G. Taylor, Jr., the son of the Founder became the charter presiding officer in Robert Livingston Order, No. 90, New York City, on May 8, 1951. This group inducted 364 members by May 13, 1952.
For a complete listing of all chartered Orders from 1912 to present, please follow this link.
There have been eight Most Honorable Commanders-in-Chief since the establishment of the Grand Order: Frank Taylor, Ernest M. Campbell, Andrew S. Ryan, Charles O. Bauer, John C. Belmar, William E. Wenger, Bob L. Bonds, Walter W.
Doyle, and currently Lawrence J. "Larry" Mersberg.
Most Honorable Past Grand Commanders-in-Chief
1912-Present
(Biographies where hyper-linked)
* Frank G. Taylor
|
* Ernest M. Campbell
|
* Andrew S. Ryan
|
* Charles O. Bauer
|
John C. Belmar
|
* William E. Wenger
|
* Bob L. Bonds
|
* Walter W. Doyle
|
Larry J. Mersberg
Served: 2019-Current J.A. Sheldon Order #117 Paola, KS |
* Deceased
