About Us

The Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill is a historical and patriotic side Order of Masonry founded to perpetuate the principles of American liberty, and to indelibly impress upon the minds of each generation the sacrifices made by our Masonic forefathers in forming and establishing the United States of America.

Pictured Above: The original charter of Pocket City Order No. 82

Pocket City Order No. 82 History:  

Pocket City Order No. 82 of the Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill was chartered on August 30, 1947 by Ernest M. Campbell, M.H.G.C.C. of the Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill.  The first meeting took place at the Y.M.C.A building in Evansville, Indiana.

All of the charter officers were members of Two Rivers Order No. 71 at Mt. Vernon, IN.  They are as follows:

Paul Forston - Honorable Grand Commander in Chief

Louis Pittenger - Honorable Grand Commander of the Right Wing

Richard Cork - Honorable Grand Commander of the Left Wing

Bert Leonard - Honorable Grand Secretary/Treasurer

George T. Sutherland - Honorable Grand Chaplain

Harvey V. Kamp - Honorable Grand Adjutant

Hiram Hopper - Honorable Grand Sergeant at Arms

Lloyd W.P. Hart - Honorable Grand Commissary General

Click on the two links below to see a listing of the past offices mentioned hereafter:

Honorable Past Grand Commander-in-Chiefs - Pocket City Order No. 82 

Honorable Past Grand Secretary/Treasurers - Pocket City Order No. 82

Grand Order 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.