Page 114 - Demo

112Bedford Masonic Lodge Moses Dunn%u2019s name is familiar to many in Lawrence County. For example, the local hospital is named for him. However, there is a legacy that%u2019s less well known%u2014Masonic Lodge #14, which sits on the courthouse square. While Europe was engaged in The Great War (WWI), Dunn donated a 2-story building that housed his law office, and $50,000 cash, to construct a new Masonic Lodge. With these generous gifts as inspiration, fellow Masons raised an additional $60,000, tore down the law building, bought the adjacent lot, hired an architect, and built the impressive, multi-storied, limestone structure that graces the downtown to this day. Despite a cornerstone date of 1917, it has a strikingly modern fa%u00e7ade, with neoclassic overtones. Stan Ritchison, Past Master of the Blue Lodge, unlocked the doors for us, eager to show us around, proud of the Lodge%u2019s history, proud of Masonry, and proud of his Lodge brothers. He had personally cleaned and painted several rooms and organized various displays. He had also updated the record-keeping methods, and had been instrumental in getting energy-efficient replacement windows, a new roof, and a 14-furnace heating system installed.There was so much to explore%u2014from a small game room, to tiny closets, to spacious lodge quarters with high ceilings and balconies%u2014and Ritchison showed us them all. The main Blue Lodge room, where his order met, was most impressive. There were throne-like seats, and tall walls painted a vibrant salmon, cream, and azure blue. A mysterious stairway rising up to a short mezzanine against the back wall caught my eye. Ritchison said it was used for certain teaching/initiation rites and there were only a handful of such symbolic structures left in Indiana lodges. On a higher floor, was a space used by the York Order. With heavy velvet curtains hanging behind a series of arches on each side, this grand space also had throne-like seats. Most intriguing was a narrow dressing room with metal lockers, forlorn View (Masonic Lodge), Bedfford%u2014Lawrence Co. (512-01) Ventilating fan (Masonic Lodge), Bedford%u2014Lawrence Co. (512-10)