Established in 1823, Wayne Lodge #25 is the first lodge established in northern Indiana. Our original charter still hangs in our lodge room today and is a unique piece of history in it's own right.
Our lodge was named in honor of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne - a courageous Revolutionary War Battalion Commander and the hero of the battle of Fallen Timbers. General Wayne was of course, a freemason.
General Wayne died in 1796 but his name lives on in northeast Indiana.
At the time our dispensation was granted, Fort Wayne was the only civilized settlement between our small village at the convergence of three rivers and the Michigan line, or the City of the Chicago. One vast forest stretched from the outskirts of Chicago all the way to Cleveland, Ohio.
Our dispensation was granted to General John Tipton who earned his rank serving in the Indian Wars in the Northwest Territory. General Tipton went on to be come a U.S. Senator for the state of Indiana.
Further study of our lodge history reveals many familiar names to anyone who has driven the streets of modern day Fort Wayne. Streets like Ewing and Hannah are named after members and former masters of our lodge.
Wayne Lodge would go on to become the mother lodge for most of the Masonic Bodies which exist in Allen County - it's reach even extending to Logansport where three of it's first officers were members of Wayne Lodge, and the Lodge itself is named Tipton Lodge after General John Tipton.
Thousands of men have passed through our doors and we are proud to call each of them, brother.
If you would like to know more about Wayne Lodge and perhaps share in the rich history of this fraternity, please contact the master of our lodge, Nathan Baggett.
