While tonight is always a special night for the Officers of the Valley of South Bend, this year it also marks the auspicious occasion of the 100-year anniversary of the Cornerstone laying of this very building. A century having passed within these walls, we gather tonight with the additional reverie of this magnificent milestone. I would like you to take a moment with me and imagine yourself in May of 1924. A gallon of milk was .28 cents. The average house was about $2500. On February 22, President Coolidge “delivered the second radio address by a U.S. president from the White House.” For fun, there were baseball cards, jigsaw puzzles, and roller skating. There were poker games, ping-pong, and pedal cars. Baseball was the national pastime, and many Americans went to baseball games, followed baseball, and played baseball. People also listened to music, read books, danced the Charleston, played the banjo, went to the movies, and even took a “Sunday drive” in their Model T Ford. It is a world that for us is often imagined in Black and white. In color it must have been a sight to behold.

 On May 22nd, 1924, there was a buzz of excitement in South Bend, Indiana. It was a brisk 51 degrees outside. At this location, men and women gathered for the ceremonies of laying the cornerstone of the New Masonic Temple, and it was no small affair. The ceremonies were presided over by the 33rd Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, Dr. Charles A. Lippincott, and were witnessed by many Masons representing every Masonic Organization within a radius of 50 miles of South Bend. The ceremonies were opened with music from the Studebaker Band, and a massive floral piece was received and displayed from the Knights of Columbus, South Bend Council No. 533, as a tribute to the Masonic Lodges.

 The program opened at 12:30 in the afternoon with the opening of Grand Lodge. While the opening was being performed, the various Lodges and Commanderies of Knights Templar assembled at designated points for the Parade that followed at 1:00pm. The parade moved south along Michigan Street from the Masonic Lodge on La Salle Avenue to Monroe Street, west on Monroe to Main Street, north on Main Street to the new Masonic Temple where the procession halted in “Open Order” to allow the Grand Lodge officials to pass through to the Cornerstone. The order of the procession included: A platoon of mounted police, the High School Band, Officers of the St. Joe Valley Temple Association, Grand Commandery Officers, Commanderies of South Bend, La Porte, Niles, Plymouth, Michigan City, Elkhart, Goshen and Mishawaka, The Grotto Drum Corps, 13 Masonic Lodges, the Studebaker Band and the officers of the Grand Lodge.

 The cornerstone was laid in due and ancient form, while a choir of 30 voices furnished glorious music as a backdrop. Immediately after the Stone was set, Thomas R. Marshall, 33rd Degree and former Vice-President of the United States of America delivered a powerful Oration. The event closed with a Prayer from Right Reverend John Hazen White, 33rd Degree and Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Indiana, and namesake of our Chapter of Rose Croix. After the ceremonies were finished, the parade reformed and marched back to the Masonic Temple, while the Knights Templar formed a huge cross as the band played Onward Christian Soldier.

 What an incredible sight it must have been, and to garner the support and participation of the Studebaker Band, Mounted Police, the Grand Commandery, 8 local Commanderies, 13 Lodges and a Vice-President of the United States of America.

 The building in an impressive edifice, and with all of its furnishings cost approx. $800,000.00 to complete. It has 160 feet of Frontage at that time on Main Street, and is 72 feet high, consisting of a basement or ground floor, a first and second floor, each with a mezzanine floor making it 5 stories high in all, and had 3 massive pipe organs. The building was finished in 1925, and it was the completion of this structure that allowed the South Bend Lodge of Perfection to be formed, thus finally bringing the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite to South Bend. There had been a desire for several years to bring the Scottish Rite to the City, but plans were thwarted by the lack of appropriate space to confer the ineffable degrees. This is a story for another day, not far on the horizon! The South Bend Tribune documented all of this, and when the Lodge was dedicated in 1926, a special “New Masonic Temple Edition” was published, with the new Temple prominently taking up the entire front page.

 A powerful representation of the state of Freemasonry in 1924. And while the pomp and circumstance of the event of laying the cornerstone is cause for celebration 100 years later, there is much more to celebrate this evening. A century of Scottish Rite Freemasonry within these walls. It means so much more that the stones we set, though impressive they are. These stones, and their builders, made possible the real cause for celebration. That for 100 years, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite has instilled into Tens of Thousands of men, our core values of Reverence for God, Devotion to Country, Integrity, Justice, Tolerance, and Service to Humanity. What incredible things have been accomplished over 100 years, by men inspired by these ancient rites, and timeless lessons. What hearts have been changed and what good has been worked in our communities, our workplaces, our families, our churches, and our governments by the values reinforced in the Brethren of the Scottish Rite. We do not celebrate just a building today, but a Century of good effects upon our fellow men. We ought to marvel at where we have come as a result, or shudder at where we might have been without it. On this occasion we celebrate you as well, for your labors today will mark the beginning of the next 100 years. How many men will benefit from what the Scottish Rite has to offer, how hard will we work to ensure that our light still shines in the world around us.

 So please, take a moment and let us reflect upon a century passed, and a century stretched out before us. Let us applaud the boundless good that has been sewn by our great Craft, and join me in a celebrating the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite!

 Thank you!

John A. Bridegroom, 32°
Most Wise Master
John Hazen White Chapter of Rose Croix

George Webster Biddlecome, 75, passed away Sunday, March 10, 2024, at his Goshen home, surrounded by his loving family.

George was born Aug. 30, 1948, to George Clark Biddlecome and Elizabeth Seibert Biddlecome (née Perry) in Elkhart, Indiana.

Following his graduation from Elkhart High School in 1966, George earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg University, with an emphasis on political science, and a Juris Doctor degree from Duke University. He was also a graduate of the Indiana Judicial College.

After having been graduated from Duke University School of Law in 1973, George began his 50-year legal career working as an associate for Attorney Robert A. "Bob" Pfaff in Elkhart and part-time as Acting Director at Elkhart Legal Aid Services Inc.

Around 1975, George began dating the love of his life and best friend, Mona Elizabeth Walker. Mona and George were married March 26, 1976, at Trinity United Methodist Church.

George became a part-time deputy prosecuting attorney in 1974, a position he held until assuming the bench, except for one year serving as a part-time public defender. In 1980, George and Mona formed the Elkhart firm Biddlecome and Biddlecome, Attorneys at Law.

George was elected to the bench in 1996 after working in private practice for 23 years, having served as a deputy prosecutor for 20 of those years. He stepped down from the bench at the end of 2014, after three six-year terms presiding over Elkhart Superior Court No. 3. George continued to serve as a senior judge until the end of 2023 and built a civil mediation business after retiring from his full-time role.

He was a faithful and life-long member of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Elkhart for his entire life, where he served in roles including altar boy, lay server, Parliamentarian, and Senior Warden. He was also a member of the Elkhart Rotary Club, Christiana Creek Country Club, Backwater Retriever Club, and Elkhart Canadian Hunt Club, and a 33rd Degree Mason member of the Kane Masonic Lodge. He greatly enjoyed participating in and directing degree work with his father, brother-in-law, Max, and several other friends. George was a member of the Indiana Judges Association, the Indiana State Bar Association, and the Elkhart City Bar Association where he frequently assisted his wife with serving luncheon at monthly bar meetings.

George's many talents and interests included debate, history, golfing, trap shooting and hunting. Nothing could be scheduled between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30 that might interfere with hunting. He grew to love boat rides, sunsets, and the moonrise on Eagle Lake, Mona's happy place, but he preferred his time spent on his acreage in Goshen where he could shoot and run his dogs behind the four-wheeler.

George was a loving, kind, and loyal husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He enjoyed spending time with his family and traveling with Mona to all 50 states as well as numerous foreign countries. He was a lover of dogs, music, books, art, and Western lore.

George was preceded in death by his father George, mother Elizabeth, and grandson George Jeremiah Biddlecome. He is survived by his loving wife Mona Elizabeth Biddlecome (née Walker), daughter Elizabeth Walker Biddlecome (James Forristal III), son George Max Biddlecome (Hillaree Farrell), granddaughters Libbie, Charlie, and Ginnie, brother-in-law Max Walker, sister-in-law Mary Krue Esteves, and brother-in-law Carlos Esteves.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 18, at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home in Elkhart. A memorial mass will be held on March 19, at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. in Elkhart, with visitation one hour before the service at the church. A luncheon will follow.

An interment of the ashes will occur at Rice Cemetery with family members in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Elkhart County Humane Society, St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, or Elkhart Legal Aid Services Inc.

To leave the family an online condolence, please visit the funeral home website.