Speedway Lodge No. 729, dead at 76
“And so it has come to pass, a Lodge, having completed all the design’s laid down on the Trestleboard of its Life, has answered the summons of the Grand Warden of Heaven and Earth and has entered into the Grand Lodge over which the Supreme Grand Master of the Universe presides.
Although our beloved and respected Lodge has passed through the portals of Eternity, its passing memory will forever remain to inspire all who mourn its passing to live life as it did, respected and depart this life regretted. As one by one, the autumn leaves fade in the forest deep, So one by one, in each of us must come the touch of sleep. As one by one, the roses burst into the morning light, So one by one, our soul will wake again beyond the night.
Soft and safe be the earthly bed of our Lodge; may our Grand Architect protect it and enfold it in his arms with love. Until then, Speedway Masonic Lodge #729, Until then - - - Farewell!”
On the 22nd day of September Anno Domini 1938, Anno Lucis 5938, Speedway Lodge U.D.F. & A.M. was born to 93 happy charter members. William H. Morrison, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Indiana, officially welcomed it into the world as a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons by dispensation and thereby ordained all Regular Lodges to respect them as such.
On the 8th evening of June Anno Domini 1939, Anno Lucis 5939, a banquet was held with the officers of the Grand Lodge of Indiana and the officers & members of Speedway Lodge U.D.F. & A.M. present. After dinner the Grand Lodge Officers installed the Speedway Lodge U.D.F & A.M. officers as the officers of Speedway Lodge No. 729, F. & A.M. and the Lodge was officially born as a just and lawfully constituted Lodge.
Grand Master William A. Reiners signs a charter for Speedway Lodge No. 500, F. & A. M.
On the 18th afternoon of May Anno Domini 2016, Annoo Lucis 6016,Speedway Lodge No. 729, F. & A.M. took it's last breaths passing just three weeks before it's 77th birthday as it's charter was cast aside as waste paper so that, in the sake of vanity, Speedway Lodge No. 729 F. & A.M. could become Speedway Lodge No. 500 F. & A.M. because the popular opinion was it would be 'neat' or 'fun' or 'cool' to have the same number as the infamous automobile race that takes place just a few blocks down the street, the Indianapolis 500.
Does it really change anything? No, we don't get any special privileges from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for those that were pro the change. No, those of us that were against the change won't suffer any hardships and the Lodge will continue on (in fact we have a Master Mason degree scheduled for tomorrow). It does however seem a silly change, and it's something that leaves me with a heavy heart and great sorrow. Tradition has been forsaken for what amounts to nothing more than a new haircut.
Will Speedway Lodge No. 500 F. & A.M rise from the ashes of it's former charter and go on to great and wonderful things? Who knows. Will I still attend Lodge, yes. Will I still be as active as I can be, yes. Will I be full of sorrow each time I hear "500" mentioned inside the Lodge when not talking about the race, yes. Will I still tell people I'm from Speedway number 729, probably a decade of saying it is going to be hard to change.
