We learn from official Grand Lodge proceedings that Elwood Lodge #363 met first as a lodge (under dispensation) November 22, 1860.

    As many of our early records were lost, and many of the early records of the Grand Lodge were destroyed by fire, we can only assume that Elwood was merely a mis-spelling of Elmwood.  We can imagine the consternation of those early members who petitioned the Grand Lodge of Illinois to form a new lodge.  We do know that there is a city in Illinois by the name of Elwood, and Elmwood being so similar, it was decided an entirely different name should be chosen.

    Charles G. Eggleston, the oldeset member, was given the honor of choosing the name.  He named the new Lodge Horeb, after the most famous mountain in all history, more commonly known as Mt. Sinae.  His reasons for selecting the name Horeb are not known, but the selection has provided food for much conjecture.

    Horeb Lodge #363 was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Illinois on October 1, 1861, with 25 charter members:

• W.H. Chapman
• C.G. Eggleston
• M.L.R. Huse
• A. Hull
• P.H. Hopkins
• N.D. Jay
• H. Armson
• S.S. Buffum
• E.F. Bartholomew
• L. Corbin
• L.H. Kerr
• J.E. Knable
• B. Rillie
• J.J. Lowe
• J. Martz
• E. Marshall
• J.C. Riner
• H. Steele
• W.M Swisher
• G.W. Smith
• P. Synder
• J.H. Truax
• A.N. Wilcox
• A.J. Wily
• H.H. Wood

    Many of the names will be recognized as men prominent in the community at that time.

    It is interesting to note that the first settler came to Elmwood township in 1831, the first officers for the township were elected in 1850, and the town of Elmwood was laid out by Wm. J. Phelps in 1852, a mere 8 years before a petition was sent to the Grand Lodge of Illinois to form a new lodge in the area.

    The first officers of Horeb Lodge #363 where:

• Worshipfull Master - L.H. Kerr
• Senior Warden - J.E. Knable
• Junior Warden - L. Corbin
• Treasurer - W.H. Kellogg
• Secretary - M.L. Huse
• Senior Deacon - A.J. Wiley
• Junior Deacon - A. N. Wiscal
• Tyler - J.J. Snow

    The first meetings were belived to have been held in a building located at 104 West Main.  By 1880, membership had grown to 75 members and they were meeting in a building located on the northwest corner of Hawthorne and Magnolia known as the Vandervort building.  The hall was used jointly by them and the Odd Fellows Lodge, Arcaneus Lodge #102.

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