THE BUILDER OCTOBER 1925

The Story of Freemasonry in Colorado

By BRO. GEORGE B. CLARK, Colorado
PART II (Concluded)

ATTENTION has been directed to the fact that the authority
exercised by the Grand Lodge of Colorado was obtained from that
delegated to it by the lodges forming the Grand Lodge. Those lodges
derived their authority by reason of a warrant or charter of
Constitution granted to them in regular form by the Grand Lodges of
Kansas and Nebraska. This question may be asked: from what sources
came the authority exercised by the Grand Lodges of Kansas and
Nebraska ?

The Grand Lodge of Kansas was erected March 17, 1856, at
Leavenworth, by representatives of three lodges all chartered by
the Grand Lodge of Missouri, viz:

No. 1--Smithton Lodge, No. 140, at Iowa Point, chartered May 30,
1855. No. 2--Leavenworth Lodge, No. 150, at Leavenworth, chartered
Mav 30, 1855. No. 3--Wyandotte Lodge, No. 153, at Wyandotte,
chartered May 30, 1855.

The Grand Lodge of Nebraska was erected Sept. 23, 1857, at Omaha,
by representatives of three lodges all chartered as follows:

No. 1--Nebraska Lodge, No. 184, at Bellevue, chartered Oct. 3, 1855
by Illinois. No. 2--Giddings Lodge, No. 156, at Nebraska city,
chartered May 28, 1856, by Missouri. No. 3-- Capital Lodge, No.
101, at Omaha, chartered June 3, 1857, by Iowa.

The Grand Lodge of Iowa was erected Jan. 8, 1844, at Iowa city, by
representatives of four lodges all chartered by the Grand Lodge of
Missouri, viz:

No. 1--Des Moines Lodge, No. 41, at Burlington, chartered Oct. 20,
1841. No. 2--Iowa Lodge, No. 42, at Bloomington, chartered Oct. 20,
1841. No. 3--Dubuque Lodge, No. 62, at Dubuque, chartered Oct. 10,
1843. No. 4--Iowa city Lodge, No. 63, at Iowa city, chartered Oct.
10, 1843.

The Grand Lodge of Illinois was erected April 6, 1840, at
Jacksonville, by representatives of six lodges chartered or under
dispensation as follows:

No. 1--Bodley Lodge, No. 97, at Quincy, chartered Aug. 30, 1836, by
Kentucky. No. 2--Equality Lodge, No. 101, at Equality, chartered
Aug. 29, 1837, by Kentucky. No. 3--Harmony Lodge, No. 24, at
Jacksonville, chartered Oct. 2, 1838, by Missouri. No. 4--
Springfield Lodge, No. 26, at Springfield, chartered Oct. 8, 1839,
by Missouri. No. 5--Far West Lodge, No. 29, at Galena, chartered
Oct. 10, 1839, by Missouri. No. 6--Columbus Lodge, U. D., at
Colunlbus, under dispensation from Missouri.

The Grand Lodge of Missouri was erected April 24, 1821, at St.
Louis, by representatives of three lodges all chartered by the
Grand Lodge of Tennessee, viz:

No. 1--Missouri Lodge, No. 12. at St. Louis, chartered Oct. 8,
1816. No. 2--Joachim Lodge, No. 25, at Herculaneum, chartered Oct.
5, 1819. No. 3--St. Charles Lodge, No. 28, at st. Charles,
chartered Oct. 5, 1819.

The Grand Lodge of Tennessee was erected Dec. 27, 1813, at
Knoxville by representatives of nine lodges all chartered by the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina, or perhaps more properly by the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina and Tennessee. This was accomplished
at the direction of and under orders from the Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of North Carolina. The following participated:

No. 1--St. Tammany Lodge, No. 29, at Nashville, chartered Dec. 17,
1796. No. 2, Tennessee Lodge, No. 41, at Knoxville chartered Nov.
30, 1800. No. 3--Greenville Lodge, No. 43, at Greenville, chartered
Dec. 11, 1801. No. 4--Newport Lodge, No. 50, at Newport, chartered
Dec. 5, 1806. No. 5--Overtor Lodge, No. 51, at Rogersville,
chartered Nov. 21, 1807. No. 6-- King Solomon Lodge, No. 52, at
Gallatin, chartered Dec. 9 1808. No. 7--Hiram Lodge, No. 55, at
Franklin, chartered Dec. 11, 1809. No. Cumberland Lodge, No. 60, at
Nashville, chartered June 24, 1812. No. 9--Western star Lodge, No.
61 at Port Royal, chartered Nov. 21, 1812. The title Grand Lodge of
North Carolina and Tennessee was assumed in 1801.

The Grand Lodge of Kentucky was erected Oct. 16, 1800, at
Lexington, by representatives of five lodges, all receiving
authority from the Grand Lodge of virginia.

No. 1--Lexington Lodge, No. 25, at Lexington, chartered Nov. 17,
1788. No. 2, Paris Lodge, No. 35, at Paris, chartered Nov. 25,
1791. No. 3--Georgetown Lodge, No. 46, at Georgetown, chartered
Nov. 29, 1796. No. 4--Hiram Lodge, No. 51 at Frankfort, chartered
Dec. 11, 1799. No. 5--(Solomon) (Abraham) Lodge, U. D., at
Shelbyville, under dispensation.

The authority of the Grand Lodge of Colorado is thus traced in a
regular manner and in a direct line to that of the Grand Lodges of
virginia and North Carolina. The establishment of Masonry in these
and the other colonies is another story. Suffice it to say here
that Masonry was established in North Carolina directly from the
Grand Lodge of England in two lodges and then, through the
appointment by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England of
Joseph Montfort as Provincial Grand Master for North Carolina, by
the chartering by him of some nine or more lodges. After the
Revolutionary War, these lodges, in 1787, threw off the English
connection and erected the Grand Lodge of North Carolina as a
sovereign Grand Lodge which functions to this day.

Masonry was established in the Colony of Virginia independently by
the Grand Lodges of England, Scotland and Ireland. No Provincial
Grand Master ever functioned for Virginia, its lodges receiving
charters from and reporting direct to the Mother Grand Lodges over
seas. At the time of the Revolutionary War in 1778, nine of these
lodges declared themselves independent and erected the Grand Lodge
of Virginia.

From this very small beginning of 52 members in three lodges at the
time of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Colorado in 1861, the
progress has been steady and very satisfactory. At the present
time, according to the returns as of July 31, 1925, there are
31,159 members in 145 lodges, an average of 215 Masons to each
lodge.

GREAT NAMES ARE MENTIONED

In every branch of human endeavor there are some names that stand
out over and above the others, some names that are remembered for
personal excellence or great activities while the names of the
others are lost. Colorado Masonry has some such names, those of
personages who have loomed large in Masonic affairs and whose names
and deeds it is well to remember.

The first great name in Colorado Masonry is that of its first Grand
Master, John M. Chivington. Great, not because of being Grand
Master, but great because he made it safe for people to come to
Colorado and enjoy life. It is to Col. Chivington, who taught the
Indian that the trails must be kept open for the white man to come
and go in peace, that the honor goes. A minister of the church he
was, but also a soldier, and one whom the Indian feared and
respected.

It is well to remember here at this time the name of Allyn Weston
who gave us our Ritual, which Ritual stood the severe test of a
frontier civilization.

The next great name to remember is that of Henry M. Teller, for so
many years Grand Master of Masons in Colorado, who carried the name
of Colorado into high places as United states Senator and Cabinet
Member, and whose ability carried the Craft through trying periods.

The greatest Masonic project of our times, the George Washington
Memorial Building now under construction at Alexandria, Virginia,
is the result of a suggestion given to the Masonic world by a Grand
Master of Colorado, Roger W. Woodbury. It was he who proposed a
national memorial service for our first President, out of which
came as a direct result the great memorial building. Thus the
suggestion of our Grand Master was the inspiration for two of the
greatest Masonic gatherings ever held in the United States. The
first was the occasion of the centenary of the death of Washington,
held at Mt. Vernon in 1899; the second was when the cornerstone of
the Washington Memorial Building was laid. And no doubt the third
and largest will be held when the building is completed and
dedicated.

Most of us have read that famous poem, "The Lodge Room Over
Simpkins' store." Have we realized that its author, Lawrence N.
Greenleaf, was recognized as the poet laureate of Freemasonry, that
his fame as a Masonic poet was nation-wide? As Grand Master ot'
Colorado, as editor, as writer of correspondence reviews, and in
his many other activities he should be remembered by all Colorado
Masons.

One of the greatest Masonic students of the country wrought among
us for many years and we are even yet slow to appreciate his
greatness. Coming generations will read the works of Henry P. H.
Bromwell and perhaps find the secrets that he tried to tell but
which we of today are but beginning to suspect.

But time presses, we must hurry on. We can but point out a few
names here and there and trust the future biographer to tell the
greatness of these Masons. There is E. LeN. Foster, who has given
years and years of himself in the service of his brethren through
the upbuilding of a Benevolent Fund. There is Robert D. Graham,
student and probably the greatest Masonic lecturer on the platform
today, who is proud to point to a Colorado lodge as his home. Great
and wise Masons said that Uniformity of Work in the Ritual was
impossible of accomplishment--yet it was accomplished and the one
responsible for it was William W. Cooper, then Grand Lecturer and
now Grand Secretary. The last name we shall propose for coming 
generations to remember, is that of the most loved of Colorado
Masons of recent years, Charles H. Jacobson, for so many years
Grand Secretary.

These are by no means all the great names produced by Colorado
Masonry but rather just a few, a few who will never be forgotten.
Nearly every lodge can tell of men whose activities are worth
recording yet who worked in the comparative quiet of their own
communities, satisfied that their fame should travel no farther.

THE ROYAL ARCH IS ORGANIZED

With the coming of the parent body of Ancient Craft Masonry to
Colorado, came also the concordant orders of Royal Arch Capitular
Masonry, Royal and Select Cryptic Masonry, Knight Templarism, and
the Scottish Rite. Unlike the lodge system these other bodies are
governed by national organizations; and original jurisdiction is
maintained over all territory not served by a state body of that
Rite. These central national bodies had been in existence many
years before Colorado was made into a territory and naturally they
claimed jurisdiction there. In a new state these bodies are
generally established in regular order. First comes the lodge, then
the Royal Arch chapter, then the commandery of Knight Templar, and
finally the council of Royal and Select Masters. The Scottish Rite
may be established at any place in the series when there are
sufficient members to justify it.

We have seen that the Grand Lodge was established in 1861. We next
see that the Royal Arch appeared as early as 1863. As exclusive
jurisdiction over Colorado territory was held in the General Grand
Chapter it was to this body that petition must be made for the
establishment of chapters of Royal Arch Masonry. Dispensations were
issued by the General Grand High Priest at various times for the
formation of five chapters in Colorado and each temporary
organization was perfected into a chartered chapter in due time. In
this way regular authority was given to five chapters located as
follows:

At Central City and numbered 1 
"  Denver City   "    "      2 
"  Pueblo        "    "      3 
"  Georgetown    "    "      4 
"  Golden        "    "      5

In 1872, while there were but three chapters chartered, an effort
was made to form a Grand Chapter, but due to one of the chapters
declining to take part nothing came of it. At this time a
suggestion was made that the three chapters in Colorado and the two
chapters in Wyoming combine to form a Grand Chapter, but this
movement was over-ruled by the General Grand High Priest as not
being possible under the laws of the General Grand Chapter.

Under the date of April 22, 1875, the General Grand High Priest
gave his consent to the formation of a Grand Chapter in Colorado.
Representatives of the five chapters met in convention on May 11,
1875, and perfected the organization of the Grand Royal Arch
Chapter of Colorado on that day with five chapters and 282 members.
This meeting was held in the Fink Block, corner of 15th and
Holladay (now Market) streets, Denver, Colorado. Wm. N. Byers, of
Denver city, was elected Grand High Priest, and Ed. C. Parmelee, of
Georgetown, as Grand Secretary. This branch of Masonry has advanced
steadily from 5 chapters averaging 56 members each in 1875, to 51
chapters with 8064 members, an average of 158, as of July 31, 1925.

For the benefit of the student the following table is submitted of
the data as they appear in the records of the General Grand
Chapter:

                      Date of          Date of
Chapter No.           dispensation     Charter
Central City, No. 1. .March 23, 1863   Sept 8, 1865
Denver, No. 2.........April 1863       Sept 8, 1865
Pueblo, No. 3.........May 24, 1871     Sept. 20, 1871
Georgetown, No. 4.....Aug. 12, 1872    Nov. 15, 1874
Golden, No. 6.........Dec. 8, 1873     Nov. 25, 1874

All participated in the formation of the Grand Chapter of Colorado
May 14, 1875.



KNIGHT TEMPLARISM IS ESTABLISHED

Knight Templarism first appeared in 1875, as is evidenced by a
dispensation issued to members at Denver City under the date of
Jan. 13, 1866, by the Grand Master of Knights Templar of the U.S.A.
to form a commandery there. Following this, under date of Nov. 8,
1866, a dispensation was issued, authorizing the members at Central
City to form a commandery. Eight years elapsed and the next
dispensation was issued Aug. 17, 1874, for the formation of a
commandery at Pueblo. There being now three commanderies in
Colorado it was deemed wise and proper that a Grand Commandery
should be formed. Sanction was given by Grand Master J. H. Hopkins
on Feb. 10, 1876, and the representatives met by agreement at
Denver on the following day. On March 14, 1876, the Grand
Commandery of Colorado was established. The first Grand Commander
was Henry M. Teller, and the first Grand Recorder was Ed. C.
Parmelee. From the small beginning in 1876 of three commanderies
with an average of 42 members, progression has been steady to the
present count as of July 31, 1925, of 36 commanderies with 4771
members, an average of 133 members each.

CRYPTIC MASONRY IS ESTABLISHED

Cryptic Masonry first made its appearance in Central city in 1871,
when the Grand Master of the Grand Council of Illinois issued a
dispensation under date of Nov. 9, 1871, to several Companions to
form a council there. The charter was granted Oct. 23, 1872, as
Central city Council, No. 54, on the Illinois register. This
council continued with varying success until 1875, when it ceased
to function. Nothing further was done until 1891, when through the
efforts of Companions J.C. Johnston and Henry Dowson the Cryptic
Masons of Dever were gathered together to form a council. A
dispensation was issued by the General Grand Master under date of
Jan. 16, 1892, to 23 members to institute Denver Council, No. 1.
The charter was granted by the General Grand Council, Oct. 26,
1894, to 93 members. In rapid succession dispensations were issued
and charters granted establishing councils in Trinidad, Durango,
Pueblo, Canon city, Akron, and Gunnison. The latter two, however,
were not constituted, having failed to complete their organization.

A convention was called according to agreement to meet in Denver on
Dec. 6, 1894, for the purpose of organizing a Grand Council. There
were represented at this convention Denver Council, No. 1, of
Denver; Rocky Mountain, No. 2, of Trinidad; Durango, No. 3, of
Durango; Akron, No. 4, of Akron; Canon city, No. 5, of Canon city;
and Pueblo, No. 6, of Pueblo. The charter of Akron Council had not
arrived at this time but, by vote, its delegate was seated as
regular. Organization was perfected and the Grand Council of
Colorado erected in form on this date, Dec. 6, 1894. A disagreement
arose between the new Grand Council and the General Grand Council
over the manner and form of the organization of the Grand Council
of Colorado. This condition existed until July 30, 1898, when all
differences were adjusted and the Grand Council cf Colorado became
a full member of the family of the General Grand Council of the
United States.

From the start of 5 councils with 191 members, or an average of 38,
progression has been slow but steady until at the present time,
July 31, 1925, there are 14 councils with 2454 members, an average
of 175 to each council.

THE SCOTTISH RITE IS ESTABLISHED

About the time that the chapter and the commandery were being
established, those interested in the Scottish Rite began the
agitation for the introduction of that branch. The idea is
generally prevalent among nonMasons that the Scottish Rite is one
branch of Masonry in which a Mason receives at one time all the
degrees from the 4th to the 32nd, inclusive. As a matter of fact
this Rite is composed of several bodies, separate and distinct, yet
all reporting to one common body. These bodies are known as:

The Lodge of Perfection, conferring the degrees of 4th to 14th,
inclusive.

The Chapter of Rose Croix, conferring the degrees of 15th to 18th,
inclusive.

The Council of Kadosh, conferring the degrees of 19th to 30th,
inclusive.

The Consistory, conferring the degrees of 31st and 32nd.

The Scottish Rite is administered in the united States in two
jurisdictions, the Northern with headquarters at New York C ity,
and the Southern with headquarters at Washington, D. C. Colorado is
in the Southern Jurisdiction.

The first body of this Rite to be established in Colorado was the
Delta Lodge of Perfection, chartered Jan. 26, 1877, followed by the
Mackey Chapter of Rose Croix, chartered April 11, 1878. For ten
years there were the only bodies chartered, but the degrees beyond
the 18th were made available by "Communication", this ceremony
being generally performed by the representative of the national
body, who at that time was Bro. L. N. Greenleaf.

Denver Council of Kadosh received its charter Sept. 3, 1888,
followed very shortly by Colorado Consistory, on Oct. 17, 1888.
Colorado now had its full complement of Scottish Rite bodies. These
four bodies were all numbered 1 and located in Denver. In 1918 a
second series of bodies of this Rite were chartered in Denver, and
in 1919 a third series in Pueblo. The first returns available for
Colorado Consistory for 1889, show 53 members; while the latest
returns as of Dec. 31, 1893, show 5368 members for the three
consistories .


"Shall I ask the brave soldier, who fights by my side

In the cause of mankind, if our creeds agree?
Shall I give up the friend I have valued and tried
If he kneel not before the same altar with me?
From the heretic girl of my soul should I fly,
To seek somewhere else a more orthodox kiss?
No, perish the hearts, and the laws that try
Truth, valor, or love, by a standard like this!"

--Tom Moore.

