The Grand Lodge of Colorado
The Grand Lodge of Colorado, formally known as the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Colorado, is the governing body of the largest group of Masonic lodges in Colorado (the next largest being the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Colorado). The Grand Lodge of Colorado follows the Anglo-American tradition of Freemasonry that is common in the United States.
History
Early Days
The origins of the Grand Lodge of Colorado date back to 1858 when a group of prospectors established a settlement, known as Auraria, at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the Platte River, in what was then the Territory of Kansas.[1] By November, several cabins were constructed in the area. On November 3, seven Masons, including William M. Slaughter, held an unofficial meeting with the intention of forming a new Masonic Lodge, contingent on obtaining authorization from an existing Grand Lodge.[1]
The discovery of gold in May 1859 in present-day Gilpin County, Colorado led to an influx of prospectors. Among them were many Masons, including those who had previously attended the Masonic meetings in Auraria. These Masons expressed the need for a Masonic meeting place near the Gregory Diggings.[1]
Establishment of the First Masonic Temple
On June 12, 1859, a committee of Masons claimed a block of land, as indicated by an entry in the records of the Gregory Mining District (now part of Gilpin County's records), to construct a "Masonic Temple."[1] The building, a log structure "chinked and plastered with mud inside and out," was around thirty feet square. By late June 1859, it hosted an informal meeting of over two hundred Masons, marking the establishment of the first "Masonic Temple" in the vast territory between the Missouri River and the Pacific Coast.[1]
Formation of the Grand Lodge
The Grand Lodge of Colorado was officially formed on August 2, 1861, in Golden City, Territory of Colorado. It subsequently appointed a committee to draft an act of incorporation, which was passed during the upcoming session of the Colorado General Assembly. On August 3, 1861, the Grand Lodge adopted the title of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Colorado.[2] The incorporation act was approved and signed by then Governor William Gilpin, establishing the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Colorado.
The first Annual Communication in December 1861 saw the election of J.M. Chivington as Grand Master, Andrew Mason as Deputy Grand Master, P.S. Pfouts as Senior Grand Warden, M.C. White as Junior Grand Warden, O.B. Brown as Grand Treasurer, and O.A. Whittemore as Grand Secretary. Additionally, the following Lodges were constituted: Golden City Lodge No. 1, Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 3, Summit Lodge No. 2, Nevada Lodge No. 4, and Denver Lodge No. 5.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "History of the Grand Lodge". The Grand Lodge of Colorado.
- ↑ Whittemore (10 December 1861). "Proceedings of the First Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Colorado" (PDF). The Grand Lodge of Colorado.
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