The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1900-04-28

tn0 university SApyNeeeu opinion DtiHp
IN favor Of the pro3nst. day was set fol
a preliminary meeting. At the ap'
pointed time every man was present in
the little back rom OF THE HERALr
ofllce. BY utilizing. Tor seats. every Old
box, dllapidated chaay and the cot. the
visitors were Inade IA comfortable u.
circumstances would permit. hut as the
space was 80 .itmited Nat our knees
touched and our beads OCCASIONAL,
bumped together you can Imagine how
very comfortable We were, but in our
earnestness for the cause we had little
thought for personal comfort.
At that meeting every mans Masonic
history was told. and all INDUCED in
Misunderstanding good story told
but the result was that each man waa
instructed to obtain bis dimit from the
lodge OF who'll, he was member, rs a
necessary preliminary to the signing Of
a request for a dtspensation to organize.
In due course Of time all details were
attended to. and the petition duly signed
and forwarded to the Grand Master OF
the state. The signers were II. g.
Peterson, Marcus Coon, II. IL. Eddy.
James Lyttle, F. VIII Pfeltrer, Theo.
Foote. j. A. Watson, j. j. Niblock.
David Smith and A. G. Moulton. Bro.
Thos. Bakers dimit not laying arrived
he was unable to sign. but took active
part In the organization. 49,
In the petition the signers named as
their choice for first officers: II. @.
Peterson as Wotshipful Master. A. G.
Moulton rs Senior Warden and NJ.
Coon as Junior Warden. The dispen.
sation was ISSUED. and on April 10, 1880,
the frst meeting was held in the hall in
the school house everything WAS regu-
Early organized and work begun.
The work vas anything but tr,nlps.
for every brother had been out Of active
Masonic work Tor years. and all came
from differeht jurisdictions Masonic
wors diflers slightly IN different states.
although btsno essential detail-it was
necessary that all the work should be
bfoughtto harmonize with the Colorado
grand lodge; and, as the work must
largely be Ienrnede by word OF mouth,
you can readily comprehend our diff
culties We worked In twos and threes
at all times and places, occasionally
walking miles into The sage brush to get
out Of earsi,ot of everyone, but oftener
going to the ranch OF Bro. John Nib
lock, where we put In : the time alter
nately learning Colorado Masonry and
fighting mosquitoes.
Our labors were not In vain, however,
for during the time from April until the
meeting Of the grand lodge N Septem-
Der. we raised two errtng mortals to the
sublime degree pfea Master Mason. viz !:
Rev, A. l.. Wiiliams and C,S. Attix,
and also gained o. sember. Bro. ThDs.
lsaker, BY dimIt, ~ ftAAt We hAd q very
good charter nembsrShfp, and became
10 proficient in the work that We earned
M enyiable name In the Masonic world.
AT the grand lodge meeting in Sep
TENDER, 1880, charter was grantsd us,
Deputy Grand Master John N. MAXWELL.
of LeAdville. sent over to institute the
lodge under the charter, and we became
In due and legal form Rio Blanco Lodge
No. 80 A. F. h A. M.-no longer child
on probation, but afnl1-fedged. aitho'
not full grown. member OF that grand
organization whose name Is synonym
of Peace, Harmony and Strength
Throughout the whole world. ~
And in this connection, altho' hardly
pertinent to the subject. will state
that, strange as it may seem to these
not familiar with Masonic history, Ma
soury dourishes among manv so-callAi
Inncivilized peoples in the most remote
corners of the world. attaining In some
respects a degree Of perfection not en-
loved by more enlightened nations,
showing the antiquity, universaiity aud
mysteries Of the order.
The same officers who had served dur
Ing the temporary organization were
regularly elected to serve during our
first year OF regular Masonic life,
namely from st. Johns day, December
q, 1880, till same date the following
year.
From that time down to the present
We have steadily grown in character,
strength and financial condition, altho'
not rapidly. for Masonry is not Of rapid
growth, rather slow and sure, and
therein lies much of its strength.
We began few in numbers and har-
raised with heavy debt, but our cour-
age never tagged. Every meeting night
found every member in his place. even
though some had to come many miles In
all sorts of weather. We worked faith.
fully and persistsntly until Hight
cleaned ahead our efforts always
meeting with full reward, until finally
we felt ourselves on firm ground.
Through all these years too much, car