Cañon City record., 1902-06-19
By Clyde c. Dawson. p. c. C..
p. G. C.. Colorado. 1896 and 1897.


ticable.
The order was FIST introduced into
Colorado in 1872. At this time there
are eighty-nine active lodges in the
state, with a membership of 1000.
There are twenty four companies of
the Uniform Rank, numbering $50
members, and sixty one sections of the
Endowment Rank, with 775 members,
carrying in round numbers, 81 2S5, 900
of insurance.
That the teachings of the order are
good there can b. no question. That
its deeds compare with its teachings
is evidenced by the fact that in Colo
rado alone there was last year paid
out for the relief of brothers in dis
tress over SIS. 600. aside from any in.
surance paid by the Endowment Rank
TO the families of deceased brothers
and the mere money thus paid repre-
scnts but small portion Of the good
done by the members one for another.
This order is essentially simple and
democratic in its organization. 1t
makes no distinction of wealth or
position, but it wss one of the first
: orders to adopt the universal law that
those engaged in saloon keeping, bar
tending and rs professional gambler
were not eligible to membership. II
Z is perhaps one of the most instructive
societies TO young men that can be
found, for its government Is. in a
3 large measure, patterned upon the
national and state systems peculiar TO
this country: NonA starr with the
Z subordinate lodge. where every mem
her has vote upon every question
coming befor, the lodge. which makes
J its own bylaws and rules of pro-
cedunu, 80 long as they are not incon-
sistent with what are called the grand
laws or supreme laws Next above
ON" of which exists in every state and
made mp of elected member from each
OF the subordinate lodges within the
state: in most instances. two repre-
ssntatiNes from each Lodge. This
grand lodge makes the laws of the
order for the state, which is called
the Grand Domain. 1t is presided
over by an officer elected by its mem
bc.s called the grand lodge Chan
cellor, who is the executive head of
the order in the state. the grand lodge
being the legislative body for that
state. There is then in the state
what Is called grand tribunal, con-
siSting of three or more judges, ap.
pointed by the Grand Chancellor and
confirmed by the grand lodge. This
tribunal passeds upon all matters con
cerning the laws OF the order and
their violation within the state, and
relieves the grand lodge from many
of the discussions and disputes which
arise in every organization composd
of men. The supreme lodge is, as its
name indicates, the governing body
Of the whole organization. and is
made up OF representatives from each
Grand Domain. Colorado has two
and there the same organization is
found As in the grand lodge. There
is Supreme Chancellor and su-
preme tribunal. No young man can
take this organization, together with
the laws of the order and study them
carefully and familiarize himself
with the governing principles of the
order, without in large measure
becoming familiar with underlying
principles, which are the basis Of his
national and state government.
Coeur de Leon Lodge No. as is the
representative of the order in Canon
City. II was instituted February 81,
1889, with charter membership of
thirty The organization has
always been conservative and has
rarely sought, by active proselyting to
add to its numbers, but has rather
been particular in choosing from
among all classes and vocation. those
citizens who Were of good repute and
standing in the community. The
membership is slightly in excess of
one hundred. The lodge is not. and
has never been in debt IL owns its
paraphenalia, has money in the treas
ury and some Investments in the way
of loans. Perhaps no lodge its size
and age in the state, has received
more marked recognition by the grand
lodge of the state. Within the past
ten years the Grand Chancellor of the
state has twice been chosen from |