The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-03
ORIGIN TOLD OF
MASONRY IN UTAH

The history Of Masonry in Utah dates
much further back.
The pioneers of Utah preceded the
MasOns by a bare dozen years. Scarce
" had the first settlers had time 10
fairly acquaint themselves with 'Des-
eret" when Masonry had its beginning.
The first lodge, Rocky Mountain No.
POS, was organized June If, 1860, under
provisions of a dispensation issued by
Anthony O'Sullivan, grand secretary OF
Missouri, March G, 1859, and was COM
posed of officers and soldiers - Colonel
Albert S. Johnston's army. The mill
tary came here from Fort Pritchard,
Wye, June rs 1858, and pitched tents
at Camp Floyd on the shore Of Utah
lake. fifty miles southwest Of this city
At the time the length of their stay
was not definite, and those who had
become Masons in other parts of the
country We're DESTROYS of practicing the
teachings of the order. After working
under the dispensation for little over
a year the army lodge received a char
ter from Missouri, June I. 1850.
The meetings We're conducted in 4
rude one-stOry adobe house. and while
the lodge was in session a Gordon of
members kept the curious away in lieu
Of more advanced means,
John G, Robinson was master. Henry
W Tracy. senior warden. and .. L.
Stephenson. junior warden, of Rocky
Mountain No. 205. Richard Wilson was
secretary.
on the outbreak Of the civil war the
lodge was disbanded. the charter being
surrendered March q. 1861. The cut
showing the hall OF this. the first Ma
sonic lodge organized IN Utah. is from
a sketch furnished Christopher Diehl
by General Z. NJ. Thomas, Il charter
member who after the war joined Dali
ton lodge No. los. at Dalton, Ca.
Nit. Moriah of Salt Lake.
Masonry i'm Salt Lake dates back 20
the organization of Mt. MoUiah lodge
No. .. which was granted a dispense
ton by the grand lodge Of Nevada Feb.
.. 1866. The dispcnsatiou contained a
clause cnjoining Mt. Moriah 20 exclude
all OF Mormon faith. and it was this
/ which later caused trouble. Having
worked under its dispcnsation about six
months. Mt. Moriah lodge besought the
/ grand lodge Of Nevada for charter.
At this time James W. Ellis was master
/ Of Ait. MOriah lodge. The request was
refused because Of the peculiar cir
! cumstances surrounding the brethren
| OF At Moriah," but the dispensation
, was continued for one year. In 1867 a
! second request for a charter again met
with refusal, ana the dspensation was
/ declared ended.
/ But Mt. Moriah had merely hesitated
/ not stopped in its career.
While Mt Moriah had been prosper
/ ing and yet daTkened by the shadow OF
n religious difference. other Salt Lake
4 Masons had formed Wasatch lodge and
/ were granted a dispensation by the
! grand lodge Of Montana Oct. %. 1866
/ A charter was granted oct. 7. 1867, the
new lodge being known. as Masatch No
J s. Its first officers We're: Master. r. IL
Robertson; senior warden, J, NJ. Orr
/ junior warden stephen De Wolfe,
In the meantime the members Of tho
apparently defunct Mt. Moriah lodge
had been alive and doing. and on Nov
| q. 1867, secured a dispensatinn from the
grand lodge Of Kansas. The charte,
/ was granted Oct. q. 1868, at which time
/ the revived At. MOTiah had siXty-thTcC
members. It's officers We're; Master
/ Joseph +. NOunnan: senior warden
1 William G.. Higley; junior warden. I
| II. AueTbach; treasurer, Sol Siegel
/ secretary. Edmund +. Johnson; S. =.
1 Louis C0hn: ]. D, George 3. Moulton
y. y. 5. Boukofsky; ]. s., Paul En-
/ glebfeeht.
Argenta lodge was granted a dispen.
/ satlon by Grand Master Henry NJ
/ Teller of Colorado April s, 1871. receiv,
1 ing it's charter as Areenta No. q. Sept
/ &c, 1871. The first officers follow: Mas.
/ tor. Ebenezcr II. Shaw: S.-Wa f. 9
/ Zabriskie; J. w. ~ X, Hardness
J treasurer, Edward Reed; secretary, \