The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1908-10-31

lodge communication OF the Grand
Lodge OF Ancient, Free and Ac.
cepted Masons OF the Territory OF
New Mexico, which convened at
Albuquerque on the 10th inst,
marked another period in the his
tory OF the universal fraternity,
and formed one OF the most inter-
esting incidents in the general his.
tory OF the great division which we
all love, for the story OF New Mex.
leo is inseparably connected with
the personality OF Masons from the
beginning.
Masonry undoubtedly existed in
New Mexico before the occupation,
but il vas what is known as isolat-
ed Masonry, and was a reflection
OF the brotherhood as It existed in
old CASTLE, and was without head
or other than mutual recognition,
between the early Spanish discov-
erers and the rare vis,tants IRON
the country beyond the Mississip-
pi.
Authoritative Masonry first APP
peared shortly after the arrival OF
the American troops at Santa Fe
in I846, under the command oil
Brigadier General Stephen w.
Kearney. NJ lch OF this corps were
volunteer regiments from Missouri
and Illinois, and Masonry was
strong within them. Upon their
petition Hardin Military lodge was
organized under dispensation OF the
Grand Lodge OF Missouri in the
tall OF ts47, with Col. John Rails
OF the Fourth Missouri Volunteer
Cavalry, as master. The first or
ganization was wholly military, but
soon worthy citizens made petition
and we're admitted. Hardin Lodge
hourished Tor nearly four years and
was the pioneer lodge IN all OF the
country from Canada to the MeNl-
a border, and from the Missouri
river and Texas west to the Pacific
coast, except a lodge at salem,
Oregon, which had been formed by
American Masous in the early +o's.
Hardin Lodge was succeeded by
Montezuma lodge No. /, at Santa
Fe, under charter dated May s,
1881, issued by the Grand Lodge
OF Missouri, and which lives as the
mother lodge OF the fraternity in
New Mexico. For ten years It was
the only Masonic Lodge in what is
now New Mexico, Colorado and
Arizona. Many OF its members
travelled hundreds oil miles through
hostile Indian country and endur-
ing great hardships TO attend its
meetings. Then as now the strong
est men in public lite were Masons
and the annals OF the division bear
witness to the great usefulness OF
many OF those early Masons.
The second lodge was organized
at Taos in June, 1860, being mum.
bered ao4, and named Bent, under
the Missouri dispensation. Taos
was then quite an important point,
but the coming on oil the war dim.
med il and the charter was surrend-
cred in IS.
The third lodge was Chapman at
Fort Union in Ga, which after
many Masonic vicissitudes natural
to a military Lodge, was transfer
red to Las Vegas, and still exists.
Soon after lodges were constitut"
ed at Elizabethtown and Cimarron,
both great early day mining camps,
but with the passage OF years and
the close OF the camps, their char
tiers we're surrendered.
The third permanent lodge was
constituted at Las Cruces in 1866,
the powerful Aztec lodge OF today.
Silver City followed in - as did
Upton vile, a nov extinct settle
ment in Mora county, in -.
In 1877, there being Ave lodges
in working order, the Grand Lodge
OF New Mexico was organized at
Santa Fe, delegates from Santa Fe,
Las Vegas, and Las Cruces taking
part. Silver City at that time de-
ciined to take part or become part
Of the new Grand Lodge, and Tip.
tonville being unrepresented. Sam.
uel Beach Axtell. then governor OF
the territory, called the convention
to order and the irst officers We're;
Grand Master-William Wash.
ington Griffith, cashier OF the First
National Bank OF Santa Fe.
Grand SeEior Warden William
Logan Rynerson, OF Las Cruces,
territorial district attorney.
Grand Junior Warden-George
William Stebbins OF Las Vegas,
deputy internal revenue collector.
Grand Treasurer-W m
Spiegelberg OF Santa Fe, the sire
OF {. e noted house OF Spiegelberg.
Grand Secretary-David Ieffer-
son Miller of Santa Fe.
All OF these pioneers have long
since answered the call OF the SUI
preme grand master.
From August 8, 1877, down TO
the present day, the Grand Lodge
OF New Mexico has convened in an
nual session, a. d each year the
growth OF It's delegate body has