The History of Freemasonry in Colorado

The seeds of Freemasonry in Colorado were sown amid the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, a frenzy sparked by rumors of vast mineral wealth in the Rocky Mountains. The region, part of the Kansas Territory until 1861, was largely inhabited by Native American tribes including the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute, and Comanche. European exploration had begun earlier: In 1806, U.S. Army Captain Zebulon Montgomery Pike—a Freemason from Lodge No. 3 in Philadelphia—led an expedition that mapped the southern Rockies and identified the 14,115-foot peak that would bear his name, fueling dreams of gold. Pike's reports, combined with Cherokee prospectors' discoveries of gold flakes near modern-day Denver in 1850 and 1852, set the stage for mass migration.

The pivotal influx began in 1858. On June 23, William Green Russell—a Georgia Mason from Blue Mountain Lodge No. 38—led a party of 101 (including Cherokees and Missourians) to the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, site of present-day Denver. They prospected until July 6, unearthing small placer deposits worth $300–$400 by October. Thirteen stayed, including Masons Dr. Levi Jasper Russell (William's brother) and William McFadding, who built the Russell-Smith cabin—the first permanent structure in the area and a nascent hub for Masonic activity.

By September, the Lawrence Party arrived, founding the short-lived Montana City north of the creek. On October 10, D.C. Oakes' Iowa group followed, then an Omaha party on October 20, and a 58-person contingent from Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska—including Mason William M. Slaughter—on October 24. Merchant Charles H. Blake, a Mason and future Senior Warden of Auraria Lodge, arrived October 27 with partner A.J. Williams. Henry Allen, Junior Warden of Iowa's Bluff City Lodge No. 71, led a Council Bluffs party, bringing the settler count to 250–300 by December.

Town companies formed rapidly, often with Masonic involvement:

• September 24, 1858: St. Charles Town Company (east of Cherry Creek), incorporated under Kansas law on February 11, 1859, but "jumped" by rivals due to slow development.
• October 30, 1858: Auraria Town Company (west of the creek, named for "aurum," Latin for gold). Chaired by Mason William McFadding, with bylaws drafted by McFadding and Levi Russell. Stockholders included Masons Henry Allen, Samuel Bates, Blake, D.D. Hoag, Roswell Hutchins, L.J. Russell, W.J. Russell, Andrew Sagendorf, and Slaughter. November 6 elections: McFadding (president), Levi Russell (secretary), Henry Allen (director)—all Masons.
• November 16, 1858: Denver City Town Company (overlapping St. Charles claim), led by General William Larimer Jr. Stockholders included Masons Blake, H.P.A. Smith, and L.J. Winchester. H.P.A. Smith became Arapahoe County's first Probate Judge.

These Masons, drawn from diverse lodges across states like Iowa, Georgia, and Illinois, began informal meetings for mutual aid—sharing mining tips, financial news, and fraternal support. The first recorded gathering occurred on November 3, 1858, in Henry Allen's tent at Auraria (now Denver). Accounts vary slightly: J.D. Ramage (from Canada's Cataraqui Lodge) described seven Masons—Allen, Slaughter, Blake, Levi Russell, Sagendorf, Oscar E. Lehow, and George Lehow—meeting weekly thereafter. Andrew Sagendorf recalled an early November session in W.G. Russell's cabin, with attendees including Jim Winchester (Worshipful Master), Bob Willis, Allen, Judge Slaughter, Bates, the Russells, Blake, Lehow, and Ramage. By December 10, A.E. Pearce noted a meeting in the Sagendorf-Lehow cabin, followed by a St. John's Day banquet on December 27 for 26 Masons, complete with a borrowed tablecloth but no chairs. These "time immemorial" sessions of "Arapahoe Lodge" predated formal churches or schools, as noted by John Chivington: "Henry Allen founded a Masonic Lodge in Colorado long before there was a church or school."

John H. Gregory's May 6, 1859, gold strike in Gregory Gulch (near Central City) exploded the population to 20,000 by June, birthing mining camps like Black Hawk, Nevadaville, and Golden City. Informal Masonic meetings there led to Colorado's first Masonic hall: a 30x30-foot log cabin built June 15 in Central City, plastered with mud and dedicated around June 20, 200+ visitors from across the U.S. and abroad, guarded by armed Masons. A granite marker now commemorates the site between Central City and Black Hawk.

The Rocky Mountain News, founded April 23, 1859, by likely Mason William N. Byers (who joined in 1861), advertised "Arapahoe Lodge" meetings on Saturdays in Auraria, with Allen as Worshipful Master and H.A. Smith as secretary. Masonic letters in the paper urged perseverance. On January 17, 1859, Auraria directors (mostly Masons) donated lots to Masonic and Odd Fellows groups.

Formalization came via the Grand Lodge of Kansas (established 1856). On August 15, 1859, it granted dispensation for Auraria Lodge (petitioners: Geo. H. Bryant, John Hughes, A.W. Dodge of Leavenworth Lodge No. 150; Henry Allen, Master; Charles Johnson, SW; C.H. Blake, JW). The first meeting: October 1 in Buddee & Jacobs store (Albert Buddee from Herman Lodge No. 37, IL; Abraham Jacobs from Capitol Lodge No. 3, NE). Over 40 attended, with 27 visitors; it recommended dispensations for Denver City Lodge (November 5, but returned due to proximity to Auraria) and Golden City Lodge (November 26).

Challenges abounded: Indian attacks, floods, and the Pike's Peak or Bust exodus (only 20% stayed by 1860). On October 17, 1860, Golden City Lodge received its Kansas charter (dispensation January 21, 1860; Dr. Isaac E. Hardy, first Master). Nevada Lodge (dispensation December 22, 1860; Andrew Mason, WM) and a short-lived Denver Lodge (1860, members later merged into Auraria) followed.

Masons influenced governance: April 11–15, 1859, public meetings at Wooton's Hall for civil organization featured Masons like Levi Russell (chair), Sagendorf (secretary), Winchester, Allen, C.A. Collier, Smith, Blake, and Slaughter as delegates. They drafted addresses to Congress and formed the Jefferson Territory's first Constitutional Convention. In December 1859, Henry Allen signed laws as Territorial Council president.

Colorado Territory's creation on February 28, 1861, shifted jurisdictions from Kansas. On June 5, 1861, Nebraska's Grand Lodge chartered Summit Lodge No. 7 (Parkville) and Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 8 (Gold Hill).

The Grand Lodge formed August 2–3, 1861, in Golden City as the "Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Colorado." Representatives from Golden City No. 34 (Kansas), Summit No. 7, and Rocky Mountain No. 8 convened, presided by James Ewing (Worshipful Master) with O.A. Whittemore as secretary. Eli Carter of Golden waived presiding rights. Officers elected: John Chivington (Grand Master), S.M. Robbins (Deputy), James Ewing (Senior Grand Warden), J.M. Holt (Junior), Eli Carter (Grand Treasurer), Whittemore (Grand Secretary). Lodges renumbered: Golden City No. 1, Summit No. 2, Rocky Mountain No. 3. A constitution was adopted, emphasizing moral and fraternal principles.

The first Annual Communication: December 10–11, 1861, in Denver (only Summit submitted returns). Chivington was re-elected, but absent much of his term due to Civil War duties; Deputy Andrew Mason handled responsibilities. Auraria surrendered its Kansas dispensation, merging with Denver City members and chartering as Denver Lodge No. 5 (57 members). Nevada became No. 4; Chivington Lodge No. 6 (Central City) was chartered September 30, 1861. A brief King Solomon Lodge in Denver (1861) left only a $15 receipt.

Jurisdictional tensions arose: Nevada, Auraria, and Central City (under dispensation) couldn't participate; Nevada's later Kansas charter stemmed from viewing Nebraska charters as infringing on Kansas jurisdiction.

Membership grew rapidly: 154 in 1862, 300 in 1863 (including Montana ), 392 in 1864 (including Union No. 7 from a Denver No. 5 split over Civil War loyalties). Early losses included Rocky Mountain No. 3 (surrendered November 3, 1862, ghost town) and Summit No. 2 (1865, same reason).

New lodges proliferated:

• 1863: Union No. 7 (Denver, November 30; charter member John Evans became territorial governor).
• 1865: Empire; Montana and Helena City (later Montana lodges).
• 1866–1869: Black Hawk No. 11, El Paso No. 13 (Colorado Springs), Columbia No. 14 (Boulder), Washington No. 12 (Georgetown), Pueblo No. 17; Mount Moriah No. 15 (surrendered). Chivington No. 6 renamed Central Lodge No. 6 in 1868, likely due to Chivington's controversial Sand Creek Massacre role.

The Grand Lodge chartered foreign lodges seeding other jurisdictions: Montana No. 9 and Helena No. 10 (Grand Lodge of Montana); Cheyenne No. 16, Laramie No. 18, Evanston No. 24 (Wyoming); Argenta No. 21 (Utah). Between 1861 and 1876, 31 lodges formed with over 4,000 men involved.

Key Grand Masters reflected pioneer prominence:

• 1861–1862: John Chivington (Methodist minister, Union colonel).
• 1862: Allyn Weston (banker, investor).
• 1863, 1867–1872: Henry M. Teller (lawyer, first U.S. Senator from Colorado 1876, Secretary of the Interior 1882–1885).
• 1864: Archibald van Deren (Gilpin County commissioner).
• 1865: Andrew Mason (miner, mining superintendent; aided Utah Grand Lodge formation).
• 1873–1874: Webster D. Anthony (Governor John Evans' secretary, first Colorado House Speaker).

Masons influenced statehood: Lodges mirrored Colorado's boundaries by 1876, aiding municipal incorporation, law enforcement, and moral instruction. Influential figures included Governors S.W. Beall and John Evans, Lucien W. Bliss, and Richard Sopris. Denver Lodge No. 5, Colorado's oldest continuous lodge, exemplifies this: Founded as Auraria in 1859, it merged in 1861.

Colorado's admission as the 38th state on August 1, 1876—the Centennial State—coincided with Masonic maturity. By 1876, 17 lodges survived territorial trials. The Grand Lodge's Annual Communications alternated between Denver and Central City until 1873, then settled in Denver: J.P. Fink Block (to 1883), City Hall (1883–1890), Masonic Temple at 16th and Welton (1890–1970s).

Growth accelerated in the "Golden Age" (1870–1910), with membership surging via social networks and charity. The 1880s–1890s saw temples like Highlands Masonic Temple (Lodge No. 86, Denver, early 1900s) and Colorado Springs Masonic Center (stemming from mining camp lodges). Freemasons supported education and relief, their principles echoing in state institutions.

The 20th century brought institutionalization. In 1927–1933, inspired by England's Freemasons' Hall, Colorado built memorials for World War I dead. The Grand Lodge's current Colorado Springs headquarters—office, museum, library—broke ground March 17, 1973. Membership peaked post-WWII, then declined amid societal shifts, but charity thrived: scholarships, Teacher of the Year awards, and the Robert Russell Eastern Star Retirement Center.

Union Lodge No. 7's 1863 charter legality was affirmed in 1928 via testimony from Grand Officer Chase Withrow.

Early U.S. attempts at Prince Hall recognition faltered (e.g., Washington 1897, rescinded). Colorado began in 1990 under Grand Master Dwight A. Hamilton, recommending mutual recognition and visitation rights via a "compact" affirming sovereignty. Connecticut (1989) and Nebraska (1990) preceded; Wisconsin and Washington followed.

On October 19, 2022, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Colorado A.F.&A.M. and Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Colorado rededicated the compact in the Colorado Supreme Court Hall at the State Capitol. Keynote: Wellington Webb, former Denver Mayor and 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason (Prince Hall affiliated). This allows visitation but not dual affiliation, symbolizing coexistence.

Into the 21st century, Colorado Freemasonry navigates membership dips (U.K.-style lows in some areas) with innovation. The Grand Lodge oversees around 100 active lodges, four memorial, and one research lodge.