HISTORY of MT.MORIAH #2 F&AM of Utah
-BUILT ON A NOBLE FOUNDATION
In the early days of civilized Utah, Masonry could have been considered an endangered species. Masonry was limited to a traveling lodge of military men based at Camp Crittenden, known as Rocky Mountain Lodge # 205. This lodge operated until the mid 1850s, when the troops withdrew from the state, and the lodge surrendered its charter. During the subsequent time period, as far as available records show, there was only one documented event in which Masons participated, a funeral for a Lieutenant Chase, who was killed in battle in 1863, but there was no active lodge.
Things changed in the summer of 1865 when J.M. Ellis, an owner of a general mercantile business in Salt Lake City began corresponding with W.A.M. Van Bokkelen, Grand Secretary of Nevada. During this correspondence Brother Ellis made inquiries concerning the "steps necessary to be taken to secure a dispensation for a Masonic Lodge." And, in November 11, 1865, the Salt Lake Brethren held their first meeting at Odd Fellows' Hall for the purpose of perfecting an organization in preparation for obtaining a Masonic charter.
Although the official records of the
early meetings were destroyed by fire in 1875, some information can be
gleaned from other sources. For example, in the Nov 11, 1865 edition of
the Daily Union Vedette,
there was a notice that read:
"MASONIC NOTICE-
In
pursuance of a resolution passed at the adjourned meeting, all Master
Masons
here in good standing, are invited to meet on the 12th inst.,
at 10 o'clock A.M. at Odd Fellows' Hall, Great Salt Lake City"
This notice was signed by W.L. Halsey, President, and James Thurmond, Secretary. From this, we can deduce that the meeting on Nov 11th included the election of certain officers. This notice also has historical significance, because it was the first Masonic notice ever published in a Utah newspaper.
On January 25th, 1866, and after
thorough investigation, the Grand Master of Nevada issued a
dispensation authorizing a Masonic Lodge in Salt Lake City. When the
news reached Salt Lake on February 4th, 1866, a meeting was rapidly
organized for the following day. The first meeting of Mt. Moriah, the
oldest active Masonic lodge in Utah, took place on February 5th, 1866.
The Daily Union Vedette
printed the following on February 7th, 1866:
"THE MASONIC ORGANIZATION-One
of the most cheering signs of the civilization of the times in Utah was
the imposing procession and the interesting exercises, on the occasion
of the organization of Mt. Moriah Lodge U.D., F. & A. M., in
this
city on Monday afternoon. “The affair was novel in this city
of
Saints, and certainly significant of elevating innovation and of
progress in this heretofore proscriptive part of free America. At 2
o'clock P.M. the members, numbering between 50 and 60 from the civil
and military citizens (gentiles) marched in full Masonic regalia from
the Lodge Room through the principal streets on their way to
Independence Hall, and headed by the splendid Military Band.
The Hall was thronged by spectators, among whom were scores of
fine
ladies of the city and camp. After an opening prayer by the Chaplain,
Rev. Norman McLeod, and music by the band, the Dispensation was read by
Captain Henry Beach, who properly invested the commissioned officers of
the Lodge, to-wit: James M. Elles, W.M., W.G. Higley, S.W., and W.L.
Halsey (by proxy), J.W., The Worshipful Master then made the following
appointments: Deacon; Louis Cohn, Junior Deacon; Wm. Munter and P.
Quinn, Stewards and Ray Baker, Tyler. Next, an appropriate and eloquent
address was delivered by James M. Ellis, Esq. After music and
benediction, the Masons returned to their Lodge Room, and, in the
evening participated in a pleasant festival. Everything passed off
decorously, and delighted the well-wishers of humanity, in the Hall and
on the street."
This was just one of many instances of Salt Lake City based Masons holding an event in grand fashion. Shortly thereafter, more "grand" events took place. Mt Moriah members held a well attended "Grand Masonic Ball" on February 22, 1866, in honor of George Washington's Birthday. And St. John's Day was celebrated with a "Masonic Festival and Ball" on June 25th, 1866. All events were very well attended, and raised significant funds for the cause of masonry.
While these festivities were going on,
seeds of
friction began to develop between Mt. Moriah, and the Grand Lodge of
Nevada. The Grand Lodge of Nevada issued a directive making it
impossible for certain religions to receive the benefits of Masonry.
Members of Mt. Moriah felt it was contrary to the
principles
of Masonry to exclude a man based on religion. Masonry is a fraternal
organization open to all men that profess belief in a supreme being,
regardless of the definition a man may apply to his higher power.
Lodge members and leadership objected to this exclusion on the grounds that prohibiting certain religions would be in direct violation to the principles of equality and inclusion that Masonry stands for. At that time, however, The Grand Lodge of Nevada did not agree and threatened to revoke Mt Moriah's charter to act as an authorized Masonic Lodge. In spite of numerous petitions to the Grand Lodge, regarding this matter, Mt Moriah's dispensation to operate as a Masonic Lodge ended on September 1st, 1867 and was not ultimately reinstated until November 9th, 1868.
This lapse in membership that makes Mt.
Moriah the oldest active Masonic body in Utah, but not the oldest
continuously operating Masonic Lodge. This gap is a source of great
pride among Mt Moriah's fraternal members. It reminds us of the
strength our early brothers exhibited in the crusade to do what is
right and correct, regardless of the consequences, all the while,
remaining steadfast to the principles that govern all Masons: brotherly
love, fortitude, prudence, temperance, justice, and truth. As members
of Mt Moriah lodge #2, we continue to follow the same principles that
drove the founders of our lodge, striving for the moral strength to be
considered by society upright men. We are built on a noble foundation.
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