Creation of LNG

Lawrence N. Greenleaf Lodge No. 169 A.F. & A.M.

A.F. & A.M. LODGE DENVER, COLORADO

On January 12, 1926, a meeting of Master Masons was called by Edd B. Willson for the purpose of forming a Masonic Club in Montclair. A committee was appointed to draw up bylaws for the Club. The next meeting was held on the second Tuesday in February, 1926, and the following officers were elected: President, Edd B. Willson; Vice-President, Ernest S. Johnson; Secretary, Raymond F. Hammer; Treasurer, Noel G. D. Boissier. The bylaws for the club were adopted, fixing the dues at $2.00 a year for charter members; $3.00 for new members for the first year and $2.00 thereafter. Regular meetings were held monthly at the Montclair Civic Building and social meetings were held during the winter. The membership of seven, who met the first night of the club, was increased to 33 by September, 1927.

It was voted to ask the Grand Lecturer of Masons in Colorado, Brother Charles L. Young, to meet with us and give a talk on the subject, “How to Form a Masonic Lodge”. On November 21, 1927, the Grand Lecturer came and answered many questions relative to the forming of a Masonic Lodge and brought with him a petition for a dispensation for a new Lodge. Eleven of the Club members signed the petition that night. All the members were very enthusiastic about the proposed new Lodge and when the petition was closed on March 1, 1928, forty-two had signed it, twenty of whom were sojourners holding their membership in Lodges outside of Colorado.

On March 1, 1928, we presented a copy of our petition to the twenty-three lodges of Denver, who, after due consideration and investigation, recommended us unanimously. On June 12, 1928, with the recommendations of the Lodges, we presented our petition, together with our dues cards and dimits, to the Grand Secretary, who checked them to see if everything was in order. On June 13, 1928, Brothers Edd B. Willson and John Oelerich took the dispensation given them, already filled in with the exception of the Grand Master’s signature, to the Most Worshipful Grand Master, John Andrew, at Longmont, Colorado, who granted us a dispensation until the thirty-first day of August, 1928.

Our charter was granted on September 18, 1928, and we were instituted a Lodge on October 2, 1928. The officers named in the charter were: Edd B. Willson, Worshipful Master; William B. Moore, Senior Warden; Raymond F. Hammer, Junior Warden; John Kyde, Treasurer; Stewart M. Heberling, Secretary. Our first petition for the degrees of Masonry was received from James W. Richey on the second meeting in October, 1928. We have had a slow but steady growth since we started and now own our Temple, free of debt, located at 4th and St. Paul Streets, Denver, Colorado.

Source: Grand Lodge of Colorado A.F. & A.M.