|
Our Beginning
On September 16th,1903 the Grand
Lodge of Colorado granted charter to Albert Pike Lodge No. 117 and for
over 100 years since we have been striving to make good men better!
In that century of service we have seen many lodges sadly disappear but
have always held strong our commitment to the Craft of Masonry.
Albert Pike Lodge No 117 began its history on September 16th 1903 in the very same building that we now meet; one of the most beautiful and ancient Masonic buildings in Colorado and located in the heart of Denver just steps from 16th Street Mall. Meeting in Denver twice each month our Brethren ran the business of the lodge and watched it grow year by year until January 8th 1981 when they voted to move out of this historic landmark; holding their last meeting there on January 22nd 1981. For several decades after they chose to meet at the Lakewood Masonic Family Center in Lakewood CO. Our Lodge appropriately voted once again to move back to our home building on January 23rd 2008 almost 27 years to the day after we left. We now continue to meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month (excluding June, July, & August) working hard to make good men better.
Our Connection to the Birth of Our Country
The Marquis De Lafayette, like George Washington, was a Freemason. On the occasion of his visit to Troy N.Y., a deputation from Apollo Lodge No. 13 waited upon him and invited him to visit Apollo Lodge. The invitation was accepted, the Lodge made preparations for the reception of their distinguished visitor; and although the time was short, the preparations were creditable to the brethren.
General Lafayette personally presented the apron which he wore at this visit to then Worshipful Master Adna Adams Treat, of Troy Lodge, who had received him. In later years Brother Adna Treat had the further distinction of being the oldest life member of the Grand Lodge of New York, and at the time of his death in 1900, at the age of almost one hundred four years, he was the oldest living Mason in the United States. The apron was handed down to Brother Adna Treat's son, Charles A. Treat of Denver, who in turn gave it to his brother, Marcus J. R. Treat of Hayes City, Kansas, and he presented it to his nephew, Nathan 0. Vosburgh, P.M., for many years Treasurer of Albert Pike Lodge No. 117 whom on September 27, 1928 presented it to his Lodge where it has resided since.
General Lafayette's apron sets on display in every regular meeting of Albert Pike Lodge for all Brethren to enjoy. You may view a photo by clicking here.
UPDATE: Lafayette's apron is on display for the centennial anniversary of The George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria Virginia. Albert Pike Lodge has loaned the apron to the memorial for the year 2010 and we highly suggest visiting the memorial building if you are ever in this area. While you are there, please take a moment to view Lafayette's apron!
Our Namesake
The life of Albert Pike nearly spanned the nineteenth Century. He was born at Boston, December 29, 1809, and he died at Washington, D.C., April 2, 1891. Into these 81 years he crowded talents and accomplishments which might have distinguished a score of different men. He was Poet, Lawyer, Jurist, Editor, Author, Explorer, Statesman, Scholar and Educator, Soldier and Humanitarian, as well as the world's best known Freemason, and in each he attained outstanding recognition.
Prospering in Law, he was admitted to the Bar, practiced before the
Supreme Court of Arkansas, in which he was, for some months in 1864, an
Associate Justice. He pleaded cases before the Supreme Court of
the United States, and particularly in the 1850's he wrote many notable
legal opinions. He prepared the first Arkansas Legal Form Book. Writing
extensively on legal subjects, he completed in later years a monumental
work of several volumes entitled MAXIMS of the ROMAN LAW. His qualities
of statesmanship, no less than his knowledge of law, enabled him to
devise treaties between the Indians, notably the Choctaw, and the
Government of the United States.
During the War Between the States he identified himself wholeheartedly
in loyalty to his adopted State of Arkansas. His military exploits as a
Confederate General were many and varied. He is best known for his role
in the Battle at Pea Ridge where as a Brigadier General he lead his
‘Indian Brigade’ of 1st and 2nd mounted Cherokee Riflemen into battle
against Union Forces.
As a poet, he won his praise in his own time of such noted
contemporaries as Edgar Allen Poe, Charles Dickens and others. Today,
his "Hymns to the Gods," "Prose Sketches and Poems Written in the
Western Country," and "Lyrics and Love Songs," are collector's items.
His prose work, "The Life Wake of the Fine Arkansas Gentleman Who Died
Before His Time," is one of the rarities of Americana.
In 1850, at the age of 41, Albert Pike became a Freemason. In Masonry he
found opportunity to use all of his talents. He became interested in its
law, and contributed greatly to Masonic Jurisprudence. Masonic
Philosophy and Symbolism inspired his profound interest and led him at
middle age, to undertake exhaustive study of ancient alphabets and
languages in order that he need not rely upon the translations of
others. He became proficient in Hebrew and even Sanskrit (an ancient,
dead language known only to scholars today), making extensive
translations and commentaries of his own from ancient writings in these
languages. Rewriting and revising the rituals and ceremonials of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, he provided these
works with a depth of philosophy and symbolism which had been merely
fragmentary before. To these he added the great book "Morals and Dogma"
providing additional philosophical material to the degrees of the Rite.
He wrote many works upon the history of the Order in this country, in
France and elsewhere.
Prominently identified with the Grand Lodge of Arkansas he later, in
1859 became Grand Commander of the Supreme Council 33° of the A. & A.
Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction (all States south of the Ohio River
and west of the Mississippi river, and foreign territories of the United
States). He held this office until his death in 1891. At the House
of the Temple, home of the Supreme Council, Washington, D.C.; an entire
room is devoted to the preservation and display of the published and
manuscript writings of Albert Pike, his letters, personal mementoes,
portraits, and everything concerning this great American. His mortal
remains occupy a special crypt in the House of the Temple, authorized by
an Act of Congress. A bronze statue of Albert Pike stands in the
triangle directly opposite the Municipal Building in the nation's
capital.
We would love to help you learn more about Freemasonry, our Lodge, and it's history. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to petition our Lodge for Membership.
| Copyright ©2010 Albert Pike Lodge and all authors as otherwise noted |