Page 34 - Jan Feb 2022 Mag. Base.indd

Congratula� ons to the Grand Lodge of Utah for 150 Years 1872- 2022

150th Annual Communica� on February 3 -5, 2022

Brethren The Grand Lodge of AF&AM of Montana Determined, they sought authorization from other
Congratulates the Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Utah for its Grand Lodges. They unsuccessfully asked for a
150 Years dispensation from the Colorado Grand Lodge and the
Montana Grand Lodge. Finally, they turned to the Grand
Montana's Grand Lodge has a long-standing Lodge of Kansas and were granted a dispensation, then
relationship with Utah's Grand Lodge. The two Grand a charter on November 9, 1868, for Mt. Moriah Lodge
Lodges form part of the Rocky Mountain Masonic No. 70 at Salt Lake under Chartered from the Grand
Conference. Wasatch Lodge No 8, at Great Salt Lake, Lodge of Kansas.
was the fi rst and only Lodge chartered by the Grand
Lodge of Montana outside of Montana. Another group of Utah Masons was seeking a
dispensation to form another Lodge in Salt Lake City.
In 1865, Masons in Salt Lake City petitioned the Their eff ort was led by Obed F Strickland and Reuben
Grand Lodge of Nevada for a dispensation to start a H Robertson. Both Strickland and Robertson had been
lodge. However, the Grand Master of Nevada Grand law partners in Montana and then in Utah. Brother
Master De Bell responded on January 25, 1866, with Strickland and Brother Robertson became the fi rst and
the stipulation that "No Mormon be accepted for the second Grand Masters of Utah. Brother Robertson was
Degrees," later adding, "or to be admitted as a visitor." a Past Master of Nevada Lodge No 4 in Montana and
These rigid provisions were partly due to the history attended the Second Annual Communication of the
of animosity against Mormons. The Utah Brothers Grand Lodge of Montana; on October 22, 1866, Brother
opposed the restriction because they believed it to be Robertson presented a petition for Dispensation to form
a violation of their rights. Based on their objection, the Wasatch Lodge U D at Salt Lake City. The Dispensation
petitioners were deemed "insubordinate," the Charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of Montana and was
was withdrawn, and the exemption was extended for issued to R H Robertson as Worshipful Master; J. M.
another year. The Masons who sought the Dispensation Orr, Senior Warden; S. De Wolfe, Junior Warden. In
initially accepted, but the petitioners changed their addition to these three, the other members of the Craft
minds after discussion, returning the Dispensation in whose names were on the petition for Dispensation
September 1867. were H. S. Bohm, Treasurer; R. D. Clark, Secretary;

Montana Freemason Page 34 Jan/Feb 2022 Volume 98 No.1