STERLING, COLORADO
Dispensation for Sterling No. 54 was granted under date of April, 1883. The first meeting was held up-stairs in the only two story building located at the corner of Main and 2nd Streets on May 20th with Brothers E. S. Ebbs as Worshipful Master, S. E. Robuck as Senior Warden, and J. M. King as Junior Warden. Five days later a special communication of the Lodge was called for the purpose of conferring burial rites on our Brother T. J. Burger, Senior Deacon.
John Alexander was the first candidate to receive all three degrees.
In October, 1883, the charter was received, indicating the same three principal officers and 15 charter members.
Between May 20th and October 2nd, 21 meetings were held, 7 candidates were initiated, 5 passed and 5 raised.
The minutes of the meeting of January 15, 1884 show that the Lodge Rooms were sub-rented to the Odd Fellows Lodge for $10 a month. (No. 54 was paying $12.50 per month.)
In 1889 the Lodge assisted in the laying of the corner-stone of the Masonic Temple in downtown Denver. During this year No. 54 accepted an offer from the Odd Fellows to use their Lodge Rooms rent free. This was done until December, 1891 when the Lodge moved to a hall known as Central Hall.
The name of Brother Haslett P. Burke appears in the records for the first time shortly after the turn of the new century. He served as Master during 1905-06-07. In 1907 the Lodge organized a Temple Board with Bro. Burke as a member. In August of the next year, work started on the new Temple and in September the Grand Master laid the corner-stone. On Nov. 12, 1910 No. 54 moved into its new home at which time it was dedicated. Bro. L. M. Judd who was raised in 1883 loaned the lodge $10,000 to assist in the completion of the Temple.
In June, 1918, No. 54 laid the corner-stone of the new Junior High School.
Bro. H. P. Burke was elected Grand Master of Masons during this year.
Among the notable Brothers who signed our Guest Book are: A. B. McGaffey, Charles A. Patten, Gov. E. C. Johnson, E. V. Holland, John C. Young and Charles L. Young, for many years Grand Lecturer, Charles C. Buttler, Frances R. Couck and Charles Mantz.
The name of H. P. Burke appears again on Dec. 5, 1937 at which time we received the pictures of all Past Masters and accepted them with most appropriate ceremonies. Then again in 1940, he acted as Master of Ceremonies when all the “Old Timers” were honored.
September, 1946, Brother F. H. Blair resigned as Treasurer after having served for 38 years. The next year a special communication was called to announce that the Lodge was free of debt and to burn the mortgage.
The Lodge’s most outstanding member was the late Most Wor. Bro. Haslett P. Burke, who for many years served as Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court and also as Chairman of the Grand Lodge Jurisprudence Committee. In 1953 he was presented with a 50-year medal by Grand Master Hubert Glover. In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of having served No. 54 as Master, the Lodge presented him with a Grand Master’s Apron in 1955.
Members, 1960 380
