DENVER, COLORADO
In 1909 several Master Masons were desirous of forming a Masonic Lodge on the north side of Denver, preferably in Berkeley, a suburb of Denver. The first preliminary organizing meeting was held October 16, 1909 at which time 11 brothers were present. M. W. Bro. George W. Musser issued a dispensation on November 30, 1909 and the lodge was chartered on September 20,1910.
Between the time of the first meeting and the issuance of the charter, several members of the lodge had made the middle chamber pillars, the altar and candlesticks, the ashlars and the Wardens’ columns.
The first organizational meeting was held in the Masonic Temple, 1614 Welton Street. Subsequent meetings were held at 2708 W. Dunkeld Place until January 5, 1915, at which time the 103rd stated communication was held in the Highlands Masonic Temple at 32nd and Federal Boulevard. In the latter part of 1928 the lodge moved to its present location at 3550 Federal Boulevard.
The membership of the lodge has grown from 34 on July 31, 1910 to 1,174 on November 30, 1960. A chart of the membership shows the vigor of the initial growth, and then, the results of the rugged years of the thirties, known as the depression, and depressing years they were. Petitions were few and many members were suspended for non-payment of dues, although many were reinstated in later years.
Finally the forties and fifties arrived, and brought the highest standard of living yet achieved by any civilization; colossal movie productions, coast to coast hook-up radio shows, nationwide television spectaculars, super-highways and easy riding automobiles, nevertheless, the lodge has continued a steady growth; with an influx of predominantly young members, which give us confidence that the secrets of the fraternity are still desired, and the wisdom of its teachings will be transmitted unimpaired to future generations.
No history of Berkeley Lodge No. 134 would be complete without special mention of M.W. C. Wheeler Barnes, P.G.M. “Barney”, as he is known to thousands of Colorado Masons, served his lodge as Master in 1942, and was Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Colorado from September 20, 1950 to January 23, 1952. He was the first Worshipful Master of Research Lodge of Colorado. He succeeded the late Haslett P. Burke as Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Colorado in the A.A.S.R. “Barney”, whose avocation is fine cabinet work, constructed the pedestals used in the East, West and South in Berkeley Lodge. The material for these was furnished by Master Masons raised in 1944.
