HAXTUN, COLORADO
In the spring of 1925 a number of Masons in and around Haxtun met in the First National Bank Building in Haxtun to discuss the possibility of forming a Lodge. Frank L. Wilkins, a Past Master of Dewitt Lodge No. 11 of Nebraska jurisdiction was appointed Worshipful Master; Roy F. Fleming, Senior Warden; Tom C. Crist, Junior Warden; Emil J. Anderson, Secretary; and Harry W. Hartman, Treasurer.
The Secretary was instructed to write to the Grand Master and request instructions as to the necessary procedure to form a Lodge at Haxtun. The instructions were received and the officers proceeded to prepare themselves for the task at hand.
A petition in due form was sent to the Most Worshipful Grand Master William N. Vaile, who granted a dispensation June 13, 1925.
The Grand Master appointed Frank L. Wilkins, Worshipful Master; Roy Fleming, Senior Warden and Tom C. Crist, Junior Warden, to serve as officers U. D.
A preliminary meeting was held in the Odd Fellows’ Hall at 8:30 P.M., June 26, 1925 at which time Worshipful Master Frank C. Wilkins appointed H. W. Hartman, Treasurer; Emil J. Anderson, Secretary; Z. R. Spaur, Senior Deacon; C. O. Hedstrum, Junior Deacon; J. B. Ghent, Senior Steward; R. D. Jordan, Junior Steward, and N. S. Crow, Tiler.
The hour of 8: 00 P.M. and 2nd and 4th Fridays were set as the hour and day of Stated Communications. This was changed to the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays on January 14, 1927. On February 28, 1928, the hour and date changed to 7:30 P.M., from October 1 to April 1, to 8:00 P.M., from April 1 to October 1 on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month.
The furniture of the Lodge was donated by Colorado Springs Lodge No. 76.
Haxtun Lodge U. D. initiated four and passed and raised two in the interim from June 26, 1925 to August 28, 1925, at which time all the papers and dispensation were sent to the Grand Lodge with a request for a charter.
After sending the dispensation and papers to the Grand Lodge the brothers continued to hold meetings, confer degrees and ballot on candidates, all of which was unlawful. This was not an intentional breech of the constitution but was done through Jack of knowledge and familiarity with the constitution. The Grand Master, however later, “healed” this unlawful work.
A charter was granted and Haxtun Lodge No. 164 was constituted on Friday, October 30, 1925, by Most Worshipful Grand Master Marshall H. Van Fleet, and other Grand Lodge officers. The Grand Master then proceeded to install officers U. D. as officers of the newly constituted Lodge. These officers were re-elected on December 11, 1925, to serve the Lodge for a full year. It is interesting to note that Sterling Lodge No. 54 received petitions and conferred degrees on two persons living in Crook, Colorado, which was in the Haxtun Jurisdiction. After discovering their error, the Sterling Lodge requested and were granted waivers covering these two brothers by the Haxtun Lodge.
The minutes mention many instances of fraternal relations with Sterling Lodge No. 54, Logan Lodge No. 70, Holyoke Lodge No. 81 and Yuma Lodge No. 149.
In 1943 the Haxtun Lodge bought the Lutheran Church and converted it to a Lodge room which it occupied in September 1944. In 1949 this property was sold and lots purchased for a new home. The corner-stone for this new temple was laid October 1, 1949 by the Grand Lodge of Colorado. The new Temple was occupied on May 4, 1950 with a dinner and the conferring of the Master Mason Degree by the Past Masters.
In 1953 Masons and Eastern Star members joined to celebrate the burning of the notes on the Temple and carpet which were held by members of the Lodge.
There are many instances of donations by Haxtun Lodge to other Lodges in time of tribulation as well as donations to other worthy causes.
