DENVER, COLORADO
June 15, 1891, the Grand Lodge of Colorado, on receipt of a petition, granted the 59 signers of said petition, a dispensation to hold Lodge as “Colorado Lodge U. D.” in the Masonic Temple at 1614 Welton Street, Denver, Colorado, and appointed Brother Henry M. Furman, Worshipful Master; Robert D. Thompson, Senior Warden and Alonzo F. Vick Roy, Junior Warden to serve the Lodge U. D.
It is interesting to note that 14 of these signers were members of Denver Lodge No.5 and 24 of Union Lodge No.7, the two lodges that recommended the formation of this new Lodge.
Colorado Lodge U. D. held 6 stated and 3 special communications – 9 petitions were received for the degrees, 7 were elected and 1 rejected and 1 no action taken. 6 received the Entered Apprentice Degree, 5 the Fellow Craft Degree and 1 the Master Mason Degree.
September 14, 1891, a petition for charter was sent to the by 61 Masons. The Charter was granted September 15, 1891, Oriental Lodge No. 87.
The officers appointed for Colorado Lodge U. D. were re-appointed to serve Oriental Lodge No. 87.
December 2, 1891 was the first election of officers. At this time Harry M. Furman was elected to again serve as Worshipful Master; A. F. Vick Roy, Senior Warden; J. A. Vickers, Junior Warden; W. B. Trufant, Treasurer; and J. P. Evans, Secretary.
December 16, 1891, the above elected officers and the following appointed officers were installed, D. A. Barton, Senior Deacon; W. F. Larimer, Junior Deacon; R. W. English, Senior Steward; S. B. Grimshaw, Junior Steward; and Thomas Linton, Tiler.
December 14, 1892, the officers of Oriental Lodge No. 87 were installed by Most Worshipful Grand Master William D. Wright at public installation. This was followed by a banquet and dancing till a late hour.
During the first 10 years there were many petitions received for the Degrees, numerous rejections, and many suspensions for “Un-Masonic Conduct” (specifically Non-Payment of Dues).
At a Special Communication, September 17, 1895, the Master of Union Lodge No.7 conferred the first section of the Third Degree, the Master of Oriental, the second Section and the Master of Denver No.5 the third Section, all on one candidate.
January 29, 1897, a smoker was held by the Lodge.
January 19, 1898, the indebtedness to the Masonic Temple Mortagage Trustee was paid in full and Lodge was clear of all debts.
April 17, 1901, was a Big Day. Eight Fellow Crafts were raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason.
October 7,1901, Lodge opened at 9:00 A.M. for a full day’s labor. The Fellowcrafts were raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason, meals served at noon and in the evening, and refreshments at closing.
September 21, 1910, Most Worshipful Brother A. B. McGaffey, Grand Master of Masons in Colorado and an affiliated Past Master of Oriental visited the Lodge as his first official visit as Grand Master.
September 17, 1912 at a Called Communication, the Masters of the Denver Area Lodges exemplified the third degree before the Grand Lodge. This is the first note of any of the Officers of Denver Area Lodges Meeting, and was probably the fore-runner of the metropolitan Masonic Officers Association.
March 4, 1914 three Brothers, H. P. Drinkwater, R. R. Drinkwater and R. L. Drinkwater were raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason.
December 1, 1915 Most Worshipful Brother Robert M. Simons, Grand Master of Masons and other Grand Lodge Officers visited Oriental Lodge. Most Worshipful Brother Simons was a Past Master of Oriental Lodge, having served the lodge as Master in 1904.
The years 1932 to 1942 were trying years for the lodge. During this period the membership dropped from 489 in 1931 to 353 in 1942.
Carlton M. Ray, who was Master in 1945, was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1960, thus becoming the third Grand Master from Oriental in its 70 year history.
It is interesting to note the many rejections for the Degrees in the Lodge’s early years, while with the decline of the depression years a steadying influence became apparent thus revealing that friendship and brotherly love were becoming a reality.
Membership November 30,1960 423
