DENVER, COLORADO
During the year 1915 a number of Master Masons, members of various lodges in Denver, feeling that the interests of Masonry required a new lodge, met informally to discuss the formation of what afterwards became Columbine Lodge No. 147. M.W. Bro. Robert M. Simons granted a dispensation on January 20, 1916.
The new lodge was named after the State Flower. In explanation of this, Emerson’s words “rock-loving columbine” have been quoted to show that the lodge, like the flower, could grow and prosper despite difficulties and hardships placed in its way.
A charter was granted on September 20, 1916 and the lodge was constituted the same day, M. W. Bro. Guy V. Sternberg presiding. There were 38 charter members.
During its existence the lodge has met at the Masonic Temple, 1614 Welton Street, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 1770 Sherman Street, Harmony Temple, 777 Delaware Street, returning to 1614 Welton Street in 1960.Membership grew to 860 on November 30, 1960.
Perhaps the most widely known tradition of the Lodge is Colorado Night, a biannual communication dedicated to honoring the Grand Lodge of Colorado and those officals of the government who are members of the Craft.
Charity of the Lodge is dispensed through the Benjamin L. Solomon Memorial Fund, established to honor the memory of the 1922 Worshipful Master of the Lodge, a man who spent his time in the diligent pursuit performance of Masonic knowledge and the performance of Masonic duties.
Edwin J. Wittelshofer, Worshipful Master of the lodge in 1927 and 1928, was the 1950 Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Colorado, the only member of Columbine Lodge to be so honored: John Kamlet, Worshipful Master in 1954, is District Lecturer of the Grand Lodge for District 3.
Many families are represented in Columbine Lodge by more than one member. Three brothers, Max, William and Samuel Zall, have been Masters of the lodge, as have been brothers Max and Ted Weinstein, and Morris and Max Rifkin.
