TRINIDAD, COLORADO
The year 1875 has meant much to Masons of Trinidad and the surrounding district. It was that year that 27 sojourning Master Masons petitioned the Grand Master for a special dispensation which was granted. The first meeting was held with Brothers Gideon B. Cornell as Worshipful Master, Albert G. Stark as Senior Warden and George R. Swallow as Junior Warden, on April 20th. The Grand Lodge granted a charter and the first regular meeting was held September 22, 1875 with the same three brothers serving as officers. The record shows that on November 16, 1875, the Lodge met in the Hall which was owned by M. Biernbaum located in the 200 block on West Main Street.
In 1877, Brother Stockley D. Hayes set apart 10 acres of his homestead and to this day it is known as the Masonic Cemetery and is being operated by the Mason Cemetery Association. In July, 1891, the Masonic Temple Association was organized and in 1900 the present site was purchased.
At a regular communication of the Lodge held in December, 1896, the following resolution was adopted: “Any member may become a ‘Life Member’ at the age of 70 if his total assets are less than $15,000.” In 1903, the first Brother received his 50 year jewel. The record does not give his name, however.
Between the years of 1905 – 1915, No.28 was suffering from growing pains! At the beginning of this period there were 175 members and by the end of 1915, the membership totaled 266 members. According to the minutes, almost every meeting saw the conferring of at least one degree and on many occasions the candidate would receive two degrees!
No. 28 has taken a prominent part in civic matters. In 1899, The Grand Lodge laid the corner-stone for the Aaron Temple. In 1909, the corner-stone of the new City Hall was laid and the next year the laying of the corner-stone for the new Court House took place. In 1911 the new Temple was completed and was dedicated by the Grand Lodge with more than 700 Brothers in attendance.
On February 25, 1917, the remains of the first Worshipful Master, Brother Gideon B. Cornell, were laid to rest in the Masonic Cemetery.
One Past Master, Brother John R. Swinton, was appointed as Grand Senior Steward on September 20, 1939 and was elected ,Most Worshipful Grand Master on September 17, 1947. He passed away while in office on September 10, 1948, just 11 days before his term of office would have expired. His Apron was presented to the Lodge on December 15, 1948.
The minutes of the regular meeting of February 21, 1950 shows that Mrs. Arthur W. Milliken presented this Lodge with an old family Bible. This Bible was printed in 1792 and bears the name of George Washington as one of the subscribers of that particular printing. It was the custom at that time to print the Bible only after a required number of individuals had subscribed.
Membership, 1960 353
