OKLAHOMA
MASONIC HISTORY
Oklahoma is the only State
to have formed three separate Grand Lodges by Convention. The Indian Territory Grand Lodge
can be traced back to
October
1874. The Grand Lodge of Oklahoma Territory was created
on November
10, 1892,. And
these two merged to form the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma on
February 10, 1909.
Masonry in Oklahoma actually
dates to the days of Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory. The first Lodge was
chartered in 1848 in Tahlequah by Masons working and trading in Indian Territory. Large
numbers of Native Americans, especially the Cherokee, joined the fraternity. (Masonry, in
fact, was to play an important role in the life of the Cherokee Nation-providing both a
common meeting ground and a safe haven during the Cherokee Civil War, when the tensions
between the forces of John Ross and those of Stand Watie broke
into open conflict.
One of the most important
figures in early Oklahoma Masonry was Joseph Murrow--almost universally
called "Father Murrow" by the fraternity . He was a Baptist missionary who came
to Indian Territory, and was a man of great energy. He founded literally hundreds of
churches and dozens of lodges during his lifetime. The Grand Lodge museum has the
home-made altar and candlesticks he carried on the back of his wagon, in order to hold
Lodge. He served as Grand Master of Indian Territory and as Grand Secretary when the two
Grand Lodges came together. He also founded orphanages and schools for the Indian
children. Bacone College evolved from one of his schools, and the orphanage he founded is
still in operation.
On
February 10, 1909, two years after
Oklahoma became a state, the Grand Lodge of Indian Territory and the Grand Lodge of
Oklahoma Territory merged, to form the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma.
Guthrie was the original
capital of Oklahoma, and when the new Grand Lodge was created, the representatives of
Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory came to Guthrie on special trains, formed in
procession, and marched to the Scottish Rite Temple, where the new Grand Lodge was to
meet.
Masonry spread quickly after
statehood, although it had already been strong in both the Territories before the merger.
As towns were established along the railroad in Oklahoma, Masonry went there, too. Often,
the trains had lodges on board, meeting in boxcars as the engines steamed through the
Oklahoma night.
The Grand
Lodge is still located in Guthrie, now in its own building at the corner of
Oklahoma Street and Broad Street. The Grand Lodge meets annually and all
members are invited to participate in the business of the fraternity.
Wagoner #98 History ,
Stigler #121 History ,
Heavener #154 History |