MASONRY IN MONTANA
"EPOCHAL EVENTS"
The beginning of Masonry in
Montana provides some of the most colorful pages in all the history of the
craft. Its highlights included three significant events which influenced and
supported the establishment of civil government in the Territory and later the
State of Montana. Langford termed them "epochal events."
The first of these events was the first meeting of Masons in Montana on
September 23, 1862, when three brethren with the first Fisk expedition, then
camped on the Mullan road at the summit of the Rockies, went through the ritual
of opening and closing a lodge. They were Nathaniel P. Langford, of whom much
was to be heard later; David Charlton and George Gere, all members of Minnesota
lodges.
Vigilantes of Montana
The second notable event was the first Masonic funeral, which revealed the
surprising number of Masons in the Grasshopper Creek gold camp, at Bannack.
Langford conducted the services and 76 Masons deposited the evergreen in the
grave of their departed brother, William H. Bell (the 77th) the day after his
death on November 12, 1862,
The third event was organization of the Vigilance Committee at Virginia City on
December 22, 1863, by seven men, all Masons, to combat the lawlessness then
prevailing in the gold camps. It followed closely on the conviction and
execution by a miner's court of George Ives on December 21 for murder. The
Vigilante oath and by-laws were drawn up in this first session. Enrollment of
additional members began the next day, December 22, when 23 others signed a
document that is still preserved.
It is believed that the famous 3-7-77 sign of the Vigilantes, so feared by the
outlaws of that day, refered to the attendance of Masons at their three events
-- the first meeting, the first Vigilante meeting, the first funeral.
(Several other theories have been advanced as to the meaning of the 3-7-77, two
of them being that it referred to the dimensions of a grave, or that the sum of
its digits represented a 24-hour warning, but a grave had no particular
dimensions, and such warning was rarely given. Another, is that the
"7" referred to the known seven Masons who organized Bannack Lodge
but by that time most of its members had left for Alder Gulch, and their
leader, Langford, was in the east Still another suggests that the "7"
was the quorum of the newly organized Virginia City lodge.)
Prepared by ALVIN T. WESTDAL, P.M., Chairman Emeritus, Committee on Masonic
Education and Research for the COACH'S HANDBOOK, SECTION FOUR of the MONTANA
MASONIC MANUAL
BANNACK HISTORIC LODGE NO. 3-7-77
The old Masonic Lodge Hall in Bannack, Montana stands as a memorial to all
Masons past, present and future. According to Montana Masonic tradition, when
you talk of Montana Vigilantes, this is where it took place, although some
non-Masonic historians dispute the level of Masonic involvement. You may visit
this lodge in Bannack, Montana, southwest of Dillon. Montana's first
territorial capital, Bannack was the site of the territory's first major gold
strike in 1862 and the cradle of Montana's government.
Today a quiet ghost town 25 miles southwest of Dillon, Bannack slumbers
alongside Grasshopper Creek, once the source of millions of dollars in precious
dust. During its heyday, Bannack was terrorized by renegade Sheriff Henry
Plummer, whose desperadoes murdered 102 individuals and robbed countless
others. Bannack's law-abiding citizenry rebelled against those atrocities,
however. Formation of the "Vigilantes" spelled an end to Plummer's
forays. Twenty-eight of his murderous gang, including Plummer himself, were
hanged (a piece of the gallows is on display at the Masonic Museum.) . Some on
a gallows previously built by the outlaw sheriff. The "Toughest Town in
the West" then faded as new strikes lured its one-time population of over
3,000 away. Its reputation, however, lives on in Western history and fiction.
The remnants of some 60 buildings remain as mute testimony to its rich and oft
times violent beginnings.
Bannack Lodge
See Application below
BANNACK HISTORIC LODGE No. 3-7-77
Petition for Life Membership
To: The Worshipful Master, Wardens, and Brethren of Bannack Historic Lodge No.
3_7_77.
The undersigned certifies that he is a Master Mason in Good Standing and a
member of _______________________ Lodge No. ______, located at
__________________, under the jurisdiction of the [Grand Lodge of Montana]
[Grand Lodge of ____________________, a Grand Lodge that is recognized by the
Grand Lodge of Montana] (Strike out one), and that he is desirous of becoming a
Life Member of your Lodge if found qualified. He further certifies that he
understands:
That the purposes of Bannack Historic Lodge No. 3_7_77 are to preserve the
history of Freemasonry in Montana and the original Masonic Lodge building in
Bannack, Montana. No degrees will be conferred by this Historic Lodge.
That membership in Bannack Historic Lodge No. 3_7_77 shall remain in effect so
long as he remains a Master Mason in good standing in a duly chartered Lodge
under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Montana or of a Grand Lodge
recognized by the Grand Lodge of Montana. Membership may be voluntarily severed
at any time by resignation. Upon resignation, no demit will be issued. (Sec
20070 A and D, Montana Code of Statutes)
That the privileges of holding office and voting in this Historic Lodge are
restricted to members who are Master Masons in good standing in a regular Lodge
under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Montana. (Sec 20070 B, Montana
Code of Statutes)
Date of Petition: _____________________
Printed Full
Name:__________________________________________________________________
Signature:
________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________ City, State,
Zip:______________________________
Telephone: _______________________________ e-mail: ________________________
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Instructions:
This petition must be accompanied by the petition fee, $37.77.
A Certificate of Membership, suitable for framing, is available for an
additional $5. Check here if you desire the certificate. G
A Bannack Lodge No. 3-7-77 lapel pin is available for an additional $5. Check
here is you desire the lapel pin. G
Shipping and handling for either the certificate or the pin, or for both is
$2.23.
Summary of Fees: Petition fee only - $37.77; Petition fee and either pin or
certificate plus S&H - $45.00; Petition fee, pin, and certificate plus
S&H - $50.00. Checks should be payable to Bannack Historic Lodge No.
3_7_77, A.F.&.A.M.
A photocopy of the petitioner’s current dues card (front and back) must
accompany the petition.
Mail petitions, checks, and all correspondence to the Lodge Secretary: Thomas
E. Valente, Jr., 8624 Panorama Drive East, Bozeman, MT 59715. You can also
contact the Lodge Secretary by phone: (406) 586-7882 or e-mail:
tomevale@aol.com.
FOR USE BY LODGE SECRETARY
NAME: ____________________________________________
Date petition received by secretary: ______________________________
Total funds received: ______________________________
Date membership card mailed: ______________________________
Date certificate mailed: ______________________________
Date lapel pin mailed: ______________________________
Date membership terminated by resignation: ______________________________
Date membership terminated by non-affiliation with a regular Lodge:
______________________________
Date of Death: ______________________________
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