The first record of inquiry regarding the establishment of a Masonic Lodge in Estancia was on February 14, 1906 in a letter from John L. Norris MD to A.A. Keen, Grand Secretary requesting information on starting a Lodge.
A second letter, dated February 26, 1906 from T.B. Grimshaw to A.A. Keen, Grand Secretary informing him that Dr. J.L. Grimshaw and about 17 Masons wanted to organize a Lodge in Estancia.
On November 22, 1906 a Petition for Dispensation was signed by the following 15 Masons and submitted to the Grand Lodge: John F. Lasater of Seymour No.604 Texas, George H. Van Stone of Sanford L. Collins No. 396 Ohio, George E. Woods of Eureka No. 88 Kansas, John L. Norris MD of St. John No. 11 District of Columbia, J.E. Braxton of Poolville No. 675 Texas, M.I. Kard of Henrietta No. 454 Texas, David H. Cawley of Eufaula No. 1 Indian Territory, J.H. Ingle of Hilson No. 686 Kentucky, M.B. Atkinson of Dee Ora No. 715 Texas, James A. Coswell of Chandler No. 719 Texas, Joseph W. Brashears of Chicotah No. 74 Indian Territory, Milton Dow Of Temple No. 6 New Mexico, B.W. Means of Lanuta No. 514 Texas, A.Z. Mullen of WhiteField No. 34 Indian Territory, John Casebolt of Chehalis No. 28 Washington, The following officers on the petition were: John F. Lasater Master, George H. Van Stone Senior Warden, George E. Woods Junior Warden.
On June 10, 1907 a Dispensation was granted for Estancia Lodge by Grand Master A.N. Pratt with the following Officers: John F. Lasater Master, George H. Van Stone Senior Warden, J.I. Rawson of Faithful No. 448 Iowa Junior Warden. The Lodge was instituted Under Dispensation on June 14, 1907 by Robert Kallahin Grand Lecturer.
During August and September of 1907, three brothers were initiated: James P. Dunlavy and Duncan and Allan McGillvary.
On October 12, 1907 a Petition for a Charter was filed and a fee of $23.00 was paid to the Grand Lodge.
The Lodge met for several years in the second floor of a cement block building. In 1937 the Lodge purchased an old store building which was remodeled and made a fine Masonic home. A basement room included a kitchen-dining area and recreation room. The main floor housed a Lodge room, preparation room and entry hall. The hall was dedicated at a special Grand Lodge communication January 12, 1938, Horace P. Brunnell, Past Master and long-time Superintendent of Schools acted as Grand Master. The Lodge bought the adjacent building in 1971; and, through some more remodeling done by the members, improved their facilities to care for all of the needs of the Lodge and appendant bodies. The expanded facilities were dedicated December 22, 1971 with LaMoine “Red” Langston, Past Grand Master acting as Grand Master. Langston had once been Superintendent of Schools in Estancia. F. Wayne Laws and B. Mell Grissom, both former Masters of the Lodge and Past Grand Masters assisted.
On August 16, 1944 the first dispensation was granted to Estancia Lodge No. 33 to hold an outdoor communication in the Manzano Mountains. The Grand Master had great reservations about granting the dispensation but since one was granted to Deming Lodge No. 12 he felt it was within the scope of his authority to grant the dispensation.
Thus began a history of outdoor communications in New Mexico, for in 1945, dispensations were granted to Hurley Lodge No. 55, Animas Lodge No. 15 as well as Estancia Lodge No. 33.
At the Annual Communication in 1946, Grand Master Bert A. Robbins had the following to say about “Outdoor Meetings”
“Just what evolves at one of these meetings to create their growing popularity would be just a little difficult to explain. But there does exist that certain something, intangible and imperceptible, which may be experienced only an actual attendance, and which all but defies vocal expression. On every hand one hears the members of several Lodges asking their officers; “Why can’t we have something like this?” The operators of a great ranch had this to say; “You boys find a location; a little less vulnerable to the wind and we’ll see that it’s fixed up.” Nature must, of course, lend her kindly and smiling assistance; due and proper caution must be exercised; there should not be too much “fixing up”, and committees will find a generous amount of work is involved. They are nevertheless tremendously inspirational and worthwhile.”
The Interrogatories of the Lodge consisted of the following: 2 Story Building - Studded and Plastered, Adult Male population of the areas: 1000, 1 Anteroom size 14 x 16, The hall was reached by outside stairs, Lodge Room size 16 x 30, Furnished with 3 stations, alter, and 12 chairs, the building was rented.
The Charter was granted at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge on October 22, 1907 and constituted and dedicated on December 27, 1907 by John B. Cecill, DDGM.
On August 22, 1908 the building and records of the Lodge were destroyed by fire.
In 1909 the Lodge objected to the formation of new Lodges in Moriarty and Willard.
I noted in the hand written By-Laws of the Lodge as of May 25, 1912, that the fees for the Degrees were $50.00 and the annual dues were $4.00.
On November 30, 1913 the Lodge again burned and everything was lost except the records of the Secretary and Treasurer which had been taken home.
During Grand Lodge in 1913 certain irregularities of Estancia Lodge No. 33 were brought before the Grand Lodge and a motion was made to have the incoming Grand Master appoint a committee of three to investigate. The Grand Master, in his infinite wisdom, sent Solomon Spitz, DDGM to investigate the matter. In his report back to the Grand Master he stated there were no irregularities in the Lodge, that it was only street talk and he admonished the Lodge that they should have attended the Annual Communication to put the matter to rest.
The Annual Return for Estancia Lodge No. 33 for 1907 indicated that there were 18 members of the Lodge. It grew steadily to 68 members in 1922 and then a decline in membership started. Suddenly in 1938 Lodge gained 14 members in one year for a total of 78. The Lodge reached a peak membership in 1952 and 1953 of 110 members and the decline again started. In 1983 there was an increase of 38 members from 98 to 128 with the consolidation of Mountainair Lodge No. 47 and again started to decline until 1995 and 1996 when the the membership was increased to 112. As of October 9, 1997 there were 111 members of this Lodge.
As reported to the Lodge
October 22, 1997
MWB Ray D. Carpenter, Grand Secretary
On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Lodges Charter