The Montana Charter

Issued in October of 1877, following the Dispensation issued in 1866, the charter officially established Wasatch Lodge No. 8 as a constituent Lodge of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Montana in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory.

Since its issuance the lambskin charter has been in the possession of Wasatch Lodge until November 2006, when it was transfered to Special Collections of the Marriott Library, at the University of Utah.

Montana 1867 Charter - 20 KB

Medium Resolution Image | High Resolution Image (30 MB)

Leander W. Frary Grand Master

John Potter Deputy Grand Master

J. R. Weston Senior Grand Warden

George Austin Junior Grand Warden

WE, THE GRAND LODGE of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, of Montana, in Ample Form assembled, according to the Old Constitutions, regularly and solemnly established under the Auspices of Prince Edwin, at the City of York in Great Britain, in the year of Masonry 4926, viz.:

The Most Worshipful Leander W. Frary, Grand Master, the Right Worshipful John Potter, Deputy Grand Master, the Right Worshipful J. R. Weston, Senior Grand Warden, The Right Worshipful George Austin, Junior Grand Warden,

Do, by these Presents, appoint, authorize, and empower, our worthy Brother R. H. Robertson, to be the Master; our worthy Brother J. M. Orr, to be the Senior Warden; and our worthy Brother, George Bodenburg, to be the Junior Warden, of a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, to be, by virtue hereof, constituted, formed and held in Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, which Lodge shall be distinguished by the Name or Style of Wasatch Lodge No. 8, and the said Master and Wardens, and their successors in office, are hereby respectively authorized and directed, by and with the Consent and Assistance of a majority of the members of the said Lodge, duly to be summoned and present on such Occasions, to Elect and Install the Officers of the said Lodge as Vacancies happen, in manner and form as is, or may be, prescribed by the Constitution of this Grand Lodge.

And, Further, the said Lodge is hereby invested with full Power and Authority to assemble upon proper and lawful Occasions, to make Masons, and to Admit Members, and also to do and perform all and every such Acts and Things appertaining to the Craft as have been and ought to be done, for the Honor and Advantage thereof, conforming in all their Proceedings to the Constitution of this Grand Lodge, otherwise this Warrant, and the Powers thereby granted, to cease and be of no further effect.

Given under our Hands and the Seal of

Our Grand Lodge, at Virginia City, Mon-

tana, in the United States of America,

This Seventh day of October, in the Year