NM Freemason
← The Grand Lodge of New Mexico

Chapter 37 · Study

The Grand Lodge of New Mexico

Print study sheet Read first, then practise.

Vocabulary · 6

Montezuma Lodge No. 1
The first regular Masonic Lodge in New Mexico, organized at Santa Fe under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1851 and chartered by Missouri in 1852. Still active today as Montezuma Lodge No. 1 under the Grand Lodge of New Mexico.
Early jurisdiction
Before the Grand Lodge of New Mexico existed, the few Lodges in the territory held charters from older jurisdictions, chiefly Missouri and Arkansas. This is typical of frontier American Masonry: established Grand Lodges chartered Lodges into territories that had no Grand Lodge of their own.
Organization in 1877
The Grand Lodge of New Mexico was organized on 6 August 1877 at Santa Fe by delegates from three Lodges then operating in the territory: Montezuma No. 1 (Santa Fe), Chapman No. 2 (Las Vegas, NM), and Aztec No. 3 (Las Cruces). All three released their prior charters.
First Grand Master
William Logan Rynerson, a prominent territorial figure, was elected the first Grand Master of New Mexico in 1877. His installation is recorded in the Grand Lodge's earliest published proceedings.
Recognition by sister jurisdictions
After 1877, the Grand Lodge of New Mexico sought and received recognition from older Grand Lodges in the United States and abroad. Such recognitions confirm regular standing and enable mutual visitation between jurisdictions.
Statehood and continuity
New Mexico became the 47th state in 1912, but the Grand Lodge had already governed Masonry in the territory for 35 years by then. The change from territory to state did not disturb Masonic jurisdiction or charters.

Practice questions · 5

  1. In what year was the Grand Lodge of New Mexico organized?

    • a. 1851
    • b. 1877 ✓
    • c. 1912
    • d. 1846

  2. Which Grand Lodge originally chartered Montezuma Lodge No. 1?

    • a. Grand Lodge of Texas
    • b. Grand Lodge of Missouri ✓
    • c. Grand Lodge of Colorado
    • d. Grand Lodge of Arizona

  3. Who was the first Grand Master of New Mexico?

    • a. Stephen Watts Kearny
    • b. William Logan Rynerson ✓
    • c. Henry Connelly
    • d. Lew Wallace

  4. How many original Lodges joined to form the Grand Lodge of New Mexico in 1877?

    • a. Two
    • b. Three ✓
    • c. Four
    • d. Six

  5. When did New Mexico become a state?

    • a. 1877
    • b. 1898
    • c. 1912 ✓
    • d. 1924