In 1867 this newly established Grand Lodge chartered El Paso Lodge No. 13, the first lodge to be located in Colorado City, now a part of the City of Colorado Springs, a city which was not founded until four years later in 1871.  In 1889 a charter was granted to Colorado Springs Lodge No. 76, followed by the chartering of Tejon Lodge No. 104 in 1898. Shortly following the chartering of El Paso Lodge No. 13 A.F. & A.M. in 1867, an item of concern to our pioneer brethren was the matter of a burial ground for Masons of the area. In August of 1871 a committee, appointed to select a suitable site for that purpose, recommended purchase of a site on the mesa west of the city. In 1872, as a result of that recommendation, El Paso Lodge purchased approximately twenty acres for a total cost of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents. No records have been found to establish that the site was ever used as a cemetery. For one hundred years it remained unused and undeveloped until it became the site for the new Masonic Temple.

THE SITE

Shortly following the chartering of El Paso Lodge No. 13 A.F. & A.M. in 1867, an item of concern to our pioneer brethren was the matter of a burial ground for Masons of the area. In August of 1871 a committee, appointed to select a suitable site for that purpose, recommended purchase of a site on the mesa west of the city. In 1872, as a result of that recommendation, El Paso Lodge purchased approximately twenty acres for a total cost of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents. No records have been found to establish that the site was ever used as a cemetery. For one hundred years it remained unused and undeveloped until it became the site for the new Masonic Temple.

COLORADO SPRINGS' FIRST MASONIC TEMPLE

After meeting in rented halls since their inception in 1898 the three Blue Lodges in Colorado Springs evidenced their desire for a home of their own, a Masonic Temple, by appropriating a portion of the initiation fees for the building fund. By 1906 this fund had grown to approximately $2,500 and renewed enthusiasm prompted action resulting in the incorporation of The Colorado Springs Masonic Building Society in 1907.

The Society promptly acquired a site at 9 North Nevada Avenue in the center of the growing community and proceeded with plans and financing for the construction of a temple.

The cornerstone of Colorado Springs' first Masonic Temple was laid by the Grand Master of Masons in Colorado on May 4, 1908. The Temple was dedicated with an elaborate three-day ceremony ending December 2, 1908.

This Temple, nationally known and acclaimed for the beauty of its Egyptian Lodge Room, served the fraternity for over sixty years. As plans progressed for a new and larger temple to meet the needs of the growing membership the Temple was sold in 1966 and was demolished upon the completion of the new Temple. However, all salvageable portions of the Egyptian Lodge Room were carefully removed and used in the construction of this unique room in the new Temple.

The monies received from the sale of the Temple at 9 North Nevada Avenue, actually a legacy from the Masonic pioneers in El Paso County, constituted a major factor in the financing of the new Temple.

A DREAM BECOMES A REALITY

The steady growth of the community with its accompanying increase in Masonic membership was greatly accelerated during and following World War II, so much so, in fact, that the Temple at 9 North Nevada Avenue proved increasingly inadequate. In July of 1946 a committee was formed to study the need for a new and larger temple. In 1966 El Paso Lodge leased approximately six acres of land owned by the Lodge on the mesa west of the city to the Masonic Building Society as the site for a new temple. Subsequently, a portion of these six acres was leased to The Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Colorado as a site for its Library, Museum, and Office Building. The rest of the land was sold and the proceeds invested by El Paso Lodge in the new Masonic Temple.

Within short driving time and distance from the central part of the city via Uintah Street and Mesa Road, the site is equally convenient to the northeast via Fillmore Street and to the south and west over 21st Street and Fontmore Road.

At the centennial celebration of El Paso Lodge October 7, 1967, plans were formally announced for construction of a new Temple. Plans proceeded and on October 18, 1971, a contract was awarded for the construction. On Saturday, January 15, 1972, impressive cornerstone ceremonies were conducted by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Colorado.

Construction and furnishing of the Temple were completed in January of 1973. The move from the old Temple at 9 North Nevada Avenue followed, and the first lodge meetings were held in the new Temple in February of 1973. More than 2500 members and friend of the fraternity were afforded an opportunity to inspect the new Temple at an open house on Sunday, February 18, 1973. On Saturday, March 17, 1973, the afternoon groundbreaking ceremony for the Grand Lodge Library, Museum, and Office Building was followed by the dedication of the new Temple and the consecration of the Egyptian and the American Lodge Rooms by the Grand Lodge.

THE TEMPLE

Occupying the center of the beautifully landscaped site on the brow of a hill west of the city, the building is oriented due east and west so that the symbolic East in the lodge rooms is also true east. Ample parking spaces are provided for even the largest gatherings. The front range of the Rockies dominated by Pikes Peak provides a beautiful scenic backdrop to the west while the city with its diadem of lights each night spreads below to the south and east

The Temple fits well into this beautiful and unusual setting. Its exterior walls of soft mellow tones of Colorado flagstone combine with precast panels of exposed quartz aggregate which rise from the entablature of concrete and complement and blend with nature's colors in the surrounding terrain.

The new Masonic Temple was constructed at a cost of approximately one and one-half million dollars including furnishings and landscaping. It consists of two floors as well as a partial basement.

THE SOUTH STAIRWAY

Of particular note are the large paintings hanging above the land­ings of the stairways. The painting over the south stairway is a repro­duction of an original oil portrait of George Washington as Master of his Lodge, painted by Hattie E. Burdette at the request of the Congress for hanging in the Capitol of the United States. The original was later moved to the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia, where it now hangs. The reproduction, made from a small copy of the original so skillfully that many consider it an original, was presented to the Build­ing Society by friends and brothers of Leon Snyder as a tribute to his dedication to the building of the Temple and in response to his expressed wish that such a portrait have a prominent place in the building.

THE NORTH STAIRWAY

Over the landing of the north stairway is an original oil painting presented to El Paso Lodge in 1909 by Brother Verner Z. Reed. Painted by Henry Salem Hubbell (1870-1949), a distinguished American artist whose works appear in many international galleries, the painting is entitled "THE RETURN." It obvi­ously depicts the return home of the errant daughter seeking the blessing of the village priest and the forgive­ness of her parents. Other than being a beautiful painting by a dis­tinguished artist, it lacks any signifi­cance in relation to the fraternal building in which it hangs. The elaborate frame is attributed to Tiffany.

THE EGYPTIAN LODGE ROOM

Entered through the Tiler's room flanked on the north by a prepara­tion room and on the south by examination rooms, the Egyptian Lodge Room, an outstanding feature of the Temple, occupies the north side of the second floor. This room which seats 112 is not only an exact replica of the nationally famous lodge room in the Temple at 9 North Nevada Avenue but is actually constructed of the columns, ornaments, and other features removed from the original room. The altar, officers' chairs, and podiums as well as the seating are all the original furnishing from the Temple at 9 North Nevada Avenue.

THE AMERICAN LODGE ROOM

On the south side of the second floor is an impressive and spacious room with 269 fixed seats on the north and south. The walls are of oak paneling and the master's station in the east is backed by a wall of Roman Travertine marble framing a panel of antique gold Venetian mosaic tile and flanked on each side by doorways crowned with batteries of gold organ pipes. Plat­forms in the northeast and southeast corners of the room contain the organ console and a piano. The vaulted center portion of the ceiling is illumi­nated with cove lighting as well as direct down lights. The lighting in both lodge rooms, which in each case is subject to dimming, is controlled at an illuminated panel adjacent to the secretary's desk.

At the east end of each lodge room are ante-rooms and costume and make up rooms. The balance of the east end of the second floor is a series of paraphernalia rooms with one assigned to each of the participating organizations.

THE COLORADO SPRINGS MASONIC BUILDING SOCIETY

Originally incorporated in 1907 for a term of twenty years, the articles of incorporation described the purpose of the Society as follows: "to acquire in any lawful manner and to own, hold, lease, let, operate and convey real estate and to erect, maintain, equip, furnish and operate buildings and improvements thereon, and to use, let, manage, enjoy, sell, mortgage and otherwise dispose of the same."

In 1922 the articles of incorporation were amended extending the life of the corporation another twenty years, and in 1947 a further amendment extended "perpetually" the life of the corporation. The current By-Laws of the Society were adopted in 1973.

Three Blue Lodges, El Paso Lodge No. 13, Colorado Springs Lodge No. 76, and Tejon Lodge No. 104, constitute the Colorado Springs Masonic Building Society, Inc. Each lodge is represented by three members on the nine-man board of directors of the corporation. The Board, which meets quarterly, has assigned the operation and mainte­nance of the Temple to an executive committee of three appointed by the President. The Executive Committee employs a full-time salaried Executive Director. The Board recognizes the following participating organizations, each of which conducts its activities in the Temple and each of which pays an annual assessment constituting its portion of the total cost of operation and maintenance:

El Paso Lodge No. 13 A.F. & A.M

Colorado Springs Lodge No. 76 A.F. & A.M.

Tejon Lodge No. 104 A.F. & A.M.

Colorado Springs Chapter No. 6 Royal Arch Masons

Zabud Council No. 8 Cryptic Masons

Pikes Peak Commandry No. 6 Knights Templar

Centennial Chapter No. 58 O.E.S.

Pikes Peak Court No. 20 Order of Amaranth

Bethel No. 23 Jobs Daughters International

Pikes Peak Assembly No. 4 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

Colorado Springs Chapter DeMolay International

Priority of use is of course accorded the participating organizations; however, extensive use of the Temple, particularly the foyer, banquet room and food service facilities, is made by unaffiliated non-profit organizations and community groups.

Each year hundreds of visitors from all parts of this country and abroad are welcomed and conducted on tours of the Temple by an Hospitality Committee of volunteers from the three Blue Lodges.

COLORADO SPRINGS MASONIC SQUARE

The six-acre site of the Colorado Springs Masonic Temple and the Library, Museum, and Office Building of the M.W. Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Colorado has been officially named Masonic Square. This Square was dedicated to the memory of Most Worshipful Brother Leon H. Snyder, and a marble monument was unveiled here in his honor by the M.W. Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Colorado on June 24, 1974. Brother Snyder, Master of El Paso Lodge No. 13 in 1946 and Grand Master of Masons in Colorado in 1961, was one of the brethren whose vision and generosity were largely responsible for the construction of the Temple.

For over 100 years the offices of the M.W. Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Colorado, estab­lished in 1861, occupied rented space in down­town Denver. A per-capita assessment, voted at the annual communication in 1963, resulted over the years in accumulation of funds sufficient to warrant proceeding with plans for a building of its own adequate to house the Library, Museum, and Offices of the Grand Lodge.

At the annual communication in 1973 the Grand Lodge voted acceptance of an offer by El Paso Lodge to lease land adjacent to the new Masonic Temple in Colorado Springs as the site for such a building and authorized the construc­tion to proceed.

Cornerstone ceremonies were conducted by the M.W. Grand Lodge on December 6,1975, and construction completed and the building occupied in July 1976.

Situated near the geographical center of the State in a unique setting with majestic Pikes Peak in the background, the building is aesthetically compatible with the adjacent Masonic Temple. Entrance is from Panorama Drive on the east into a beautifully furnished reception room with the museum on the south and the library on the north. Offices occupy the west end of the building which terminates in an apartment for the use of the Grand Master on his numerous visits to the head­quarters of the Grand Lodge.