| Show MASONS HOLD MEETING ON independence OCK I 1 the magnolia news of riverside california in its issue of jan ath 1932 gives an account of a masonic meeting held on the top of inde pen dence hock rock wyoming many bears cars ago the california trail traveled by the pioneers passed a prominent landmark called independence rock in what is now natrona county wy aming because of the many and names chiseled thereon it has been commonly called the great register of the desert the rocks stands out alone and covers 27 acres and rises feet above ground th tho rock could be seen from a long distance and after a hard days drive almost every train and traveler encamped near its base this accounts for the many names inscribed thereon 4 iconic traditions the evening of july 3 1862 sev feral oral large emigrant trains encamp ed there and actuated by a respect for the nation nations s anniversary they all remained over the fourth in later years the writer the editor of the magnolia news became acquainted with one of these pioneers asa L brown who in 1897 was the grand master of the masonic lodge in the state of washington in the lodge room at rawlins there is a comment cation prep eared by mr brown that account states that those em migrants the next day july 4 1862 held a masonic meeting on the top of independence rock conc concluding ludin g with the remarks an altar of twelve stones was improvised to which a more tho t tul ful or patriotic brother added the t as emblematical of the original thirteen colonies and be ing selected to the east by tion I 1 was duly installed I 1 e led to the granite seat the several sta eions and places were tilled filled and then the tyler a venerable brother with flowing hair and beard of almost snowy whiteness took misplace his place with out the western gate in a little pin nacle which gave him a perfect corn com mand of view over the entire summit of the rock and he could easily guard against the approach of all either ascending or descending I 1 then formally opened In depend ont lodge no 1 on the degrees of entered apprentice fellow craft and master mason when several of the brethren made short appropriate addresses and our venerable tyler gave us reminiscences of his masonic hi hl tory extending from 1821 to 1062 it was a meeting which Is no doubt remembered by all the participants who are yet living and some of those who there became ac quainter quain ted have kept up fraternal intercourse ter course ever since |
