Valley of El Paso

The history of the Scottish Rite in  the Valley of El Paso should properly begin with the organizations of  the El Paso Lodge of Perfection No. 5 and El Paso Chapter of the Rose  Croix No. 4 under the Letters Temporary granted by Albert Pike, 33°,  Grand Commander, on the 11th day of April, 1883, and the 11th day of  December 1883, respectively. Those two organizations duly instituted by  Grand Commander Albert Pike, and the furniture and properties to be used  by them were constituted at that time under the direction and personal  supervision of the Grand Commander. At that time El Paso was little more  than a border town with shifting population, and these two  organizations later became demised; but the furniture and properties  were carefully stored away and when these two organizations were again  instituted in 1905, the furniture and properties, including the alter  with the copper horns, were again put into use and are today highly  valued because of their history and origin.

At a meeting held in  the Masonic Temple of El Paso on Friday, November 17, 1905, Mount  Franklin Lodge of Perfection No. 8 was instituted in due form by Brother  Edward Charles Pew, 33° Honorary, acting as Deputy under the  authorization of Brother A. B. Chamberlin, 33°, Sovereign Grand  Inspector General in Texas.
 

Oasis Chapter of Knights Rose Croix  No. 5 was constituted and its officers installed on October 2, 1906, by  Brother E. W. S. Neff, 33°, acting Deputy for Brother A. B. Chamberlin,  33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Texas.
 

On February 19,  1907, Brother E. W. S. Neff, assisted by Brother E. C. Pew, 33°  Honorary, and J. J. Ormsbee, 32°, as special officers of the Supreme  Council, appointed by Brother A. B. Chamberlin, 33° Sovereign Grand  Inspector General in Texas, constituted and set to work Rio Grand  Council No. 3, Knights Kadosh
 

El Paso Consistory No. 3 was  constituted on July 23, 1907 by Brother E. C. Pew, 33° Honorary, acting  as the special deputy for the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in  Texas, Brother Chamberlin conducting the ceremonies of inauguration.
 

All  four organizations had been constituted in the Masonic Temple of El  Paso, where the members met in a small room rented for a nominal amount. The various properties and furniture were left standing in their place, there being no storage space for them.
 

Later, the organization  moved twice, each time to more commodious quarters, yet still  inadequate; but hope had been carried all these years in the hearts of  the loyal workers of one day possessing a Temple of their own. Funds for  this purpose were contributed and loaned by various members, and work  started in 1921 under the authorization of the Scottish Rite Benevolent  Association of El Paso, an organization with the joint purpose of aid to  the needy Masons and their families, and the furnishings, maintenance  and support of a Scottish Rite Cathedral in the city of El Paso. In 1922 the organization moved into their new Temple, although it was sparsely furnished at the time in the way of stage and lighting equipment, costumes and other paraphernalia for the conferring Degrees.
 

Today the Temple is entirely free from indebtedness, finished, equipped, and is second to none in the state. The El Paso Scottish Rite proudly stands  upon a firm and solid ground.