Grand Lodge of Montana

First Meeting of Masons in Montana

The beginning of Masonry in Montana provides some of the most colorful pages in all the history of the craft. Its highlights included three significant events which influenced and supported the establishment of civil government in the Territory and later the State of Montana. Langford termed them "epochal events."

The first of these events was the first meeting of Masons in Montana on September 23, 1862, when three brethren with the first Fisk expedition, then camped on the Mullan road at the summit of the Rockies, went through the ritual of opening and closing a lodge. They were Nathaniel P. Langford, of whom much was to be heard later; David Charlton and George Gere, all members of Minnesota lodges.

Vigilantes of Montana

The second notable event was the first Masonic funeral, which revealed the surprising number of Masons in the Grasshopper Creek gold camp, at Bannack. Langford conducted the services and 76 Masons deposited the evergreen in the grave of their departed brother, William H. Bell (the 77th) the day after his death on November 12, 1862,

The third event was organization of the Vigilance Committee at Virginia City on December 22, 1863, by seven men, all Masons, to combat the lawlessness then prevailing in the gold camps. It followed closely on the conviction and execution by a miner's court of George Ives on December 21 for murder. The Vigilante oath and by-laws were drawn up in this first session. Enrollment of additional members began the next day, December 22, when 23 others signed a document that is still preserved.

It is believed that the famous 3-7-77 sign of the Vigilantes, so feared by the outlaws of that day, referred to the attendance of Masons at their three events -- the first meeting, the first Vigilante meeting, the first funeral.

Several other theories have been advanced as to the meaning of 3-7-77:

(1) that it referred to the dimension of grave (3 feet wide, 7 feet deep, and 77 inches, or 6'5", in length).

(2) that the sum of the digits (3+7+77) or 3 hours, seven minutes and seventy-seven seconds, represented a 24 hour warning the period of time during which the outlaw had to leave town or face the vengeance of the Vigilance Committee..

(3) that 7 referred to the known seven Masons who organized Bannack Lodge.

(4) that it came from the California or Colorado Vigilance organizations where members No.3 and No.77 happened to be the ones in position to authorize executions, and that the Montana Vigilantes simply copied the use of the numbers as a warning.

(5) that both 3-7-77 and 3-11-77 were used by the Vigilantes and referred to a period of time during which the alleged criminal had to leave town.

(6) Of 3-7-77 or 3-11-77, that "3" referred to the ancient - not less than three shall congregate to form a Lodge. "7" the number to make the Lodge perfect; or if "11" because eleven of the first twelve Vigilantes in Montana were Masons. "77" that seventy-six Masons showed up when N.P. Langford issued the summons to attend the first Masonic funeral for William Bell, with the deceased there was a total of seventy-seven Masons in Montana Territory at the first "census" of the fraternity.

Prepared by ALVIN T. WESTDAL, P.M., Chairman Emeritus, Committee on Masonic Education and Research

Thanks to: Rex C. Myers article "the fateful numbers 3-7-77 a re-examination".

Photo by: John C. Monson, III

BANNACK HISTORIC LODGE NO. 3-7-77

The old Masonic Lodge Hall in Bannack, Montana stands as a memorial to all Masons past, present and future. According to Montana Masonic tradition, when you talk of Montana Vigilantes, this is where it took place, although some non-Masonic historians dispute the level of Masonic involvement. You may visit this lodge in Bannack, Montana, southwest of Dillon. Montana's first territorial capital, Bannack was the site of the territory's first major gold strike in 1862 and the cradle of Montana's government.

Today a quiet ghost town 25 miles southwest of Dillon, Bannack slumbers alongside Grasshopper Creek, once the source of millions of dollars in precious dust. During its heyday, Bannack was terrorized by renegade Sheriff Henry Plummer, whose desperadoes murdered 102 individuals and robbed countless others. Bannack's law-abiding citizenry rebelled against those atrocities, however. Formation of the "Vigilantes" spelled an end to Plummer's forays. Twenty-eight of his murderous gang, including Plummer himself, were hanged (a piece of the gallows is on display at the Masonic Museum.) . Some on a gallows previously built by the outlaw sheriff. The "Toughest Town in the West" then faded as new strikes lured its one-time population of over 3,000 away. Its reputation, however, lives on in Western history and fiction. The remnants of some 60 buildings remain as mute testimony to its rich and oft times violent beginnings.

The old Masonic Lodge Hall in Bannack, Montana stands as a memorial to all Masons past, present and future. You may visit this lodge in Bannack, Montana, southwest of Dillon. Montana's first territorial capital, Bannack was the site of the territory's first major gold strike in 1862 and the cradle of Montana's government. The original dispensation April 27, 1863 by the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. Rechartered as a Historic Lodge in 2000. Master Masons in good standing wishing to apply for Life Membership in Bannack Historic Lodge No. 3-7-77 may obtain a petition by clicking here.