INDEPENDENCE ROCK 2000
Tuesday July 3 & Wednesday July 4, 2000
Events

Masons Celebrated July 4th, 2000, Atop Independence Rock

On July 3rd the celebration began with a wagon train ride across several miles of the original Oregon Trail that the emigrants traveled. The wagon train was led by Wagonmaster, Past Grand Master of Masons in Wyoming, J. Earl Christensen, who was the Grand Master of Wyoming Masons for the meeting on Independence Rock in 1990. The afternoon and evening program featured a style show of 1800's clothing and a group sing-a-long, play-along.

Three hundred and eighty-seven (387) people were in attendance of which there were 252 Master Masons who traveled the steep slopes of Independence Rock to the summit for the meeting. A total of 31 different states were represented.

There were 77 visiting Master Masons from states outside Wyoming. The East Coast was well represented by Master Masons from Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Florida.

The oldest Master Mason to climb atop Independence Rock was 90 years in age and was assisted up and down by several of the brother Master Masons.

The Wyoming DeMolay and Wyoming Job's Daughters performed several public ceremonies at the base of Independence Rock for our visitors and guests.

Featured program speakers included: Jude Carino, of the BLM and Manager of the National Historic Trail Center in Casper, Wyoming. Jude spoke on the "History of Oregon Trail". Keith Rounds, Past Master of Acacia Lodge No.11 in Cheyenne, Wyoming and Public Affairs Officer for Wyoming Department of Transportation recited Cowboy Poetry. The Main Speaker was James C. Callahan, Past Grand Master of Colorado who gave an inspirational message of hope.

The next Masonic Meeting on top of Independence Rock will take place July 4, 2010.