Kit Carson

Masonic Grand Lodge of New Mexico

Kit Carson

The Man—The Mason

BROTHER CHRISTOPHER 'KIT'CARSON

Brother Carson was born December 24th 1809 in Madison County Kentucky, when he was approximately 1 year old the family moved to Howard County Missouri where he grew up attending school only to the third grade.

At about 17 years old he ran away from home and joined a mule train to New Mexico where his Masonic history began.

Brother Kit was initiated April 22, 1854 passed to the degree of Fellowcraft June 17, 1854 and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason December 26, 1854 in Montezuma Lodge #101 in Santa Fe territory of New Mexico. By 1850 there were at least 10 Masons living in the Taos vicinity. On November 16, 1859 they applied for and received dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Missouri to form Bent Lodge #204 A.F. & A.M. in Taos. Brother Carson was the first Junior Warden and the following year moved up to Senior Warden being a charter member of the same. With the surrender of the charter of Bent Lodge #204 in 1865Brother Carson re-affiliated with Montezuma Lodge #101 A.F. & A.M. Santa Fe Territory of New Mexico.

Due to his service in the U-S- Army during the Mexican war and the Civil war he was never able to sit as Master of a Lodge.

Brother Kit was a statesman muleskinner trapper guide' and soldier. He was proclaimed a National hero in 1854; He passed away on May 23, 1868 in Ft. Lyon Colorado. His remains along with his wife^'s lie in the Taos cemetery.

The Kit Carson award was started by M\W\ Brother Jess Martindale and Brother Harry Abernathy who I feel did a superb job of picking a man and Mason to name this award after. There have been 15 Brothers who have received this award, which I was fortunate enough to receive in 1998. I must say it is one of my most prized possessions.

M\W\ Brother Tom Payne is now the chairman of the Kit Carson Award Committee. This committee is basically looking for a just and upright man and Mason, who is a member of a New Mexico Lodge and who is not an elected officer or past elected officer of the Grand Lodge of New Mexico, One who has proudly displayed his Masonic affiliation where ever he goes, and who has given freely of his time and resources to charitable activities both in and out of the Masonic structure. Such as Rainbow girls, DeMolay, Boy Scouts, Little league baseball, and church youth
activities. Just to mention a few.

The application should contain a short life history with complete explanation of why you think this Mason should receive the Kit Carson award. Tom is not particularly interested in giving the award post-humously. Applications must be submitted by a lodge and should be sent directly to M\W\ Brother Tom Payne, HC69 Box 841, Santa Rosa, New Mexico 88435 Preferably arriving no later than January 15, 2004.

In closing, I want to thank M\W\ Jess Martindale and M\W\ Tom Payne and especially Brother Gerald Chaney, Master of Montezuma Lodge #1 for digging into the Lodge archives and getting this information.