The next fraternal organization was that of the Masons. A preliminary meeting was held in November of that year, in the second story of the wooden building on the north side of west Third Street in Alliance, which is now used as a cream station. Word was sent out and about all the Masons living in Box Butte county assembled in this small hall and selected a committee to secure a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the state. This petition was signed by the requisite number of Master Masons in good standing. Reverend Henry J. Brown, a Presbyterian minister hitched his two horse tandem to a high wheeled cart, and

he and Thomas Shurtz drove to Hay Springs and secured the approval of that lodge. This petition was presented to the Grand Lodge and a dispensation issued in January, 1889, authorizing Alliance Lodge to confer degrees.

The first officers were : Henry J Brown, Worshipful Master; John Carman, Senior Warden ; David Peters, Junior Warden ; J. W. Phillips, Secretary; and H. W. Axtell, Treasurer.

In July, 1889, a charter was granted and the name of Alliance Lodge No. 183, A. F. & A. M., assigned, which has had a continuous existence since that time, and has grown to a membership of over three hundred and fifty, owns and occupies a fine three story temple at the corner of Laramie Avenue and Third Street in Alliance, which is also used by Sheba Chapter No. 54, Royal Arch Masons, Bnena Commandery No. 26, Knights Templar, Aloyah Chapter No. 185, Order of the Eastern Star, and Adoniram Lodge No. 6, Scottish Rite Masons, with the institution of a consistory and the order of the Mystic Shrine in the near future.