Two Grand Masters of removal and massacre: Andrew Jackson (Tennessee) and John M. Chivington (Colorado) (Nashville, 1822–24; Denver, 1861)

SUMMARYTwo Grand Masters of removal and massacre: Andrew Jackson (Tennessee) and John M. Chivington (Colorado) (Nashville, 1822–24; Denver, 1861) [Connections: Masonic color line, asylums, castles, wight, Nov 5, 2026]

RECORDJackson. A memorial tribute by Grand Master Edmund Dillahunty, quoted in Brian H. Magill's history drawing on Snodgrass and Demott's History of Freemasonry in Tennessee, says of Jackson: "In the years 1822 and 1823, he presided over the deliberations of this assembly." It adds: "In 1824, he was punctual on his attendance as Grand Master until his successor was elected." In 1825 Jackson introduced Lafayette in the Grand Lodge. As President he signed the Indian Removal Act on 28 May 1830 (4 Stat. 411). The Senate had passed it 28–19 and the House 101–97 (one footnote says 102–97)

RECORDChivington. The Grand Lodge of Colorado's own list of Past Grand Masters begins "1861: John M. Chivington."

PATTERNBoth men held a state's top Masonic office. Each, as a public officer, drove violence against Native nations: Jackson signed removal into law, and Chivington commanded at Sand Creek (already in the Library; not repeated here). The documents name these men, not the fraternity, as the actors

LENS (WW9)The men at the top of the lodge and the men who drove removal were sometimes the same men

OPENDid either Grand Lodge ever act on these men's conduct? Read Colorado's 1865 Proceedings for any response to Sand Creek. Find the Dillahunty tribute's original page in the Tennessee Proceedings

SOURCEGrand Lodge of Colorado: Past Grand Masters; Freemasonry in Tennessee: The First 100 Years (B.H. Magill); Wikipedia: Indian Removal Act.