Sandoval Masonic Lodge honors 250th birthday of Marine Corps.

RIO RANCHO — The Few. The Proud. The Masons.

Burx Norrod’s adaptation of the Marine Corps’ recruiting slogan was his way of explaining the selective nature of the Freemasons, who gather monthly at Sandoval Masonic Lodge No. 76, 1420 Barbara Loop SE in Rio Rancho.

“We’re not taking everybody that wants to come in the door. It’s only the few that we will ultimately select to become Masons,” said Norrod, master of the Lodge and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “Masons are very proud of their heritage. In the same way, I’m also proud of the Marine Corps heritage, and I see that connection right away.”

The historic connection between the Marines and Freemasons is what Norrod shared in a public presentation on Nov. 10 to honor the 250th anniversary of the military branch’s founding on Nov. 10, 1775.

“It’s fitting that we gather in a Masonic Lodge for this celebration, because Freemasonry and the Marine Corps share a deeply connected history, rooted in brotherhood, service and moral discipline,” Norrod said during the presentation.

He said that 250 years ago, men of “all ages and occupations gathered inside a dusty, candle-lit tavern” in Philadelphia. There, in what was known as Tun Tavern, two men volunteered to become “a new breed of warriors, fighting for liberty and independence.”

“Inside these very walls, a brotherhood formed — the United States Marine Corps,” Norrod said, noting it was at that time called “the Continental Marines” since the service predated the birth of the U.S., which came a year later.

In 1775, Samuel Nicholas was commissioned to raise two battalions of Marines and appointed Robert Mullen, also a Freemason, as the Marine Corps’ first recruiter.

“(They) turned the tavern into the first Marine recruiting station,” Norrod said.

A resolution of the Continental Congress would ultimately establish the Marines.

Marines who were freemasons included Gen. John A. Lejeune, whose name bears the famed Marine Corps base in North Carolina. Lejeune issued the first Marine Corps birthday message in 1921, which is read every Nov. 10, said Norrod, who shared a video that highlighted the message.

“Since (Nov. 10, 1775), many thousand men have borne the name ‘Marine,’” the video stated. “In memory of them, it is fitting that we who are Marines should commemorate the birthday of our core by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history.”

The message continued, “From the Battle of Trenton to Argonne, Marines have won foremost honors in war ... and have grown gray in war in both hemispheres and in every corner of the seven seas.”

Every year, the sitting commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps provides a birthday message — and Eric Smith, who has severed since September 2023, is no exception.

“Our Corps has come a long way since Samuel Nichols first took command of two battalions at Tun Tavern,” Smith said in a video message. “Tough weapons, platforms and technology continue to evolve. Our individual Marines’ grit, discipline (and) resolve remain our decisive advantage.”

“Happy 250th birthday, Marines,” Smith concluded, adding the Latin phase, “Semper fidelis,” meaning “always faithful.”

Tracing the Freemasons, however, goes back almost a century earlier than the marines — to 1685, when a Quaker merchant named Samuel Carpenter built the tavern, according to Norrod.

“It quickly became a favorite meeting place among the colonies, known for its fine ale (and) spirited conversations,” Norrod said.

By 1732, Tun Tavern had become “more than a tavern,” he said. It was a gathering place for “men of reason and fraternity” — and St. John’s Lodge No. 1 of the Grand Lodge of the Masonic Temple was born.

The tavern, however, burned down in 1781, and a historical marker — which Norrod has visited — now stands in its place.

While the physical footprint of the birthplace of the Freemasons and Marines may be gone, their core virtues remain, Norrod said. Freemason virtues include brotherly love, relief and truth. The Marine Corps abides by “Esprit de corps” (a French term meaning “group spirit”), selfless service and honor.

“Both teach us to serve something greater than ourselves,” Norrod said. “Whether in the lodge or on the battlefield, these principles unite men in purpose.”

He added that “the bond between Freemasons and Marines remains unbroken.”

This month’s event at the lodge included a dinner with Freemason veterans, including Rio Rancho Governing Body member Bob Tyler, who served in the U.S. Navy.

“The anniversary of any military service is amazing,” said Tyler, who noted he served alongside Marines when he was in the Navy. “I truly respect each and everything that the Marine Corps has done for the country and for the service — as well as all the other branches.”