City Lodge No. 408: Manhattan Roots in the Lineage of a Queens Lodge
Chartered in Manhattan in 1856, City Lodge No. 408 became the oldest branch in the lineage of Advance Service Mizpah Lodge. Follow its changing meeting rooms, a charity ball for Masons in Cuba, and the consolidations that connected its history to Queens.
Why Advance Lodge Named Itself After the USS Advance
Advance Lodge No. 635 took its name from the Arctic vessel commanded by Elisha Kent Kane. Explore founder Robert McCoskry Graham’s choice, the ship’s two voyages in search of Franklin, and how its image became part of an Astoria lodge’s seal and identity.
The Advance Masonic Temple in Astoria: A Lodge Building That Endured
Opened in 1916, the Advance Masonic Temple at 21-14 30th Avenue in Astoria remains home to a working lodge. Explore its architecture, opening fair, member-donated fittings, neighborhood gatherings, and continuing role as the home of Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586.
Townsend Scudder of Glen Cove Lodge No. 580: Congressman, Judge, and Grand Master of New York
Townsend Scudder, a member of Glen Cove Lodge No. 580, served in Congress, on the New York Supreme Court, and as Grand Master of New York. His appearances at Queens lodge installations, temple ceremonies, and gatherings connect his story to the lodges that later became Advance Service Mizpah No. 586.
Advance Lodge No. 635: Astoria’s First Masonic Lodge
Founded by twenty-two Masons, Advance Lodge No. 635 became Astoria’s first Masonic lodge in 1867. Follow its history from rented rooms above local businesses to the 1916 temple on 30th Avenue, now home to Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586.
Geba Lodge and the Making of Modern Queens
Geba Lodge No. 954 began in 1919 with gifts from Mizpah Lodge and became part of a growing Queens community. Explore its Elmhurst meeting place, notable members, and a 1954 Fairyland outing organized for 100 children from three children’s homes.
Mizpah’s Watchtower in Old Newtown: The Story of Mizpah Lodge No. 738
Mizpah Lodge No. 738 began in a Newtown lawyer’s office in 1873 and grew into a gathering place for Masons across Queens. Explore its founding, its Elmhurst temple, its ties to Island City and Geba, and the consolidations that carried its name into Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586.