From Manhattan to Astoria: The Geography of a Lodge Lineage
Follow the six lodges behind Advance Service Mizpah Lodge from Manhattan’s Grand Street through the waterfront communities and neighborhoods of Queens. This geographic history traces their meeting rooms, temples, ferry connections, and eventual convergence at the Advance temple in Astoria.
A Map of the Lodges, Temples, and Meeting Places in the Advance Service Mizpah Lineage
Explore five selected meeting places in the lineage of Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586, from Grand Street in Manhattan to the Advance temple in Astoria. This map guide follows the lodges through Long Island City, Elmhurst, and Flushing, showing how shared buildings brought separate branches together.
The Lodge Family Tree of Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586
Trace the six charters behind Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586 through a family tree of five consolidations. Follow the Manhattan, Flushing, and Elmhurst branch alongside the western Queens branch, and see how their names and numbers came together in Astoria in 2018.
A Short Glossary for Reading Queens Masonic Lodge History
What does it mean when a Mason is “raised,” a meeting is called a “communication,” or two lodges “consolidate”? This plain-English glossary explains the Masonic lodge terms used throughout One Lodge, Six Charters, with examples from Queens lodge history.
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.
A Cornerstone, a Dinner, and a Borough in a Hurry
After years of fundraising and delay, Advance Lodge No. 635 laid its Astoria temple cornerstone on November 20, 1915, just fifty-seven days after opening construction bids. Explore the building campaign, the elusive refreshments afterward, and a growing Queens neighborhood that was moving just as fast.
Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586 Members Directory: Past Members of Six Lodges
Browse past members of Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586 and the six lodges in its lineage. Organized by lodge, this growing directory connects names, offices, and membership dates with individual lodge directories and historical profiles as they are published.
Island City Lodge No. 586 and the Laying of Its Cornerstone
On September 8, 1906, Island City Lodge No. 586 laid the cornerstone of its Jackson Avenue temple in Long Island City. Follow the procession from Smithsonian Hall, the plans for a building with stores beneath its lodge room, and the connection to Advance Lodge of Astoria.
The Island City Masonic Temple: A Building That Served a Growing Borough
Built on Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, the Island City Masonic Temple combined lodge rooms with rental space and a basement bowling alley. Explore its 1906 plans, musical and social life, and the federal court tenancy that eventually sent the lodge to Elmhurst.
Mizpah Lodge No. 738 and the Laying of the Elmhurst Cornerstone
On January 1, 1920, Mizpah Lodge No. 738 laid the cornerstone of its Elmhurst temple, with Robert H. Robinson presiding. Explore the planned building, the Queens lodges invited to attend, and the surviving commemorative trowel.
Mizpah Masonic Temple: The Watchtower at the Center of Queens
Opened in 1921, Mizpah Masonic Temple at 87-11 Whitney Avenue in Elmhurst became a shared home for several Queens lodges and a district school of instruction. Explore its design, fundraising bazaar, dedication, and later use by a church beneath the surviving MIZPAH inscription.
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.
Advance Lodge No. 635 and the Laying of Its Cornerstone
On November 20, 1915, about 800 Masons marched through Astoria as several thousand spectators followed them to the laying of Advance Lodge No. 635’s cornerstone. Follow the procession, the ceremony led by Grand Master George Freifeld, and the stone that remains beside the temple entrance on 30th Avenue.
One Lodge, Six Charters: Start Here with Advance Service Mizpah No. 586
Start exploring One Lodge, Six Charters, a series tracing Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586 through its six predecessor lodges. Find your way into the lodge histories, temples, member profiles, and five consolidations that connect Manhattan, Astoria, Long Island City, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Flushing.
Advance Lodge No. 635: Charter & Charter Members
Twenty-two brothers sought a Masonic home closer to their lives in Astoria. Meet the charter members of Advance Lodge No. 635 and discover how their shared purpose led to its dispensation and charter in 1867.
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.
The History of Masonic Lodges in Queens
Discover the history of Masonic lodges in Queens, from Flushing to Long Island City and Jackson Heights, and explore how local lodges developed over time.
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.
Island City Lodge No. 586 and the Temple That Served the City
Chartered in 1866, Island City Lodge No. 586 built a Jackson Avenue temple that the federal court eventually took over. Follow the lodge from Long Island City to Elmhurst and Astoria, where its number survives in Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586.
Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586: A Living Inheritance of Six New York Lodges
Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586 carries the history of six New York lodges chartered between 1856 and 1923. Explore the One Lodge, Six Charters series through five consolidations, meeting places from Manhattan to Queens, and the people behind the lodge that meets in Astoria today.