First Reform Church, 1920s
During the early 1920’s, groups of Masons living in and around Little Falls engaged in conversation concerning the desirability of establishing a Masonic lodge in the community.
At a choir rehearsal in the First Reformed Church on Main Street, Frederick S. Shafer, George H. Shubert, and Joseph W. Writenour took definitive action and agreed that George Schubert would be assigned the responsibility for investigating and determining the proper procedure for forming a Masonic Lodge. Acting upon the advice of Gordon G. Walton, District Deputy Grand Master, a meeting was called on October 23, 1924 of all interested Masons. The meeting was held at the Junior Order Hall for the purpose of organizing a Masonic Club and was attended by approximately 130 Masons belonging to various Lodges, most of which met at the Paterson Masonic Temple.
On November 24, 1924, the Club elected Seymour D. Pitcher as its first President.
At a choir rehearsal in the First Reformed Church on Main Street, Frederick S. Shafer, George H. Shubert, and Joseph W. Writenour took definitive action and agreed that George Schubert would be assigned the responsibility for investigating and determining the proper procedure for forming a Masonic Lodge. Acting upon the advice of Gordon G. Walton, District Deputy Grand Master, a meeting was called on October 23, 1924 of all interested Masons. The meeting was held at the Junior Order Hall for the purpose of organizing a Masonic Club and was attended by approximately 130 Masons belonging to various Lodges, most of which met at the Paterson Masonic Temple.
On November 24, 1924, the Club elected Seymour D. Pitcher as its first President.
Paterson Masonic Temple
During the following year, under the watchful guidance and instruction of William H. Davis and Ernest Garside, Past Masters of Fidelis Lodge No. 242 and Robert Shortau, Past Master of Ivanhoe Lodge No. 88, the club members, who had been selected to become the first officers in the new lodge worked diligently to beome proficient in the esoteric work of the three symbolic degrees. Having conformed with Grand Lodge requirements, a request for dispensation was filed on November 10, 1925 with Isaac Cherry, Grand Secretary.
On January 27, 1926, Ralph E. Lum, Grand Master for the State of New Jersey, delivered his dispensation to Nelson Stuart, as the first worshipful Master of Little Falls Lodge together with brothers George H. Schubert as Senior Warden, and William T. Bleckwehl, as Junior Warden, to confer degrees and do Masonic work.
On April 16, 1926, the officers of the Lodge were called upon at a District lodge of Instruction to exemplify the opening and closing of a lodge, which was performed to the complete satisfaction of Right Worshipful Brother Gordon G. Walton, District Deputy Grand Master and the brethren present.
On January 27, 1926, Ralph E. Lum, Grand Master for the State of New Jersey, delivered his dispensation to Nelson Stuart, as the first worshipful Master of Little Falls Lodge together with brothers George H. Schubert as Senior Warden, and William T. Bleckwehl, as Junior Warden, to confer degrees and do Masonic work.
On April 16, 1926, the officers of the Lodge were called upon at a District lodge of Instruction to exemplify the opening and closing of a lodge, which was performed to the complete satisfaction of Right Worshipful Brother Gordon G. Walton, District Deputy Grand Master and the brethren present.
Little Falls Masonic Temple 1932
On May 1, 1926, at the Paterson Masonic Temple, Little Falls Lodge No. 263, F. & A. M., became a regular and duly constituted lodge and received its Charter from Most Worshipful Brother William B. Mackey, Grand Master for the State of New Jersey. During the remainder of 1926, seventeen regular communications and two emergent communications were held. At these communications, the Entered Apprentice Degree was conferred on twelve candidates, the Fellowcraft Degree on fifteen brethren, and the Master Mason Degree on twenty brethren. It can be seen from this record that the first officers of our Lodge were very busy people.
In addition to the twenty men raised in 1926, forty other Masons became charter members of Little Falls Lodge by dimitting from other Lodges. The Lodge originally met in the Crane Building on the corner of Paterson Avenue and Main Street. In February 1929, because of increased membership and the need for larger quarters, the lodge moved to the newly renovated Jackson Building. In December 1929, a movement was started to look into the procurement of its own building. In December 1931, the building was purchased for $6,000 from the Mack Molding Company. The brethren labored industriously during the spring and summer of 1932 to ready the new building, and on September 28, 1932 after the closing of that evening’s communication at the Jackson Building, the lodge furniture was moved to the new Temple. The Lodge met in its new home for the first time on October 14, 1932.
In addition to the twenty men raised in 1926, forty other Masons became charter members of Little Falls Lodge by dimitting from other Lodges. The Lodge originally met in the Crane Building on the corner of Paterson Avenue and Main Street. In February 1929, because of increased membership and the need for larger quarters, the lodge moved to the newly renovated Jackson Building. In December 1929, a movement was started to look into the procurement of its own building. In December 1931, the building was purchased for $6,000 from the Mack Molding Company. The brethren labored industriously during the spring and summer of 1932 to ready the new building, and on September 28, 1932 after the closing of that evening’s communication at the Jackson Building, the lodge furniture was moved to the new Temple. The Lodge met in its new home for the first time on October 14, 1932.
Little Falls Masonic Temple, Today
The heavy cost of purchasing, furnishing, and maintaining the Temple was not fully met by contributions and had to be supplemented with a mortgage and bond issue, but in spite of this financial situation, the Lodge and its members perservered and on November 15, 1947, a mortgage “Burning” ceremony was held.
During the first fifty years ending in December 1975, Little Falls Lodge raised 353 men to the sublime degree of Master Mason. There has never been a year without a Master Mason degree, although strangely enough, but perhaps due to other important acitivities, only one member was raised in 1932.
...
Fifty years is a relatively short period in the span of time since Freemasonry had its beginnings. And the real history of this Lodge, without belittling the accomplishments of the past, still remains in the future. All that has passed will mean little if those now present fail to satisfy the vision of our founding fathers and brothers.
So may each of us, in the years ahead that the Grand Architect of the Universe allots us, strive to provide for furture generations great examples of brotherly love and affection and the many other worthy tenets of our fraternity.
Robert E. King, Historian
May, 1976
During the first fifty years ending in December 1975, Little Falls Lodge raised 353 men to the sublime degree of Master Mason. There has never been a year without a Master Mason degree, although strangely enough, but perhaps due to other important acitivities, only one member was raised in 1932.
...
Fifty years is a relatively short period in the span of time since Freemasonry had its beginnings. And the real history of this Lodge, without belittling the accomplishments of the past, still remains in the future. All that has passed will mean little if those now present fail to satisfy the vision of our founding fathers and brothers.
So may each of us, in the years ahead that the Grand Architect of the Universe allots us, strive to provide for furture generations great examples of brotherly love and affection and the many other worthy tenets of our fraternity.
Robert E. King, Historian
May, 1976