Washington Lodge No. 21 is one of the oldest Lodges in the City of New York, being a part of the First Manhattan District (the old “Musty First”). Having existed for so long, it’s safe to say we have our fair share of history.
From the many bad break-ups we experienced in our formative years to our secession and reunion to the Grand Lodge in the mid-1800s, and the ups and downs in membership after the Morgan Affair and later in the mid-to-late 20th Century, this Lodge is no stranger to adversity. It is this Lodge’s resilience and the perseverance of our membership at pivotal moments in our long and storied history that has made Washington Lodge as strong as it is today.
Currently, Washington Lodge has re-emerged as an up-and-coming and rejuvenated Lodge in the early 21st century. Although our roster is relatively small (in fact, the smallest in the First Manhattan District), the Lodge boasts a very high percentage of active Brothers, the youngest median age in the District, and a track record of being very proficient in the rituals of the Craft. It is this fine harmonious balance of dedication, hard work, Brotherly love, and the effortlessness of having a great time with each other that has seen our membership flourish.
Here at Washington Lodge, we pride ourselves in the Masonic labors we perform regularly. Whether it’s the ritual involved in our regularly scheduled meetings or the work performed in one of the three degrees of Freemasonry, our Lodge never hesitates to exemplify the beauty of the Craft. It is not unheard of to see our Lodge’s name as either finalists or winners of such ritual competitions like the MAGLA (Metropolitan Assistant Grand Lecturer’s Association) competition, which has Brothers of different Lodges perform a piece of Masonic ritual, and judged by their proficiency and delivery of the work.
We also take pride in contributing to charitable causes such as the Masonic Toys for Tots Gala fundraiser, chaired by the Masonic Toys for Tots Foundation. We have been gold and platinum donors over the past three years. We are also actively exploring other ways to expand our community service committee to come up with effective ways of improving life for those less fortunate in the New York City area. When it’s all said and done, our Lodge dines together after every regular meeting, and we frequently hold social events like Table Lodges, Festive Boards, and other outings scheduled throughout the year. Our strength comes from the powerful bond our Brothers share, many of whose relationships extend to include our families and friends outside the Lodge.
Last, but not least, Washington Lodge lives up to its namesake by dedicating resources and participation to George Washington-inspired events such as: the George Washington Inaugural Re-enactment outside of Federal Hall in late April, a pilgrimage to Virginia for his birthday celebration gala at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, and a wreath-laying ceremony at his tomb in Mt. Vernon, among other lectures and ceremonies honoring our first President and Illustrious Brother.
If you are a Brother traveling within New York, a Brother from a different jurisdiction, or a non-member whose interest is either potential Masonic membership or just historical curiosity, you are more than welcome to reach out to our Secretary, who can be contacted via this site. You can make arrangements to visit our Lodge at our designated location and meeting date to mingle with our members and discuss further details of our wondrous and beautiful Lodge. In the meantime, feel free to explore the rest of our site. Thank you!