Arcana Lodge # 246 F&AM was founded in 1852 and has continually operated since that time.  We have also merged with a few other lodges, most recently with Elbe-Garfield Goelet lodge in 1999.

The Following information appears in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Free And Accepted Masons of New York 1911:

ARCAN A LODGE, NO. 246.
NEW YORK CITY.
WARRANT: The warrant in possession of the Lodge is dated March 25, 1852.
The name or number has never been changed.
MINUTES: Intact.
On January 19, 1852, a petition was prepared asking for dispensation and signed by the following:
Charles A. Peck, John B. Breckenridge, Lyman Fisk, Smith Mead, James H. Brush, 
Henry C. Banks, Samuel Jenkins and John Hayward.

The petition named as officers:
CHARLES A. PECK, Master.
WILLIAM R. STAFFORD, Senior Warden.
JOHN B. BRECKENRIDGE, Junior Warden.
and was recommended by Lebanon Lodge, No. 191; Joppa Lodge, No. 201, and Eureka Lodge, No. 243.

The petition met with favor, and on January 24, 1852, a dispensation
was issued by M..: W.:  OSCAR COLES, Grand Master.

A foot-note on the petition states that " the objects are to form a Lodge of young men, professional as far as possible, and to have the place
of meeting on the east side of the town."
A sketch of the Lodge written several years ago states thtt six of the petitioners were professional men, hence the desire to create a "class" Lodge.
The Lodge worked but a short time under dispensation. A warrant was issued on March 25th, since that time it has had an unbroken existence.
It was represented at the laying of the corner-stone of the Masonic Hall on Twenty-third Street, June 8, 1870, the laying of the corneratone
of the Egyptian Obelisk in Central Park, October 9, 1880, and the laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica, N. Y., May 21,1891

MEN IN PUBLIC LIFE. (as of 1911)
Vernon N. Davis, Judge, Supreme Court. New York
Silas C. Croft, Surveyor, Port of New York
Charles De F. Burns, Park Commissioner
Leroy B. Crane, City Magistrate.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS
Louis J. Belloni, Jr., Grand Representative 
James A. Kelly, Grand Director of Ceremonies

(EARLY) MASTERS
1852. Charles A. Peck.
1853. William R. Stafford.
1854. Nelson C. Gridley ..
1855. Philip Pritchard.
1856. William R. Stafford.
1857. James L. Morehouse.
1858. Philip Pritchard.
1859. Philip Pritchard.
1860. J. C. B. Yuille.
1861. John Phillips
1862. Daniel W. Leeds.
1863. Daniel W. Leeds.
1864. Richard K. Cooke.
1865. William R. Stafford.
1866. Lewis. A. Osborne.
1867. Joseph E. Banks.
1868. Joseph E. Banks.
1869. C. De Forest Burns.
1870. C. De Forest Burns.
1871. C. De Forest Burns.
1872. Louie J. Belloni, Jr.
1873. Louie J. Belloni, Jr.
1874. Louie J. Belloni, Jr.
1875. Louie J. Belloni, Jr.
1876. George Tuttle.
1877. C. De Forest Burns.
1878. George Tuttle.
1879. Eustace W. Fisher.
1880. Walter P. Montague.
1881. Richard P. Williama.
1882. Walter P. Montague.
1883. Elbert W. Brown.
1884. Elbert W. Brown.
1885. Joseph E. Banks.
1886. Isaac Van Benchoten.
1887. Isaac Van Benchoten.
1888. Willinm A. Glover.
1889. William A. Glover.
1890. William A. Glover.
1891. William A. Glover.
1892. John T. Logan.
1893. John T. Logan.
1894. John T. Logan.
1895. George H. Smith.
1896. George H. Smith.
1897. John T. Logan.
1898 .John T. Logan.
1899. John T. Logan.
1900. James A. Kelly
1001. James A. Kelly.
1902. Charles Schenck.
1903. Charles Schenck.
1904. Charles H. Palmer.
1905. Felix A. Wiener
1906. Charles H. Palmer.
1907. Louis J. Rosett.
1908. Louis J. Rosett.
1909. Joseph C. Sichel.
1910. Asher Mayer
1911. William T. Gleselberg.