BRIEF LODGE HISTORY:

Consolidated Lodge has evolved through the years into a "Metropolitan Lodge." Its membership reflects a diverse group of men who reside within the financial and cultural capital of the world. The Lodge is a result of four Lodges that merged their resources over time. The names of those Lodges were Lotus No. 31, Manhattan No. 62, LaFayette No. 64 and Manitou No. 106. Each of these lodges added its unique history and fervency for the Craft to create one Masonic Lodge with a keen interest in bringing light to worthy men while maintaining a spirit of fellowship.

The Lodge traces its roots to 1807 when the first warrant was granted to Woods Lodge, No. 153 on March 4, 1807. A Second warrant was granted to Mechanic Lodge, No. 153, March 6, 1816 when the name of the Lodge was changed. The Lodge’s number changed to 31 in 1839 and it became Lotus Lodge, No. 31, effective June 8, 1839. An interesting incident in the history of this Lodge is that Bro. David Williams, one of the trio of American Patriots who captured Major André near Tarrytown, NY on September 23, 1780, was raised in this Lodge in 1827.

Manhattan No. 62 received its warrant on March 26, 1824. As a daughter lodge of Independent Royal Arch Lodge No. 2, it chose to continue the tradition of using scarlet as the symbolic color of its aprons, jewels and furnishings. This custom remains in effect today. On April 15, 1840, the Lodge was requested by R:. W:. Wm. Willis, D.G.M., to confer all three degrees at one and the same time on two Seneca Chiefs, George Jamison and N. T. Strong. On June 5, 1840 and at the request of The Grand Lodge Officers the Lodge was asked to confer the first degrees at one and the same time to Messrs. J. Jamison, S. H. Cone and White Seneca, Seneca Chiefs, and Mr. B. Bowles, an Oneida Chief.

When the Marquis de Lafayette made his triumphant return to America in 1824, the Grand Lodge invited him to partake in a public dinner in his honor. Having accepted the invitation proffered by order of the Grand Lodge, the Marquis de LaFayette was enthusiastically embraced upon his arrival. Several brethren present requested that further to honor LaFayette, a Lodge be named in his honor. The Grand Master granted the request and LaFayette No. 64 was instituted On September 20, 1824.

On November 21, 1845, a dispensation was issued to Oscar Coles and others for a Lodge to be called Manitou. The Lodge worked under the dispensation until the charter was granted March 3, 1846. The organizer and first Master of the Lodge, M:.W:.Oscar Coles, who served five years in that capacity. The United Grand Lodge elected him Grand Master on June 5, 1851, being the first chosen.

In the late 1970’s Lotus and Lafayette merged to form Lotus-Lafayette No. 31. On December 3, 1979 Lotus Lafayette united with Manhattan Lodge and adopted the name Consolidated. In 1988 Manitou Lodge was merged with Consolidated.

David Williams (1754-1831), one of the captors of British spy John Andre in the American Revolutionary War was also a member of Consolidated Lodge.  It was Williams who physically searched André and discovered, hidden inside his boots, the documents of his secret communication with Benedict Arnold. The militiamen, all local farmers of modest means, refused André's considerable bribe and instead delivered him to army headquarters. Arnold's plans to surrender West Point to the British were revealed and foiled, and Williams was among the witnesses when André was hanged as a spy.

Many of the members of the Lodge participated in the laying of the corner-stones of the Masonic Hall in New York City and the Home at Utica, and were also present at the dedication of these buildings. They also assisted in the laying of the corner-stone of "Cleopatra's Needle," the only Egyptian obelisk in the western hemisphere, in Central Park on October 9, 1880. Consolidated Lodge continues to take an active role in the Fraternity.

Living Past Masters

W:. Bernard Ascher – 1971

W:. Edward Rach – 1973

V:.W:. Stuart B. Herman – 1974

R:.W:. David J. Paterson – 1974, 1982

W:. Richard Herman – 1975

W:. Alfred D. Carlsen – 1976

R:. W:. Martin L. Kanter – 1977-1979

W:. Arthur Wanke – 1979

W:. Robert G. Black – 1980

R:.W:. Joseph Peloso – 1986

R:.W:. James T. Paterson – 1990-1992

W:. Clifford Singer – 1995-1996

R:.W:. Franklin S. Yedwab – 1998

R:.W:. Mark Brandariz – 2001-2002

R:.W:. Mark Galperin – 2002-2004

W:. Paul Hurley – 2004-2005

W:. Lance Dashefsky – 2007-2009, 2012-2014

W:. Ronald Pollock, D.S.A. – 2009-2010

W:. Cleon Jones – 2014-2015

W:. Martin Hauser – 2010-2012, 2015-2017