A Very Brief History of Garden City Lodge

In the fall of 1952, a small group of Masons gathered together and discussed the idea of forming a new Lodge to accommodate the increasing Jewish population of Newton, Massachusetts.  After carefully analyzing each step and to ensure conformance in the high principles of Freemasonry, they carefully proceeded and formed a Masonic Club.  This club decided that no more than ten members would be admitted from any one lodge and also no current officers would be accepted from any existing lodge.

            As the membership increased, meetings moved from private homes to Temple Reyim, and thence to the Newton Centre Woman’s Club.  As the lodge expanded to 99 members, meetings were then held with the Grand Master to discuss the possibility of forming a new Masonic Lodge in the City of Newton.

            Garden City Lodge was organized on November 30, 1954, when a dispensation was requested of M.W. Whitfield W. Johnson, Grand Master, allowing Garden City Lodge to operate.  There were many obstacles to overcome, but the Grand Master signed the dispensation on December 4, 1954 to be effective on December 9, 1954 as the date of Institution.  This was the official response to a group of “99 Master Masons of the Hebrew faith,” according to the Grand Lodge proceedings of 1954.  Rt. Wor. Thomas G. Walters. PDGM was chosen by the Grand Master to be Garden City Lodge’s first Master and Rt. Wor. Carl C. Peterson, PDGM, was chosen to be the Lodge’s first Senior Warden.  As plans became finalized, the Newton Masonic Associates made space available in the Newtonville Masonic Apartments for Garden City Lodge to use the first and second Thursdays of each month.  Following a year of operation under a dispensation, a full and unconditional Charter was issued on October 13, 1955.  Since it’s forming, Garden City Lodge has had 1,026 men sign its bylaws.

            During the initial years, Garden City Lodge, as with many other lodges, processed candidates at almost record rates, with many months having special communications to confer degrees.  Many of these new Masons having recently been discharged from the Service were looking for a vehicle whereby they could continue bonding with other men as they did while in the Service. 

            On October 15, 2005, Garden City Lodge celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a gala celebration.  More than 100 people gathered in Newtonville  to celebrate this important milestone including M.W. Fred K. Bauer, PGM, and M.W. Chester R. Isles, PGM of the MWPHGL of MA.  Rt. W. Ernest A. Pearlstein, junior grand warden represented the presiding Grand Master and offered his best wishes to the Lodge.

            Only until recently, did Garden City Lodge have the good fortune of having many of its Charter Members still alive.  Bro. Myron Idelson, was our sole surviving Charter Member and a former writer for comedian Henny Youngman during the vaudeville era.  He used to organize large performances for the Lodge and mostly at his own expense.  Sadly, Brother Idelson passed away in 2016, literally just days after he produced a huge big-band concert for the Lodge.

            Today, at 184 active members, Garden City Lodge is experiencing the downside of new members as are many lodges across the country.  But it is still a vibrant and active organization whose members take pride in their Masonic membership and who still strive to be that “perfect ashlar” which is always just out of reach.

            Garden City Lodge is now planning for its 75th anniversary to be held in a mere 13 years in 2030.