Pictures Provided by Mark Menard

Master - R .·. W .·. Robert Walenta

Senior Warden - Bro. Joseph Chappelle

Secretary - Bro. Paul Karamanol

Freemasonry was brought to Albany in the summer of 1758, when the Second Battalion of the First Royal Foot Guards of Great Britain's colonial forces arrived. The First Royals were granted a military warrant dated 26 October 1737 by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, they took great pride in their regimental Masonic life and conferred degrees on a number of local citizens. Moving to a new post in 1759, the First Royals left behind a duplicate lodge by providing an exact copy of their warrant and ". . .

On Saturday April 21, 2007, the brothers of Masters Lodge conferred an exemplary Third Degree. At the conclusion of the degree, 15 new brothers had been raised in due form, one of whom was from Wadsworth Lodge. RW Robert Walenta sat in the East and conferred the degree. Brother Ken Gibson, who was raised during the one day class held in 2001, sat as the Senior Deacon for the entire degree and did a great job. As did our Junior Warden, Joseph Chappelle, who was also raised in the 2001 one day class.

On every regular notice sent to the brothers of Masters Lodge, appears the notation “Warranted March 5, 1768.” This is the date upon when the Lodge received its Charter under which it presents the three degrees of Masonry. It was received from the Provincial Grand Lodge, George Harrison, Grand Master. This entity was the predecessor of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York as now constituted. The first Master of Masters Lodge was William Gamble.

A perusal of copies of the minutes of Masters Lodge in its first few years makes interesting reading. For instance, among the novelties of the proceedings may be noticed that the sixpence fines in 1770 were devoted to having “the Tyler purchase a pair of genteel snuffers for the use of the lodge. These were delivered on the 20th of June, with a bill of which sixpence was still due. This balance was finally made up by Brother Hogan, who arrived at the lodge meeting an hour late. This fine thus released the Lodge from the burden of debt for `genteel snuffers`.

On October 26th of this year, the “new” Masonic Temple will be just 50 years old. It was dedicated in 1896, but the cornerstone was laid June 24th, 1895. On a plaque in the vestibule, rarely seen in the haste to get into the lodge room at 7:30 o'clock, may be read the following:
“On the site, purchased Oct. 17, 1766 by Brother Samuel Stringer, the first Lodge House in America was erected in 1768, and remained the property of Masters Lodge No 5 until presented to the Masonic Hall Association in 1895.”

The Master, officers and brethren of Masters Lodge are to be congratulated on the record-breaking turnout for the exemplification of the Third Degree at the last meeting. I think it was Brother Kipling who said:
“It's not the individual, Nor members as a whole, But the everlasting' team work, Of every bloomin' soul.”

Masters Lodge No. 5 has always attracted to its membership leaders in the social, professional and business life of its community. On the walls of the library and also in the upper corridors may be seen paintings of some of its most illustrious pioneers. One in particular is that of William Van Rensselaer, the last of the Patroons and Master of Masters Lodge in 1790-91 and Grand Master of the State of New York from 1827 to and including 1829. His was a most impressive record in the City of Albany and the State of New York. His portrait hangs in the Masonic Temple library.

Masters Lodge No. 2 (now No. 5), was organized March 5th, 1768, with William Gamble as its first Worshipful Master. Samuel Stringer was the Senior Warden, and Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was Junior Warden.
Henry Andrews Francken came from the island of Jamaica and on the 20th of December, 1767, instituted the Ineffable and Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection. The Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem was organized at the same time.

Life is a great adventure. The acquirement of useful knowledge is its perpetual challenge. The search for Truth which has been the theme of many allegories, from the earliest mythologies of Ancient Greece to the present search for “the lost word,” is one of the most alluring and fascinating occupations of man. This is beautifully exemplified in the work of the Third Degree, in which the officers and members of the degree team of Masters Lodge have always taken great pride.