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 ". . . properly installed officers allowing them to set and act during our absence, or until they, by our assistance can procure a separate Warrant for themselves." This was at the time a common but not altogether authorized custom.

In 1765 that duplicate lodge formally received its own warrant from the Grand Lodge of England bearing the name Union Lodge #1. Now Masonry had become a definite and established institution in the community. About this time several members began to discuss the possibility of having a their own lodge building. While it appears this was not the sentiment of all the members, a plot of ground on what is now the corner of Lodge St. and Maiden Lane in Albany was purchased from the City on 17 October 1766 by Samuel Stringer. A man of considerable means and a local leader within the Fraternity. On 5 March 1768 a warrant was issued for the creation of a new lodge, Masters Lodge #2. Two months later, with proper ceremony, the cornerstone was laid for the first lodge house erected and owned by a Masonic Lodge in America. The building once completed was occupied by Masters Lodge and remained their property for the next 127 years. In 1895 the present temple was erected and title was presented to the Masonic Hall Association of Albany. Masters Lodge still today meets on this same parcel of land, making it the oldest Lodge in the world meeting continuously at the same location.

In 1781 the Grand Lodge of New York was established under authority of the Grand Lodge of England. Many older lodges recognized the authority of the Grand Lodge of New York but continued to operate under their Colonial Warrants. It was not until 4 April 1798 that agreement was reached with Grand Lodge and a new warrant was issued to Masters Lodge recognizing its original warrant of 5 March 1768 and retaining its Number 2. In later years, the lodges of the State of New York were renumbered by Grand Lodge and Masters Lodge received the Number "5" on 7 June 1839.

A search through the records of Masters Lodge reveals the names of many distinguished Albanians over the years. From the time of the Revolution to the turn of the 19th Century, many military men were initiated or affiliated with Masters. The names of Schuyler, VanDyck, VanRensselaer, Gansevoort, Livingston, Yates, Lansing and other well known names appear often. Brigadier-General John Stark, hero of the battles of Bunker Hill and Bennington, was a member, as was Daniel Shays, leader of the ill-fated rebellion in Massachusetts which bears his name.

General Lafayette, a fervent Mason, had his headquarters on the east side of what is now North Pearl Street, there can be no question that he visited Master Lodge several times as did many of the officers in the American army. Masters Lodge is the proud owner of a dress sword which once belonged to Lafayette and was presented to the Lodge by James TenEyck, Past Master of Masters Lodge and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. This sword remains to this day one of the lodges most prized possessions.

Stephen VanRensselaer became a member of Masters Lodge in 1787. He served as Master from 1790 to 1792 and was elevated to Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York from 1825 to 1829. He has the distinction to have been the only Grand Master to have been installed in the State Capital of Albany. It was the desire of Grand Lodge to have the installation ceremony of the Grand Master-elect performed by the Past Grand Master, DeWitt Clinton, who was Governor of New York at the time.

Known affectionately as " the silk stocking lodge " Masters has counted among its members a long list of prominent citizens. Mayors, bankers, judges, physicians, lawyers, aldermen, etc. all of them inextricably entwined in the history of Albany, the State and the Nation. The names of Thacher, Hackett, Ten Broeck, Ten Eyck and Herzog all are familiar to us today.

Few organizations reach such a venerable age and Masters Lodge #5 is very proud of its heritage. To this day it seeks to maintain and augment the fine traditions and devotion to the Ancient Mysteries of Freemasonry which have been handed down from generation to generation.

Bob Walenta, Master