| TRINITY LODGE No. 12 of Free and Accepted Masons |
A B O U T U S
Trinity Lodge No. 12 is the oldest German Lodge in the United States. Like most American
Lodges, it descended from a regimental lodge, which was found in most English army regiments
in the 18th century. It was these regimental lodges that carried Masonry throughout the United
States and established the craft in this country.
Our lodge sprang from Lodge No. 210, which had no name, merely a number. The members of
No. 210 consisted primarily of British officials and Tory (pro-British) sympathizers. It received its
Charter from the Ancient Atholl Grand Lodge of England in 1779. Lodge No. 210 was itself an
offshoot of another old regimental lodge, No. 215, of the 2nd Brandenburg-Anspach regiment,
which was under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Germany.
In 1781, the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York was organized by nine lodges, Trinity Lodge
was one of them. Of these original nine lodges, only Trinity Lodge is in existence today.
Although there are three other lodges in New York that are older than Trinity, (St. Johns, Hiram
and Holland), these three lodges were not accepted into Grand Lodge until 1782, - a year later.
The first meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge took place in 1782 in Roubalets Hall in New York
City. Members of No. 210 took a prominent part in this meeting. Four members of No. 210
were chosen as Grand Lodge officers. These were:
Sovereign State of New York. Under this new aegis, Lodge No. 210 was renamed as Temple
No. 4. Temple Lodge existed for only a few months. After its dissolution, a charter was issued to
some of its members for a new lodge, Jerusalem Lodge No. 4. A split in Jerusalem Lodge
resulted in the creation of two lodges, Trinity No. 10 and Phoenix Lodge No. 11. Phoenix Lodge
is no longer in existence, but its offshoot, Washington Lodge No. 21, is still functioning.
Lodges, it descended from a regimental lodge, which was found in most English army regiments
in the 18th century. It was these regimental lodges that carried Masonry throughout the United
States and established the craft in this country.
Our lodge sprang from Lodge No. 210, which had no name, merely a number. The members of
No. 210 consisted primarily of British officials and Tory (pro-British) sympathizers. It received its
Charter from the Ancient Atholl Grand Lodge of England in 1779. Lodge No. 210 was itself an
offshoot of another old regimental lodge, No. 215, of the 2nd Brandenburg-Anspach regiment,
which was under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Germany.
In 1781, the Provincial Grand Lodge of New York was organized by nine lodges, Trinity Lodge
was one of them. Of these original nine lodges, only Trinity Lodge is in existence today.
Although there are three other lodges in New York that are older than Trinity, (St. Johns, Hiram
and Holland), these three lodges were not accepted into Grand Lodge until 1782, - a year later.
The first meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge took place in 1782 in Roubalets Hall in New York
City. Members of No. 210 took a prominent part in this meeting. Four members of No. 210
were chosen as Grand Lodge officers. These were:
- Joshua Watson, Grand Treasurer
- Rev. John Beardley, Jr., Grand Warden
- George Clark, Grand Deacon
- Oliver Burdet, Grand Steward
Sovereign State of New York. Under this new aegis, Lodge No. 210 was renamed as Temple
No. 4. Temple Lodge existed for only a few months. After its dissolution, a charter was issued to
some of its members for a new lodge, Jerusalem Lodge No. 4. A split in Jerusalem Lodge
resulted in the creation of two lodges, Trinity No. 10 and Phoenix Lodge No. 11. Phoenix Lodge
is no longer in existence, but its offshoot, Washington Lodge No. 21, is still functioning.
No one knows just how old Freemasonry is because the actual origins have been lost in time.
Most scholars believe Masonry rose from the guilds of stonemasons who built the majestic
castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages. In 1717, a formal organization was created in
England when four Lodges in London joined in forming England’s Grand Lodge.
Freemasonry in America was initiated by our early settlers and was supported by men such as
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere and DeWitt Clinton. As a
matter of fact, most of Washington’s military staff were Masons. The Grand Lodge of the State of
New York was chartered in 1781.
We urge you and your family to read Masonic history; it is a vital part of our proud American
heritage.
Most scholars believe Masonry rose from the guilds of stonemasons who built the majestic
castles and cathedrals of the Middle Ages. In 1717, a formal organization was created in
England when four Lodges in London joined in forming England’s Grand Lodge.
Freemasonry in America was initiated by our early settlers and was supported by men such as
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere and DeWitt Clinton. As a
matter of fact, most of Washington’s military staff were Masons. The Grand Lodge of the State of
New York was chartered in 1781.
We urge you and your family to read Masonic history; it is a vital part of our proud American
heritage.
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| MASONIC History |