Masons' Place In History Is Marked

Worshipful Master, Richard Harris celebrating the placement of a historical marker in front of the Masonic Lodge in Huntington. 
Long Islander photo/Sophia Ricco

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com

The Town of Huntington honored the Masonic Lodge at 342-344 New York Ave, with a historical marker outside their building that recognized the Masons’ long standing tie to the building and community.

The building was recognized with a historical marker unveiled on August 16. Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci and Town Historian Robert Hughes were in attendance along with many of the Masons’ members. The town places only a few markers a year for significant sites and buildings.

“It shows that history is all around us, we have over 125 markers around the Town of Huntington. People realize that history is everywhere they go in town, that something important happened here,” Hughes said. “It’s good to remind people that this is not a new town that just sprang up overnight, we have been here a long time.”

When Jephtha Lodge No. 494 was chartered on January 25, 1860, the men knew they needed a spot to meet that was theirs. In 1869, they chose to purchase a plot of land on New York Avenue for $1000, but it wasn’t until 1904 that the first cornerstone was laid. Since 1905, the fraternity has been meeting and holding events at the Lodge.

Currently, the group has over 140 members and meets the second Monday of every month from September through May. They are in high demand to accept applications, with many coming in from men of all ages.

“We’re in a renaissance right now, a lot of brothers are coming in to the lodge,” Ron Seifried, Chairman of Trustees, said. “We’re unique because a lot of other lodges don’t have that popularity. But we’re in a good location and we have a great community in Huntington so we’re very fortunate.”

However, there was a period of time when the Masonic Lodge was not as prosperous with members, Seifried recalls a time when only a few members would come to meetings. He believes the organization turned this around when they began to bring in younger men who could recommend their peers. When he first joined, Seifried remembers not knowing anything about the Masons but was recommended by his mentor.

Many members attended the historic marker’s unveiling. From left are Chairman of Trustees Ron Seifried, Town Historian Robert Hughes, Worshipful Master Richard Harris, and Senior Warden Artie Myers. 
Long Islander photo/Sophia Ricco

 “When I walked in I had no idea what I was joining, I was like, ‘What is this place? I’ve never heard of these guys.’ But I was fascinated by the history and forgotten pieces of Huntington since I grew up here,” Seifried said.

Those interested in joining can apply by giving three references and must be highly recommended by someone, however it does not have to be someone in the organization. Men who join are interested in improving themselves due to the large amounts of charity work the group participates in. They hold blood drives, child ID programs, local charity drives, and sponsor little league teams.

“Men join who want to be a part of a group that works hard to achieve their level of degrees but we’re all on the same level of brotherhood,” Seifried said.

Since they are all brothers, they are “on the level” of each other and seen as equal. All the Lodge members come from different walks of life and have an array of professions, making them a diverse group.

“There’s two things we don’t discuss in the lodge, it’s politics and religion,” Seifried said. “So when you go to the lodge, if you’re far republican or very liberal, in the lodge we all get along.”

To many members, the Lodge is a home away from home where they can come together with their brothers for meetings and the many parties they hold, like Octoberfest and St. Patrick’s Day. The Lodge is also home to the Veterans Service Center which collaborates with the Masons. On Sundays, the brothers will help escort veterans to various religious services and three times a summer the Masons will take them out fishing.

Even though, the fraternity is strictly for men, the Lodge helped charter Truth Triangle No. 31, a group that empowers young women by teaching them skills for success. They were founded in 1927 and many influential and successful women have been a part of their organization.

“I think that initially they [young women] don’t really know the history but once they see it and they understand that they are a part of something that’s been here for that long, it makes it that much more meaningful to them,” Jennifer Wainwright, Senior Adviser of Truth Triangle, said.

This past year around 15 men became “Master Masons” and joined the brotherhood. When a brother becomes a part of the organization, he is in it for life and will always have something in common with his fellow Masons.

“I meet brothers for the last 15 years in odd places, I recognize them and we start talking. ‘Hey you’re a Mason.’ We don’t know each other but we become friendly almost immediately,” Seifried said.