History
On the Ridge Road, in the house of Aaron Levering, kept by him as a hotel, under the name of The General Washington, on Saturday morning April 3, 1813, the first meeting of Roxborough Lodge No. 135 was held. John Conrad was the first Worshipful Master.
The By-Laws of the Lodge provided that everyone in attendance at a meeting, whether member or visitor, was assessed fifty-cents for the evening. Since calling off for the summer months was then unknown, this made a total of six dollars yearly. The sum for refreshments on each stated meeting night was not to exceed twenty-five cents for each member, except it be on election night, when a supper may be provided not to exceed fifty-cents per member, and a dinner may also be provided on each St. John’s Day, provided it does not exceed one-dollar for each member of the Lodge.
Thus began the history of Freemasonry in Roxborough. In the first decade of the nineteenth century, the Masonic Lodge nearest Roxborough was Hiram Lodge No. 81, which was established in 1800. Its meeting place was close to the intersection of Germantown Avenue and School Lane. Hiram’s records show that a number of young men from Roxborough entered this lodge within a short period of time during the years 1811 and 1812. These men were young in years and spirit, and perhaps not as adverse as their elders to severing old ties and connections to suit material conveniences. Having in mind conditions as then existed, the desire of local Brethren for a Lodge nearer home where they might attend, and avoid what was then a tedious journey over heavy roads is understandable.
At a meeting of Hiram Lodge on January 16, 1813, a number of members prayed the Lodge “that they would wish to withdrawal and form a new Lodge and have their certificates granted.” The prayer of their petition was granted and on February 13, 1813 a second petition was presented, signed by John Conrad and others, setting forth “that they had associated together for the purpose of establishing a new Lodge, under the name of Roxborough Lodge, to be holden at the house of Aaron Levering, sine of General Washington, in Roxborough Township, Philadelphia County.” These men petitioned the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for a Warrant which was duly granted on March 13, 1813.
This house still stands on the east side of Ridge Avenue at Gates Street and is the center piece of our Lodge notice to this day. The next known meeting place was on the west side of Ridge Avenue below Walnut Lane on August 3, 1822. The last meeting held there was on October 29, 1829.
Thereafter the Lodge moved to Manayunk, to a house located on Main Street; known then as the Manayunk Hotel. On September 29, 1847 the Lodge again moved the place of meeting to the Sons of Temperance Hall on Levering Street. While there, work was commenced upon our own hall on Main Street opposite Kempton’s mill. Before the building was completed, the Lodge was once again required to move - this time to the Odd Fellows Hall on Baker Street. Finally, on August 13, 1860 the cornerstone was laid, and on December 19, 1861 the new Masonic Hall on Main Street was dedicated.
On February 9, 1870, twenty-three members tendered their resignations with intent to form a new Lodge. On Thursday, April 7, 1870 at 12 noon, Palestine Lodge No. 470 was constituted in the Grand Lodge Room at Masonic Hall, on the North side of Chestnut Street, between 7th and 8th Streets. There were thirty warrant members from four different Lodges, the majority from Roxborough Lodge. The first meeting of Palestine Lodge was held at the Odd Fellows Hall, Ridge Avenue & Mifflin Street (now Midvale Avenue), Falls of the Schuylkill, April 21, 1870.
Meanwhile in Roxborough Lodge a committee was appointed in 1909 to take into consideration the feasibility and practicability of purchasing a plot of ground and building a new Masonic Hall in Roxborough. In the spring of 1912, after exhaustive investigation, the Lodge approved a plan and renovated the third floor of the existing building into one room with necessary rooms adjoining. This included two sets of stained glass windows of eight panels each, installed as skylights above the floor of the Lodge Room. (Refer to “History of Stained Glass”)
On December 12, 1912, Palestine Lodge completed the purchase of the Odd Fellows Hall. When they met on September 11, 1913, the plans for alterations and improvements to the building were approved.
Building Committees had been appointed in Roxborough Lodge on many occasions throughout the years with no creative action taken on their recommendations mostly because of the ever present problems of financing. Motion after motion was made to move and numerous sites selected – and rejected. However, the dreams and desires were still prevalent. This is evidenced by the architectural plans made in 1946 for improvement and beautification of the building on Main Street, and by the appointment of a committee in 1961 to study the feasibility of building a new Temple to serve Roxborough Lodge and five other nearby Lodges.
In 1968 it became apparent that Palestine Lodge and Roxborough Lodge would have to band together in the new building project without the support of other Lodges. The Masonic Temple Association of Roxborough was formed, and ground was purchased. This was the first step toward a new building. However, it soon became apparent that sharply rising building costs and environmental considerations made the project unfeasible.
Meanwhile, the existing building on Main Street was deteriorating and the cost of repairs mounted alarmingly. Finally, in 1968, it was decided to sell. Roxborough Lodge then moved to Palestine Hall, where it remained until that building was sold in 1973. On September 17, 1973 a stated meeting was held in the Masonic Hall of Hiram Lodge No. 81; the Lodge from which our Brethren resigned in order to form Roxborough Lodge. In January of 1974, Palestine Lodge also moved their meeting place to the same location.
Thereafter, a number of Brethren of both Lodges searched diligently for a suitable building that could be purchased and converted into a meeting place. Many buildings in Roxborough and surrounding areas were surveyed and rejected as unsuitable, or too costly. There were those who despaired of ever having a Lodge Hall of our own. But a few kept the dream alive. Finally, a suitable building, at the right price, was purchased in January, 1979. The site selected was the former Jeffries Movie Theatre, 344 Connaroe Street, Philadelphia, PA 19128 in Roxborough, a building which held fond memories for many of the Brethren.
Throughout their long and respectable histories, Palestine Lodge No. 470 and Roxborough Lodge No. 135 had traveled in the same direction upon the level of time but separately. On December 5, 1979, The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania approved the merger of the two Lodges into one, to be known as Palestine-Roxborough Lodge No. 135.
The newly merged Lodge then set upon the two-fold task of raising the necessary funds for remodeling, and the actual work itself. Donations for the work were received from members, widows of members, and others, many in memory of departed Brethren. The remodeling was diligently undertaken by the Brethren, some of whom gave so unstintingly of their time and effort as to deserve the most sincere thanks of all the members. The result is the building and Lodge Room which was dedicated April 12, 1980.
Quaker City Lodge No. 724 was duly constituted on June 14, 1923. In October of 1985, the members of Palestine-Roxborough Lodge No. 135 and those of Quaker City Lodge No. 724 each voted separately to merge with the other. The approval of The Grand Lodge was obtained and the merger became effective on December 4, 1985.
Thus, what were once three Lodges now became one. We approach our 200th ANNIVERSARY YEAR in 2013, proud of our heritage and confident in our future!