Our History

Early Documented History

Discover the foundation of Pilgrim Lodge. Below are some of the documents that were kept by the Masonic Historical Society that are part of the early founding of Pilgrim Lodge--including letters from the Grand Lodge, and information regarding the petition for the warrant of Constitution. 

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Twenty Fifth Anniversary

Constituted on September 23rd 1921, Pilgrim Lodge celebrated it's 25th anniversary in 1946. An excerpt from the booklet is present below.

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For several years following the first World War, there had been a heavy influx of members into fra­ternal orders, and the Masonic Lodges found them­selves with bulging memberships.

It was noticeable that many of the newcomers had but little interest in Ancient Craft Masonry itself. There was popular appeal in the "playground" types of organizations, some of which made Masonic affili­ation a prerequisite to membership.

A little group of more serious Masons, members of about a dozen scattered lodges, had been discussing such things for about a year. The common interest they had, up to that time, arose from the fact that most of them had been officers, elected and appoint­ed, in Commanderies of Knights Templar. They felt that there was a need for directing the steps of new Blue Lodge Masons into paths of more exalted useful­ness within Masonry itself, instead of outside of it.

The opinion gradually grew that a new Blue Lodge might well be formed by a group with such unity of thought; and for about a year these men met several times a month in one of the offices in Masonic Temple. Though there was no early intention to adopt the name "Pilgrim", it was true that the group knew itself informally as "Pilgrim Association," the term "Pilgrim" being frequently met with in Commandery parlance. Indeed, the name originally submitted to the Right Worshipful Grand Master was "Roosevelt", there having been some admirers of President Theodore Roosevelt in the group. The Grand Master ruled the name out, owing to duplications elsewhere; but he was entirely agreeable to the adoption of "Pilgrim" for the new Lodge's name.

In the group were three Past Masters. Hays H. Duncan, of Oriental Lodge, No. 385, chosen to be the first Worshipful Master of the new Lodge; M. Albert Evoy and William F. Goodwin, both of Athelstan Lodge No. 482. Brother Goodwin was chosen to be the first Representative in Grand Lodge. These three carried the final petition to R.W.G.M. John S. Sell, and with his approval the new Lodge was born.

On September 23rd, 1921, the Grand Lodge met in a special communication in Corinthian Hall, Masonic Tempie, Philadelphia, and constituted Pilgrim Lodge, No. 712, F. & A. M., with forty-one warrant members.

In the address delivered by the Grand Master after constituting the new Lodge, the members were grati­fied to hear their own ideas enlarged upon, of the duties of Masons within Masonry itself. Brother Sell had but recently issued an edict making unlawful, Masonically, the affiliation of Pennsylvania members with several other social groups. Much of the address was devoted to his reasons for having made this move; and the Warrant Members, and the distinguished visitors, went forth well informed about this drastic step.

This has not been intended as a history,–merely the first few steps at the beginning of a history. And even twenty-five years can hardly be thought of as more than a step or two, as Masonic histories unfold.

HAROLD F. GOODWIN, P.M.
(Lodge Historian, by designation, in 1921, of W. M. Hayes H. Duncan)

Living Past Masters

Discover the living Past Masters of our lodge along with the years that they served. For a list of earlier Pilgrim Lodge Past Masters, see the back cover of the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Booklet above.

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