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Syracuse Masonic Temple
5. In 1917 our Lodge joined with the other Masonic bodies in the City of Syracuse to occupy the new Masonic Temple located at
320 Montgomery Street, where it was one of the four owner Lodges, which were:
Central City Lodge No. 305
Syracuse Lodge No. 501
Salt Springs Lodge No. 520
Mount Sinai Lodge No. 864
The cornerstone of this building was laid on 4 Nov 1915 when Central City Lodge No. 305 joined the other Masonic bodies in the
city and with the officers of the Grand Lodge in the formal ceremony.
Herbert W. Greenland recorded the story of the Syracuse Masonic Temple’s conception and subsequent building in his booklet,
“Free Masonry in Syracuse and Vicinity, published by the Syracuse Journal at the Dedication of the Syracuse Masonic Temple,
February 22, 1917.”
The interesting account that he then gave is as follows:
1879 - The erection of a temple to hold all of the Masonic Bodies had long been an ardent desire of the Syracuse Masons. In 1879,
committees were appointed by the three lodges (Central City 305, Syracuse 501 and Salt Springs 520), and an organization
formed, who secured options on many sites at prices which we now realize were very low, but then the present only was considered
and the brethren were reluctant to mortgage the future, so the whole project was abandoned.
1891 - The Masons of the city again felt the time was ripe to build their temple. An organization of the three lodges was formed with
about 200 members. Brother Austin C. Wood was the president and Brother Benjamin F. Stevens, secretary. Up to 1894
subscriptions for bonds to the amount of $25,000 were received. Unfortunately at that time the great financial troubles of the country
set in and many of the subscribers found it impossible to meet their payments. A meeting was called and it was voted to pay back
the amount subscribed and again abandon the undertaking. During its existence the association held many entertainments and the
proceeds thereof enabled it to pay all of its expenses and also the interest on all subscriptions.
21 Jan 1909 - Syracuse Lodge was summoned to take action regarding the purchase for a
Masonic Building of the Jones property on the southwest corner of South Salina and Adams
Streets, upon which an option was secured for $30,000. There was a large attendance and a
special committee was appointed to consider the proposition. April 1 the committee reported
that only an unsatisfactory progress had been made and asked to be discharged, which was
done.
2 Feb 1912 - Central City Lodge No. 305 sent communications to the other lodges
announcing that a committee had been appointed to consider a plan for the erection of a
Masonic Temple and asked that like committees be appointed to co-operate therewith.
Several meetings of the committee were held and reports made to their respective lodges, but
on account of a difference of opinion among the members of the several lodges as to the
erection of a strictly “Fraternal” building, or of a “Commercial-Fraternal” building, there was no
union of effort and the committees were discharged. Central City Lodge, however, authorized
the purchase of the property 604 (620) South Salina Street with the intention of erecting
thereon a Temple for the Central City Bodies, but upon the agreement of the Masonic Bodies
of Syracuse upon the site of Montgomery Street, it abandoned the project and contracted to
convey the South Salina Street site to the Syracuse Temple Association for $33.500.
The history of the new temple, from the inception to completion is fully related in the
dedication program, so it will not be necessary to give it here.
22 Feb 1917 - distinctively marks the division between the old and new in the local history of Free Masonry in Syracuse and may be
compared to the entrance of the Chosen People of God into the promised land, after their wanderings for forty years in the
wilderness. For nearly a hundred years the craft, in its various lodges and other bodies, has held meetings in numerous localities,
wherever quarters were available, which were fitted up and maintained by great individual expense, only to be discarded after a time
to repeat the experiment in other places. What we and our predecessors have hoped for and dreamed of is now realized. We will
hereafter be under one roof, a united family where one may have any and all degrees of Masonry, as well as of the allied
organizations, conferred. Where no distinction can exist, “save that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best can work and
best agree.”
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Here follows the tribute of the General Temple Committee:
Dream of Generation of Masons Fulfilled
The dream of a generation of Masons in Syracuse came to a full and happy realization. Too high a tribute cannot be paid to the
small, generous hand of our brothers, whose unceasing activity and unfailing perseverance have translated a glorious vision into a
still more glorious reality. Credit is due the Masons whose financial assistance made it possible to enter upon the project so happily
concluded. To all who have borne a hand in this project the consciousness of a work well done will be a proud memory in the years
to come.
Space does not permit an extended explanation of the history of our Temple. Its roots reach back into the years where dreamers in
Masonry foresaw in marble and stone a living example of the strength and vitality of our institution.
It immediate history began with a meeting in November 1914, with the following representatives:
Central City Lodge:
Edward E. Haun, George N. Crouse and William F. Canough
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