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Lodge has evolved through the years into a "Metropolitan Lodge."
Its membership reflects a diverse group of men who reside within
the financial and cultural capital of the world. The Lodge is a
result of four Lodges that merged their resources over time. The
names of those Lodges were Lotus No. 31, Manhattan No. 62, LaFayette
No. 64 and Manitou No. 106. Each of these lodges added its unique
history and fervency for the Craft to create one Masonic Lodge with
a keen interest in bringing light to worthy men while maintaining
a spirit of fellowship.
The Lodge traces its roots to 1807 when the first warrant was granted
to Woods Lodge, No. 153 on March 4, 1807. A Second warrant was granted
to Mechanic Lodge, No. 153, March 6, 1816 when the name of the Lodge
was changed. The Lodge’s number changed to 31 in 1839 and
it became Lotus Lodge, No. 31, effective June 8, 1839. An interesting
incident in the history of this Lodge is that Bro. David Williams,
one of the trio of American Patriots who captured Major André
near Tarrytown, NY on September 23, 1780, was raised in this Lodge
in 1827.
Manhattan No. 62 received its warrant on March 26, 1824. As a daughter
lodge of Independent Royal Arch Lodge No. 2, it chose to continue
the tradition of using scarlet as the symbolic color of its aprons,
jewels and furnishings. This custom remains in effect today. On
April 15, 1840, the Lodge was requested by R:. W:. Wm. Willis, D.G.M.,
to confer all three degrees at one and the same time on two Seneca
Chiefs, George Jamison and N. T. Strong. On June 5, 1840 and at
the request of The Grand Lodge Officers the Lodge was asked to confer
the first degrees at one and the same time to Messrs. J. Jamison,
S. H. Cone and White Seneca, Seneca Chiefs, and Mr. B. Bowles, an
Oneida Chief.
When the Marquis de Lafayette made his triumphant return to America
in 1824, the Grand Lodge invited him to partake in a public dinner
in his honor. Having accepted the invitation proffered by order
of the Grand Lodge, the Marquis de LaFayette was enthusiastically
embraced upon his arrival. Several brethren present requested that
further to honor LaFayette, a Lodge be named in his honor. The Grand
Master granted the request and LaFayette No. 64 was instituted On
September 20, 1824.
On November 21, 1845, a dispensation was issued to Oscar Coles and
others for a Lodge to be called Manitou. The Lodge worked under
the dispensation until the charter was granted March 3, 1846. The
organizer and first Master of the Lodge, M:.W:.Oscar Coles, who
served five years in that capacity. The United Grand Lodge elected
him Grand Master on June 5, 1851, being the first chosen.
In the late 1970’s Lotus and Lafayette merged to form Lotus-Lafayette
No. 31. On December 3, 1979 Lotus Lafayette united with Manhattan
Lodge and adopted the name Consolidated. In 1988 Manitou Lodge was
merged with Consolidated.
Many of the members of the Lodge participated in the laying of the
corner-stones of the Masonic Hall in New York City and the Home
at Utica, and were also present at the
dedication of these buildings. They also assisted in the laying
of the corner-stone of "Cleopatra's Needle," the only
Egyptian obelisk in the western hemisphere, in Central Park on October
9, 1880. Consolidated Lodge continues to take an active role in
the Fraternity.
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