LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the White-
face Mountain Masonic Lodge No. 789, Free and Accepted Masons on May 1,
2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those renowned organizations that devote their energy, resources and
thoughtful care to improving the quality and character of life in their
communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 125th Anniversary of the Whiteface Mountain Masonic Lodge, No.
789 Free and Accepted Masons to be celebrated with an Open House on
Saturday, May 1, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The Free and Accepted Masons are the oldest fraternal organ-
ization in the world dating back some 3,000 years; no one really knows
when the fraternity began, however, what is known is the beginning of
modern freemasonry started on June 24, 1717, on St. John the Baptist's
day when four Craft Lodges gathered at the Goose and Gridiron Alehouse
in St. Paul's Church yard in London and constituted themselves the Grand
Lodge of England; and
WHEREAS, Years later, the American Colonies lodges were formed includ-
ing grand lodges; in New York State, a Provincial Grand warrant was
issued from the Ancient Grand Lodge of England empowering the masons of
the State to form a grand lodge of their own which they did on December
15, 1782, and was called The Grand Lodge of New York; and
WHEREAS, On June 6, 1787, the Grand Lodge of New York declared its
independence and took on the name of "Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons of the State of New York"; and
WHEREAS, Whiteface Mountain Masonic Lodge No. 789 came into being
September 26, 1884, when the Most Worshipful William A. Brodie, Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of
New York, accepted a request from masons living around the area of
Bloomingdale, New York, to form a lodge; and
WHEREAS, The lodge's first meeting took place October 2, 1884, to
select lodge officers and to get organized with the hopes of becoming a
working lodge; and
WHEREAS, In 1892, Whiteface Mountain Masonic Lodge No. 789, Free and
Accepted Masons moved to Academy Street in Saranac Lake, New York, hold-
ing its first meeting on September 21st of that same year; nine years
later on the evening of March 20, 1901, a committee was formed to draw
up plans to create a proper Masonic Temple in Saranac Lake; not until
April 20, 1904, was a contract signed with Trombley Construction to
erect the Temple at 1 Olive Street in Saranac Lake, New York; and
WHEREAS, The cornerstone of the Temple was laid on July 9, 1904, at a
special celebration with 63 masonic brothers present; on October 20,
1905, the Masonic Temple was dedicated in a public ceremony with the
first meeting being held on November 1, 1905; and
WHEREAS, Since then, for 105 years, meetings have always been held on
the first and third Wednesdays of the month without interruption in the
same building dedicated in 1905 on 1 Olive Street in Saranac Lake, New
York; and
WHEREAS, Since 1894, the Freemasons of Saranac Lake have both publicly
and privately dedicated themselves to the improvement of their communi-
ty; in the past decade alone, Whiteface Mountain Masonic Lodge No. 789
Free and Accepted Masons has provided numerous contributions to the
following organizations within the Saranac Lake community: High Peaks
Hospice, Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake Free Library, Saranac

Lake Summer Concert Series, Saranac Lake High School Quire, Saranac Lake
First Night, Lake Clear School Playground, Historic Saranac Lake, AMC
Meals on Wheels Program, Saranac Lake Adult Center, AMC Life Flight,
Saranac Lake Middle School Back-A-Pack Program, Saranac Lake Middle
School Ski Club, Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Committee, Saranac Lake
Animal Shelter, St. Luke's Food Pantry, Holiday Helpers, NCCC Massage
Therapy Scholarship Program, Saranac Lake Women's Civic Chamber, Saranac
Lake Women's Scholarship Fund, a Girl Scout Troop, and a Boys Pee Wee
Hockey Team; and
WHEREAS, Organizations of singular distinction such as the Whiteface
Mountain Masonic Lodge No. 789, Free and Accepted Masons, provide a
model for enhancing the quality of life in the community and, as such,
merit the grateful praise of the community of the State of New York;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Whiteface Mountain Masonic Lodge
No. 789, Free and Accepted Masons on May 1, 2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Whiteface Mountain Masonic Lodge No. 789, Free and
Accepted Masons.