LYNN — The Freemasons in Lynn date back centuries, when the first Masonic lodge in the city, known as Mount Carmel, opened in 1805.
Since then, five more lodges were established, four of which branched off of Mount Carmel. The Golden Fleece lodge opened in 1865, then Damascus in 1907, followed by Bethlehem in 1920, and finally Mount Sinai in 1946.
All of these lodges eventually merged back into Mount Carmel, with Golden Fleece being the last to merge in September 2020.
When this final merger between Mount Carmel and Golden Fleece occurred, the membership voted for a new name for the combined lodge — Ascendus.
Todd Robinson has been the 109th master for two years now, but is the first master at the new Ascendus Lodge.
“I am honored to be the first Master of Ascendus Lodge,” Robinson said.
In April 2019, the Freemasons sold their building at 68 Market St., which had been dedicated for Masonic use in 1881.
After the sale of that building, they held their meetings at the Masonic Hall in Marblehead while searching for a new location in Lynn.
In November 2020, the Freemasons purchased their new home at 12 Anchor Rd., off of Lynnfield Street, and have been updating the building for their use.
The first meeting in the new building was a meeting for the installation of officers for the 2021-to-2022 Masonic year, which was held on Oct. 16 and was a “big success.”
“During this ceremony, the officers take their obligations and are informed of the duties of their
office,” Robinson said.
The Freemasons are the world’s oldest fraternity, and have been around since 1733. “It encourages its members to treat everyone as equals, act uprightly and be morally true,” Robinson said. “It’s great to be back in Lynn at our new location and I look forward to working with and assisting the City of Lynn once again.”
For more information about Ascendus Lodge, email [email protected], or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Ascendus-Lodge-103047158889393.
For information about Freemasonry in Massachusetts, visit the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts website at massfreemasonry.org/.
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].
