A Brief History

Montgomery Lodge #258, A F & A M was chartered January 21,1904, by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, William A McGonagle, Grand Master. The lodge was named after Thomas Montgomery who was Grand Secretary at the time. Charles Wesley Hill was the first Master, Alf. M. Bergstrom the first Sr. Warden, and James B. Pearson the first Jr. Warden. The lodge initially met at the Odd Fellows Hall, corner of Payne Ave. & Wells Ave. on St. Paul’s historic Eastside. From the outset, Montgomery Lodge attracted men from many walks of life; laborers, craftsmen, and professionals. They prided themselves on their performance of ritual work in the lodge, and they did a lot it. In the year of dispensation(1903), they performed 15 degrees. In the years that followed they did 12 degrees in 1904, 28 degrees in 1905, 21 degrees in 1906, and 18 degrees in 1907. The lodge grew rapidly and by 1914 it reported 154 active members. In August 1919 the lodge launched a major project; the building of its own physical temple. The work was completed in time for a meeting in March 1920, the first to be held in the new building. Worshipful Bro. N.I. Nelson, a well known operative Mason, was instrumental in seeing the project to its completion.

The first issue of the Montgomery Bulletin was published that same year. It has been in continuous circulation since that time and is a featured item of this website. During the period of the 1920’s the lodge continued to grow in numbers, as well as in the 1930’s despite the economic times. Following World War II and the Korean War, membership at Montgomery Lodge soared to a peak of 1031 Masons. Those were very busy times in terms of performing the ritual degrees. In 1964, plans were laid for an addition to the lodge hall under the leadership of W.B. Merlin Kvall. This project included a facelift addition to the front of the building and a major restructuring of the basement to provide enhanced dining facilities. Work began in 1966 under the direction of W.B. Lou Goldie (replacing W.B. Kvall whose employer had transferred him to Europe), and was completed by October of that year. Montgomery Lodge was entering a new era. Whereas the lodge had been known for the many excellent entertainments and social events that it conducted, the improved facilities proved to be much more accommodating. Numerous social activities and benefits followed with great success. Among the most notable was Montgomery’s annual Fisherman’s Party.

During the last third of the 20th century, Montgomery Lodge, along with most other Minnesota lodges, experienced a major decline in membership as older members passed on and changes occurred in the American social structure. Families found numerous other diversions to occupy their time, and the values that Masonry espouses seemed to be relegated to the back burner of men’s lives. In 1999, after fighting ever increasing operating costs of the building, Montgomery Lodge was forced to sell the lodge hall at 1100 Payne Avenue and move to the St. Paul Masonic Center at 200 E. Plato Blvd. This was a most difficult decision to reach as so many of the Brethren had invested so much of themselves in maintaining the lodge hall. But it came to pass, as the lodge was no longer able to secure the necessary resources to continue in the wonderful temple we had built and occupied for 79 years.

Today, in our new home, we are experiencing a rebirth of Masonic spirit and interest. Young men are searching for a source of moral and spiritual values that seem to be waning in today’s society. They are finding it in our lodge. Our line of officers is young, and full of enthusiasm for the Masonic work that our forbearers created. Montgomery Lodge has numerous activities, both charitable and fraternal. The high quality of our ritual work continues in the tradition of Montgomery brethren of old. In 2004, Montgomery Lodge celebrated its 100th anniversary. We look to the future with great hope and expectations of continuing the important work of Masonry, for both the improvement of ourselves as men and improvement of the community in which we live.