A granite plaque with the word 'ADVANCE' engraved at the top, the years 1867 and 1913 on either side of the masonic square and compass symbol, and the address 'No. 635 F & AM' engraved below.

History of Advance Lodge No. 635 &
Building the Advance Masonic Temple

Our Charter History

Advance Lodge No. 635 F&AM was chartered in the Village of Astoria by the Grand Lodge of New York in 1867, shortly after the Civil War. This year is the first date commemorated on our cornerstone.

A History of Mergers:
How We Became Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586

Advance Lodge No. 635 operated independently until the 1990s. Since then, our lodge has merged with several historic New York lodges, each with its own unique legacy. Listed here are the original chartered lodge names, lodge numbers, the neighborhoods they served: and their charter years.

  • City Lodge No 408, Manhattan (1856)

  • Island City Lodge No 586, LIC (1866)

  • Mizpah Lodge No 738, Elmhurst (1875)

  • Geba Lodge No 954, Elmhurst (1919)

  • Service Lodge No 1009, Flushing (1923)

Today, Advance Service Mizpah Lodge No. 586 proudly carries forward the traditions and heritage of these lodges, serving our community with honor and dedication

Advance, A Cornerstone of Astoria, Queens

Advance Lodge and Astoria Village grew up together. For at least 50 years, Advance Lodge No. 635 stood as the only Masonic Lodge in the Village. The history of Advance Lodge forms the foundation of Freemasonry in Queens.

Black and white photograph of a multi-story brick building with columns and an arched doorway, adjacent to other buildings; a vintage car partially visible on the street in front; a sign with the numbers 549, 21, and 0 stands in the foreground.

Degrees of Growth

Advance Lodge played an instrumental role in establishing many local lodge charters throughout the area. Our influence extended to the development of local appendant bodies including:

  • Scottish Rite

  • York Rite

  • Order of the Eastern Star (OES)

  • Craftsmen Clubs

  • Square Clubs

From many bees, one thriving hive

As various local Masonic organizations expanded, Advance Lodge gathered its resources and set sights on building a central meeting space to unite numerous groups and better serve the community.

Land was purchased and the cornerstone was laid in a public ceremony in April 1915 - the second date commemorated on our cornerstone.

Establishing the Pillars of Our Porch

The doors opened for use in April 1916, with the Grand Opening of the Temple receiving tremendous public support.

Pioneering Spirit

Rose E. Scherer, while living in Astoria Village, founded the Masonic Organization of the Triangles and established the first order, “Triangle 8”, in 1883, right here in Astoria, Queens - further cementing our place in Masonic history.

Legacy In Long Island City

Today, our building proudly stands on 30th Avenue, just off 21st Street. Back in 1916, these streets had different names. 30th Avenue was then called Grand Street, while 21st Street was known as Van Alst Avenue.

Van Alst Avenue was named in honor of Peter G. Van Alst, a city surveyor who played a pivotal role in shaping the roads and infrastructure of western Queens during its formative years. He was also an early member of Advance Lodge No. 635.

PS 171, located on 29th Avenue, and Van Alst Playground on 30th Avenue, both serve as legacy of his contributions to the area we are proud to call home.

Portrait of Peter G. Van Alst, a 19th-century surveyor from Dutch Kills, Queens, known for helping build the roads and infrastructure of western Queens. Member of Advance Lodge No 635.

The light of Community Spirit

Our lodge was one of the first local structures supplied with electricity. We used this modern marvel to illuminate dozens of booths along what is now 30th Avenue. These booths raised funds for various humanitarian causes related to the war in Europe.

Close-up of the entrance to a Masonic Temple with white columns, a brick archway, and a sign reading 'Masonic Temple' in red letters. Decorative lions’ heads and a blue and gold crest adorn the structure.

A Grand Event

The Temple’s week long grand opening took place on Grand St and Van Alst Ave and featured:

  • Six days of continuous festivities

  • Thousands of daily attendees

  • Marching band processions down 30th Avenue

  • Musical and dance performances in the Lodge’s event hall and backyard

  • Successful fundraising for the Red Cross, War Bonds, and many other worthy causes

This momentous celebration marked the beginning of countless community events and charitable efforts that continue to this day.