True Craftsman's Lodge #651

The petition for True Craftsman’s Lodge was initially intended to form under the name

"Shakespeare." Dispensation was finally granted under the name "Philanthropic" in

February of 1867. True Craftsman’s Lodge eventually received its warrant on July 22,

1867. The first Master for True Craftsman’s Lodge was R:.W:. Jacob P. Solomon.

The charter members were R:.W:. Jacob P Solomon, Joseph A Levy, Issac T Meyer,

Lewis Stettheimer, Issac C Levi, Nathan Zemanmsky, James Davies, George M.

Jacobs and I M Phillips.

As Philanthropic, they would meet in the Proctor’s Hall on 23rd Street and in the Mecca

Temple on West 55th Street. They would also meet in the Pythian Temple at 135 West

70 Street, NY.

A fire at Pythian Temple destroyed all the old records and relics. Sometime after the

fire, they changed the meeting place to 71 W 23rd Street, New York, NY.

In May 2, 1972 Bethel Lodge #0733 merged into True Craftsman’s Lodge #651.

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By R:.W:. Martin Richards, 2017 (From historical records and documents).