St. Paul’s-Algonquin Lodge F & A.M.’s origin is the history of two lodges of Boston’s southern boroughs. St. Paul’s Lodge F & A.M. was constituted in March 30,1847 and for many years met at the South Boston Savings Bank Building at 372 West Broadway in South Boston. Algonquin Lodge A.F. & A. M. Originated in April 1913 and was constituted in April 1914. Initially they met at the Oddfellows Hall in the Codman Square section of Dorchester on Mellville Avenue.

After World War II, both lodges were independently seeking alternate locations. Throughout the great depression the members of Algonquin Lodge had a goal of acquiring their own building. Although they made a great effort to contribute to a fund to buy a new building, it never grew to a point where they could accomplish their goal. However, an opportunity became available to benefit both the Lodge and a house of worship.

The Village Congregational Church in the Lower Mills section of Dorchester was affected by a dwindling congregation. Through an agreement between the church and the lodge the church building would be used by the lodge for the sum of one dollar a year. The congregation would own the structure but a holding company of Algonquin Lodge members would assume all expenses connected with the building. The building was renovated to become a Masonic lodge but the congregation held two services a year to maintain it’s tax status.

In 1948 it appeared that due to the sale of the South Boston Savings Bank Building, St. Paul’s Lodge would require a new building. Algonquin Lodge invited St. Paul’s Lodge to relocate to the newly renovated building on River Street in Lower Mills. St. Paul's held it’s first communication in the new facility in September of 1949.

Due to the fact that there were three blue lodges meeting at the Lower Mills location it was deemed by the members of St. Paul’s Lodge that they should move to another Masonic building in order to attract a larger number of new members. After considering their options south of Boston, they deemed the Braintree Masonic Building at 360 Washington St. their best possible location as the only other lodge at the location was Delta Lodge. St. Paul’s held their first communication in the Braintree location in September 1959.

In  March of 1971, the the Masonic building in Lower Mills fell victim to an arsonists torch and Algonquin Lodge, who could not rebuild on the site, sought a new home in the district. They immediately moved their location to the Masonic apartments at Milton Lower mills, then to the Masonic building at Lovell’s Corner at 771 Pleasant St. in Weymouth in 1973. Due to an uncertain future of the recently opened building they moved to the Quincey Masonic Building in 1978 until June 1986.

In 1981, due to several factors including the age of the building lack of parking, the governing board of the Braintree Masonic Apartments built a new building just down the road at 403 Washington Street. SImilarly to St. Paul’s Lodge in 1959, Algonquin Lodge decided to move to a location where fewer lodges met in order to attract new members and settled at the newest Braintree Masonic Building. In 1987 St. Paul’s Lodge and Algonquin Lodge decided a merger would be beneficial due the their similar backgrounds and positive relationship over the years. On May 28, 1988 the sitting Grand Master and a distinguished suite of Grand Lodge officers conducted the merger ceremony and Wor. Joseph Hilchey was installed as the first master of the reorganized St. Paul’s-Algonquin Lodge.

 

Reference: History of St. Paul’s-Algonquin LodgeF & A.M. compiled by Wor,. Robert A. McDougall, Wor. William S. Hurst and Br. Lenard J. Stence.

Thanks to Brother Kurt Gombar for the above text.