About Reliance Lodge

A short History of Reliance Lodge

“And God Said, “Let there be light.” Genesis 1.

RELIANCE LODGE No. 776 F. & A.M. was instituted on June 19, 1877 when Rutherford B. Hayes was President of the United States. The seal of the Lodge depicts the Bible surrounded by a turbulent sea. The founders anticipated the many changes in society through the years but also realized that there are somethings that don’t change. Some of the changes our founders encountered include:

• It would be 3 more years until the frankfurter was invented in 1880.
• It would be 6 more years until the Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883.
• It would be 12 more years before the building of the Eiffel Tower in Paris in 1889.
• It would take 13 more years until the first Army-Navy football game would be played in 1890.
• It would be 17 more years until Milton Hershey would make the first American candy bar in 1894.
• It would be 18 more years until the discovery of X-Rays and until John Kellogg would develop the first flaked breakfast cereal in 1895 
• It would be 22 more years until aspirin would be perfected and until the N.Y. Zoological society would open a Zoo in the Bronx in 1899.

This and much, much more has transpired during the life journey of the lodge. It has moved seven times in its history, originally from Greenpoint Brooklyn to now the Whitestone Masonic Temple in Queens. It has participated in many events through the year and too many to recite in this short history. Some include:

• Participated in the laying of the foundation stone of the Egyptian Obelisk in Central Park.
• Contributed to the relief of the victims of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood.
• Contributed relief to the destitute by the earthquake and fire in San Francisco and Sicily.
• Sponsored a Pony baseball team and holiday bowling party for kids 6 to 16.
• Taken Manhattan Dinner Cruises and weekend away in the Poconos. 
• Assisted the Salvation Army with the “ringing of the bell”, volunteering for MS walkathons, and many more charitable endeavors…

The brothers are proud of its history but realize history is today. The lodge meets on the third Thursday of the Month at the Whitestone Masonic temple. We start with a meal, where most of the time, the women are welcome, break for the meeting and finish with a light collation. Robust conviviality before, during and after the meeting are our hallmark.