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Who We Are
During the early fall of 1950, several Masons met at the Lakewood Mortuary
on Woodruff Avenue for the purpose of forming a Masonic Club. Brothers
Harold S. Jackson was named President, Murray Striewig, Vice President,
Willis Knight, Treasurer and Irving Cross, Secretary. For the next two years,
monthly dinner meetings and other social events were held, and the Club
also sponsored the Lakewood Rainbow for Girls and conducted charitable
activities.
In October, 1952, the Club had grown to the point that there was interest in
forming a Lodge and a committee was appointed with Brother Don Keith as
Chairman, to set up a preliminary meeting for those who were interested.
This meeting was held on November 24, 1952, in a sheet metal shed on the
grounds of the Pan American Park in Lakewood. Seventy-five shivering
brethren turned out in the unheated building and expressed their interest in
proceeding. On December 8, 1952, a second meeting was held, the name
Lakewood Lodge adopted, and the following officers recommended:
Kenneth L. Hemphill, Master; Floyd O. Mason, Senior Warder; Fred Gray,
Junior Warden; Harold S. Jackson, Treasurer; and Irving Cross, Secretary.
Worshipful Myron Roudebush, Inspector of the 626th Masonic District, was
assigned by the Grand Master to assist the group.
Alta Loma Lodge offered a meeting place to the new group free of charge
until they received their dispensation. Regular meetings were held and the
Charter Group was closed with fifty members on February 12, 1953. A
petition was then submitted for a Dispensation which was granted.
The Lodge was Instituted by Grand Master Arthur M. Warren on June 20,
1953 at Alta Loma Temple. At the Annual Communication in October, a
Charter was granted, and the Constitution of Lakewood Lodge No. 728 took
place on November 24, 1953, with Grand Master Frank Harwell, Jr., presiding.
closed, then moved to Bellflower Temple, and later moved to Monte Vista
Temple in Long Beach. The History of Lakewood Lodge: At the time it was formed, the members assured the Grand Master and the
Charters committee that every effort would be made to find a meeting
place in the Lakewood area. This presented difficulties as it was a
planned community by major sub-dividers and most portions not zoned for
residences were carefully developed into shopping centers for maximum
income. The Lakewood Masonic Building Association was incorporated in
1955, and the search for a site continued until 1960, at which time the lot
was purchased on Parkcrest. The land was paid off in about two years by
pledges and a series of breakfasts. In 1971, the Building Association felt
the time was right to move ahead and invited Los Cerritos Lodge No. 674
to become a shareholder in the project, which they did.
Ground was broken on May 6, 1971, by Grand Master Lester S. McElwain,
and the bulldozers moved in the same day to start construction. No
master contract was let and all sub-contractors were negotiated by a
building committee and then approved by the Board of Directors of the
Building Association under the leadership of President Lysle W. Payne and
made up of representatives of both Lodges. Brother Don Witte, a licensed
contractor, donated his services, and Brother Michael S. Potopea was
retained as full time building superintendent. Members of both Lodges
contributed time, effort and materials thereby lowering the costs
substantially. The project proceeded on a pay-as-you-go basis and was
completed free of debt.
On Saturday, November 25, 1972 just twenty years and one day after the
shivering brethren met in the park, Grand Master William H. Price
dedicated the new home of Lakewood Lodge, and its fraternal partner, Los
Cerritos Lodge, on a site just next door to where the original organization
meeting was held in the Lakewood Mortuary.
In January 1999 the membership was able to purchase the outstanding
stock from our fraternal partners and we became the sole owners of the
facility which is no know as Lakewood Masonic Center.
In the Middle Ages, the terms "mason" and "freemason" were used interchangeably.
They were stonemasons who built castles and cathedrals in England and Scotland. Because of the inherent danger of their work, many stonemasons formed local organizations, called lodges, to take care of sick and injured members as well as the widows and orphans of those who were killed on the job. The masons also used the lodges as places to meet, receive their pay, plan their work, train new apprentices, and socialize.
In 1717, the first Grand Lodge was established in London. Within the next two decades, English Freemasonry spread throughout Europe and eventually made its way to the American colonies. The first lodge organized on American soil appeared in Philadelphia around 1730. By 1733 a Provincial Grand Lodge was organized in Boston. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and other founding fathers were among the first Masons in America. Of the 39 men who signed the U.S. Constitution, 13 were Masons.
From the Middle Ages to California Gold
During the Gold Rush of 1849, thousands of settlers came to California in search of fortune. Those who were Masons brought their rich traditions with them, soon establishing some of California's first Masonic lodges in the mining towns of the Gold Country. In 1850 — the same year that California became a state — the Grand Lodge of California was established in Sacramento.
Today, the Grand Lodge of California boasts more than 65,000 members and 340 lodges located throughout the state, making it one of the largest Grand Lodges in the world.
Masonry is the world's first and largest fraternal organization. It is a body of knowledge and a system of ethics based on the belief that each man has a responsibility to improve himself while being devoted to his family, faith, country, and fraternity.
As Masons, we lead by example, give back to our communities, and support numerous Masonic philanthropies. We invest in children, our neighborhoods, and our future.
Our values
Our mission is guided by the enduring and relevant tenets of our fraternity--brotherly love, relief, and truth--and our core values, which include:
Ethics
Our lives are based on honor and integrity, and we believe that honesty, compassion, trust, and knowledge are important.
Tolerance
The fraternity values religious, ethnic, cultural, social, and educational differences. We respect the opinions of others and strive to improve and develop as human beings.
Personal growth
Our continuous pursuit of knowledge, ethics, spirituality, and leadership brings more meaning to our lives.
Philanthropy
We make a difference in our communities through charitable giving, community service, and volunteerism.
Family
We strive to be better spouses, parents, and family members. We are committed to protecting the well-being of members and their families, especially when they are in need.
Freedom
Masons value the liberties outlined in the U.S. Constitution and continually promote freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship a Supreme Being in an individual way, and other important liberties. We believe it is our duty to vote in public elections and to exercise all of our liberties within proper bounds.