History of Santa Monica-Palisades Lodge
Jay Milla
On the evening of March 9, 1891, seventeen Master Masons met at the home of Brother Martin Henry Volkman on Third Street, near Santa Monica Blvd. The purpose of the meeting were initial discussion to form a Masonic Lodge here in Santa Monica. There were only a few thousand residents at that time. One of the attendees was Brother Abbott Kinney, a member of Pasadena Lodge No. 272, and the founder of Venice Beach, CA.
On June 10, 1891, a dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge of California. A few days later the first official Lodge meeting was held. And on October 14, 1891, a Charter was granted to Santa Monica Lodge No. 307. Only 7 months passed from the first unofficial lodge meeting, to a fully chartered and working lodge. Leroy Brown served as the first Master of the lodge.
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