WELCOME TO PROGRESSIVE LODGE #17 FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS PRINCE HALL AFFILIATION STATE OF NEW JERSEY

186 HALE STREET NEW BRUNSWICK NJ 08901 (732) 545-3212

Progressive Lodge No. 17 F & AM was instituted March 2, 1918 and chartered December 26, 1918. We have existed in New Brunswick from that day on. At its beginning, the Lodge had a membership of 37 and met at Aurora Hall on Lower Albany Street. In April 1933, the Lodge moved into a hail at 135 Lee Avenue. In March 1939 the Lodge moved to the Elks Hall at 150 Baldwin Street and continued to meet there until the completion or our Temple in August 1976.

Down through the years the Lodge continued to exist in spite of adversity. As a result of the 1929-30 depression, by December 1936, the membership had dwindled to 7 and meetings were held at the members’ homes. The Lodge Treasury held a total of $3.75. These days were the worst ever in the history of Progressive Lodge. After a period of 15 long trying years, lying almost at the point of death, in 1939 the Lodge began to rejuvenate. New members were taken in and the Prince Hall Square Club was formed to assist the Lodge with its program.

The building Fund was started on October 11, 1943. It consisted primarily of voluntary gifts by the members and contributions from the Prince Hall Square Club. The record shows that by June 10, 1950, this fund had grown to the amount of $504.30. During the year 1953, the Progressive Temple Association, Inc. was formed and the lots on Hale Street were purchased. The record shows that on June 1, 1955 the building fund contained a total of $3,683.71. The membership continued to work on this project and by June 1964 the Fund was worth over $30,000 and plans for the Temple had been drawn. At this point serious consideration was given to a proposal to start building the Temple. However, it was decided that the Fund was insufficient to start building on a sound financial basis.

On May 21, 1972, the Fund had arrived at a stage where it was feasible to begin construction and the Ground Breaking Ceremony was held on that date. It was decided that the Board of Directors of the Progressive Temple Association, Inc. would be the general contractors for the construction project. Construction began in July 1972 and the Temple was completed four years later in August 1976. It has been a long hard task and many of our members contributed many hours of their time in the construction of the Temple. Their contributions are too numerous to list here.

In this 88th year of our existence in the city of New Brunswick, Progressive Lodge is proud of its accomplishments. It is our earnest hope that our Temple will provide the means to help our Lodge in its endeavor to make greater contributions to our community and to our Fraternity in general. We humbly thank all of the members of the public who have supported our programs down through the years. Your help has made our task easier and to you we are deeply grateful. We sincerely thank the members of Progressive Chapter No. 30, Order of Eastern Star for their generous assistance. Together we shall overcome.

MW Thomas R. Hughes, Sr., Grand Master

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