State Masonic lodge wants to make New Kensington its home
A state Masonic lodge plans to make its headquarters in New Kensington's downtown.
On Wednesday, the city Zoning Hearing Board granted a variance to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, Prince Hall Origin-National Compact U.S.A.
The action will enable the Masonic group to purchase and renovate the former Altmeyer's store on Fourth Avenue near Ninth Street, into its state headquarters.
William J. Skillings of Greensburg, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the lodge, said the lodge has about 100 members throughout the state. He said they expect the membership to grow by about 5 percent per year. He said the group is primarily African-American but does not discriminate and accepts people of all races, as long as they believe in God.
"We shall dispense charity, make good men better and lead by example," Skillings told the zoning board.
He said the group chose New Kensington because it is close to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Route 28. Also, because the Westmoreland County Community College campus is two blocks away and the location is just a few miles from the Pittsburgh Mills mall.
All of that is important for when the lodge holds meetings of the state organization. He said lodge members from surrounding states also are invited to the meetings. Skillings said the group will need hotel rooms and places nearby for entertainment and shopping.
He said the proximity to the college provides an opportunity to collaborate with college officials to allow lodge members to mentor students.
Also, Skillings said there is a good possibility that the lodge could host a national meeting or convention, drawing several hundred visitors to the city.
There was plenty of local support for the Masons' proposal.
"This is the best proposed use we've had in three years," said Marvin Berner, a realtor who owns property behind the Altmeyer's building and also said he was representing Altmeyer's at the hearing.
Berner said he showed a conceptual drawing to other business people downtown and they expressed support for it.
Marvin Williams, who has numerous real estate holdings in the city, also told the board he supports the proposal.
In order to use the 4,800 square foot property, the lodge needed to get a variance from a requirement that the area be at least 6,000 square feet, according to acting zoning officer Pat McGrath.
The board approved the variance 3-0.
Additional Information:
About the lodge
Prince Hall is recognized as the Father of Black Masonry in the United States, according to the Web site of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, Prince Hall Origin.
According to the Web site, Hall was believed to be born in either Barbados or the British West Indies and settled in Boston in 1765. Black Freemasonry began when Prince Hall and 14 other free black men were initiated into Lodge No. 441, Irish Constitution, attached to a British Army regiment based in Boston on March 6, 1775.
When the British Army left Boston in 1776, Lodge No. 441 granted Prince Hall and his fellow members authority to meet as African Lodge No. 1. Finally, on March 2, 1784, Prince Hall petitioned the Grand Lodge of England for a warrant or charter. It was granted on Sept. 29, 1784, which lead to the establishment of African Lodge No. 459 on May 6, 1787. Hall was appointed a Provincial Grand Master in 1791 by the Prince of Wales, according to the Web site.
