WISDOM LODGE NO. 202 ... a brief history
Wisdom Lodge is one of the oldest and, with over 475 members, one of the larger lodges in California. The name Wisdom is new but the number 202 represents the second oldest Lodge in Los Angeles. Wisdom Lodge No. 202 was formed by the consolidation of Pentalpha Lodge No. 202, Westlake Lodge No. 392, South Park Lodge No. 563, Henry Knox Lodge No. 662, and William D. Stephens Lodge No. 698.
For many years the lodge held meetings at the Los Angeles Scottish Rite but, with the closing of that building, the Lodge now holds its meetings at the Pasadena Masonic Temple in Pasadena, California. The Lodge is well represented in the history of the Grand Lodge of California; the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches of state and local government; the world of business and finance; and the just hard working brother who sees his duty to lodge, self and family.
In 1869, Los Angeles was a thriving little village of some 5000 inhabitants and was increasing at the rate of better than one hundred a year. What is now Broadway in downtown Los Angeles was then a residential street lined on both sides by shade trees. The tallest building towered toward the sky three stories high. The first school house stood at Second and Spring but was considered too far out to be convenient to all. There was a feed and fuel yard at Third and Spring.
Ulysses S. Grant was the President and the first transcontinental railroad had just been completed to San Francisco. Los Angeles was a mere twenty years old under American jurisdiction and Spanish was a principal language still used in government and in courts. Even the newspapers were bilingual and it was difficult to conduct business without knowledge of both languages. There was only one lodge in Los Angeles and only a handful in all of Southern California. In June, a new lodge … our Lodge … was created. WISDOM LODGE NO. 202 is now celebrating its 135th year of dedicated service. The Lodge, over the years, has provided California Governors; California Supreme Court Justices; appointed and elected Grand Lodge Officers, Inspectors, Committeemen; Potentates; Grand Officers in the York Rite; Scottish Rite leaders; Masonic Service Bureau Personnel; community, professional and business leaders; and all the rest of dedicated men that make a well-rounded lodge.
