History of Harry S Truman Lodge No. 1066
In the mid 1960’s through the 1970’s memberships in Masonic Lodges started to decrease, so many Lodges in the Loyal Eighth decided to merge to better support active and future members. In 1975 two of those Lodges, Valorous-Jehoshophat Lodge No. 1063 and Algonquin Lodge No. 1056 decided to combine. Since Valorous-Jehoshophat-Algonquin seemed like too long of a name of a Lodge all the members decided to pick a new name; Harry S. Truman Lodge. Application was made to Grand Lodge for a new charter, and thus HARRY S. TRUMAN LODGE No. 1171 emerged. Six months later, Mt. Scopus Lodge No. 1075 decided to join the new lodge and it remained that way for over a decade.
As other Lodges in the District were also merging it saw the creation of Heritage Lodge No. 1044. It was comprised of Faith Lodge No. 1044, Zealous Lodge No 1115, Vigilantia Lodge No. 1108, and Trojan Lodge No. 1098.
In 1987 both Heritage Lodge and Harry S Truman Lodge decide it would be wise to merge and create Harry S Truman Heritage Lodge No 1044. The Lodge remained in this form until 1997. At that time the Leaders of Harry S Truman Heritage Lodge and Prudence Lodge No. 1066 decided another merger would be beneficial to all, and thus Harry S Truman Lodge No. 1066 was created.
Usually, when Lodges merge, the lowest Lodge number of the merging Lodges is used. In the case of Truman Lodge, back in 1975; since it was a completely new Lodge, with a completely new name, we obtained a new number from Grand Lodge. When we merged with Heritage, we took the number that Heritage was using - #1044. And when we again merged with Prudence, we reverted back to the name of HARRY S TRUMAN LODGE, but we opted to use Prudence’s number - #1066.
Harry S Truman Lodge No. 1066 has remained in this form for over twenty years. Should we again talk of merger with another Lodge, the leaders of this Lodge feel that there will be no more name changes. We have had enough. What better name can a Lodge have than that of a Past President and Past Grand Master rolled up into one?
Information provided by former Truman Secretary Michael A. Hyman, via former Secretary R∴W∴ Martin Dashevsky
