History of Carmel Lodge #680
Carmel-By-The-Sea
About 15 September 1923, Brothers William Titmas and Charles A. Watson met and discussed the possibility of forming a Masonic Club in Carmel to enjoy Masonic friendship. Notice was posted and on 16 June 1924 and the following Brothers met and discussed the idea:
Walter Bascom Lodge # 217 Charles Berkey Lodge #211
Ross E. Foster Lodge #204 O. Holm
Lodge #217
William Kibler Lodge #217 I. Mallott Lodge #486
F. Meckenstock Lodge #176 Percy Parkes Lodge #217
Rev. Sheldon Lodge Unknown William Titmas Lodge #3
Charles A. Watson Lodge #446 Morris Mck Wild Lodge #346
The Brothers unanimously agreed to form the proposed Masonic Club to be known as “The Masonic Club of Carmel-By-The-Sea.” The Reverend Brother Sheldon offered the basement rooms of the Carmel Community Church for meetings and this was accepted by the Brothers. The final organizational meeting of the Club was held on 23 January 1925. On 1 December 1925 the Club decided to purchase the Tillton property, including the house on Lincoln Street between 7th and 8th for the price of $2,200.00. In order to cover the cost of the purchase, notes in $100 denominations were issued to the Brothers, bearing interest at the rate of 6%. Brother William Kibler deeded the building to the Carmel Masonic Club and its survivors. On 28 March 1939 Brother Kibler left $1,000.00 to Brother Charles A. Watson, the President of the Club. Brother Watson donated this money to the Club to liquidate loans and notes. On 16 February 1926 a local businessman, Mr M. J. Murphy a non-Mason, donated fifteen wicker chairs to the club. These chairs were used by the club and later by Carmel Lodge #680, until the construction of the present Temple. At a meeting on 24 August 1934 Brother Watson and the members discussed the formation of a Masonic Lodge in Carmel and the updating of the building for Lodge use. The improvements to the building were made by Brother Miles Bain of Seattle Lodge for $925.00. On 4 January 1935 a petition for Dispensation was sent to the Most Worshipful Randolph V. Whiting, Grand Master of Masons in California with the following names attached:
Charles Arthur Watson P.M. Monterey Lodge #217
James Ralph Zuck P.M. Keith Lodge #187
Bernard Henry Schultze Monterey Lodge #217
William Thomas Kibler Monterey Lodge #217
Conrad Chester Imelman Monterey Lodge #217
Emil Julius Rissel Monterey Lodge #217
George Bryson Branch Petaluma Lodge #180
George Alexander Whishart Pacific Lodge #50, Salem Oregon
Harry Edward Farley Windsor Lodge #181, White Rock, South Dakota
Harry Clyton Hilbert Monterey Lodge #217
Herbert Chester Fairly Salinas Lodge #204
Ross Earl Bonham Monterey Lodge #217
David Askew Monterey Lodge #217
Morris Mck. Wild Monterey Lodge #217
Charles Leon Derkey Monterey Lodge #217
Bernard Joseph Segal Monterey Lodge #217
Donald Luke Staniford South San Francisco Lodge #212
Carl Samuel Rohr Pajaro-Watsonville Lodge #110
Roy Jospeh Gale Mount Mariah Lodge #28, Bordington, New Jersey
Joseph Addison Burge Monterey Lodge #217
The Dispensation was granted by the Grand Master and the first meeting was held on 7 June 1935 in the Carmel Masonic Building. The following Officers and Members were present:
Charles A. Watson P.M. Worshipful Master
James Ralph Zuck P.M. Senior Warden
Arthur J. Howell Junior Warden
Charles L. Berkey Treasurer
Bernard J. Segal Secretary
Conrad C. Imelman Chaplain
Harry C. Hilbert Senior Deacon
George A. Wishart Junior Deacon
David Askew Marshall
Herbert C. Fairly Senior Steward
Morris Mck. Wild Junior Steward
Joseph A. Gerge Tyler
Harry C. Farley
Carl S. Rohr
Boyd Gale
George Bryson Branch
Bernard H. Schultze
Donald L. Staniford
Nels John Eriskse, First Candidates Coach
Charles K. Tuttle, Inspector 56th Masonic District
Leonard Cap Johnson was the first Entered Apprentice. He later became our Seafaring Man until the late 1950’s. The Bylaws of the Carmel Masonic Club were changed to state that only members of Carmel Lodge #680 could become members of the Club. Starting with the meeting of 19 September 1949, Pacific Grove Lodge #331, having lost their lease on their building, and being in the process of building a new Temple, met in the Carmel Lodge. Nineteen meetings were held in the Lodge, with the last meeting being held on 2 February 1950. No charge was made to our Brother Lodge for the use of the building. During the late 1940’s, because of a ruling by the Grand Lodge, the Club had to delete the sod “Masonic” from its name and became known as the “Cypress Club of Carmel-By-The-Sea.” It is interesting to note that this was not changed in Sacramento until 31 May 1962. During 1951 the Club considered the construction of a new building. On 16 January 1952 an application to the Carmel Board of Adjustments was granted for the remodeling of the building and the additions to it located at Lot 11, Block 93 Carmel-By-The-Sea on the West side of Lincoln between 7th and 8th at an estimated cast of $16,000.00. The Brothers now became Operative as well as Speculative Masons with regards to Financing and labor. Carmel Chapter #581 of the Order of the Eastern Star, which had been formed in 1951 and met in Carmel Lodge, became Stewards and catered to the workmen. Ground Breaking ceremonies were held on 3 April 1953 at 6:15 p.m. and, starting 17 July 1953 the Lodge met at Pacific Grove Lodge #331, at no cost to the Lodge. The last meeting was held in Pacific Grove on 20 November 1953. The first meeting in the new Temple was held on 4 December 1953. On completion of the new Temple, Brother Howell Armor carved and presented to the club, Masonic Panels to be placed in the Lodge Room. On 5 August 1955 the Club presented the panels to the Lodge for the sum of $1.00. At a later date the Grand Lodge, for reasons unknown, stated that the panels were to be removed. After a lot of discussion this order was ignored and the panels are still in place today. In 1970 the Cypress Club donated property, building and all of its holdings to Carmel Lodge #680 and its survivors. The Temple, since renamed the Carmel Masonic Center is now controlled by the Hall Association consisting of elected Lodge Brethren, Worshipful Master and Senior Warden. This undated history of Carmel Lodge #680 was compiled and signed by Brother Harlod R. Lewis P.M. and found in the Lodge Archives.
