History and Legacy of The Masonic Stamp Club of New York
On January 13, 1934, a group of Freemasons gathered in the Grand Lodge Library and Museum on 23rd Street in New York City. However, it was not for Masonry alone that they had assembled — all had another interest in common: they were philatelic enthusiasts. Dr. Charles H. Johnson, Past Grand Master of New York, current Grand Secretary, and member of The Collectors Club, was in the Chair. Over 40 brethren were in attendance.
It wasn’t long before the original group was joined by many more Brethren, and the Masonic Stamp Club of New York was well on its way. The Club meetings were for the purpose of friendly discussions on the subject of postage stamp collecting and postal history. Of particular interest to all was the fact that many eminent Freemasons were (and continue to be) depicted on postage stamps. It certainly did not go without notice that the first two postage stamps issued by the United States showed Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Both were highly distinguished Freemasons.
Early Growth and Presidential Support
An informal communication to members on philatelic subjects and Club activities found its way to lodges in the United States, Canada, and other countries. This resulted in membership requests beyond New York City — including from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a noted Freemason, ardent stamp collector, and even a stamp designer. Late in 1938, the Club petitioned President Roosevelt to issue a commemorative stamp honoring the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington. The stamp was issued the following year, and the Club prepared a special first day cover as a Masonic souvenir. It sold on April 30, 1939, for ten cents each, with proceeds supporting the George Washington Masonic Shrine at Tappan, New York.
Publications and Recognition
As the Club outgrew its meeting rooms at the Grand Lodge of New York building on 23rd Street, it moved in 1944. Its new home was the Collectors Club on 35th Street, where meetings are still held today. William Denslow would not complete his epic tome 10,000 Famous Freemasons until 1958 — some 18 years later. Until then, determining Masonic memberships was a bit of a chore for the Club’s early stamp-collecting brethren. It was during the early 1940s that Club members determined many famous men depicted on postage stamps had been Freemasons — a discovery that led to the term “Masonic Philately.” In March 1944, publication of The Masonic Philatelist, then a monthly journal, commenced; it is now a highly respected quarterly periodical. The first Masonic topical stamp collection to win a major prize was exhibited at the May 1947 Centenary International Philatelic Exhibit (CIPEX) in New York City. Masonic Philately is now a fully recognized stamp specialty of the American Topical Association, American Philatelic Society, and British Thematic Association.
Cachets and Sister Clubs
Over the years, the Club has sponsored many first day covers and cachets honoring Freemasons and Masonic events. Among the most popular were those for George Washington, Fiorello La Guardia, Harry S Truman, and the St. John’s Lodge No. 1 (New York City) Bible used at George Washington’s inauguration. Proceeds from these mementos are directed to charitable organizations. The Club also encouraged the formation of other Masonic stamp clubs, including George Washington Chapter No. 1 (Washington D.C.), now the George Washington Masonic Stamp Club.
Club Leadership
Throughout the Club’s history, numerous distinguished brethren have served as Club presidents, including Bro. Arthur W. Deas, Bro. Henry W. Holcombe, Bro. Dr. George Camnitzer, Bro. Samuel Brooks, Bro. Russell Roans, Bro. Dr. Irving M. Yarry, Bro. Shelton W. Osterlund, Bro. Joseph Nathan Kane, Bro. Dr. Allan Boudreau, Bro. George Wettach, Bro. Nicolas Batalias, and Bro. Christopher L. Murphy. The Club’s editors and publishers have included Bro. Hermain Kerstein, Bro. Leo Passon, Bro. Norman Sehlmeyer, Bro. Dudley Hilborn, Bro. Roy T. Ketcham, Bro. Dr. Erwin M. Yarry, and Bro. Dr. Allan Boudreau.
All of these brethren, save Bro. Murphy, have since passed to the Grand Lodge Above, including Bro. Boudreau, since this history was first written. It is with fondness and admiration that we remember them.
One of the Club’s most notable members and past presidents was Bro. Joseph Nathan Kane, author of Famous First Facts (H. W. Wilson Company, 1981) and several other reference books. He was also the authority and writer for the television program Break the Bank, which ran for 18 years. He supplied questions for The $64,000 Question and hosted his own program, Famous Firsts, for Mutual Broadcasting.
Chris Murphy’s Reference Works
The Masonic Stamp Club of New York and other Masonic stamp clubs it helped bring about have identified several thousand Masonic-related stamps. Bro. Chris Murphy compiled the stories of stamps issued by the United States and Canada in his book Postage Stamps and Freemasonry: Guide & Compendium, United States & Canada (Carlton Press Inc., New York, N.Y., 1988). He wrote it after being given a large collection of back issues of The Masonic Philatelist and copies of other Club journal back issues, most notably The Philatelic Freemason: Journal of the Masonic Study Unit, edited and published by Robert A. Domingue of Andover, Massachusetts. With the support of Bro. Boudreau, Murphy went on in 1990 to author Masonic Philately: The United States of America & Canada for the Masonic Service Association. Over the next five years, he followed it with his serialized Masonic Specialist, which expanded on the subject with additional related stamps. He later produced two official ATA handbooks on Masonic stamps — Handbook No. 141 and Handbook No. 145 — in cooperation with the Club.
Legacy
The extent, quality, and inspiration of the material the Club has published in its journal, The Masonic Philatelist, over more than 80 years is itself a permanent tribute. It honors the many brethren who formed the Club and those who followed to support and advance the research. It is also a tribute to the Masonic Order and to all the wonderful Freemasons, in every walk of life, who are depicted on or connected with postage stamps.
Editorial Board Members: Dr. Michael Bronner and Christopher L. Murphy. Website development: Jeffrey Coney. © Masonic Stamp Club of New York. All rights reserved.
Closure and Consolidation
Post closure addendum:
With a heavy heart, due to reduced membership and activity, the club closed its doors on January 1, 2017. Brothers Bronner and Murphy decided to continue the website in the hope that the club might someday be resurrected. In 2018, with the assistance of Brother Coney, the website transferred to him. It was updated and expanded to include all of the club’s publications in searchable PDF files for public use.
In 2026, during a meeting of the George Washington Masonic Stamp Club, members discussed news that the American Topical Association had delisted the Masonic Study Unit. Our Assistant Secretary, Casey Palowitch, suggested that GWMSC resurrect the unit. With the approval of the GWMSC members present, Palowitch contacted the ATA, which in turn re-listed the Unit. Jeffrey Coney, who created and has maintained the websites for the GWMSC, MSCNY, and MSU, then began planning to consolidate all three into one website — combining the libraries of work into one searchable archive and expanding the site’s features and capabilities. The individual domain names survive, but all three now direct the public to this consolidated website.