On November 3, 1885 a group of twenty-five Master Masons, all members of regularly constituted Lodges, met at Odd Fellows Hall on the corner of Third Street and bates Avenue in St. Paul to discuss their common desire to organize a new lodge to be located in their neighborhood of Dayton's Bluff.

At the meeting a petition was drawn up requesting Dispensation of Warrants of Constitution from the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Minnesota empowering them to assemble as a legal lodge.

The Dispensation was granted and the first meeting was held on November 17th to organize the new Lodge. Brother Hascall Ransford was the first Master, Brother Henry Brand the first Senior Warden, and Brother Henry Kellam the first Junior Warden.

The Lodge was named in honor of the Most Worthy Brother J. C. Braden who at that time was the only Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Minnesota who had died during his term of office as the Grand Master.

Braden's Charter was granted on January 13, 1886 and the Lodge was regularly constituted on February 26, 1886 by Most Worshipful Brother A. T. C. Pierson, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

During it's one hundred year history, Braden Lodge has met in the following locations.

November 3, 1885 to July 1, 1886 - Odd Fellows Hall, Third Street and Bates Avenue

July 2, 1886 to March 31, 1897 - Lawrence Hall, East Seventh Street between Maria and Hoffman Avenues

April 1, 1897 to February 1, 1910 - Masonic Hall, Fifth and Wabasha Streets

February 2, 1920 to October 31, 1958 - Masonic Temple, Sixth Street and Smith Avenue

November 1, 1958 to date - Triune Temple 1898 Iglehart Avenue.

-- excerpted from Centennial Anniversary Celebration, 1886 - 1986 Braden Lodge #168