It is interesting to note that the Mason who is considered as the “Father or Founder” of Pearl Harbor Lodge F&AM is Fred G. W. Cooper. He was born in Birmingham, Warwich, England; became a Mason in 1892 in Union Lodge No. 280 in London, Ontario, Canada; and, later demitted to Waukegan Lodge No. 78 in Illinois. He was the first to sign his name to the petition to the Grand Lodge of California for establishment of Pearl Harbor Lodge and served as the lodge’s first Treasurer.

On May 1, 1924, several Masons, interested in the formation of a new Masonic Lodge assembled with Worshipful Brother Lester Petrie, P.M., Inspector of the then 88th Masonic District, and were advised concerning the necessary requirements to establish a new lodge in the Hawaiian Islands.

A subsequent meeting was held on May 14, 1924 with Most Worshipful Arthur L. Crites, Grand Master of Masons in California, who was in Honolulu at that time.

On advice of these Grand Lodge Officers, a Naval Masonic Association was organized on May 21, 1924, with the intent of forming a new Masonic Lodge. All of the Lodges in Hawaii were duly notified of the intent and there were no objections.

Then came rehearsals in the ritual work, financial discussions, and the necessary paperwork. Finally, Navy Lodge UD came into existence on September 25, 1924. Worshipful Brother Lester Petrie, P.M., Inspector of the 88th Masonic District, in accordance with the powers vested in him by the Grand Master, duly opened the new Lodge.

On October 16, 1924, the Lodge was granted a Charter by the Grand Lodge of California showing the name of Pearl Harbor Lodge No. 598. As there was in existence, a Lodge in California known as Naval Lodge; it was necessary to change the name of the new Lodge to Pearl Harbor Lodge. As such, the number 598 was assigned on the register of Constituent Lodges under jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California. As of 1989, Pearl Harbor Lodge F&AM is under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Hawaii.