King Lodge No. 461 - Bristol,TN

Celebrating 150 years of masonary.

Join us on a journey through the corridors of history of King Lodge No. 461 in Bristol, TN.  This year marks our 150th anniversary of being chartered as a Masonic Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Tennessee Free & Accepted Masons. Explore this website to find out about our origins, our craft, and upcoming events.

A Journey Through 150 years of King

A digital library, offering a rich tapestry of historical documents & photos

Welcome to our Lodge website, where the echoes of the past resonate through our pages.

Dive into the rich history of our Lodge, Freemasonry, and the city of Bristol, as we unravel the forgotten tales, shed light on the unsung heroes, and explore the pivotal moments that have led us to our 150th year anniversary.

Foundations of Masonry 957 BC

Our ancient mythology informs us masonry dates back to around the time of the Building of King Solomons Temple; as the masons became experts in their craft a secret society was created to assist them with traveling and work.

Lodge in London, England founded 1717

On St John’s Day, 24 June 1717, four London Lodges, which had existed for some time, came together at the Goose and Gridiron Tavern in St Paul’s Churchyard, declared themselves a Grand Lodge and elected Anthony Sayer as their first Grand Master. This was the first Grand Lodge in the world.

Tennessee Grand Lodge of F&AM Founded Dec 27, 1813

Several lodges in TN formed under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. On Saint John’s Day, December 27, 1813, in Knoxville, the Grand Lodge of Tennessee was officially formed and is now comprised of 311 Masonic lodges.

King Lodge No. 461 Chartered 1874

King Lodge No. 461 received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Tennessee on Nov. 9, 1874, named for Rev. James King, a devout Mason, once the owner of the land where downtown Bristol is located. Dr. James A. Templeton, a highly respected citizen of Bristol, served as the first WM (1874-76)

A growing collection of articles written by our lodge members regarding our lodge and freemasonry.

Latest from our blog

Fellowcraft Degree held Nov 4th, 2024

November 5, 2024
On November 4, 2024, King Lodge No. 461 gathered to…
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Two Entered Apprentice Degrees -An Evening of Camaraderie and Fellowship

October 25, 2024
On October 24, 2024, King Lodge #461 hosted an evening…
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Zollicoffer Lodge’s Annual Apple Butter Tradition Supports Local College Scholarships

October 22, 2024
For over three decades, Zollicoffer Lodge No. 444 has continued…
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WM Justin Plaster Shares Reflections on Monday’s Relief Efforts at Unicoi Lodge

October 8, 2024
King Lodge members joined forces with Unicoi Lodge in Erwin,…
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Masonic Relief Efforts for Hurricane Helene: A Brotherhood in Action

October 6, 2024
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, King…
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Discover the origins of our lodge, its founders, its charter, and the rich history of our building including a tour.

The History of King Lodge

In about 1881, Joseph R. Anderson built a three-story brick building at 410-12 Main Street (now State). It was 30 feet wide by 100 feet long. The third floor of that building was long used as home to King Lodge. As a side note of interest, this was the building where the now-famous recordings of 1927 were made.

Construction of the present building began in 1939 on a lot that was the site of the first Bristol, Tenn., jail. It was bought from Ben L. Dulaney, a prominent citizen of the town. The new building was dedicated on May 23, 1940. It now serves as home for several Masonic related groups.

In 1939, King Lodge began the construction of its current building on the site of the first jail in Bristol, Tennessee. The lot was purchased from Ben L. Dulaney, a prominent local citizen. The new building was dedicated on May 23, 1940, and has since served as the home for several Masonic-related groups, continuing the lodge’s tradition of community and fraternity.

King Lodge at night
150th Year Banner

Upcoming Lodge Events

While most of our events are exclusive to Masons, we also host various public events throughout the year. One highlight is our monthly Community Country Breakfast Buffet, held from 7-10 am, where everyone is welcome (cost is by donation). Our Stated Meetings take place on the 2nd Monday of each month, with a meal at 6:30 pm followed by the meeting at 7:30 pm. This monthly gathering at King Lodge No. 461 F&AM is a great opportunity for fellowship, important discussions, and deepening Masonic knowledge. While the stated meeting is open only to Master Masons, the meal is open to all our members, including Apprentices and Fellowcrafts, and those interested in learning about Freemasonry are encouraged to join us.

Country Breakfast Buffet

Country Breakfast Buffet

Nov 02
7:00 am - 10:00 am
Join us the first Saturday of every month from 7 AM to 10 AM at the King Masonic Lodge in Downtown Bristol, TN, for a delicious breakfast fundraiser! Enjoy homemade buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy, bacon, hashbrown casserole, sausage, and fluffy scrambled eggs. All donations are "pay what you can." Bring your family and friends and support a great cause!
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Fellowcraft Degree

Fellowcraft Degree

Nov 04
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
You are warmly invited to join us at King Lodge for the Fellowcraft Degree, a significant and enriching ceremony advancing our members on their Masonic journey. During this event, candidates will delve deeper into the [...]
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Join Us for King Lodge's 150th Anniversary & Chili Cookoff on November 9th, 2024!

Join Us for King Lodge's 150th Anniversary & Chili Cookoff on November 9th, 2024!

Nov 09
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
We are excited to announce that King Lodge No. 461 in Bristol, TN, will be celebrating its 150th anniversary with a special Open House Chili Cookoff on Saturday, November 9th. This milestone event is open [...]
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Stated Meeting

Stated Meeting

Nov 11
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Join us for our Stated Meeting at King Lodge No. 461 F&AM. This monthly gathering is a great opportunity for fellowship, important discussions, and advancing Masonic knowledge. The meal will be served at 6:30 pm and is open to all our members (Apprentices-Masters) and those interested in becoming a Freemason. The meeting follows at 7:30 pm for All Master Masons in good standing. See you there!
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