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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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)
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.
