CHARTERED NOVEMBER 9, 1874

Our History

The Brothers, places and moments that shaped King Lodge No. 461 and the story of Bristol for more than 150 years.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Biographies & Historic Places

Portrait of the Rev. James King (1791–1867)

Rev. James King (1791–1867): The Man Behind Bristol and Our Name

The Presbyterian minister whose farmland became downtown Bristol, who gave the land for King College, and whose name King Lodge No. 461 has carried since 1874.

HISTORY

East Hill Cemetery

Revolutionary War General of Militia Evan Shelby, and many who have made contributions to Bristol and the nation are buried in this Cemetery that is…

HISTORY

James Alexander Templeton: Charter Member and First Worshipful Master

A Brother's account of the life of James Alexander Templeton, a charter member of King Lodge and its first Worshipful Master, U.D., from 1874 to 1876.

Historic portrait photograph from the original King Lodge page on William Phillip Brewer

HISTORY

William Phillip Brewer (Secretary)

William Phillip Brewer, or simply “P.” as he was known to his friends and lodge brothers, was born on July 30th, 1826 in Carter County, Tennessee to Ben and…

HISTORY

The Early Origins of King Lodge No. 461

King Lodge No. 461, a distinguished Masonic lodge located in Bristol, Tennessee, received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Tennessee on November 9, 1874.

PHOTOGRAPHS · DOCUMENTS · CLIPPINGS

From the Archive

VISIT OUR MUSEUM → BROWSE THE ARCHIVE →

Our Lodge Historian is cataloging photographs, documents and newspaper articles. Items will appear here soon.

150+ YEARS IN BRISTOL

Timeline

1874

Chartered Nov. 9, named for Rev. James King

1881

Moves into the building at 410–412 Main Street, now State Street

1893

Tornado destroys Lodge Room, rebuilding begins

1923

Moves out of Main Street while a new building is planned

1927

Bristol Sessions recorded in our former building

1939–40

Present Lodge building constructed and dedicated

2024

150 years celebrated

TODAY

The next chapter

KING MASONIC TEMPLE & OUR STORY →

410–412 MAIN STREET (NOW STATE STREET)

When Freemasonry and Country Music Shared an Address

1881. King Lodge moves into the building at 410–412 Main Street, now State Street, meeting on its third floor.
1893. A tornado destroys the Lodge Room, and the Brothers rebuild.
1923. After more than 40 years on Main Street, King Lodge moves out to another building while its new home is planned and built.
1927. In the summer of 1927, Ralph Peer of the Victor Talking Machine Company records the Bristol Sessions in the same building on State Street, introducing the world to Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. Those recordings are remembered as the “big bang” of country music.
1939–40. King Lodge’s present home, the King Masonic Temple at 35 5th Street, is built and dedicated.

King Lodge had already moved out by the time of the Bristol Sessions, but for more than forty years the building that would become the birthplace of country music was also the home of Freemasonry in Bristol.