History of Bethpage Lodge No. 521, F&AM

Bethpage, Tennessee

    The earliest record of interest for a Masonic Lodge to be established in the Bethpage Community is in a letter dated October 13, 1883 from J.W. Albright to MW Brother N.W. McConnell, Grand Master of Tennessee.  The letter requested dispensation from the Grand Master to organize a lodge in the Bethpage Community.  All of the petitioners were residents of the community.  The nearest lodges, Bell #432, King Solomon #94, and Trammel #436, were nine, eleven, and ten miles distance, respectfully, from Bethpage, making attending a lodge difficult at this early period.  Bell Lodge #432, the closest physical lodge, signed a petition agreeing to forfeit jurisdiction over the Bethpage area to the fledgling organization on December 8, 1883.  Bethpage Lodge met for the first time in regular communication on February 16, 1884 under dispensation from the Grand Master of Tennessee and worked as such until its charter was issued on January 27, 1885. 

        It is believed the majority of members affiliated from Bell Lodge #432, now defunct, and Fountain Head Lodge #326 (now Portland).  During its first year under dispensation, the lodge conferred 3 EAs, 3 FCs, and 3 MMs Degrees.  The first Worshipful Master was Brother J.W. Albright (serving in 1884, 1885, and 1890). 

The initial officers of the lodge that met for the first time on February 16, 1884 were:

J.W Albright - WM

J.G. Durham - SW

J.F. Mansker - JW.

A.P. Butler - Treas.

J.W. Black - Sec.

J.W. Whitney - SD

 W.M. Durham - JD.

Z.T. Key - Tiler

J.G. Ray - Chaplain.  

 J.W. Albright, the first Master, was born in Simpson Co., KY. on September 19, 1843.   He began his Masonic career by being initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason into Fountain Head Lodge # 326 in August 1866.   He was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft in September 1866 and was raised a Master Mason in October 1866.  Prior to leading the effort to organize a lodge in Bethpage, W. Bro. Albright served as Worshipful Master of Fountain Head Lodge. 

The lodge began meeting on the 3rd Saturday of every month at 9:00 A.M.   The initial dues for the lodge were $1. The initial by-laws of Bethpage Lodge were written by a committee consisting of Andrew Hibbit, J.G. Ray, A.P. Butler, J.W. Whitney and W.M. Durham.   They were approved by the lodge on March 15, 1884. 

The current lodge building was constructed in 1938.  Mr. Charlie Hinton owned the bottom part of the building and operated a small country store there.  Mr. Hinton agree for the lodge to take occupancy in the second story of the building under the condition they construct and maintain a roof on it.  The lodge paid no rent for the building’s use in exchange for being charged with the roof’s upkeep.  The lodge formerly met just a little north of the present location, but the building no longer stands.  Bethpage Lodge now holds full legal rights to the entire lodge building and the lot between the lodge hall and the Bethpage US Post Office.

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