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.