Freemasonry

Freemasonry is the world’s oldest fraternity. It is dedicated to helping men become the best versions of themselves possible.

Candidates progress through a series of three ritual degrees—Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason—which use symbols of architecture to teach virtues based on the legends of the stonemasons building King Solomon’s Temple at Jerusalem.

A third degree Master Mason is a full member, and there is no higher rank. Yet the three degrees are just the beginning of the journey. The degrees and lessons of Masonry take a lifetime of practice to fully understand.

Our Lodge

Park Avenue Lodge first met under dispensation on November 26, 1867, and it received its official charter on October 6, 1868. At that time, the country was going through Reconstruction following the Civil War, which had ended in 1865, and the United States President was a Freemason from Tennessee: Bro. Andrew Johnson.

The original lodge building was a two-story frame building on Park Avenue on the southwest corner of the intersection with Trezevant Avenue (now Airways Boulevard). This area was on the outskirts of Memphis in the rural community of Buntyn. The building was jointly owned by Park Avenue Lodge and Park Avenue Presbyterian Church. The lodge met on the top floor, while the church met on the ground floor. The ground floor was also used as grammar school during the week. In 1891, the church congregation sold its interest in the building and used the proceeds to start Idlewild Presbyterian Church. The lodge continued to meet in the building 1910.
After 40 years at the original location, the lodge decided to purchase land within the city limits and construct a new building at the current location on the corner of Cooper Street and Carr Avenue. Even though the lodge was no longer on Park Avenue, the brethren decided to keep the name "Park Avenue." The Park Avenue Masonic Temple had a design that was common to Masonic buildings: it was a two-story building with the lodge on the top floor. There were two reasons lodges did this. The first is so they could open the windows during the summertime without fear of eavesdropping. The second is so the bottom floor could be leased. The bottom floor of our building was a grocery store for many years.
Over the years, the lodge has grown and the building has expanded. Park Avenue Lodge is a strong lodge in the Memphis community and is known for an emphasis on Masonic education, for excellence in ritual, and for utilizing theatrical elements during the degrees. The lodge has produced several grand officers, including two Grand Masters: Benjamin Tate Dawkins, Sr. (1945) and Joseph C. Mobley (1972). With over 150 years in Midtown Memphis, Park Avenue Lodge has impacted the lives of thousands of Memphians.

Masonry in Memphis

Freemasonry has a rich history in the City of Memphis. Two of the three founders of the city were Freemasons: Andrew Jackson and John Overton. The City of Memphis was founded in 1819, and the first lodge in Memphis received a dispensation to begin working in 1828.

Many prominent Memphians have been proud members of the fraternity, including: