Grand Lodge of TN

A Masonic Convention was held this day at 10 o’clock a.m., in Nashville, composed of duly elected representatives from the following lodges, to wit: Rock City Lodge, No. 17, Nashville, Tennessee; East Star Lodge, No. 20, of Nashville, Tennessee; Job Thompson Lodge, No. 33, of Pulaski, Tennessee; all warranted Lodges working under the jurisdiction of the M.W. Grand Lodge for the State of Ohio.

Brother Nelson McGavok was chosen Chairman and Brother R. P. Clark, Secretary.

A Committee on Credentials having been appointed and having reported, a Committee on Resolutions was appointed and the following is their report, which was unanimously adopted:

Whereas, A Masonic Convention, held this day composed of Representatives of Rock City Lodge, No. 17, Nashville; East Star Lodge, No. 20, of Nashville, and Job Thompson Lodge, No. 33, of Pulaski, all duly represented by authority of the herein named Lodges, do hereby order and ordain that a M. W. Grand lodge of Free and Accepted Masons be established by this Convention, after the precedent of 1717, as laid down by England to be styled the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge for the State of Tennessee and Jurisdiction; therefore, be it Resolved, that said Grand Lodge, when established, shall ratify and adopt such By-Laws, etc., for its government as are in accordance with the landmarks of Ancient Freemasonry.

The Convention elected the following Grand Officers:

Nelson McGavok………………………………………………Grand Master

Simeon R. Walker…………………………………Deputy Grand Master

Hiram P. Rhodes…………………………………..Grand Senior Warden

Richard Harris……………………………………….Grand Junior Warden

John J. Cary………………………………………………..…Grand Treasurer

Abraham Smith……………………………………….……Grand Secretary

After which the convention adjourned sine die.

Thus sprang into existence the Grand Lodge of Tennessee.

The Grand Lodge has united and reorganized with other Grand Lodges twice since its formation, viz: in Chattanooga, June, 1882 and in the same city June 1893.

The following is a list of Grand Lodges of our affiliation and year of organization.

1. Massachusetts………….1791    22. Georgia………………..1870
2. Pennsylvania…………….1815   23. Tennessee…………...1870
3. New York………………….1845   24. South Carolina…..…1872
4. Maryland………………….1845   25. Arkansas…………..….1873
5. District of Columbia….1848   26. Connecticut………….1873
6. New Jersey……………....1848   27. Mississippi……………1875
7. Delaware………………….1848   28. Virginia…………………1875
8. Ohio………………………… 1849   29. Texas…………………...1875
9. Indiana……………………..1855   30. Kansas………………....1875
10. California………………….1855   31. Colorado……………...1876

11. Ontario…………………….1856     32. West Virginia……..…1877

12. Rhode Island…………….1858   33. Iowa…………………..…1887

13. Louisiana………………….1863    34. Oklahoma…………....1892

14. Michigan…………………..1865   35. Minnesota……….…..1894

15. Missouri……………………1865   36. Washington………….1903

16. Kentucky………………….1866   37. Nebraska………………1919

17. Liberia……………………..1867    38. Arizona…………………1919

18. Illinois……………………..1867    39. New Mexico……….…1921

19. North Carolina…………1870 40. Wisconsin………….….1925

20. Alabama………………….1870  41. Bahamas…………….…1950

21. Florida…………………….1870    42. Oregon………………....1960