Our Lodge's History

Atlanta-Peachtree Lodge, no. 59 has existed in its current form since 1998, when Atlanta Lodge, no. 59 and Peachtree Lodge, no. 732 combined to become the Lodge we have today. Both Lodges have a distinguished history, and the legacy of Atlanta Lodge, no. 59 goes back to the very founding of the City of Atlanta.

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During the history of the Lodge (including that of its two predecessor Lodges), membership of the Lodge has included thirty-one City of Atlanta Councilors, six Mayors of Atlanta, and one Governor of Georgia (who also served as a US Senator). Masonically, it has contributed two Grand Masters of Masons in Georgia, ten Potentates of Yaarab Shrine, and eight Grand Commanders of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Georgia.

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Atlanta Lodge, no. 59

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Atlanta Lodge, no. 59 was the first Masonic Lodge formed in the City of Atlanta, dating back to April 1847 - the same year that Marthasville became Atlanta. The Lodge originally met at the heart of the City, owning a two-story wooden building at the corner of Lloyd Street (now Central Ave) and Alabama Street.  Our first Worshipful Master was Leonard Christopher Simpson, who is described in the history of Atlanta as the City's first resident lawyer.

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During the American Civil War, the Lodge was largely kept running by the Worshipful Master of the time, Lewis Lawshe, who served five consecutive years in that office. It was due to the efforts of members of the Lodge that the Masonic Hall survived the Fall of Atlanta. Ironically, it would burn down in an accidental fire in 1866.

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The Lodge had a number of homes over the following years, including the Old Grand Building on Forsyth Street, the Old Capitol Building, Concordia Hall, and the Chamber of Commerce Building. It would eventually find a permanent home at a new Masonic Temple at the corner of Mitchell and Forsyth Streets, where it would remain for 41 years, until it also burned down in a fire.

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The Lodge would be a part of the Masonic Temple Company that purchased land at 1690 Peachtree St NE, where a new Masonic Center was built and opened in 1960. The Lodge still meets at that location today.

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Peachtree Lodge, no. 732

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In 1968, a group of Masons from the Atlanta area came together and discussed the idea of a new Masonic Lodge for the area. Despite there already being Lodges named after many Atlanta landmarks and neighborhoods, there was no "Peachtree Lodge," and so the name was immediately chosen. Atlanta Lodge, no. 59 was the sponsoring Lodge.

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Peachtree Lodge, no. 732 was chartered in 1968. 142 Brethren signed the Charter. Of those 142, 141 were members of Yaarab Shrine, and the remaining brother became a Shriner soon after the Lodge was chartered! From the day it was chartered, it met in the Atlanta Masonic Center.

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It was Peachtree Lodge that contributed Most Worshipful Brethren William Marion Hutcheson and Larry W. Nichols, both of whom served Freemasonry as Grand Master of Masons in Georgia in 1991 and 2018, respectively.

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Atlanta-Peachtree Lodge, no. 59

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By the mid-1990s, Freemasonry as a whole was experiencing a decline in membership, and Atlanta Lodge, no. 59 and Peachtree Lodge, no. 732 were no exception to this. The decision was made for Peachtree Lodge, no. 732 to return to its Mother Lodge, and the two lodges amalgamated, becoming Atlanta-Peachtree Lodge, no. 59 - combining names, retaining the number of the older Lodge, and becoming the guardian of the histories of both.

 

Today, Atlanta-Peachtree Lodge is a vibrant Lodge, with a multicultural membership of brethren of many nationalities and religious faiths. Our membership includes scientists, lawyers, financiers, technologists, entrepreneurs, retirees, and other vocations.​​