Before its current location, the Freemasons and their York Bodies held meetings at various places. Records indicate meetings at the Burros Building, situated on the corner of Broad and Randolph Streets (the building no longer exists). Randolph Street is now known as 12th Street.
The lodge moved to a newly constructed building in 1902, which still stands in Uptown Columbus at 1204 1st Ave, Columbus, GA 31901. Designed by architect T. Frith Lockwood to accommodate the local Masons, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Currently named the Flowers Building, it holds historical significance.
Flowers Buiding
Columbus, GA
Constructed as a meeting hall for local Masonic lodges, including Columbian No. 7, Mount Hermon No. 304, Royal Arch Masons, and Knights Templars. Commercial retail and office space were leased on unoccupied floors. The building was sold to Mr. Flowers in 1940.
Present
The Columbus Masonic Temple
Located at 1127 2nd Ave, erected in 1941. Designed by T. Firth Lockwood, Architect, and contracted to Murphey Pond, the structure housed Columbian No. 7, Mount Hermon No. 304, Muscogee No. 727, Darley Chapter No. 7 (Royal Arch Masons), and Saint Aldemar Commandery No. 3 (Knights Templar). This is the current home for said bodies for the exception of Mt Hermon No.304 who moved to 3614 Norris Rd, Columbus, GA 31907; and Muscogee No 727, who is no longer active.
COLUMBIAN LODGE No. 7 FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS COLUMBUS, GEORGIA
By Bayardo Reyes, PM
Derived from Thomas Edward Tante IV, PM and 33° Scottish Rite
Organized October 9, 1828, Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Georgia in December 1828, and is currently the oldest, continuously operating Masonic lodge west of Macon, Georgia with WB Luther Blake as the first Worshipful Master. Always steadfast in its adherence to the gentle philosophy of Freemasonry, Columbian Lodge No. 7 is the mother lodge of the Chattahoochee River Valley.
Sometime during 1828, Luther Blake, F.S. Cook, Beverly Rue, C.I. Atkins, Edwin E. Bissell, Ira Scott, Pleasant Robinson, Isaac Holland, Thomas G. Gordon, Thomas Miller, W.D. Lucas and William H. Carter, all Master Masons, petitioned the Grand Lodge of Georgia to form a lodge in Columbus. In compliance with their request, on October 9, 1828, a dispensation was granted by William Y. Hansell, Deputy Grand Master, authorizing the formation of Columbian Lodge. This original dispensation is in the original Minute Book of the lodge, which is still in the possession. In it, Luther Blake was appointed as the first W.M. with Edwin E. Bissell as S.W. and Thomas G. Gordon as J.W.
The Lodge was organized two months before the City of Columbus was incorporated in Muscogee County, then in Indian border territory. Numbered among the many prominent Georgians who have been members of Columbian Lodge: Colonel James W. Fannin, Master in 1829, a martyr at Goliad in the War for Texas Independence. Mirabeau Bounaparte Lamar, editor, poet, soldier, statesman, hero of San Jacinto, and second President of the Texas Republic; Philip T. Schley, Grand Master of Georgia Masons 1836 through 1841 and again in 1843. Another brother to mention is Dr John Stith Pemberton, American pharmacist, inventor of Coca-Cola.
In 1828, there were no churches in Columbus. There were occasional "circuit-riding" preachers that visited the frontier heathen, but that was it. The first steamboat came to Columbus in March, 1828. During the day, in those days, hundreds of Creek Indians from Alabama would be in Columbus, but they were not allowed to stay on the Georgia side of the river at night. On either December 22 or 24 (both dates are given in different sources), 1827, the Georgia Legislature passed "An Act to lay out a trading town, and to dispose of all the lands reserved for the use of the State near the Coweta Falls, on the Chattahoochee River, and to name the same." This trading town was laid out and named Columbus. The first sale of town lots took place between July 10 and July 23, 1828, at which time the population was about three hundred.
The original number of the lodge was No 28; however, due to the closing and consolidation of other lodges, the number was changed to No 8 in November, 1838, and finally to No 7 in December, 1849. The original charter, the lodge furniture and some of the records were lost in a fire on October 10, 1846, and a second charter was issued on November 14, 1846.
In April of 1865, when Federal troops raided Columbus from across the river in Girard (now Phenix City), AL, the lodge was broken into and pillaged by those troops (obviously ignorant profanes). The 1846 charter was destroyed or stolen, along with the furniture and other property of the lodge, including some records of about ten years. A third charter was issued in 1865, which still adorns the lodge walls.
Distinguished Brethren/Sir Knights
- Philip T. Schley, Grand Master of Georgia Masons 1836 through 1841 and again in 1843.
- Sir Joseph Kyle Orr, Past Master, Mt Hermon No 304, Past Grand Master XXXIV 1919-1922, Grand Encampment, Knights Templars, USA
Historical MArker
MARKER PLACED BY THE EDUCATIONAL & HISTORICAL COMMISSION, GRAND LODGE OF GEORGIA, F. &A.M. 1975"
Photo by Bayardo Reyes 2020
MASONIC TEMPLE TODAY
Sister Lodges
MOUNT Hermon No. 304
Now operating at
3614 NORRIS ROAD, COLUMBUS, GA, 31907
(334) 560-2272
Muscogee No. 727
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Members transferred to various lodges, including Columbian No. 7, Mt Hermon No. 304, Fort Benning No. 579, and others.
Mt Hermon No 304 at the MAsonic Center
" CALL MEETING OF MT. HERMON MASONIC LODGE #304 MAY-18-1922
REPRESENTING
35 STATES, CANAL ZONE, PHILIPINE ISLANDS + 85 BLUE LODGES
Photo by McCullen"
Furniture found in this picture and other Masonic Items from Hope Council No 4 - Darley Chapter No. 7 are still being used by Columbian No 7 and same York Rite Bodies till this day at the new location on 2nd Ave. We can say that this photo was taken while Masonic Bodies were residing in the now Flowers Building, 101 12th St (Former Oglethorpe and Randolph St) sold in 1940.
MASONIC SERVICE CENTER
Columbus (Georgia), Army and Navy Masonic Service Center, Masonic Temple. Conducted by the Masonic Service Association of the United States, founded in the aftermath of World War I. The Masonic Service Association (MSA) has provided services for Masons since 1919. The initial impetus for the MSA's formation was to coordinate U.S. Masonic efforts to aid American military servicemen near the end of World War I. In 1966, the MSA published a book titled 'Fifteen Years of Masonic Service to Hospitalized Veterans.' Our temple was heavily involved in such programs, caring for our fellow Masons and service members.