Gate City Lodge #42 F&AM PHA

Our History

On December 30, 1887, a charter was granted to Tillman Lodge #19 under the hand and seal of the Most Worshipful Grand Master John D. Campbell.

William H. Tillman was the second founding Pastor of Wheat Street Baptist church and was instrumental in having the church built on Wheat Street (now Auburn Ave.). Because tradition would dictate that a Lodge can not be named after a living person, two years after Tillman Lodge #19 was chartered; a petition was made for a new charter with a new name to the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Georgia (held in the Masonic Hall, N. Broad St, Atlanta, Ga. July 1st thru July 4th 1889).

On July 13, 1889, a dispensation was granted and the name of the lodge was officially changed to Gate City Lodge #42 since the City of Atlanta was known as the “Gate City”. Atlanta was called “the Gateway city to the South” since 1857 because of the railroad connection from Memphis to Charleston.

Gate City Lodge #42 continued to meet and operate under the original charter issued to Tillman Lodge #19 until Past Master Lawrence Johnson in June of 1989 petitioned the Grand Lodge to receive the new Charter with the name of Gate City on it that was never received back in 1889. The request was made at the Grand Lodge communication in the city of Augusta.

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