Oldest Masonic Lodge in Arkansas Chartered by Archibald Yell
On November 13, 2010, Washington Lodge #1 will celebrate its 175 years of existence.
Worshipful Master Jimmy Williams has announced that the Lodge will conduct a special
ceremony and dinner at the Lodge Hall in Fayetteville on November 13th to celebrate the
occasion. Most Worshipful Brother Gene Warren, Grand Master of Masons in Arkansas,
will be in attendance.
The celebration will include a program and dinner at the Lodge Hall starting at 4pm. All
Citizens of Northwest Arkansas are invited to attend. Dinner will be $10.00 per person
and advanced reservations will be required. Interested persons can call the Lodge phone
(listed above) and leave their information as to how many will attend.
Chartered with the aid of Archibald Yell in 1835, before Arkansas was a state.
The Lodge has served Northwest Arkansas and the State with community activities
through the Masonic Service Organization and the funding of medical research in
the treatment of Diabetes and Heart Disease.
Washington Lodge #1 is the oldest Lodge chartered in Arkansas and was chartered
under The Grand Lodge of Tennessee as Washington Lodge #82 in Fayetteville. The
Name was changed to Washington #1 when The Grand Lodge of Arkansas was formed in
1838 and it is the oldest Masonic Lodge in continuous operation in Arkansas. It was also
The westernmost Lodge in the Nation at the time.
Although it has been located in several locations in Fayetteville, the present Lodge Hall at
1106 Masonic Drive in North Fayetteville was erected in 1969 and is used as a meeting
Hall for several Masonic groups. These include The Order of the Eastern Star, Order of
Amaranth, York Rite Masons and other Civic groups.
Washington Lodge #1 is proud of its Arkansas and Fayetteville heritage and looks
forward to serving The Brothers, Sisters and Citizens of Northwest Arkansas for at least
Another 175 years.
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