Villa Rica Lodge No. 584 was organized in 1971 with twenty-one (21) men under the direction of District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) George A. Sturdervan and Assistant District Deputy Grand Master (ADDGM) Horace Banks.  The first officers of the lodge were:
 

In 1975, under the leadership of Worshipful Master James A. Walker, the members came together to purchase the building from Mr. Frank Moore of Hiram Lodge #8 A.F.A.M, Scottish Rite Masons, for the sum of $1314.83.   At the time, the location was called Sunset Street but has since been renamed to Thomas E. Dorsey Drive after the legendary gospel singer/composer who was a member of Mt. Prospect Baptist Church located across the street from the lodge.  The purchase of the building started a great vision to build this Lodge and with lots of hard work and personal and financial sacrifice, the brothers worked together and renovated the building.

At the Grand Session in Augusta, Georgia in June 1972, under the leadership of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Dr. X.L. Neal, Villa Rica Lodge No. 584 was chartered on June 15, 1972. 

With the help and support of ADDGM Horace Banks and Past Master Harold Mullins of Carrollton No. 57, we started our first initiation class in August 1972.  We had a total of four candidates who were raised in October 1972.   We also started our first annual banquet in October of the same year. In November we started our first Thanksgiving basket giveaway, and in December we initiated our first Christmas basket giveaway.

In 1974, the process was started to create an Eastern Star Chapter.  In April 1975 we received approval from the Grand Worthy Patron, Brother Earnest McIntyre, to start what has become known as Villa Rica Chapter No.138.

As a lodge, 1977 was a very memorable year.  In May, we completely owned the building that still serves as our meeting place.  We elected a new Worshipful Master, Brother Johnny Reeves, who served five years as Senior Warden to Worshipful Master James Walker, our charter Worshipful Master.  We hosted several district meetings since our inception but the first was on September 25, 1977 at Stewart Middle School.  Also that year, we hosted one of our annual banquets and had the pleasure of being graced with Grand Worthy Matron Florence M. Hogan and Senator Julian Bond as our guest speakers.  The banquet took place on November 5, 1977.  Our next year’s banquet speaker was an unknown rookie anchorwoman by the name of Monica Kaufman.  That banquet took place on November 11, 1978.

We hosted our second district Meeting in May 1982 once again at Stewart Middle School, and our third hosting was in April 1991 at Glanton-Hindman Elementary School.  At the time of the compilation of this history, we are scheduled to hold our fourth District Meeting sometime in April 2006.

Some of our community service projects include, but are not limited to our first annual Easter Egg Hunt, which took place at Jesse Davis Park in April 1990 under the leadership of Worshipful Master Benjamin Sexton.  We have helped members of our community fund burial services, contributed to scholarship efforts, and assisted deserving young men with funding summer camp. We have made several donations of money and supplies to women and children shelters as well as local schools and day care centers. We continue to prove to be positive role models in our community.

Under the leadership of Worshipful Master Gary Sparks, we conducted our first annual Turkey shoot, which took place in Bremen, Georgia on October 28, 1995.  Brothers from around the Atlanta Masonic District have participated in the many Turkey shoots done throughout the years.

In February 1999, under the leadership of Worshipful Master Cedric McIntosh, we changed our meeting nights from Saturday’s to Thursday’s at 7:00 pm.  The change has continued to prove beneficial to our meeting participation.  Also in that year, we hosted our first Grand Master’s Research at the 330 Auburn Ave. Grand Lodge location on December 12, 1999.

Under the leadership of Worshipful Master Craig Reed, we started some much-needed renovation on our building.  We also coordinated the first cornerstone laying handled in our area by Atlanta Masonic District No. 3 for Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church on December 12, 2004.  Also that year, we worked with the United States Marine Corp’s “Toys For Tots” program and gave away over 600 toys to families in our community on December 18, 2004.

In 2005, we are proud to have our first Grand Lodge Officer in our midst. The Most Worshipful Grand Master Ramsey Davis, Jr. named Brother Jonathan White as the Grand Assistant Secretary.  We also served as the host for the Atlanta Masonic District #3 annual meeting held at Frank P. Lindley Middle School in Cobb County.  Also in 2005, Worshipful Master Jonathan White was honored as the Worshipful Master of the year for District #3.  Worshipful Master White also served in 2006 and focused on the continued renovation of our lodge.
In 2007 and 2008 under the leadership of Worshipful Master Derrick Fountain, the goals of the lodge was to continue service to our community, the continued improvement to our lodge with renovations, growth in attracting other good men to our fraternity and making additional revenue necessary to operate our lodge.  We also participated in a mentoring program with the Douglas County Police Department.  Our own Past Master Gary Sparks who was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police spearheaded this program and the lodge graciously received and award from the city of Douglasville for our participation. In 2007, Worshipful Master Fountain received an award from District Deputy Grand Master Charles Truitt for service to the district.

WM Craig Reed in 2009 continued much needed renovations to the lodge, which included the purchasing and acquiring of new furniture, and a new heating system.  We had a significant amount of growth this year which enhanced our capabilities to do good works within the community.  Additionally, to honor one of the pillars of our fine lodge, PM Ben Sexton, we created a scholarship in his name to be given to deserving children in our community. The first recipient was Miss Brianna Fountain. She was able to use the funds from our scholarship to travel abroad with her school on an internship!

The masonic year 2010 was truly a year of blessings within Villa Rica #584 under the leadership of WM Earnest C. Washington.  During the 1^st quarter of the year, the brothers played host and conducted the Atlanta Masonic District #3’s monthly Grand Master’s Research.  The brothers performed so well that the District Deputy Grandmaster himself praised at how proficient we were.  As the year progressed, there were also a couple of major “firsts” in that our own PM Jonathan S. White was hand-picked from a panel of well qualified brothers to serve as an Assistant District Deputy Grandmaster for Atlanta Masonic District #3.  Additionally, we joined with the sisters of Villa Rica Chapter #138 to host the 1^st Annual PM Ben Sexton/Sister Mamie Thomaston Scholarship Banquet which was attended by over 100 guests.  We were able to give 4 young people scholarships to further enhance their educational pursuits.

In 2012, WM Darius Griffin served Villa Rica well as he marched forward with an agenda that brought growth, community service and direction.  Villa Rica adopted a mile and held an Easter Egg Hunt in Villa Rica.  Villa Rica also participated with the community service group "Let Us Make Men".  The Vision 21 Men's Shelter community service project was steadily maintained under the watchful care of WM Griffin.  He also watched over the brothers of the craft make sure our scholarship program progressed in its success and purpose.

In 2013 WM Wesley Hearst served Villa Rica well as he pushed the agenda of the lodge to greater heights in growth, community service and family.  Villa Rica assisted and participated in the Atlanta Masonic District 3 West coat and blanket drive.  Villa Rica hosted Easter Egg Hunt along with meet and greet with Mayor of Douglasville.  Villa Rica participated in District East Point Health Fair, Lupus Walk and further relationship with Glanton Hindsman Elementary.  Lodge gave two $500.00 scholarships to kids in the area.  WM Hearst showed relentless devotion and dedication while participating with the Thanksgiving baskets to family at Elementary School and Thanksgiving gifts to the widows of Villa Rica Lodge.  WM Hearst led the craft in participating in Fish Fry and Car wash along with our Masonic Family, Villa Rica Chapter.  WM Hearst diligent service to the craft by giving 3 love offering to members of Villa Rica Lodge children for college.  WM Hearst efficient knowledge helped him to be chosen to sit as SW in the District Raising and part in the District Anniversary.  WM Hearts raised the biggest class in Villa Rica Lodge History by raising 5 misters to Sublime Degree of Master Mason.  He led numerous fundraisers and lodge construction by pushing the installation of new roof and windows. 

WM Crandell J. Lewis had the pleasure of taking Leadership of Villa Rica Lodge #584 in January 2014.  WM Crandell Lewis leadership was from January 2014 to December 2015, under his leadership the Lodge continued to do great work in the Villa Rica and Douglasville community.  Villa Rica Lodge increased their Scholarship contributions each year, giving Scholarship to deserving High School Seniors.  WM Crandell Lewis had a dynamic Scholarship committee that working hard to find deserving Seniors in the community.  Villa Rica Lodge develop partnership with Glanton Hindsman and Burnett Elementary school.  Villa Rica Lodge continued to provide food for multiple community functions, like the Douglasville annual Easter Egg hunt by providing food for over 400 children.  Villa Rica Lodge had community back to school cookout, Villa Rica Lodge passed out school supplies to kids in the surrounding communities.  Villa Rica Lodge established feeding the Educator day during the week of Teacher's Appreciation Week, by serving breakfast to the Teachers at Burnett and Glanton Hindsman Elementary School.  WM Crandell Lewis continued supporting the Villa Rica Lodge #584 family, by giving gifts to the Lodge Widows and Past Masters. And finally, after many years, the lodge finally received a USPS address for the building as well as building insurance.

Under the leadership of WM Rashad Lewis during 2016 masonic year, Villa Rica continued to extend it's footprint of brotherly love and community service.

Villa Rica Lodge hosted its 1st ever Super Bowl fundraiser at the Irish Pub.  Also, the brothers spent time with Military Veterans at the VA Center in Carrollton, GA; which included playing board games, serving pizza and engaging in thought- providing conversations with various former service members.  Also, the lodge donated much needed technology (Chrome Books) to Glanton-Hindsman Elementary School for promoting the schools academic goals, prepared food and donated Easter Egg baskets in partnership with Sigma Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. for their annual easter Egg Hunt and assisted Villa Rica Chapter #138 with their Easter Egg Hunt at Boaundary Waters Park.  In addition, the brothers took the necessary steps to secure our building by acquiring the services of Chandler Exterminators to provide much needed termite protection and ensured that the financial health of the lodge would remain in tact by voting to raise dues.

The brothers also engaged in a fish fry fundraiser, participated in our Adopt-A-Mile program and hosted a Past Master Appreciation night; which yielded our lone gold card member PM Benjamin Sexton.  In Addition, our very own RWGJW Jonathan White was re-elected to the position of same during Grand Session.

In addition, the brothers assisted Communities In School with their Back-To-School drive by grilling hot dogs and donating school supplies for children of Villa Rica.

Lastly, the lodge donated a Thanksgiving meal to deserving family, revived the Scholarship Fund for 2017 and WM Rashad Lewis challenged all brothers pay their 2017 dues by the second meeting in January of said year and to make a donation to the Scholarship Fund.  

WM Earl Hargrave, 2017-2018

WM Arthur Singleton 2019

WM Willie Owens 2020

The rest is yet to Come!


To be continued…….