STAR OF GEORGIA NO. 492
Lodge History
About Star of Georgia Lodge No. 492
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​The history of the lodge goes back as far as 1949 when Ernest Harris was the Worshipful Master. Records of that time could not be found, but what we do know is this. In 1964, a vision of a Lodge in College Park, Georgia became a reality under the leadership of Grand Master XL Neal.
The new Lodge was granted a Charter on June 11, 1964 at Grand Session in Columbus, Georgia. Grand Secretary E.C. Blackshear affixed the seal of the Grand Lodge and Star of Georgia Lodge #492 was back in action.
This Lodge was made up of Brothers from five lodges that met at 330 Auburn Avenue and assigned two outstanding Brothers, District Deputy Grand Master George Sturdevant and Assistant District Deputy Grand Master Horace Banks, who assisted in running the lodge properly for the first year. The new Lodge was supposed to draw members from East Point, College Park, Union City, Fairburn, and Palmetto. Other Lodges on Auburn Avenue were not to except members from these cities.
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District Deputy Grand Master George Sturdevant and Assistant District Deputy Grand Master Horace Banks worked with the newly formed Lodge to get it up and running. The meeting place for the new Lodge was Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, College Park, Georgia, where some members of the Lodge were Deacons of the Church. The Lodge continued to grow under their leaderships. Past Masters Earnest Harris, Joe Redding, Chester Pullen, Charlie Bussy, Fred Hixon, John Menefee, Richard Pitts, Donald Wheat and Albert Culler were men of vision and grew the Lodge under their leaderships.
During 1963-1983, two parcels of property were purchased in College Park, Georgia. Several attempts were made to build on the property, but they were met with resistance, putting off the endeavor to a later date. The Lodge leased a building in the Jamestown Shopping Center. It also served as a meeting place for the Sisters, Star of Georgia Chapter #378. During this time the lodge started conducting its own degree work. To help support the degree work, fund raisers were established, including deep sea fishing trips and candy sales.
Star of Georgia Lodge was at the shopping center for three years, and then it moved to Auburn Avenue where other lodges were meeting. In 1986, Past Master Donald Wheat submitted the 1st Lodge By-Laws to the Grand Lodge in Macon, Georgia, where grand session was held. At this session, the By-Laws were approved by Grand Master XL Neal, who was presiding.
The vision has continued with all the Past Masters and brothers of this lodge. We look forward to seeing growth and prosperity from this point on.