The first lodge in Paragould. It was chartered as New Bethel Lodge #368, in 1879, George Thornburgh was the Grand Master of the Freemasons in Arkansas. Brother Ransom tells that the first lodge was located above the Shiloh Methodist Church west of town. On November 25, 1884. it moved into the city limits and changed the name to Paragould Lodge #368.

The charter members when Paragould received its dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Ar, located in Little Rock, to do work were as follows:

December 28, 1879 
New Bethel Lodge #368

When the Bethel Lodge moved to within the city limits, it became known as Paragould Lodge #368. The Worshipful Master of the lodge at the time of the change was S.M. Bray. The following list of men have been members and served as "masters" of the lodge. For your information, in the early years of masonry, particularly during the years when horseback was the mode of transportation, masons were required to go to the lodge nearest them. The distance was referred to "as the length of a masons cabletow," which is the equivalent of three miles. On horseback, that would have been a pretty good ride round trip. Perhaps it becomes more apparent why the membership changed the lodge name when they moved into the city limits. 

Past Masters of Paragould Lodge #368

The membership has included doctors, lawyers, pharmacist, farmers, railroad workers, store owners, bankers, pastors, as you can see men from all walks of life have been freemasons.

ARKANSAS MASONS