A brief History of Mickey Fuller Lodge No. 720

Early on in the year 1957, after some prior informal discussions, a few members of Ft. Hawkins Lodge No. 418 in Macon, Ga. felt there was a need for another blue lodge in Macon. Three members of Ft. Hawkins Lodge; Brothers James W. Lindsey, Charles W. Avant and Harry Andros took the initiative and began to make plans for starting the new lodge in south Macon area.

On January 14th 1957 Brother's Harry Andros, James Lindsey and Charles Avant, met at the New Way wiener Restaurant on Cotton Avenue, in Macon, Ga. to discuss some ideas Brother Harry Andros had for starting a new lodge.

With the blessings of the Worshipful Master of Ft. Hawkins Lodge, these three Brothers approached Brother Dan Locklin, the Grand Secretary, to inquire as to the requirements for starting a new Lodge. They were informed that they would need at least 30 signatures of Master Masons who were members of Lodges working under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Georgia. They began circulating a petition to obtain the required number of signatures. A total of 121 Master Masons signed the petition.

While the petition was being circulated a number of Brothers who had already signed the Petition started looking for a location for the new Lodge to meet. A suitable location was found at 1410 Broadway and the second floor of the building was rented for $25.00 per month. With the help of the new petitioners, the second floor was remodeled and prepared to hold Lodge meetings.

A special meeting for all charter members of the new Lodge was held at the Lodge hall, at 1410 Broadway at 3 o'clock pm on February the 17th, 1957. At this meeting the name "Mickey Fuller" (in honor of Mickey Wayne Fuller, 8-24-1946 to 2-03-1956) was unanimously adopted for the Lodge and was later approved by the Grand Lodge.

Mickey Fuller was a young man who had serious physical disabilities due to a heart condition and died Feb. 3rd 1956, at Emory Hospital, two days after a critical heart operation, at age 9.

Mickey was the Son of Brother Robert E. Fuller Jr. and the Grandson of Brothers William F. Lindsey and Mallory E. Bassett, all three being members of Ft. Hawkins Lodge No. 418, and Charter members of new Lodge named in his honor.

On February 25, 1957, Ft Hawkins Lodge No. 418, recommended the Petition for Charter, and the petition was sent to the Grand Lodge for approval. In the meantime, a set of by-laws were written for the new Lodge and adopted by all petitioners on February 25, 1957.

Most Worshipful Grand Master Harvey C. Stephens granted a dispensation to operate the new Lodge on March 21st, 1957.

The first stated meeting of Mickey Fuller Lodge, under dispensation, was held at the lodge hall at 1410 Broadway, Macon, Ga. on April 11th, 1957. Regular meetings were held at this location, starting with 118 charter members. 20 new members were raised at this location while the lodge was under dispensation.

The following officers were selected to serve the new lodge:

On October 23rd 1957, the charter for Mickey Fuller Lodge No. 720 was granted at the 171st annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Georgia.

Mickey Fuller was duly constituted and Lodge officers were installed on November 14th 1957, by most worshipful Grand Master John C. Kaufman, assisted by other Grand Lodge Officers.

In 1960 the new Worshipful Master, Charles Avant appointed a permanent building commettiee to find a location and start a fund raising campaign for a permanent lodge building.

With the cooperation of the entire lodge membership, a building program was started and groundbreaking ceremonies were held at the new building site located at 2584 Houston Avenue on September the 10th 1960.

On July 28th 1960 a board of trustees were elected and the second reading of the by-laws for the Mickey Fuller Lodge temple, Inc. were adopted.

The cornerstone ceremonies were held at the new site, on October 15th 1960 with Most Worshipful Grand Master Edwin A. McWhorter presiding.

The new building was completed in 1961and dedicated on October 21st 1961 with Most Worshipful Grand Master John A. Dunaway presiding.

The first regular communication was held in the new building at 2534 Houston Av. on August 24th, 1961. The last regular communication was held at the Broadway location on August 10th, 1961.

Mickey Fuller Lodge met at this location for the next 39 ½ years, until the building was sold on February 27th 2001. With the last meeting at this location being held on March the 8th 2001.

The membership of Mickey Fuller needed a temporary place to meet until a new permanent location could be found. The Worshipful Master and members of Lizella Lodge No. 663 was kind enough to allow us to meet in their lodge building. Our first meeting at Lizella was held on March 22nd, 2001. We were allowed the privilege of meeting in this location for approximately 2 1/2 years while we were desperately looking for a permanent location.

In August of 2002, after having considered a permanent location in the Scottish Rite building on Forsyth road in Macon, Ga., that, for various reasons, did not work out, Brother Ken Asbury, who lived in Byron, Ga. offered to donate the Lodge a Lot he and his wife owned in Byron, for the purpose of constructing a new Lodge building on the site. Brother Ken's most generous offer was accepted by the membership of Mickey Fuller Lodge.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on the donated site located at 106 Gra-lan Dr. on January 11, 2003. Past Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Carl W. Dohn represented the Grand Lodge at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Over the next seven months, with Brother Wirt Durdin serving as Chairman of the building committee, the members of Mickey Fuller worked diligently to get the new building completed. On July 26th, 2003 the new Lodge building was dedicated and cornerstone ceremonies were held.

The first regular communication was held in the new Lodge building on September 11th, 2003.

The members of Mickey Fuller Lodge are most appreciative to Brother Ken Asbury and his wife Sharron, for donating the land, and to the members of Mickey Fuller Lodge, who worked so hard on the construction of the building and fund raising activities to raise the money necessary to pay off all monies owed on the new building and an additional lot adjacent to the lodge building on November 9, 2006.