On April 8, 1867, a group of nine Master Masons met in a cotton gin near the crossroads of Green Level and organized a lodge under the dispensation granted from the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina, bearing the date of March 22,1868, the lodge to be known as Green Level Lodge.

The name, Green Level, originated many years ago when the Indians lived here.  It is said to have started from the comments of an old Indian chief when one day he was standing near the crossroads  looking across the land.  The chief remarked, "It is green and level."  The community reportedly got its name from this remark.

The first officers of this new lodge were:

The Worshipful Master appointed a committee of five to draw up a code of by-laws for governing the Lodge.  This committee consisted of Brothers Jarrett Broadwell, J. W. Hilliard, Rufus Barbee, Addison Council, and G. A. Upchurch.  Upon motion, the Master was added to this committee.

At its second meeting on May 4, 1868, the Lodge received its first two petitions for the degrees in Masonry.  They were from Brothers Seth Broadwell and John Womble.

The Lodge received four new members the first year and lost one by death, Brother Hinton Hudson.

On November 15, 1868, the Lodge received word that due to some informality in the by-laws, they had failed to get their charter.  The dispensation was continued twelve months longer.

On January 2, 1869, Green level Lodge No. 277, A. F. & A. M. received its charter, bearing the date of December 8, 1868.  The original initiation fee was $20.00 and the annual dues were $1.00.

They continued to meet in the cotton gin until a church known as Providence Baptist Church was organized in 1870.  On May 4, 1871, the name of this church was changed to Green Level Baptist Church.

On March 4, 1871, the Worshipful Master appointed a committee of three to build a new lodge hall and appointed the same committee to secure a piece of land upon which to build the lodge.

Out of a generous heart, Brother A. C. Council presented to the Lodge and the Church a deed to two acres of land about three hundred yards north of the crossroads upon which to build a church and a lodge hall.  Their dreams became reality in January of 1872, when a two-story frame building was built with the stairway on the outside.  The Church occupied the first floor and the Masons occupied the second floor.  The Lodge shared the cost of the building with the Church, which amounted to $148.00.

On February 18, 1868, a motion was made and carried for the Building Committee to borrow this amount of money to pay for its part of the building.  On February 20, 1875, the Treasurer was ordered to payoff this outstanding note.

On December 8, 1877, the Lodge got permission from the Church to build a stairway inside the Church.  This was done at a cost of $5.00.

On December 1, 1961, the Lodge voted to remodel the inside of the hall.  The wide beautiful hand-dressed ceiling planks that once decorated the walls were covered with sheetrock.  Some of these could still be seen as you ascended the winding stairs leading to the Lodge room.  The floor was covered with tile.  The stands in the officers’ stations were made and presented to the Lodge by Brother Clem Ferrell.  The chairs in the three principal stations were donated by Brother Clyde R. Mills.  The deacons’ chairs were presented by Brother J. O. Maynard, Sr.

On March 4” 1964, the Trustees of the Lodge reported that it was agreeable with the Church to have the property divided and a deed drawn, the Church paying for one-half of the cost of surveying and the title expenses.

In February of 1979, the Lodge voted to build a new lodge hall.  The Worshipful Master appointed a committee of five to proceed with the planning of the building.  Fund raising was also started at this time.  In June of 1980, enough money was on hand and the building committee was given authority to proceed with the building as money was available.  On September 12, 1980, E. Stansil Aldridge, Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina, laid the cornerstone of the new temple.

The new building was completed for approximately $31,000.00 without the Lodge having to take out a loan.  This was due to the diligence, talent, and dedication of the members of the Lodge, who not only gave of their money but also of their time.  With the exception of laying the block walls, the building was built by the Lodge members.

The first meeting in the new lodge building was held on January 2, 1982 for the purpose of installing the Lodge Officers for the New Year.  The old lodge building was auctioned off on January 9, 1982 for the price of $800.00.

On April 27, 1982, A. C. “Jack” Honeycutt, Grand Master of Masons in North Carolina, dedicated the new temple for Green Level Lodge No. 277, A. F. & A. M.

In 1991 the studs and insulation were added to the walls of the Lodge.  A new altar was made and presented to the Lodge by Bro. Chris Conrad in November of 1994.  An outside storage building was purchased and put in place in 1994, at a cost of $4,383.10.  In September of 1995, the Lodge voted to present Bibles to brethren raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

During a growth and expansion project in 2002, the Green Level Baptist Church paved the parking lot and provided landscaping in order to be in compliance with the town of Cary’s building ordinances.  Also in 2002, some of our brethren, led by Bro. Vince Thompson, practiced some operative masonry by laying the stone at the permanent Green Level Lodge sign.  The recent addition of dusk to dawn lights and a flag pole compliment the beautiful stone sign.