Grand Lodge of Texas

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Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. & A.M.
FormationApril 16, 1838
Location
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Texas
Websitegrandlodgeoftexas.org
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Grand Lodge of Texas centrally located in Waco

The Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons is the largest of several governing bodies of Freemasonry in the State of Texas, being solely of the Ancients' tradition and descending from the Ancient Grand Lodge of England, founded on 17 June 1751 at the Turk's Head Tavern, Greek Street, Soho, London.[1] According to historian James D. Carter, the "Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas, A.F. & A.M." was founded on 16 April 1838.[2] However, its first Grand Master and other grand officers were installed by Sam Houston on 11 May 1838.[3] The Grand Lodge of Texas is one of the largest in the world, reporting 69,099 members in 2019.[4] The current Grand Lodge of Texas facilities were made possible by the fundraising efforts of Waco Masonic Lodge No. 92.

History

Early History of Freemasonry

Masonic lodges continued without interruption to observe the customs and traditions of the fraternity for the "benefit of mankind."[5]

Early Masonry in Texas

On 11 February 1828,

York Grand Lodge of Mexico (Yorkinos) for a charter to form a lodge. Although the petition reached Matamoros, and was to be forwarded to Mexico City, nothing more was heard of it.[6] By 1828 the ruling faction in Mexico City feared that the liberal elements in Texas might attempt to gain independence, and being aware of the political philosophies of English-speaking Freemasons, the Mexican government outlawed Freemasonry on 25 October of that year.[7] The following year, Austin called another meeting of Masons who, in an attempt to alleviate the fears of the Mexican government, decided it was "impolitic and imprudent, at this time, to form Masonic lodges in Texas."[6][8]

In March 1835, five Master Masons by the names of

Grand Lodge of Louisiana asking for a dispensation to form a lodge in Texas. Foremost among these five Masons was Anson Jones who would later serve as Grand Master, and as President of the Republic of Texas.[10][11]

The lodge was instituted and opened on the 2nd floor of the old courthouse in Brazoria and their meetings continued until March 1836 when the Mexican army came through the town and destroyed the lodge building, their records, and jewels;

Texas Army in New Orleans, and would not reach Texas until just before the Battle of San Jacinto on 21 April 1836.[13] It was carried inside the saddlebag of Anson Jones while he stormed into battle.[14]

Houston Masonic Temple 1870
Texas historical marker in front of the Grand Lodge of Texas
Front entrance to Grand Lodge of Texas

Freemasons and the Texas Revolution

Source:[15]

Meanwhile,

William Barrett Travis.[16][17]

There has existed for many years the story or myth that General Santa Anna, captured on 21 April 1836 after the defeat of the Mexican Army after the Battle of San Jacinto, was able to save himself from execution by giving secret "Masonic signs" when he was captured, and again when he was brought before General Sam Houston.[18] Texas historian James D. Carter recorded in his book, Masonry in Texas, that "Texas Masons contemporary with [the Battle of] San Jacinto stated emphatically that Santa Anna 'filled the air' with Masonic signs after his capture and had given a Masonic grip to Houston."[19] C.R. Wharton, in his book, El Presidente, stated that "Santa Anna, fearing for his life, gave the Masonic distress signal to John A. Wharton."[20] Santa Anna probably knew the appropriate grips and signs, since he was a member of the Scottish Rite in Mexico (Escoceses),[21][22][23] which had become dominated by men devoted to Mexican government centralization. Within Mexico, opposition to the centralists found itself organized around Mexico's York Rite establishment, although by 1833, both had mostly been displaced in popularity by a "Mexican National Rite", although Santa Anna kept his Scottish Rite associates around him.[24][25] However, he was also well known in Mexico as the "renegade mason" for his lack of integrity.[26] Whether or not this specifically saved his life is not clear. What is certain is that Santa Anna was worth more to Texas alive than dead. President Andrew Jackson, a member of the same Masonic lodge as Sam Houston, Cumberland Lodge No. 8 at Nashville, Tennessee, wrote to Houston and implored him to spare Santa Anna's life, reminding Houston that "while he is in your power, the difficulties of your enemy, in raising another army, will be great.... Let not his blood be shed, unless imperious necessity demands it.... Both wisdom and humanity enjoin this course in relation to Santa Anna."[27] After capture, Sam Houston assigned John Stiles among others to protect Santa Anna while in captivity, and in return Santa Anna gifted Stiles his masonic apron as a token of gratitude for providing hospitality and safety.[28][29][22]

Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas

The Masonic Convention of December 1837: By the end of 1837, three lodges had been chartered in Texas by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana:

Thomas J. Rusk, I. W. Burton, Charles S. Taylor, Adolphus Sterne, and Kelsey Harris Douglass; and from McFarland Lodge: G. H. Winchell was delegated to represent McFarland Lodge.[30] The representatives there assembled resolved to form a "Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas," and to that end they elected Anson Jones as the first Grand Master of Masons in Texas, and other officers. After approving a resolution that the first meeting of the Grand Lodge should be held "on the third Monday of April next," the convention was then adjourned. It is clear from the minutes of this convention that, although a Grand Master was elected, he was not yet installed, and although a resolution to form a Grand Lodge was approved by the convention, it had not yet done so. The birthdate of the new Grand Lodge was still four months away.[31]

The Grand Lodge is Born - 16 April 1838: As the delegates to the previous convention had agreed, they met again on the third Monday, the 16th of April 1838 in the city of Houston, although only three of the six elective grand officers were in attendance: the Grand Master-elect, the Senior Grand Warden-elect, and the Grand Treasurer-elect. Nevertheless, the minutes state that the "Grand Lodge was opened in ample form,"[32] and, according to Texas historian James D. Carter, "the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana was ended," making 16 April 1838 the birthdate of the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas.[2] It may be of some historical interest to note that three and one-half weeks later, on 11 May 1838, the Grand Lodge met again and installed the Grand Master and his officers.[33] As a result, this latter date, 11 May 1838, is the birthdate of the Grand Lodge given in Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia.[34]

Early Texas Lodges

The following is a list of 26 lodges that were organized before 19 February 1846, during the Republic of Texas period, and under the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas. They are listed along with their final charter dates and original locations:[35]

Lodge Final Charter Date Location
Holland No. 1[36] 2 Dec. 1835 Brazoria
Milam No. 2 2 Dec. 1838 Nacogdoches
McFarland No. 3[n1] 18 Nov. 1838 San Augustine
Temple No. 4 [n2][37] 10 May 1838 Houston
St. John's No. 5[38] 18 Nov. 1838 West Columbia
Harmony No. 6 30 Jan. 1840 Galveston
Matagorda No. 7[39] 18 Nov. 1838 Matagorda
Phoenix No. 8[n1] 18 Nov. 1838
Washington
DeKalb No. 9 2 Feb. 1840 De Kalb
Milam No. 11[n1] 31 Jan. 1840 Independence
Austin No. 12 18 Feb. 1840 Austin
Constantine No. 13[40] 10 Mar. 1840 Bonham
Trinity No. 14[41] 2 Nov. 1840 Livingston
Friendship No. 16 11 Dec. 1841 Clarksville
Orphans Friend No. 17[42] 30 Jun. 1842 Anderson
Washington No. 18[n2] 11 Jan. 1844 Washington
Forrest No. 19[43] 12 Jan. 1844 Huntsville
Graham No. 20 13 Jan. 1845 Brenham
Lothrop No. 21 18 Jan. 1845 Crockett
Marshall No. 22 18 Jan. 1845 Marshall
Clinton No. 23[44] 16 Jan. 1845 Henderson
Redland No. 24[n3] 16 Jan. 1845 San Augustine
Montgomery No. 25 15 Jan. 1846 Montgomery
Olive Branch No. 26[n5] 19 Feb. 1846 Cincinnati
Paris No. 27 24 Jun. 1846 Paris
Frontier No. 28[n4] 29 Nov. 1845 Corpus Christi
^[n1] - Demised.
^[n2] - Demised, but charter restored at or near original location.
^[n3] - Now working as Redland Lodge No. 3.
^[n4] - Demised 1847, but Charter Restored 2 Aug 2006 at West Columbia, TX.
^[n5] - Demised, but charter restored Dec 2005 near Sealy, TX.

Famous Texas Freemasons

  • Stephen F. Austin - Father of Texas - Louisiana Lodge No. 109, Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
  • Sam Houston - Hero of San Jacinto - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston, Tx. Cumberland Lodge No. 8, Nashville, Tn.
  • William Barret Travis
    - The Defender of the Alamo - Alabama Lodge No. 3
  • James Bowie - The Greatest Fighter in the Southwest - Loge L'Humble Chaumiere No. 19, Opelousas, La.
  • David Crockett
    - King of the Wilderness - (lodge unknown - his Masonic apron, entrusted to the Sheriff of Weakley Co., Tn., has survived with the family of E. M. Taylor of Paducah, Ky.)
  • James Bonham - Alamo Defender and last messenger to leave the Alamo and return - (So. Carolina lodge records destroyed by fire in 1838)
  • James Fannin - Commander at Goliad - Holland Lodge No. 36, Brazoria, Tx.
  • Anson Jones - Last President of the Republic of Texas - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston, Tx. Harmony Lodge No. 52, Phila. Pa.
  • Lorenzo de Zavala - First Vice-President of the Republic - Logia Independencia No. 454 (Gr. Ldg. of New York), Mexico City.
  • Jose Navarro - Texas Patriot and Legislator - American Virtue Lodge No. 10, Saltillo, Mexico.
  • Juan Seguin
    - Tejano Patriot - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston, Tx.
  • Lawrence S. "Sul" Ross
    - Texas Ranger, Confederate General, Governor of Texas, President of Texas A&M - Waco Lodge No. 92, Waco.
  • John J. Kennedy - "Sheriff, leader of law and order faction of the Regulator-Moderator War, Confederate Captain" - Marshall Lodge No. 22, Marshall, Tx.
  • R.E.B. Baylor
    - Founder of Baylor University - Baylor Lodge No. 125, Gay Hill, Tx.
  • Benjamin F. Terry - Founder and Commander of Terry's Texas Rangers - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston.
  • Thomas S. Lubbock
    - Commander of Terry's Texas Rangers - Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston.
  • Charles Goodnight - Plainsman and Cattleman - Phoenix Lodge No. 275, Weatherford, Tx.
  • Jimmie Rodgers
    - The Singin' Brakeman, Father of Country Music - Blue Bonnet Lodge No. 1219, San Antonio, Tx.
  • Audie Murphy - Most Decorated American Soldier of World War II - No. Hollywood Lodge No. 542
  • Gene Autry - The Singing Cowboy - Charity Lodge No. 565, Lipan, Tx.
  • Claire Chennault
    - Founder of the Flying Tigers - League City Lodge No. 1053, League City, Tx.
  • Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin
    - 2nd Man on the Moon - Clear Lake Lodge No. 1417, El Lago, Tx
  • Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, and the Creator of the Life Flight
    Helicopter System, the first air ambulance service in Texas. Hillsboro Lodge No. 196, Hillsboro, Tx.
  • Hiram Abiff Boaz - Second President of Southern Methodist University and Member of Hillcrest Masonic Lodge in Dallas Texas[45]
  • (Jerry) Benét Embry, Radio Personality, Writer, Published Author, Actor, Director and Screenwriter, A.F.& A.M. - 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Master Mason and Member of Lebanon Lodge 837 in Frisco Texas [46]
  • Stoney LaRue - Red Dirt Country Musician, Singer, Songwriter. Tannehill Lodge No. 52, Dallas, Tx.
  • Brandon Dean Jenkins
    - Red Dirt Country Musician, Singer, Songwriter. Hill City Lodge No 456, Austin, Tx.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Normand, Pierre G. "Pete" (2004). "Pedigree of the Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M.". Transactions of Texas Lodge of Research. XXXVIII. Waco, Texas: Comm. on Masonic Education & Service, Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M.: 75.
  2. ^
    OCLC 5543064
    .
  3. OCLC 34167449. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on February 12, 2024. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  4. ^ Masonic Service Association of North America [dead link]
  5. OCLC 21424432, 731470119
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Edward N. (February 10, 1990). "HOLLAND NO. 36 ---LOUISIANA'S GIFT TO TEXAS". Louisiana Lodge or Research. p. 18. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008.
  7. ^ Thompson, Edward N. (February 10, 1990). "HOLLAND NO. 36 ---LOUISIANA'S GIFT TO TEXAS". Louisiana Lodge or Research. p. 17. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008.
  8. OCLC 21424432, 731470119
  9. ^ Texas State Historical Survey Committee (1966). "Masonic Oak, State Historical Marker #9573". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023.
  10. ^ "Masonic Oak Marker #2". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on February 10, 2024.
  11. OCLC 34167449
  12. OCLC 34167449
  13. OCLC 5543064, 1060560142
  14. ^ Texas State Historical Survey Committee (1970). "Holland Lodge No. 1 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Texas, State Historical Marker #10686". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Grand Lodge of Texas A.F.&A.M. (1936). "San Jacinto Masonic Monument". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024.
  16. ^ The Grand Lodge of Texas A.F.&A.M. (1976). "Masonic Heroes of the Alamo Marker". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. The Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024.
  17. OCLC 21424432, 731470119
  18. OCLC 34167449
  19. OCLC 5543064, 1060560142
  20. OCLC 1521021, 1004475881 Archived
    from the original on March 1, 2024.
  21. ^ The Texas Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (April 4, 2013). "Santa Anna's Masonic Membership Confirmed". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
  22. ^ a b Doke, Marshall J. (2016). "Santa Anna's Masonry Confirmed". Scottish Rite Journal of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction USA Vol. CXXIV No 1. Originally published in Volume I, 2015 of Texas HERITAGE Magazine, p. 17-21. A Publication of the Texas Historical Foundation. Archived from the print edition of Scottish Rite Journal on February 14, 2024, p. 21-22.
  23. ^ "Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's Scottish Rite Certificate". Grand Lodge of New York. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024.
  24. ^ Thompson, Edward N. (1989) Brothers Divided: Mexico's Masonic Wars Louisiana Lodge of Research. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014.
  25. ^ Thompson, Edward N. (February 10, 1990). "HOLLAND NO. 36 ---LOUISIANA'S GIFT TO TEXAS". Louisiana Lodge or Research. p. 19. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008.
  26. OCLC 2863307 iarchive:masonic-soldiers-of-fortune
  27. OCLC 34167449
  28. OCLC 11337271, 15472600, 24959664, 63197837
  29. ^ Reaves, Randon; Houston Masonic Library and Museum. "Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's Masonic Apron". Reprinted by S.W. Hacket Lodge No. 574 website. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017.
  30. OCLC 4670090 ASIN B002EOD2I2
  31. OCLC 34167449
  32. OCLC 34167449
  33. OCLC 34167449
  34. OCLC 1621521
  35. OCLC 35521703
  36. ^ No. 1, Holland Lodge; Tx, A. f; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "Holland Lodge No. 1, A.F." Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ No. 4, Temple Lodge; Tx, A. F.; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "Temple Lodge No. 4, A. F." Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ No. 5, St John's Lodge; Tx, A. F.; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "St. John's Lodge No. 5, A. F." Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ No. 7, Matagorda Lodge; Tx, A. f; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "Matagorda Lodge No. 7, A.F." Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ No. 13, Constantine Lodge; Tx, A. F.; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "Constantine Lodge No. 13, A. F." Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  41. ^ No. 14, Trinity Lodge; Tx, A. f; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "Trinity Lodge No. 14, A.F." Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ TX, Orphans Friend Lodge No 17 Ancient Free; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "Orphans Friend Lodge No. 17 Ancient Free". Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ No. 19, Forrest Lodge; Tx, A. f; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "Forrest Lodge No. 19, A.F." Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  44. ^ No. 23, Clinton Lodge; Tx, A. F.; Marker, USA Texas StateHistorical. "Clinton Lodge No. 23, A. F." Stopping Points Historical Markers & Points of Interest.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ "Boaz Hall at SMU". Dallas Freemasonry. 2012-05-19. Retrieved 2017-11-02.
  46. ^ "Texas Mason Magazine Archives | the Grand Lodge of Texas".

External links

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