Grand Lodge of Texas

Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. & A.M.

Seal of the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. & A.M.
Constituted April 16, 1838
Jurisdiction Texas
Location Waco, Texas
US
Website grandlodgeoftexas.org
Part of a series on
Freemasonry
Overview
Holland Lodge No. 1 in Houston, Texas.

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 in 1751. It was originally founded as "The Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas, A.F. & A.M." on 16 April 1838.[1] The Grand Lodge of Texas is one of the largest in the world, reporting 81,340 members in 2013.[2]

History

Early History of Freemasonry

Freemasonry has its historic origins among the early lodges of stonemasons and architects that, utilizing the style of Gothic architecture, built the cathedrals of Middle Ages. They were called "Freemasons" because they were free men and not serfs, their lodges were free from taxation, and they worked in freestone, a type of quarry stone. During the 17th century, lodges in Scotland began "accepting" members who were not operative stonemasons. The acceptance of these gentlemen Freemasons gave rise to the name "Free and Accepted Masons." In their ceremonies of passing from one degree to another they inculcated a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by the symbols and tools of their craft. During the 18th century, lodges formed grand lodges to govern the craft. No longer operative as of old, Masonic lodges continued without interruption to observe the customs and traditions of the fraternity for the "benefit of mankind."[3]

Freemasonry in America

The early American colonial lodges were chartered by the grand lodges of Europe. Many of the founders of the United States and their allies were Freemasons: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Paul Jones, the Marquis de Lafayette, Baron von Steuben and others. Washington was the Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22 when he consecrated the cornerstone (see "foundation stone") of the United States Capitol in 1793.[3]

Early Masonry in Texas

On 11 February 1828, Stephen F. Austin called a meeting of Masons at San Felipe de Austin for the purpose of petitioning the York Grand Lodge of Mexico 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. 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. 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."[4]

In March 1835, five Master Masons met "in a little grove of peach or laurel" at the town of Brazoria, "near a place known as General John Austin's," and resolved to petition Grand Master John H. Holland of the 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.[5]

That charter, creating Holland Lodge No. 1, was issued and signed on 27 January 1835. It was given to a Mr. John M. Allen, originally of Louisiana Lodge No. 32 to carry to Texas. Allen had been recruiting volunteers for the Texas Army in New Orleans, and would not reach Texas until just before the Battle of San Jacinto on 21 April 1836.[6]

Houston Masonic Temple 1870
Texas historical marker in front of the Waco Masonic Lodge
Waco Masonic Lodge

Freemasons and the Texas Revolution

Meanwhile, Texas was in the midst of war. The first shots of the Texas Revolution had been fired in October 1835 at Gonzales. Delegates had gathered at the small town of Washington-on-the-Brazos and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence on 2 March 1836. The Mexican Army under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna had crossed the Rio Grande and attacked and defeated the small garrison at the Alamo in San Antonio de Bexar. Among the nearly 200 defenders who died at the Alamo were Freemasons James Bonham, James Bowie, David Crockett, Almaron Dickenson, and William Barrett Travis.[7]

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. 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." 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." Santa Anna probably knew the appropriate grips and signs, since he was a member of the Scottish Rite in Mexico, 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.[8] 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."[9]

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: Holland Lodge No. 1 which had moved to the city of Houston, Milam Lodge No. 40 at Nacogdoches, and McFarland Lodge No. 41 at St. Augustine. On 20 December 1837, Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas, presided over a convention meeting in the city of Houston consisting of the representatives of these three lodges. The representatives were: From Holland Lodge: Sam Houston, Anson Jones, Jeff Wright, and Thomas G. Western; from Milam Lodge: Thomas J. Rusk, I. W. Burton, Charles S. Taylor, Adolphus Sterne, and K. H. Douglas; and from McFarland Lodge: G. H. Winchell was delegated to represent McFarland Lodge. 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.[10]

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,"[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] As a result, this latter date, 11 May 1838, is the birthdate of the Grand Lodge given in Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia.[14]

Early Texas Lodges

The following is a list of 28 lodges organized under the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas. They are listed along with their final charter dates and original locations:[15]

Lodge Final Charter Date Location
Holland No. 1[16] 2 Dec. 1835 Brazoria
Milam No. 2 2 Dec. 1838 Nacogdoches
McFarland No. 3[n1] 18 Nov. 1838 San Augustine
Temple No. 4 [n2][17] 10 May 1838 Houston
St. John's No. 5[18] 18 Nov. 1838 West Columbia
Harmony No. 6 30 Jan. 1840 Galveston
Matagorda No. 7[19] 18 Nov. 1838 Matagorda
Phoenix No. 8[n1] 18 Nov. 1838 Washington
DeKalb No. 9 2 Feb. 1840 De Kalb
Perfect Union No. 10[n4] 2 Jan. 1920 San Antonio
Milam No. 11[n1] 31 Jan. 1840 Independence
Austin No. 12 7 Nov. 1839 Austin
Constantine No. 13[20] 10 Mar. 1840 Bonham
Trinity No. 14[21] 2 Nov. 1840 Livingston
Santa Fe No. 15[n1] never organized Santa Fe
Friendship No. 16 11 Dec. 1841 Clarksville
Orphans Friend No. 17[22] 30 Jun. 1842 Anderson
Washington No. 18[n2] 11 Jan. 1844 Washington
Forrest No. 19[23] 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[24] 16 Jan. 1845 Henderson
Redland No. 24[n3] 16 Jan. 1845 San Augustine
Montgomery No. 25 15 Jan. 1846 Montgomery
Olive Branch No. 26[n6] 19 Feb. 1846 Cincinnati
Paris No. 27 24 Jun. 1846 Paris
Frontier No. 28[n5] 29 November 1845 Corpus Christi
^[n1] - Demised.
^[n2] - Demised, but charter restored at or near original location.
^[n3] - Now working as Redland Lodge No. 3.
^[n4] - U.D. but Never Working but later granted a charter on January 2, 1920 at or near original location.
^[n5] - Demised 1847, but Charter Restored 2 August 2006 at West Columbia, TX
^[n6] - Demised, but charter restored December 2005 near Sealy, TX

Famous Texas Freemasons

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Carter, James D. (1955). Masonry in Texas: Background, History and Influence to 1846, pp. 312-313. Waco, Tx: Comm. on Masonic Education & Service, Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M.
  2. ↑ http://www.msana.com/msastats.asp
  3. 1 2 Normand, Pete (1986). The Texas Masons: The Fraternity of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in the History of Texas, pg. 3. College Station, Tx: Brazos Valley Masonic Library & Museum Assn.
  4. ↑ Normand, Pete (1986). The Texas Masons: The Fraternity of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in the History of Texas, pp. 3-4. College Station, Tx: Brazos Valley Masonic Library & Museum Assn.
  5. ↑ Jones, Anson. "Free Masonry in Texas: A Reminiscence of its Early History." Reprinted in The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Vol. I, pp. 6-7; by A. S. Ruthven, Gr. Sec.; (publ. 1857) Galveston, Tx: Richardson & Co.
  6. ↑ Carter, James D. (1955). Masonry in Texas: Background, History and Influence to 1846. Waco, Tx: Comm. on Masonic Education & Service, Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M.
  7. ↑ Normand, Pete (1986). The Texas Masons: The Fraternity of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in the History of Texas, pg. 4. College Station, Tx: Brazos Valley Masonic Library & Museum Assn.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Edward N. (1989) Brothers Divided: Mexico's Masonic Wars. Louisiana Lodge of Research http://louisianalodgeofresearch.org/papers/03BROTHERS%20DIVIDED%202.pdf
  9. ↑ Carter, James D. (1955) Masonry in Texas: Background, History and Influence to 1846, pp. 284-286. Waco, Tx: Comm. on Masonic Education & Service, Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M.
  10. ↑ Jones, Anson; Secretary of the Convention. "Convention of Master Masons," (20 December 1837). Reprinted in The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Vol. I, pp. 9-10, by A. S. Ruthven, Gr. Sec. (publ. 1857) Galveston, Tx: Richardson & Co.
  11. ↑ Shepherd, Wm. M., Gr. Sec. pro-tem. Minutes of the Grand Lodge for 16 April 1838. Reprinted in The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Vol. I, pg. 11, by A. S. Ruthven, Gr. Sec. (publ. 1857) Galveston, Tx: Richardson & Co.
  12. ↑ Carter, James D. (1955). Masonry in Texas: Background, History and Influence to 1846, pp. 312-313. Waco, Tx: Comm. on Masonic Education & Service, Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M.
  13. ↑ Fischer, George, Gr. Sec. Minutes of the Grand Lodge for 11 May 1838. Reprinted in The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Vol. I, pg. 19-20, by A. S. Ruthven, Gr. Sec. (publ. 1857) Galveston, Tx: Richardson & Co.
  14. ↑ Coil, Henry W. (1961). Article: "Texas", pg. 651. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia (rev. ed. 1996). Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Co.
  15. ↑ Directory of Constituent Lodges in Texas. (2005-2006) Waco, Tx: The Grand Lodge of Texas.
  16. ↑ Holland Lodge No. 1 - Texas Historical Marker
  17. ↑ Temple Lodge No. 4, A.F. & A.M. - Texas Historical Marker
  18. ↑ St. John's Lodge No. 5, A. F. & A. M. - Texas Historical Marker
  19. ↑ Matagorda Lodge #7 - Texas Historical Marker
  20. ↑ Constantine Lodge Number 13 - Texas Historical Marker
  21. ↑ Trinity Lodge No. 14 - Texas Historical Marker
  22. ↑ Orphans Friend Lodge No. 17 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons - Texas Historical Marker
  23. ↑ Forrest Lodge No. 19, A.F.&A.M. - Texas Historical Marker
  24. ↑ Clinton Lodge No. 23 - Texas Historical Marker

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/8/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.