Grand Lodge of Texas

Freemasonry lodge governing body in Texas, US

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. According to historian James D. Carter, the "Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas, A. F. & A. M." was founded on 16 April 1838. However, its first Grand Master and other grand officers were installed by Sam Houston on 11 May 1838. The Grand Lodge of Texas is one of the largest in the world, reporting 69,099 members in 2019. The current Grand Lodge of Texas facilities were made possible by the fundraising efforts of Waco Masonic Lodge No. 92.

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."

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 (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. 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." In March 1835, five Master Masons by the names of Anson Jones, John Wharton, Asa Brigham, James Phelps, and Alexander Russell, 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. 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; however, the charter was not in Texas at the time. That charter, creating Holland Lodge No. 36, was issued and signed on 27 January 1836. 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. It was carried inside the saddlebag of Anson Jones while he stormed into battle.

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:

Lodge Final Charter Date Location Holland No. 1 2 Dec. 1835 Brazoria Milam No. 2 2 Dec. 1838 Nacogdoches McFarland No. 3 18 Nov. 1838 San Augustine Temple No. 4 10 May 1838 Houston St. John's No. 5 18 Nov. 1838 West Columbia Harmony No. 6 30 Jan. 1840 Galveston Matagorda No. 7 18 Nov. 1838 Matagorda Phoenix No. 8 18 Nov. 1838 Washington DeKalb No. 9 2 Feb. 1840 De Kalb Milam No. 11 31 Jan. 1840 Independence Austin No. 12 18 Feb. 1840 Austin Constantine No. 13 10 Mar. 1840 Bonham Trinity No. 14 2 Nov. 1840 Livingston Friendship No. 16 11 Dec. 1841 Clarksville Orphans Friend No. 17 30 Jun. 1842 Anderson Washington No. 18 11 Jan. 1844 Washington Forrest No. 19 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 16 Jan. 1845 Henderson Redland No. 24 16 Jan. 1845 San Augustine Montgomery No. 25 15 Jan. 1846 Montgomery Olive Branch No. 26 19 Feb. 1846 Cincinnati Paris No. 27 24 Jun. 1846 Paris Frontier No. 28 29 Nov. 1845 Corpus Christi

Demised. Demised, but charter restored at or near original location. Now working as Redland Lodge No. 3. Demised 1847, but Charter Restored 2 Aug 2006 at West Columbia, TX. Demised, but charter restored Dec 2005 near Sealy, TX.