Grand Lodge of 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 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.

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."Normand, Pete (1986). The Texas Masons: The Fraternity of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in the History of Texas, p. 3. College Station, Tx: Brazos Valley Masonic Library & Museum Assn.

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 (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.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. 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, Preston - Webb Freemasons, the Mexican government outlawed Freemasonry on 25 October of that year.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. 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."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. In 1830, the Mexican government evicted US Minister to Mexico, and York Rite Mason, Joel Poinsett for introducing American liberalism into Mexico to counter the British influence through five York Rite charters from the Grand Lodge of New York, establishing Royal Arch Masonry in Mexico, and for being fundamental in establishing recognition of the York Rite Grand Lodge in Mexican Freemasonry, which fueled further internal turmoil inside Mexico, and set the stage for the Texas Revolution to occur.

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.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. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024.

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;Jones, Anson. "Free Masonry in Texas: A Reminiscence of its Early History." Reprinted in The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Vol. I, p. 7; by A. S. Ruthven, Gr. Sec.; (publ. 1857) Galveston, Tx: Richardson & Co. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. 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.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. p. 260-262 It would be carried inside the saddlebag of Anson Jones while he stormed into battle.

Freemasons and the Texas Revolution

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Meanwhile, Texas was in the midst of war. The first shots of the Texas Revolution had been fired in October 1835 at Gonzales. Prior to this, Stephen F. Austin, the spokesman for Texas insurrectionists, had already met with 35 prominent local masons in a cottage at 829-833 Ursulines St. in New Orleans to plan the liberation from Mexico. At this meeting they strategized enlisting sympathizers and a local committee was authorized to recruit volunteers.Jordan, Dr. H. Glenn. Let There Be Light: A History of Freemasonry in Louisiana, 1763-1989. (Baton Rouge: Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana, F. & A.M., 1990), p. 78, 128. OCLC 25150924 ASIN B005NMV3TW Later on, 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.Normand, Pete (1986). The Texas Masons: The Fraternity of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in the History of Texas, p. 4. College Station, Tx: Brazos Valley Masonic Library & Museum Assn. Among the few survivors of the Alamo was Susanna Dickinson. During the siege Almaron gave his masonic apron to his wife and instructed her that when the Alamo is taken, to wrap it around herself and their child. She did and Mexican Col Juan Almonte, a known mason, recognized the apron of his fraternity and protected the widow and orphan from the brutality of after the siege. Santa Anna also offered take care of the widow and adopt the orphan by educating the child in Mexico, a courtesy he did not extend to any other widow or orphaned survivor. She refused and Santa Anna gifted the masonic widow and orphan each a blanket and two dollars in silver before sending them off with a letter of warning to General Houston.

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.Carter, James D. (1955) Masonry in Texas: Background, History and Influence to 1846, p. 284. Waco, Tx: Comm. on Masonic Education & Service, Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M. 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."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. pg. 285 (footnote 86) 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."Wharton, Clarence R. (1926). El presidente: A sketch of the life of General Santa Anna. Austin, Tx: Gammel's Book Store. pg. 25. Archived from original Text on February 17, 2024. Archived from the original on March 1, 2024. Santa Anna probably knew the appropriate grips and signs, since he was a member of the Scottish Rite in Mexico (Escoceses),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. 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. By 1833, both had mostly been displaced in popularity by a "Mexican National Rite", although Santa Anna kept his Scottish Rite associates around him.Thompson, Edward N. (1989) Brothers Divided: Mexico's Masonic Wars Louisiana Lodge of Research. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014.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. However, he was also well known in Mexico as the "renegade mason" for his lack of integrity.Stuart, William (1928). Masonic Soldiers of Fortune. Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company. pg. 257, 260, 268. Archived from the Original on March 1, 2024. iarchive:masonic-soldiers-of-fortune 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 at Cumberland Lodge No. 8 in 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."Carter, James D. (1955) Masonry in Texas: Background, History and Influence to 1846, p. 286. Waco, Tx: Comm. on Masonic Education & Service, Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M. 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.Denslow, William (1960). "Anonio Lopez de Santa Anna." 10,000 Famous Freemasons - Vol IV [Q to Z]. Missouri Lodge of Research Board of Publication. pp. 96–97.

Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas