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IN
DUE AND ANCIENT FORM by
Archie P. McDonald | |
The
origin of Freemasonry is traced from the building of King Solomon's temple, and
you can read all about it in the Old Testament of the Bible. That is "operative"
Masonry, or brothers who literally earned their bread in the building trades.
"Speculative" Masonry, which hopes to build better lives of men engaged
in various occupations, began in the British Isles in the seventeenth century,
then crossed the Atlantic to America as York Rite Masonry, and to Spanish colonies
as Scottish Rite Masonry. The two forms of Masonry, which have the first three
degrees of Masonic work in common, eventually met in Texas. Masons were among
the earliest Anglos to arrive in Texas, including those who came illicitly prior
to legal immigration. When bonafied settlers arrived, Masons among them naturally
wanted to establish lodges.
The first authorization to organize lodges
came from John Henry Holland, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, of
York Rite orientation. Holland sent the first charter as the result of a request
of Masons led by Anson
Jones, and their group was to be known as Holland Lodge No. 36.
The
courier bearing the charter arrived in time to participate in the Battle
of San Jacinto in April 1836, but when he finally delivered it the action
had moved to the new city of Houston,
located on Buffalo Bayou, so that is where Holland lodge was established. Meanwhile,
Holland also sent charters for Milam Lodge No. 40 in Nacogdoches,
named in honor of Ben Milam, who had fallen in the Texas Revolutionary Battle
of San Antonio, and McFarland Lodge No. 41 in San
Augustine. Both began operating in mid-1837.
Then, in December 1837,
members of Holland Lodge hosted a meeting in Houston with a plan to establish
a Grand Lodge of Texas. The lodge in Nacogdoches
sent Adolphus Sterne and other delegates, also authorized to act in behalf of
Masons in San Augustine.
Sam Houston, president of the Republic of Texas, presided at the organizational
meeting, and delegates selected Anson
Jones as Grand Master and Sterne as Deputy Grand Master. In the registry of
the new Grand Lodge, Holland Lodge became No. 1, Milam in Nacogdoches
No. 2, and McFarland in San
Augustine No. 3.
Masonry in Texas, then, was launched in East Texas
"in due and ancient form." |
© Archie P. McDonald
All
Things Historical
February 27, 2006 column
A syndicated column in over 40 East Texas newspapers
(Distributed by the East Texas Historical Association. Archie P. McDonald
is director of the Association and author of more than 20 books on Texas)
See
Texas Masonic Lodges |
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