Texas Masonic History
Masonry has a proud heritage of 171 years of service to the State of Texas and now looks to the future with the hope that a better understanding will allow the lodge to take its rightful place in every Texas community, right alongside of the church, the home, the schools, and the civic organizations as a positive force for good. With this better understanding there is every reason to believe that we can all work together to make our government, schools, and churches even stronger than before. The strength of Texas has always been built upon the combined efforts of all these groups, and the Grand Lodge of Texas has contributed valuable service to our churches, nation, state, and community.
In March 1835, the first Masonic meeting was held in Texas for the purpose of establishing a lodge in Texas. Six Masons met under an oak tree near the town of Brazoria, TX. They applied to the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a dispensation to form and open a lodge. A dispensation was issued and later a charter. This first Texas lodge was called Holland Lodge No. 36. It was named after then Grand Master of Masons in Louisiana, John Henry Holland. Anson Jones was the first Worshipful Master of Holland Lodge No. 36, which is now titled Holland Lodge No. 1. The charter was brought by John M. Allen and given to Anson Jones just prior to the battle of San Jacinto.
Two more Texas lodges were formed in 1837 and were also given dispensation and charter by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, Milam Lodge No. 40 in Nacogdoches, TX and McFarland Lodge No. 41 in San Augustine, TX. These two lodges, together with Holland Lodge No. 36, sent representatives to meet in Houston and established the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas. The convention elected Anson Jones the first Grand Master of Masons in Texas. It should be noted that Anson Jones was also the fourth and final President of the Republic of Texas, prior to becoming a state.
There are now over 122,000 Masons in Texas with a total of 914 lodges. How we have grown in those 171 years! We look forward optimistically to the future of Masonry and trust that its proud heritage will be built upon in the years to come in ways that will continue to serve and honor the great State of Texas of which we are a part.
History of Anson Jones Lodge
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
— Genesis 1:1-3
On November 3, 1965, thirteen Master Masons met in the Mayor’s Chambers of Friendswood City Hall. The purpose of the meeting was to have an informal discussion regarding the possibility of forming a Masonic lodge in the City of Friendswood, Texas. Brother Richard Boyer kept informal records of the meeting. Brothers W.A. Brooke and D.F. Prince (Past Master, League City #1053) jointly assisted in conducting the meeting. The procedures and outlines for forming the lodge were explained by these brethren. On that evening the foundations were laid and the beginnings of Friendswood Lodge became a reality. The next meeting was held on November 11, 1965, with further discussions regarding the Lodge’s formation. From this date until the summer of 1966, meetings were held and correspondence began with the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas obtaining forms and receiving proper instructions regarding formation of the Lodge.
First Officers
“And behold I propose to build a house unto the name Of the Lord my God”
— 1 Kings 5:5
“And he set up the pillars on the porch of the temple: And he set up the right pillar and called the name Joachim And he set up the left pillar and called the name there of Boaz.”
— 1 Kings 7:21
On January 18, 1966, nominations for the future officers of Friendswood Lodge were held. Officers nominated were:
William A. Brooke as Worshipful Master
B.R. Baker as Senior Warden
A.J Block, Jr. as Junior Warden
E.W. Brautigam as Treasurer
R.J. Boyer as Secretary
C.R. Harper as Chaplain
K.R. Toon as Senior Deacon
N.H. Acuff as Junior Deacon
H.D. Wagner as Senior Steward
E.H. Brundrett as Junior Steward
R.D. Welch as Tiler
After numerous meetings, Friendswood Lodge was becoming more and more of a reality. On January 28, 1966, Right Worshipful Frank Middleton, District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic District 31-A, made a formal request to Most Worshipful H.W. Fullingim (Grand Master, 1966-67) to set Friendswood Lodge to work in due and proper form. The Grand Master immediately replied with instruction on the immediate formation of a regular lodge under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas. Several months of anxious waiting were in store for the new lodge. Finally, on June 14, 1966, Grand Master Fullingim advised that the application for Friendswood Lodge U.D. be approved and that the lodge would be set to work on July 29, 1966. Dispensation forms dated June 14, 1966 were received by Friendswood Lodge appointing Brothers W.A. Brooke as the first Worshipful Master, B.R. Baker as the first Senior Warden, and N.H. Acuff as the first Junior Warden. On July 29, 1966 a Master Masons lodge was opened in Pearland Lodge #1384, Pearland, TX, for the purpose of setting to work Friendswood Lodge #1416. A reception was held for friends and relatives in the Friendswood High School Cafeteria with approximately 250 people in attendance. Grand Master H.W. Fullingim gave Pearland Lodge permission for Friendswood Lodge to hold their meetings in the Pearland Lodge until a suitable location could be obtained.
Friendswood Lodge set to work with much determination. On November 1, 1966, Mr. G.V. Greathouse was initiated into the 1st degree of Masonry. Brother Greathouse was passed on March 21, 1967 and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on April 18, 1967, thereby becoming the first Master Mason raised by Friendswood Lodge #1416. Unknown to those attending on April 18, 1967, Brother Greathouse would become the first Worshipful Master of Friendswood Lodge to have received all the Blue Lodge degrees in Friendswood. Upon direct request of Most Worshipful J.D. Tomme, Jr. (Grand Master, 1967-68), Right Worshipful J.W. Chandler, Deputy Grand Master, formally constituted Friendswood Lodge #1416 AF & AM on December 17, 1966. Approximately one year after the first informal meetings, Friendswood Lodge #1416 AF & AM was at work. Enjoying the initial success, the founding brethren would continue their efforts that would later result in the acquisition of a property and their own lodge building.
Original Lodge Building
“And Solomon had three score and ten thousand that bore Burdens and four score thousand hewers in the mountains .. ..three thousand three hundred which ruled over the people that wrought the work.”
–1 Kings 5:15-16
After meeting for several months at Pearland Lodge, Friendswood Lodge attempted to obtain their own lodge building. Since the lodge was new and the membership small, this would be quite an undertaking. It was learned that the U.S. Government was taking bids on surplus buildings located at Ellington Air Force Base near Friendswood. After careful consideration a bid was made “as is, where is” in the amount of $550.90. On May 31, 1967 the U.S. Government informed the Lodge they were the successful bidder, Friendswood Lodge had a home.
After considerable negotiation with the U.S. Government and Messrs. Olshans, a local house moving firm, the building was moved from Ellington Field to its present location, 110 Willowick Ave., Friendswood, Texas, on July 10, 1967. Once again the brethren were called upon to set forth their time, energy, and money for the refurbishing of the old building. A joint effort made by many of the original brethren resulted in the completion of the “temple”. Brother Ellis W. Grisham, Sr., District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District 31-A, formally inspected the lodge building on behalf of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas on October 27, 1967. He advised the Grand Lodge immediately that the Lodge was properly constructed and masonically secure. He recommended that Friendswood Lodge be immediately granted dispensation. He ended his opine stating the brethren of Friendswood Lodge accomplishments to date were remarkable in view of the short time they had been organized.
November 7, 1967 – First meeting was held in the present lodge building.
April 15, 1968 – Most Worshipful J.W. Chandler (Grand Master, 1968-69) formally dedicated the Friendswood temple in accordance with ancient usages and customs and in full compliance with the Laws of the Grand Lodge of Texas.
The following Grand Lodge members or representatives were in attendance:
J.W. Chandler as Grand Master
T.E. Briggs as Deputy Grand Master
A.C. Tircuit as Grand Sr. Warden
E.N. Squyres as Grand Jr. Warden
J.M. Davis as Grand Treasurer
C.F. Spencer as Grand Secretary
D.B. Little as Grand Chaplain
W.A. Brooke as Grand Orator
F.D. Middleton as Grand Marshall
D.F. Prince as Grand Sr. Deacon
M.L. Shaw as Grand Jr. Deacon
E.W. Brautigam as Grand Sr. Steward
B.R. Baker as Grand Jr. Steward
W.W. Carter as Grand Pursuivant
Virgil Griffin as Grand Tiler
The following gifts were donated to the Lodge before or just subsequent to the dedication of the Lodge:
July 29, 1966 – Brother R.E. McBride, PM Angleton Lodge #829 presented gavels for each of the officer’s stations. These gavels were handmade by Brother McBride from the Masonic Oak. A Holy Bible for the altar, the bible was donated by Mrs. H. Gary Hollis in memory of H. Gary Hollis a member of Order of the Eastern Star Lodge #284 in Groveton, Texas. Walter M. Pierson Lodge #1339 presented the poem “Last Night I Knelt Where Hiram Knelt.” The poem was framed in aluminum plating with an inscribed aluminum plaque.
January 17, 1967 – Brother C.F. Spencer, PM of Pearland Lodge #1384 donated the three burning tapers.
May 16, 1967 – Brother W.R. Whipkey of Friendswood Lodge #1416 fashioned from wood the Lodge’s present Working Tools and the case. These tools and case are handmade and are the work of a master craftsman. They are exquisite and unique in this area.
October 3, 1967 – Twenty-one chairs for the lodge were obtained.
October 17, 1967 – Brother J.R. Bencal, Jr. reported aprons for the Lodge were being made by Mrs. Jo Nita Bencal.
January 16, 1968 – Brother T.H. Roberts, Worshipful Master of Alvin Lodge #762, presented the Square and Compasses for the Holy Bible. Brother R.F. Bahler presented the aluminum receiving tools.
March 5, 1968 – Brother Ken Toon obtained the stove for the Lodge. Brother J.R. May obtained two refrigerators.
March 19, 1968 – Mr. and Mrs. F.S. Kennebrew presented the Lodge with a set of Mackeys Encyclopedias.
Just before and during the spring of 1967, Brother C.R. Harper constructed the two entrance pillars, the officer’s chairs and the altar. All of the furnishings are hand constructed or hand tooled. Friendswood Lodge has the distinction of being the only Lodge in the area with furnishings constructed by one of its own Lodge members. The construction of these furnishings was only one of several significant accomplishments by Brother Harper. He continued to pursue his Masonic career by subsequently becoming Friendswood Lodge’s first Certificate Holder, Master of the Lodge for 1970-71 and District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 31A for 1974.
As Friendswood Lodge continued to grow it had almost doubled its membership by June of 1970. On February 9, 1971, Brother Harper made formal application to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas to incur an indebtedness so the Lodge could purchase the land where the Lodge building is presently located. Most Worshipful J.W. Steed (Grand Master, 1970-71) replied to the application on March 6, 1971, stating that after review of all documentation presented he would not recommend that the application for indebtedness be accepted. Once again the brethren were called upon to give of their time, energy, and money to maintain the Lodge.
In order for the purchase of the property to be made, each brother of the Lodge was solicited and asked if they would pledge regular donations to support a plan to purchase the property. Upon recurring positive reactions from the brethren, Brothers G.V. Greathouse, M.L. Abbe, W.B. Patton, and C.R. Harper formed the Keystone Trust, which was formed to receive funds from the pledges which would be applied to the note on the property. It was signed by each member of the trust. Upon liquidation of the note, the Keystone Trust will transfer the property to the Lodge. At this writing the brethren have been solicited in an effort to relieve the four brothers from as much of their obligation as possible by promoting $200 cash donations on behalf of the Keystone Trust.
The Masons in Friendswood, desired to form their own Masonic Lodge. They did. The Masons in Friendswood desired to purchase an old Air Force barracks building and form it into a Masonic Temple. They did. The Masons in Friendswood desire to own the property on which the Lodge now stands and someday build another edifice. When the next historian of Friendswood Lodge takes pen in hand to write Decade II, it is a certainty he will place after the sentence desire to do–They did.
“That cement which unites us into one sacred band or society of Friends and Brothers among whom no contention should ever exist except that noble contention or rather emulation of who can best work and best agree.”
— John H. Roberts III (Friendswood, TX – June 1974)
BROTHERLY LOVE - RELIEF - TRUTH 