A Bit Of History.............................................
Freemasonry has a proud heritage of 175 years of
service to the State of
Texas . The strength of Texas has always
been built upon the combined efforts of all , and the
Grand Lodge of Texas has contributed valuable service to our
churches, our nation, our state and our 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. 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, now 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, also given dispensation and
charter by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, They were Milam Lodge No.
40 in Nacogdoches, and McFarland Lodge No. 41 in San Augustine. Both
were formed in 1837. 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 the fourth and final President
of the Republic of Texas, prior to it becoming a state.
