Freemasonry in Texas

Recently a friend returned from holiday in Texas and brought back some interesting information on the early struggles of the Texans seeking Independence from Mexico. Many of these famous Texans were Freemasons, these founding fathers not only gave their names to Texas cities but in many cases also gave their lives.

The history of the State of Texas and the Masons who shaped its course of history are so interwoven that they cannot be separated.

A beloved Masonic historian, Harry L. Haywood, once said, " Texas is truly the daughter of Masonry," and for that many other reasons, the Masons of Texas have much to be proud of.

The first known Mason to come to Texas was Major Z.M. Pike, in 1806. At the time Americans were granted rights to settle in the new territory, Freemasonry was well established among the educated classes of Mexican society. It had been introduced among the aristocracy. 

Since 1820`s many settlers from the United States had colonized Texas; by the 1830`s they far outnumbered the Texas Mexicans. The Mexican Antonio Lopez de Snta Anna (himself a Freemason) attempted to reverse this trend by such measures as abolishing slavery and enforcing the collection of customs duties. The settlers rebelled. Fully aware of the political philosophies of American Masons, the Mexican Government outlawed Masonry in Texas in 1828. Freemasonry was not so much the instrument of political change, as it was simply the most natural forum for the exemplification of those principals and tenets that free men held most dear. 

So it was that, in March 1835, five Master Masons met in Brazoria and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a charter to form a Lodge in Texas. One year later, on March 1st. 1836, Sam Houston and 58 other delegates rode into Washington-on -the Brazos for a Convention to declare independence from Mexico. Twenty two of these delegates were Masons. By the next day they had drafted the Declaration of Independence from Mexico and was unanimously accepted and bravely signed by men who knew they might well be signing their own death warrants. The Convention appointed Sam Houston (a Freemason) Commander in Chief of the Texas Army. On the 6th. March 1836, Houston left to take command of the troops, on that day other famous Masons lost their lives, as the Alamo fell to the Mexican Army.

The Alamo played a critical role in the Texas Revolution. The defenders

held out against overwhelming odds to give Houston much needed time

to organise the newly formed Army. Some of the most famous who died

were Freemasons, Colonel William Barret Travis, James Bowie (inventor

of the famous "Bowie knife"), Davy Crockett (Frontiersman and Tennessee

Volunteer). It is also interesting to note that four Scots also fought and died in the battle. From the Declaration of Independence from Mexico and the Constitution to the event of Texas joining the United States, Masons took most of the major parts. 

Every President and Vice President of the Republic of Texas were Masons, as the first governor. Every chief justice of the Republic was a Mason. Fifteen Masons were in the first House of Representatives and seven were in the Senate, and eleven in the executive branch. Thirty one governors of Texas were Masons. Two of the governors also served as Grand Masters.

The Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas was formed on 20th. Dec. 1837, in the Senate Chambers in Houston. Representatives of the three Lodges then chartered in Texas met, and Sam Houston presided.

Anson Jones was elected as the first Grand Master. Stephen F. Austin one of the most prominent Freemasons of his time and Father of Texas died before the Grand Lodge met for the first time on 16th. April 1838. The National emblem, the Lone Star, was chosen from among emblems selected by Freemasonry, to illustrate the moral virtues, it is a five pointed star, and alludes to the five points of fellowship.