Holland Lodge

Last updated
Holland Lodge #1 at its current location in Houston, Texas Holland Lodge 1 CIMG7749.JPG
Holland Lodge #1 at its current location in Houston, Texas

Holland Lodge No. 1 AF&AM is the oldest Masonic lodge in Texas and a founding subordinate chapter of the Grand Lodge of Texas. [1] The lodge was originally chartered by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana on 27 January 1836, making it older than the Republic of Texas. [2] It is in the Museum District of Houston, Texas at 4911 Montrose Boulevard. The building was erected in 1954, designed by architect Milton McGinty. The sandstone mural facade depicting the origins of Freemasonry was carved by William M. McVey. [3]

Contents

Lodge history

Texas Historical Marker in Front of Holland Lodge No. 1 A.F.&A.M. Holland1.jpg
Texas Historical Marker in Front of Holland Lodge No. 1 A.F.&A.M.

Founding of Holland Lodge

In March 1835, Anson Jones, John Wharton, Asa Brigham, James Phelps, and Alexander Russell, wishing to formally meet as an organized masonic lodge, met under the Masonic Oak near the burial ground of General John Austin and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for dispensation to organize a lodge in the Texas territory. [4] [5] On December 27, 1835, the dispensation was granted by John Holland, Grand Master of Louisiana. Holland Lodge No. 36 of Louisiana was instituted and opened on the second floor of the old courthouse in Brazoria, Texas. Meetings continued here until March 1836, when Brazoria was abandoned due to events related to the Texas Revolution. During this time, the official charter issued to Holland Lodge #36 was delivered to Texas by John M. Allen of Louisiana Lodge No. 32 and presented to Anson Jones just before the Battle of San Jacinto. [6] This document arrived safely in Brazoria after the battle, but the brethren had dwindled in number post-revolution. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Original Brazoria Courthouse

In November 1837, Anson Jones assembled Masons living near Houston in the Senate Chamber of the original Capitol building (the site of the Rice Hotel and currently The Rice Lofts) [12] and opened Holland Lodge regularly at this location until October 27, 1838. On November 13, 1837, the lodge appointed a committee to meet with members of Nacogdoches and San Augustine to organize the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas. This convention occurred on December 20, 1837 [13] in the Senate Chamber meeting place, presided over by Sam Houston, and included representatives of Milam No. 40 and McFarland No. 41. The Grand Lodge's first session was opened on April 24, 1838 at which time Texas lodges were renumbered according to the dates of dispensation. Thus was established Holland Lodge No. 1, [14] Milam Lodge No. 2, [15] and McFarland Lodge No. 3. By November 1838, other lodges formed under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas, including Temple No. 4 (Houston), [16] St. Johns No. 5 (Brazoria), [17] Harmony No. 6 (Galveston), Matagorda No. 7 (Matagorda), [18] and Phoenix No. 8 (Washington). [7]

The Old Capitol Building

On November 8, 1838, Holland Lodge, Temple Lodge, and the Grand Lodge of Texas (all previously meeting in the crowded Senate Chamber) secured lodge rooms in the upstairs apartments of Kesler's Arcade at 910 Congress Avenue. After a dispute over the rent, the bodies were barred from the building in September 1839 and could not resume labor until February 1840, when they met once again in the Senate Chamber. On June 10, 1840, Holland Lodge agreed to a six-month contract for rooms in the CC Dibble Building at 201 Main Street. During this time, officers of the lodge made a new contract with the heirs of Mr. Kesler and returned to the arcade apartments between February 1841 and January 1847.

The Old Capitol Building on the original site of the Rice Hotel Texas Old Capitol Building.jpg
The Old Capitol Building on the original site of the Rice Hotel

After the turbulent first decade of masonry in Texas, members of Holland Lodge sought to establish a permanent building. Brothers William Marsh Rice and Nichols offered the second story of their new building at 1011 Congress Avenue for five years for the interest on a payment of $1100 which was eventually returned to the lodge. This facility was dedicated on January 16, 1847 and served as the home of Holland Lodge, Houston Chapter #8, and Houston Council #10 until November 23, 1852.

In May 1851, a committee was formed of members from Holland Lodge, Washington Chapter #2, and Ruthven Commandery #2 and submitted a plan for a new three-story building for lodge rooms and a school. By March 1852, a lot had been purchased at the corner of Capitol and Main streets for $600. The erection of the three-story building was contracted for $2500 and completed in October 1852. As planned, the first floor was rented as a school for $20 per month, and the associated bodies met in this new hall until it was destroyed by fire in October 1862. [7]

Notable members

General Sam Houston Samuel houston.jpg
General Sam Houston
William Marsh Rice William Marsh Rice.gif
William Marsh Rice

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freemasonry</span> Group of fraternal organizations

Freemasonry, sometimes spelled Free-Masonry or simply Masonry from 'freestone mason', includes various fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 14th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. Freemasonry is the oldest fraternity in the world and among the oldest continued organizations in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen F. Austin</span> American empresario (1793–1836)

Stephen Fuller Austin was an American-born empresario. Known as the "Father of Texas" and the founder of Anglo Texas, he led the second and, ultimately, the successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families and their slaves from the United States to the Tejas region of Mexico in 1825.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anson Jones</span> Texian politician

Anson Jones was a medical doctor, businessman, member of Congress, and the fourth and last president of the Republic of Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorenzo de Zavala</span> Mexican and Texan politician (1788–1836)

Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala y Sánchez, known simply as Lorenzo de Zavala, was a Mexican and later Tejano physician, politician, diplomat and author. Born in Yucatán under Spanish rule, he was closely involved in drafting the constitution for the First Federal Republic of Mexico in 1824 after Mexico won independence from Spain. Years later, he also helped in drafting a constitution for Mexico's rebellious enemy at the time, the Republic of Texas, to secure independence from Mexico in 1836. Zavala was said to have had a keen intellect and was fluent in multiple languages.

Prince Hall Freemasonry is a branch of North American Freemasonry created for African Americans founded by Prince Hall on September 29, 1784. Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest and largest predominantly African-American fraternity in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Lodge of Texas</span> Freemasonry lodge governing body in Texas, US

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.

Asa Brigham was a Texas politician, businessman and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence (1836), which declared independence from Mexico. He served as Texas Treasurer and mayor of Austin, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rice (Houston)</span> Historic building in Houston, Texas, U.S.

The Rice, formerly the Rice Hotel, is an historic building at 909 Texas Avenue in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. The current building is the third to occupy the site. It was completed in 1913 on the site of the former Capitol building of the Republic of Texas, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The old Capitol building was operated as a hotel until it was torn down and replaced by a new hotel around 1881. Jesse H. Jones built a new seventeen-story, double-winged hotel in 1913, also called "The Rice Hotel." This building underwent major expansions: adding a third wing in 1925, adding an eighteenth floor in 1951, and adding a five-story "motor lobby" in 1958. In addition, there were several renovations during its life as a hotel. It continued to operate as a hotel before finally shutting down in 1977. After standing vacant for twenty-one years, The Rice was renovated as apartments and reopened in 1998 as the Post Rice Lofts. It was sold in 2014 and renamed simply The Rice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Masonic Grand Lodges in North America</span>

This is a chronology of the formation of "regular" or "mainstream" Masonic Grand Lodges in North America, descending from the Premier Grand Lodge of England or its rival, the Antient Grand Lodge of England. A Grand Lodge is the governing body that supervises "Craft" Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction or geographical area.

Continental Freemasonry, otherwise known as Liberal Freemasonry, Latin Freemasonry, and Adogmatic Freemasonry, includes the Masonic lodges, primarily on the European continent, that recognize the Grand Orient de France (GOdF) or belong to CLIPSAS, SIMPA, CIMAS, COMAM, CATENA, GLUA, or any of various other international organizations of Liberal, i.e., Continental Freemasonry. The larger number of Freemasons, most of whom live in the United States–where Regular Freemasonry holds a virtual monopoly–belong to Masonic lodges that recognize the United Grand Lodge of England and do not recognize Continental Freemasons, regarding them as "irregular".

A Research lodge is a particular type of Masonic lodge which is devoted to Masonic research. It is a lodge, and as such has a charter from some Grand Lodge. However, it does not confer degrees, and restricts membership to Master Masons of some jurisdiction in amity with the jurisdiction that the research lodge is in. Related to research lodges are Masonic research societies, which serve the same purpose but function fundamentally differently. There are research lodges in most countries where Freemasonry exists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Lodge of Kentucky</span>

The Grand Lodge of Kentucky is one of two state organizations that supervise Masonic lodges in the state of Kentucky. It was established in 1800.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Branch T. Archer</span> Texian diplomat and politician

Branch Tanner Archer was a Texan who served as Commissioner to the United States and Speaker of the House of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives and Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron County Courthouse (1882)</span> Historic site in Brownsville, Texas

The original Cameron County Courthouse, also known as the Rio Grande Masonic Lodge No. 81, is an historic building located at 1131 East Jefferson Street in Brownsville, Texas. It was designed by architect J. N. Preston in the Second Empire style of architecture. Built between 1882 and 1883 by S. W. Brooks as the first court house of Cameron County, it served as such until 1914 when the 1912 courthouse was completed. It was sold in 1914 to Rio Grande Lodge No. 81, A.F.&A.M., chartered in 1851, which still occupies it along with several appendant Masonic bodies. Its central clock tower and elaborate gabled roof were destroyed in the Labor Day 1933 hurricane and replaced by a flat roof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa Masonic Library and Museum</span> Historic site in Iowa, United States

The Iowa Masonic Library and Museum, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States, is one of the largest Masonic libraries in the world and incorporates at least three museum collections. The library was the first, worldwide, to have its own building, which was constructed in 1884. Its current building, constructed in 1955, also houses the administrative offices for the Grand Lodge of Iowa, one of the governing bodies for Freemasonry in Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Lodge of Missouri</span>

The Grand Lodge of Missouri is one of two statewide organizations, along with a Prince Hall Affiliated grand lodge, that oversee Masonic lodges in the state of Missouri. It was established on April 21, 1821. It is located in Columbia, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevadaville Masonic Temple</span> Building in Colorado, United States

The Nevadaville Masonic Temple is the Masonic lodge building in the ghost town of Nevadaville, Colorado, just outside of Central City, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Worth Masonic Temple</span> United States historic place

The Fort Worth Masonic Temple is a Masonic Temple located at 1100 Henderson Street, Fort Worth, Texas. Designed by Wiley G. Clarkson, the Neoclassical/early PWA Art Moderne structure was completed in 1931 and has largely remained unchanged. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017 as Masonic Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Lodge of New Mexico</span> Masonic lodge

The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free And Accepted Masons of New Mexico is the oldest and largest of the two regular Masonic Grand Lodges in the State of New Mexico. It was founded on August 7, 1877, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zion Lodge No. 1 F&AM</span>

Zion Lodge No. 1 of Free and Accepted Masons, commonly known as Zion No. 1, is a Masonic lodge, or Blue Lodge, that confers the three degrees of Freemasonry, specifically: Entered Apprentice (EA), Fellowcraft (FC), and Master Mason (MM).

References

  1. "Home - The Grand Lodge of Texas". The Grand Lodge of Texas. Archived from the original on 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  2. 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. OCLC 25150924 ASIN B005NMV3TW
  3. "Holland Lodge No. 1 - Wikimapia". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  4. Texas State Historical Survey Committee (1966). "Masonic Oak, State Historical Marker #9573". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  5. "Masonic Oak Marker #2". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. March 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 10, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  6. Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (1936). "San Jacinto Masonic Monument Marker". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Chatham, Walter A. A History of the Masonic Building Association of Houston. 1974. OCLC 4670090 ASIN B002EOD2I2
  8. 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. ISBN   0331284081 , 0331212382 LCCN 09016033 OCLC 34167449 ASIN 0331284081 ASIN2 0331212382
  9. 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. ISBN   1258136171 LCCN 65002193 OCLC 1060560142 ASIN 1258136171 ASIN2 B000RAYKYA
  10. Thompson, Edward (February 10, 1990). " HOLLAND NO. 36 ---Louisiana's Gift to Texas ". Louisiana Lodge of Research. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008.
  11. "History of Masonry in Texas By WM CJ Wright of Holland Lodge". The Houston Post. February 2, 1896. p. 7.
  12. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library. "Former Site of Capitol, Republic of Texas, Houston Historical Marker". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020.
  13. Texas State Historical Survey Committee (1987). "Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F & A.M. State Historical Marker #2248". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on February 10, 2024.
  14. Texas State Historical Survey Committee (1970). "Holland Lodge No. 1 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Texas, State Historical Marker #10686". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023.
  15. Texas Historical Commission (2008). "Milam Lodge #2, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Texas, State Historical Marker #14133". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020.
  16. Texas Historical Commission (1983). "Temple Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M. State Historical Marker #10789". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024.
  17. Texas Historical Commission (1997). "St. John's Lodge No. 5, A.F. & A.M. State Historical Marker". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022.
  18. Texas Historical Commission (1990). "Matagorda Lodge No. 7, A.F. & A.M. State Historical Marker #3252". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022.
  19. Grand Lodge of Texas A.F.& A.M. (1997). "Sam Houston Masonic Historical Marker". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023.
  20. "PGM Anson Jones". Grand Lodge of I.O.O.F of Texas. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023.
  21. "Officers and Grand Master". Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Odd Fellows. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023.
  22. "Ex-Gov. Lubbock is the Oldest Initiated Lone Star Free Mason". Shiner Gazette. May 10, 1899. p. 7.
  23. Cutrer, Thomas (1976). "McLeod, Hugh (1814–1862)". Texas State History Association. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023.
  24. Denslow, William R. (1957). "10,000 Famous Freemasons, Vol. I, A-D" (PDF). latinamericanstudies.org. Independence, Missouri: Missouri Lodge of Research. p. 6. ASIN   B000GLQCH8. OCLC   11337271. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 24, 2023.

Further reading

29°43′44″N95°23′26″W / 29.7290°N 95.3906°W / 29.7290; -95.3906