HISTORY OF TEMPLE #4

historical marker

In order to get a complete history of Temple Lodge #4 we must go back to the original Grand Lodge of Texas which was organized by Holland Lodge #1 in Houston, Milam Lodge #2 in Nacogdoches and Redland Lodge #3 in San Augustine.  There are several stories as to why the original Temple Lodge #4 was organized but the most likely reason we have been able to determine is as follows:

The distances between the three original lodges was so great and travel so difficult that the Grand Lodge was unable to have a quorum at its meetings.  The Grand Lodge minutes disclose numerous times that a quorum was not present when called and that the Grand Master at the time had to appoint a Master Mason in good standing to represent the absent lodge.  This ensured the Grand Lodge of a quorum and thus they were able to transact business.

The story goes that the original Temple Lodge #4, which was established in 1838 with eight charter members, was constituted in order that the Grand Lodge might be assured of a quorum when meeting.  The lodge only lasted about eighteen months and voluntarily disbanded.  However, during its short life it conducted the first Masonic funeral on Texas soil. Volume 1, pages 37 & 38 of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas contain a detailed account of that funeral as reported to the Grand Lodge by the Secretary of temple Lodge #4. In which, it is recited that Temple Lodge met in the Senate Chamber, opened a Master Mason's Lodge, assembled in procession and marched to the funeral home where the body of Brother Collingswood was met.  They escorted the body to the cemetery and laid him to rest with Masonic Honors.

The current Temple Lodge #4 was set to work on December 29, 1914, with 115 charter members in the Scottish Rite Temple, by Brother Frank C. Jones, Sr., Special Deputy for Brother Jewel P. Lightfoot, Grand Master.  Present at the constitution of Temple Lodge #4 were the following brethren: 74 brothers from Temple Lodge #4, 63 from Holland Lodge #1, 21 from Gray Lodge #329, 21 from Reagan Lodge #1037, with 52 others, making a total of 231.

Temple Lodge first met in the Scottish Rite Temple at Main and McKinney from June 12,1915 until April 16, 1918.  Then in the Scottish Rite Temple at Polk and Caroline from April 19,1918 until August 12,1924.

(To be continued.)