Important Dates
September
09/04 - Labor Day
09/11 - Officer Practice
09/11 - School Of Instruction
09/13 - Regular Communication
09/16 - 2nd Saturday Coffee
09/18 - Officer Practice
09/18 - School Of Instruction
09/20 - Possible Degree
09/23 - Family Community Service Day
09/25 - Officer Practice
09/25 - School Of Instruction
09/27 - Possible Degree
Upcoming Activities
10/02 - 212th GL Communication
10/05 - GL Installation
10/21 - Movie Night
10/22 - Battleship New Jersey
10/28 - Spiritual Gathering
12/02 - Ladies At The Table
Check the website for any date changes and also see Calendar page
Important Dates
September
Upcoming Activities
Check the website for any date changes and also see Calendar page
St. John's Shout Out!
Holland Lodge # 1 A F & A M
Houston, Texas
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. 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 and presented to Anson Jones just before the Battle of San Jacinto. This document
arrived safely in Brazoria after the battle, but the brethren had dwindled in number post revolution.
In November 1837, Anson Jones assembled Masons living near Houston in the Senate Chamber of the original
Capitol building (the site of the Rice
St. John's Shout Out!
Houston, Texas
Hotel and currently the Rice Lofts) 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 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, Milam Lodge No. 2,
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), St. Johns No. 5 (Brazoria), Harmony
No. 6 (Galveston), Matagorda No. 7 (Matagorda), and Phoenix No. 8 (Washington).
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.
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 1
852, 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.
The current 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.
The lodge's massive sandstone mural facade over the entrance, rendered in heroic Art Deco style by
William MvVey (although the building dates from the 1950s), certainly fits this historic lodge and its
grand building.
Texans will recognize the standing figure of Anson Jones as he hands the charter of the lodge to fellow
Masons at the oak tree where Sam Houston accepted Santa Anna's surrender. Jones had carried the lodge's
charter in his saddlebags at the battle of San Jacinto.
Notable Members
Sam Houston - Hero of San Jacinto, President of the Republic of Texas, Governor of Texas and Tennessee, US Senator
Anson Jones - Last President of the Republic of Texas, First Grand Master of Texas
David G. Burnet - 1st President of the Republic of Texas (interim), Vice President of the Republic of Texas, Secretary of State of Texas
James Fannin - Commander of the Texas Army at Goliad
Juan Seguin - Tejano Patriot
Benjamin Franklin Terry - Founder and Commander of Terry's Texas Rangers
William Marsh Rice - Founder of Rice University
Ben Taub - Philanthropist essential for the University of Houston and Baylor College of Medicine
Ross S. Sterling - Founder of Humble Oil (Precursor to Exxon) and 31st Governor of Texas
Holland Masonic Lodge #1
4911 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX 77006
