| |
SAN GABRIEL MASONIC LODGE #89
Narrative - -Researched
and Written by:
Jackson Daugherty,
Secretary San Gabriel Lodge (1994-1995)
The act to create Williamson
County was approved by the Texas Legislature on March
13,
1848. Three years later the first Masonic Lodge in the
county was established in the new county seat of
Georgetown. [1] Dispensation for San Gabriel Lodge UD
(Under Dispensation) was granted on May 18, 1851 by A.
Neill, District Deputy for the Most Worshipful Grand
Master of Masons in Texas. [2] On May 22, 1851 the Lodge
was duly consecrated. John T. Cox, a Methodist clergyman
born in South Carolina in 1803, was installed as
Worshipful Master. James R. Armstrong (1812-1881) was
Senior Warden. [3] Born in Kentucky, Armstrong was an
attorney who settled near Jasper, Texas by 1836. A
private in Capt. James Chessher's Jasper Volunteers, he
fought at the Battle of San Jacinto; represented the
Fourth Congress of the Republic of Texas from 1836 to
1840; fought with the Confederate army during the Civil
War; and served as a member of the Constitutional
Convention in 1868-69. [4] Brother E. F. Story was
Junior Warden, and Brother Charles C. Cook (born 1805 in
South Carolina) was elected Secretary. Also attending
this meeting were C. C. Arnett and Joseph Rubarth. Born
in Prussia in 1797, Rubarth held several offices in the
Lodge before his death in 1867. [5] He was buried on his
farm near Lake Granger about 3.5 miles west of Hare.
On January 23, 1852 San
Gabriel Lodge was issued a Charter as San Gabriel Lodge
#89 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and the following
officers were elected: John T. Cox,
Worshipful Master; James Armstrong, Senior Warden; E. T.
Story, Junior Warden; I.K. Branch, Treasurer; N. B.
Johnson, Secretary, Sam Mather, SD; Joseph Rubarth, JD,
and Mr. Fleming, Tiler. [2 & 3]
Beginning with this first
historic meeting, the Lodge enjoyed a period of active
growth. Three petitions were received on May 22, 1851
and these petitions were initiated on June 21, 1851 when
two petitions and a Demit from an Entered Apprentice
Mason from Clinton Lodge #23 were received. On July 19,
1851 the first three Entered Apprentices were examined
in open Lodge, and their proficiencies accepted. Six new
petitions were read and assigned to committees at this
meeting, and the records show increasing numbers of new
members for many months. The lure of the California gold
fields is reflected in the minutes of March 22, 1852
when Brother James A. Beardsley applied for and was
granted a Demit, being on his way to California. [3]
In October 1851, a contract
was signed to build a "Lodge Room" on the "Rock House"
of the Lodge. In January 1852, the "owner of a certain
stone house" located on the southwest corner of Brushy
and Oak Streets (present Austin Avenue and 8th Street)
gave consent to the Lodge to build a frame structure on
top of the stone walls for $5.00. In 1857 the Lodge was
still meeting in the same building; but by this time the
lower floor was a saloon and ten pin alley. In May 1858
the Lodge purchased property on the east side of the
square for $1,000. Members voted to rent the lower floor
of the building for $15. The Eastern Star was permitted
to use the Lodge room. A lot and shed secured for the
horses and wagons of Lodge members was eventually
developed into one of Georgetown's busiest livery
stables. [5]
In 1876 the Lodge moved to a
room on the northwest corner of the square which they
rented from David Love. Still another move took place in
1878 to a two story frame structure at the northeast
corner of the square (present Main and 7th Street), and
in 1900 Belford Lumber Company was engaged to build a
two story stone building at that site. The cornerstone
for
this new Lodge building was laid on July 6, 1900. When
the big hurricane struck Galveston
in late August, damaging winds reached as far as
Georgetown and Belford purchased 2x4, 2x6 and 2x8 lumber
from every lumber yard in the county to use in shoring
up the partially finished Lodge building. [5]
At our one hundredth year
milestone we were honored to have the Grand Master of
the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas and other Grand Lodge
Officers, as well as many noted
guests at a Grand Banquet in celebration of this event.
[5]
Our second century began with
plans for a new Lodge building. By November 1981 the old
Lodge building was sold, with the provision that the
Lodge could have occupancy until August 1, 1982 to
provide time to locate a site and erect a new Lodge
building. By early 1982 the foundation of a new Lodge
Hall was laid at 810 North College Avenue. The first
meeting at this location was held on August 1, 1982 when
Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Texas, Jimmy
Wilson, Leveled the cornerstone and consecrated the new
building. [1]
On February 1, 1885 San
Gabriel Lodge #89, along with Austin and Hill City Lodge
of Austin assisted in laying the cornerstone of the
State Capitol in Austin. With the assistance of
representatives of the MW Grand Lodge of Masons in
Texas, Lodge members laid the cornerstone of the "Free
School Building" on December 10, 1884; and San Gabriel
Lodge #89
arranged for the MW Grand Lodge of Masons in Texas to
lay the cornerstone of the Williamson County Courthouse
on October 6, 1910. [5]
On December 13, 1912 San
Gabriel Masonic Lodge #89 made the first concerted
effort to
obtain photographs of all the Past Masters. Again on
January 11, 1982 the Lodge continued the procurement of
these photographs, which now grace the walls of our
dining room. [1]
At the time of our Lodge's
beginning there were few schools in Williamson County.
Throughout the span of time, we as Masons are proud of
our association with the education of our youth. Many
past and present Masons have given freely of their time
and talents to make our system of education in
Georgetown a vital and dynamic institution by serving on
the Boards of Education, as superintendents, teachers,
and interested patrons; to uphold the public school as a
place of learning, and to instill in our children the
ideal that the public school is truly democracy in
action. The Lodge is proud that we have been able to
start and maintain, from 1988 through the present school
year, a scholarship fund whereby we are now able to
assist worthy students from Georgetown High School to
advance his or her education.
Reflecting on the one hundred
and forty six (146) years of our existence, we pay
homage to those Masons who took the precepts of our
gentle order and so greatly influenced our Lodge
and community through their dedication to God and
County. To read the yellowed pages of the minute books
instills a sense of having tread on hallowed ground, and
one can almost feel the presence of those dedicated and
stalwart early Masons.
Thus we close this look at
our past with humble pride, knowing that in a definite
way, we as Masons, have influenced our country, our
state and our community by the dreams we dream, the
lives we live, and the efforts we put forth for the
betterment of our fellow man.
Researched and Written by:
Jackson
Daugherty, Secretary San Gabriel Lodge (1994-1995)
|
|
Williamson County 