Who Were The Masons?
The Masons belong to a fraternal organization whose membership has included many famous founders of both the United States and Texas. The first attempt to establish Masonry in Texas came in 1828 when Stephen F. Austin and six other Masons attempted to obtain a charter from the Grand York Lodge of Mexico. Their request was not granted. In 1835, Dr. Anson Jones and five other Masons met secretly in Brazoria to draft a request to the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a charter. The Grand Master there, John Henry Holland, granted their request, and the lodge was named in his honor — the Holland Lodge. The lodge was moved to Houston in 1837. Later that same year, Texas Masons formed the Grand Lodge of Texas and returned the charters of the three existing lodges to Louisiana. Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas, was elected the first Grand Master. Many Masons participated in the struggle for Texas independence. Many Texas military and political leaders were Masons, including
