The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-30
a, ]. BURKE.
Aaryssat II 1st-

At $50 O'clock, the large number pres
ent assembled in the room OF Holland
lodge in Masonic Temple, ana then
marched TO the banquet room. the asylum
of Ruthven comm andery No. ?, Knights
Templars. being for the time converted
into an entertainment hall. The room
was decorated with smilax, the green
leaves and spries hanging from every
conc elvable place II WAS brilliantly
lighted and upon four long tables were
covers for 100. Past Master >. {. Drew
presided at the east end II the banquet
Z board, his chair being beneath A Gutter
ing cross of fire. Upon his -i--nt were
Hon. Frank r. Lubbock, Robert brewster
( and a. ]. Burke. Directly opposite the
\ toastmaster was Rev. G. c. Rankin. who
opened the proceedings with a supp!ica-
!. ton to the Deity to guide the footsteps
Z OF every one 10 path OF righteousness.
\ and to bless All present. All were then
] invited TO seats to partake OF the viands
prepared for them.
Y When everyone had partaken Of refresh
4 ments Mr.. Drew raped for order and
I said:
'Brethren;-We are assembled tonight.
as Masons TO pay a slight tribute to the
Epresence of our = mi-centennial brothers OF
y Holland Lodge, No. !. The Mother Of
Il Masonry in Texas. II is not my purpose
4 10 make you an address. nor can 1 hope
\ 10 add anything 20 the Joy Of this gather
4 ing; but say this is an occasion that rare
~ falls 10 the lot Of any organization. That
B four OF our members have sat around
u .se same altar. under the sound OF same
"A 1yel, for fifty consecutive years or more.
III G fact that doubtless strikes US with
eJurprise when we think OF the short period
Nof time allotted ia man. But. let the
x Thoughts in our minds tonight be Of a
Upright and joyful nature. Whatever the
alconficts Of the past should we not all
ir-na iza hg In
Masonry. and let us so live that we may
4sapply our hearts unto wisdom. that our
idays may be long upon the land that our
la1-ord God has given uS. In closing. / will
show TO you the initial gavel that was
ssused to call Holland Lodge together In
sths early days OF its existence. II has
4been preservsu through all these yelrs'
Here the speaker held up a small rough
xswooden gavel which showed the marks OF
1time.
n All standing, Past Master Drew pro
opposed least 10 the Grand Lodge Of Texas
land called upon Past Grand Master Johr
WATSON, now Grand secretary TO respond
n Brethren" said Mr.. Watson, TO b,
#atle 10 respond in fitting manner 20 IN,
5stcest presented would require one far nor.
Aable than myself TO discuss the question
MThe Grand Lodge OF Texas rs a thing abou
(Which so much might be sad that II han
e3dled by the proper individual would re
#not lolg-winded and therefore viii no
defain you long. In the carly days. whcI
Texas was a wild srness, there were a lev
x3patriots who. feeling and believing tina
1t should he wrestcd from the power the,
3hayinC Il In duress and should become ,
Efand OF liberty. banded together, ana b-
sSlnited efforts. stained with the blood O
9partyrs. set up Republic. II was no
san easy task, but failure was unknown Il
sahe men OF that day. After long year
M,f privaton the erd was accomplished
and Texas-beloved Texas-vast in her ter
%ritory and rich in her natural possessions
txas wrcsted from the yoke Of Mexica
ssrjsriie and became a free and indeperd
(. sent Republic. Those same patriots wh
sbelled against the dominion OF the Re
bubble 10 the south of us. saw TT TO ee
tablish the Grand Lodge of Texas. a. L
Nard A. NJ. There were only three lodge
Hr Texas at that time, Holland No 3
Milan No. 40 and Mcfarland No. Al. a
being subordinate 10 the Grand Lodge {
&<ouisiana. Holland was the first orpar
ICED. 1t required only three lodges
sprocure dlspensauon TO organize
GRAND lodge, and representatives OF thes
1honeers In the cause OF Masonry met he,
In Houston In the senate chamber Of N
ni7epublic of Texas, December ~ lSJ. J'f
tlrst meeting Of the Grand Lodge was
AApril, 1853. and the officers were Unstable
Inlay II. 1888. Arson Jones being the fir,
grand muster. In 1885 there were only a
4 sdas1ns In Texas. but that small band .
t1rothers formed nucleus. and as II
kfrrs have rolled on the number has 4,
z 41eased. until now the total number in n
lone Star State Is shown by the II,
3lgures-2 .A1. The Grand Lodge of rexa
&ny brethren, was not organized In peac
III was In troublesome times that the sma
Xnthortng was held which formulated ii
NJ XEgaiAsation; Il was In a time when tr,
Xnen were required. men with hearts