San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-02

sons had in founding same, Whlcl
was written by Miss Laura Niece
OF Marshall. has been secured and re
leased for p-jlicati0n. Miss Niece
is the daughter of ii. W. McGiec. !
Mason of Marshall. The story fol
lows:
The history of the Masonic Or
der in Texas and the history of IeNa,
education are intimately connected.
says Miss Niece. In order 10 trace
the growth of Masonry in Texas, W.
must go back Ia Mexico. where IT was
introduced by the old Spanish clerical
aristocracy about 1NO6. However
this effort was >hOrt-llved. About
1909 or 1910 all traces were lost and
we see no more of it until about $50
when Masonry was rcintroduced into
Mexico by the Hon. Joel Roberts
Poinsett. the Cuitcd States minister
TO Mexico. Five lodges were organ
lied a. the Grand Lodge of Mexico.
Again it was temporarily doomed. Po-
litical strife caused its demise IN
1S29-30.
In 1896 five Master MasonS,
after various interviews and much de-
liberation. resolved 10 take measures
10 establish Il lodge in TcSas. These
men. John II. Wharton. Asa Brigham.
James 4. l.. phelpS. Alexander Rus
>sell and Arson Jones. gathered III
Brazoria Mt 4 very secluded spot, one
morning in March. 1850. for their
first formal meeting. \ petition '.aS
drawn up and signed by them. which
was forwarded TO the Grand Lodge Of
Louisiana. After some delay the dis
pensation was granted and Holland
Lodge. No. SO. 1. D.. was instituted
and opened AT Brazoria. December "a.
1850. Tho lodge was abandoned Feb
ruaTy. 1886. when Urea and a de-
tachment OF the Mexican army took
the place. Everything was destroyed.
"a the meantime the Grand Lodge OF
Louisiana had issued the charter To
Holland Lodge. No. &c. This char
ter and papers went through the bat
tic of San .IacintO. and were finally
taken to BrazOria. Meanwhile death
had so decreased the number Oi mem
hcrs that no attcmUt was made L. re-
vive the lodge ut Brazoria. In Octo-
lar. 1881. however. it was reUpenej
in Houston. Meanwhile Milan Lodge
at NacogdocheS and McFariauc Lodge
1T San Augustine had been chartered.
Delegates from these and HOLLAND
Lodge met in Houston in convention
in the winter Of 1878. BY advice
and direction. these three subordinate
lodges transferred their allegiance
from the Louisiana Grand Lodge and
formed the Grand Lodge Of Texas.
The first official evidence of the
realization. by the Grand Lodge. Of
the importance and pressing need OF
education in Texas is found in the
following statement Of the commit
tee on foreign correspondence in lS4S.
"Thc subject Of education is one Of
peculiar interest To, the fraternity. In
several states efficient measures have
been adopted for the establishment OF
schools and colleges under the patron
age of their grand lodges. and in Ken
lucky and Missouri have been attend
cd with distinguished success.
But II especially devolveS upon the
Masonic fraternity as a sacred duty
growing out Of the principles Of their
institutions to advance by every
means in their power the cause Of cdu-
cation and particularly 10 educating
those of their own household. The
Grand Master Of Tennessee urges the
adoption Of some system of education
that shall reach the wants Of all poor
and destitute children of MasOnS in
the state. so that no Mason's child
shall be reared in ignorance.
we as Texans can be justly proud
OF the munificcnt provision made by
our state for tho future education Of
her children. Ii would be n noble
rivalry for us to engage emulOusly
with her in this noble enterprise"
The "munificcnt provision made by
our state" referred TO was the lands
set apart for education by the Con
grcss of the republic in 1850 and
1910. and the clause Of the constitu-
ton OF 1915 which provides for n sy+-
TEN of free schools by taxation. In
Spitc of these provisions. however.
nothing had been done by the state.
The people of Texas had either not
yet reached the stage of realizing the
value of n public system Of education,
or were not in a position to work out
the machinery of general public
school system.
As a result Of discussion at the
Eleventh Annual Communication.
held in Austin. January. 1913. a reSo-
luton was adopted which read as fol-
lows: "Resolvcd. that the VI. W.
Grand Master shall appoint some com
petent and worthy Master Mason 10
be styled Superintendent Of cdIcation
under the jurisdiction of the grand
lodge. 10 hold appointment during
good behavior and the pleasure of the
grand lodge. 10 have: a custody
and management of the educational
fund. created by the constitution OF
this grand lodge: (2l To have general
nF alI mi
and to report at each communication
the amount and interest aud condi-
ton of this fund. 60 to recommend
advisable measures: a. TO perform
other duties given him by the grand
lodge
One OF the first Of these schools
to be chartered was the Masonic Fe-
male Institute in Marshall. which was
granted power TO confer degrees in
1850. This school may be considered
typical.
1t was under the control Of an
executive board of managers. appointed
by Marshall Lodge No. -. At the
second session which began October
-. 1850. we find a faculty Of five
teachers. with the Rev. 4. i. Wilson
as president and Mrs. Emma Boufrcy.
who had previously conducted young
ladies' school. as vice-principal.
The fact that interest in education
was spreading among other lodges is
witnessed by Il newspaper notice in
April. 1851. This article calls the
attention Of the Marshall htcrati to
The fact that the Red Land Herald an
nounces that the Red Land Lodge at
San At10uctina uppdad ta.phare l.
goes on TO say. 1T will at least be in
tcrcsting to the numerous Masons Of
this place to see Red Land Lodge