Who & When were the first Lodges of Texas Organized?
Under the leadership of Captain W.D.Mathews, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Kansas, Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons were established in Texas in 1871 and 1873 to wit:
- San Antonio Lodge # 22
- Magnolia Lodge #24
- Mt. Bonnell Lodge #2
- Galveston Lodge #25
- Mt. Lebanon – Lodge #26
These were the first Negro Free and Accepted Masonic Lodges organized in Texas
When & Who Organized the Grand Lodge In Texas?
In the early part of June, 1875, N.W. Cuney, D.G.M., and Richard Allen, DDGM, acting under the authority of the Kansas Jurisdiction, issued a call requesting the above-named Lodges to send representatives on August 19, 1875, to meet with Mount Lebanon, located in Brenham, Texas. The purpose was to organize the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Texas.
Persuant to this call, the following Lodges to wit: Mount Bonnell Lodge No.2; Magnolia Lodge No.24; Galveston Lodge No.25; sent delegates, namely, Mount Bonnell Lodge No.2 was represented by Brothers J.J. Hamilton and Edward Wilkerson, Magnolia Lodge No.24 was represented by Brothers Richard Allen, Richard Brock, W.H. Clark, Samuel Leonard, James Kyle, L.L. James and J.S. Sanders. Galveston Lodge No.25 was represented by Brothers N.W. Cuney, Frank Miller, Wilson Nichols, John DeBruhl, J.H. Morris, and John Lands.
The convention organized by electing Richard Allen president and Brother J.H. Morris secretary. The president appointed a committee on credentials, namely Frank Miller, Samuel Leonard, Edward Wilkerson, J.H. Morris, and J.S. Sanders.
The committee on credentials made the following report:
Brenham, Texas, August 19, A.D. 1875, A.L. 5875
We your committee beg leave to report that the following brethren entitled to seats in this convention, viz. Mount Bonnell Lodge No.2, represented by Brothers J.J. Hamilton and Edward Wilkerson; Magnolia Lodge No.24, represented by Brothers Richard Allen, Richard Brook, W.H. Clark, Samuel J. Leonard, James Kyle, L.L. James and J.S. Sanders; Galveston Lodge No.25, Brothers N.W. Cuney, Frank Miller, Wilson Nichols, John DeBruhl, J.H. Morris, and John Lands.
Respectfully,
FRANK MILLER, Chairman
J.J. MORRIS
SAMUEL J. LEONARD
EDWARD WILKERSON
J.S. SANDERS
On August 20, at 10am, the convention reconvened and a committee of four consisting of Brothers L.L. James, J.H. Morris, Frank Miller, and J.J. Hamilton were appointed to recommend names for the various officers of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Texas. The committee retired for deliberation, and on their return reported the following brethren as Grand Officers, to wit:
- Most Worshipful Brother N.W. Cuney, Grand Master, Galveston, Texas
- Rt. Worshipful Brother J.R. Taylor, S.G. Warden, Brenham, Texas
- Rt. Worshipful Brother Edward Wilkinson, J.G. Warden, Austin, Texas
- Rt. Worshipful Brother J.H. Morris, G. Secretary, Galveston, Texas
- Rt. Worshipful Brother J.P. Ball, Jr., G. Register, Brenham, Texas
- Rt. Worshipful Brother Wilson Nichols, G. Treasurer, Galveston, Texas
- Rt. Worshipful Brother John Lands, G. Tiler, Galveston, Texas
