Masons of Texas

Our most valuable asset: Friendship

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 06:58:00 -0700

Freemasonry has many facets which have attracted men of good will of every race, religion, political view, and social position into its ranks throughout the world for many years. Every member has his own individual reason for joining the Craft, but generally its chief appeal is the charitable work it does, the philosophy of life taught by the Craft with its visible exhibition by Freemasons in their exemplary conduct in the everyday world. All these items are important, but to the nonmember who has given this matter any thought whatsoever it soon becomes apparent that the greatest asset in Freemasonry is the spirit of friendship that exists between Freemasons in their relationship with

Building bridges with our Prince Hall Brethren

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:12:00 -0700

As Masons, one of our primary objectives is to shine the light of knowledge into the darkness of ignorance. One such dark area that shows itself over and over amongst our Brethren across the state is our ignorance of the history and regularity of our worthy Brothers laboring under the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas.

Prince Hall was a black man in Massachusetts during the mid-late 1700s. On March 6th, 1775, he and 14 other black men were made Masons at Castle William Island in Boston Harbor by Lodge #441 of the Irish Registry attached to the 38th British Foot Infantry. A year later the unit left Boston due to the Revolutionary War, leaving Prince

Freemasonry and Religion are Compatible

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:05:00 -0700

The recent revival, by fundamental Christianity, of anti-Masonry has created a small storm within both religious and fraternal circles. Over the past two years, I have listened to, watched on T.V. or read every program, article and item concerning the modern day anti-Masonic movement that has been called to my attention. It has been good for me. I have re-examined my own membership in all of my "other than the Church" commitment.

I have reached a considered decision that Freemasonry is not now and never has been detrimental to my Christian faith and doctrine. In fact my fraternal relationships have strengthened and assisted me in my ministry

The Relationship Between Lodges and Grand Lodge

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 12:10:00 -0700

The first Grand Lodge was formed in London, shortly after the suppression of the Jacobite rising in 1715. Anderson's New Book of Constitutions of 1738 records that a few lodges at London finding themselves neglected by Sir Christopher Wren, thought fit to cement together under a Grand Master as the Center of Union and Harmony, viz. (here follow details of the four lodges at the Goose and Gridiron, Crown, Apple-Tree, and Rummer and Grapes).

They and some old Brothers met at the said Apple-Tree, and having put into the Chair the oldest Master Mason (now the Master of a Lodge) they constituted themselves a GRAND LODGE pro Tempore in Due Form, and

White House Stone

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:19:00 -0700

During the renovation of the White House (1949�1952), President and Freemason Harry S. Truman gave an original White House stone to each Grand Lodge in the United States. "I place in your hands a stone taken from the walls of the White House. A sufficient number of these stones, each with a Masonic symbol upon it, was discovered to give one to each Grand Lodge in the United States. These evidences of the number of members of the Craft who built the President's official residence so intimately aligns Freemasonry with the formation and the founding of our Government that I believe your Grand Lodge will cherish this link between the Fraternity and the Government of the Nation, of which

Do the little things..

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:58:00 -0700

For many years I have observed the earnest and faithful efforts of the officers of lodges as they held meetings for the purpose of suggesting ways to improve attendance and maintain interest. In every instance some outstanding program has been launched, which if carried to completion, always bears fruit which is the result of honest planning. However, it is my conclusion that all we hope for, the molding of Masonic principles into a strong Masonry, must be the result of the doing of little things. Everything else, it seems, is subordinate to the idea of keeping fresh Masonic teachings through the medium of doing. Again and again we refer to the "Old Time Masonry." Yet we know

President McKinley

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:28:00 -0700

President McKinley stood on a platform at Buffalo, New York, on September 5, 1901, and addressed a sweeping crowd of visitors at the Pan American Exhibition. He explained the wide range of problems facing the nation, and, as he enumerated the problems, he presented his proposals for solutions. The next day, September 6, 1901, as he hosted a reception at the Exposition's Music Hall, loud shots rang out. He slumped to the floor, mortally wounded and bleeding profusely. Eight days later, the 25th President of the United States and a strong proponent of Freemasonry died in a Buffalo, New York, hospital.

In earlier years, he had had a long experience of

The Entered Apprentice

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:00:00 -0700

What gave you the urge a Mason to be?
To join our Fraternity ancient and free,
Was some Brother talking a bit out of turn?
And did you cock an ear to see what you could learn?
Or did somebody give you a hint on the sly,
That you'd not be invited but would have to apply?

Or was your wife's father a Past Master no less,
Well what ever it was there isn't a doubt,
That you'd hardly a clue what the Craft's all about,
Until tonight when you stood at the door,

Corner Stones

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:05:00 -0700

From time to time, Brethren ask why Masonry is involved in the placement of corner stones, and so a little information about the history of the tradition may be helpful. The tradition goes back to antiquity - so far that it literally cannot be traced to its origins, and it probably evolved out of the foundation and completion sacrifices which were common with any large building project (and which are echoed in the legend of the Master Mason Degree).In Babylon, clay cylinders, called "timmon" were insciribed with the history of the king and of the building, and buried in the foundations of the structure. Clay tablets describing the building and the history of the king were buried

The Mason's Wife

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:55:00 -0700

From active Masons, resolute,
Our wives and families we salute;
We surely know the price you pay,
Who sit alone while we're away.

No high degrees on you conferred,
In Lodge, your name is seldom heard;
You serve our cause though out of sight,
While sitting home alone tonight.

Masonic papers list our names,
Awards are given, fit to frame;
But yours is absent...you who strive,
To keep our fortitude alive.