Texas Masonry has a story that's tangled up with the founding of the Republic of Texas itself. The first lodge in Texas was Holland Lodge No. 36, chartered in 1835 by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana and named for Grand Master John Henry Holland of Louisiana. Here's a fact that you'll see Texas Masons quote forever: the Holland Lodge charter actually traveled with Anson Jones, the lodge's first Master, and was reportedly carried into the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 in his saddlebag.

After Texas won independence from Mexico, the new republic needed a Masonic governance structure of its own, so on December 20, 1837, delegates from three lodges (Holland No. 36, Milam No. 40, and McFarland No. 41) met in the town of Houston and organized the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas.

Anson Jones was elected the first Grand Master, and would later go on to be the last President of the Republic of Texas. The Grand Lodge of Texas predates Texas statehood by almost a decade, which makes Texas one of only a handful of US grand lodges that started as a sovereign national grand body before joining the Union. Texas Masonry exploded in size during the 19th century as the state grew. By the time of the Civil War, Texas had hundreds of lodges and thousands of members, many of whom served in Confederate forces.

Like most southern jurisdictions, the war disrupted lodge work but didn't kill it. Reconstruction-era Texas Masonry was active in rebuilding civic life, and the late 19th century saw the founding of major Masonic institutions like the Masonic Home and School in Fort Worth (chartered 1899). The early 20th century brought what's still called the great expansion: by 1925, Texas had more Masons than any other state in the union by absolute number. Membership peaked around 1960 at over 230,000 Master Masons.

The state's massive geographic and cultural diversity meant Texas Masonry developed strong regional flavors, with very different lodge cultures in West Texas oil towns, the Rio Grande Valley, the East Texas piney woods, and the urban centers.

Oldest and Most Historic Lodges in Texas

Holland Lodge No. 1 (originally No. 36 under Louisiana, then renumbered No. 1 when the Grand Lodge of Texas was formed) is the oldest lodge in Texas, dating back to 1835.

It still meets in Houston, in a downtown building that's home to one of the largest active Masonic memberships in the state. Milam Lodge No. 2 in Nacogdoches is the second oldest, chartered in 1837 and named for Texas Revolution hero Ben Milam. Nacogdoches itself is one of the oldest towns in Texas, and Milam Lodge has met continuously in the area since the days of the Republic.

McFarland Lodge No. 3 (originally chartered in San Augustine in 1837, now consolidated and based out of San Augustine) rounds out the founding three. La Bahia Lodge No. 5 in Goliad has Mexican-era roots and was chartered shortly after Texas independence.

Howard Lodge No. 8 in Independence, Texas, dates to 1845 and is famous for its association with Sam Houston, who was a member here. Walker Lodge No. 32 in Huntsville, also chartered in the 1840s, was the lodge where Sam Houston actually held his Masonic affiliation when he died in 1863, and Houston is buried with Masonic honors in Huntsville.

Forest Lodge No. 19 in Marshall (chartered 1846) was a major East Texas lodge in the 19th century. Tannehill Lodge No. 52 in Houston is another notable historical lodge with deep Republic-era roots.

Many of Texas's oldest lodges still keep their original minute books and ritual records, and several have preserved their original meeting halls as museums or historic sites that the public can visit on appointment. If you want to feel the weight of Texas Masonic history, walking into one of these old halls is the way to do it.

Texas Masonic Lodges by the Numbers

Texas remains one of the largest Masonic jurisdictions in the world. As of recent years, the Grand Lodge of Texas has approximately 800 to 900 active subordinate lodges and somewhere between 75,000 and 90,000 active Master Masons, depending on the year and how you count dual members. By absolute numbers, Texas typically ranks first or second among US grand lodges (sometimes trading the top spot with Pennsylvania). The state is divided into 116 Masonic districts, each with its own District Deputy Grand Master appointed by the Grand Master.

The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, which is the separate but recognized African American grand body, has approximately 350 to 400 active lodges of its own, plus tens of thousands of additional members. Texas Masonic charity is on a scale to match the state itself: the Masonic Home and School of Texas in Fort Worth has cared for over 7,000 children since its founding, the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas treats children with orthopedic and learning disorders regardless of family ability to pay, and the Shriners Hospitals for Children based in part on Texas Shrine support has facilities in Houston and Galveston. Combined, Texas Masonic bodies donate hundreds of millions of dollars to charity over the years, with the Scottish Rite Hospital alone valuing its annual care at well over $100 million.

How to Become a Freemason in Texas

Joining a Texas lodge follows the standard Masonic pattern with a few Texas-specific touches. The fundamental rule, which Masons say in every state, is the so-called 2B1ASK1: you have to ask to join. Recruiting is forbidden by Masonic law in Texas. Basic requirements: you must be a man, at least 18 years old (Texas allows 18 unlike Tennessee), of good moral character, with belief in a Supreme Being, and a Texas resident or active military member stationed in Texas.

You also need to be free of any felony convictions. To start, find a lodge near you (the LodgeFinder Texas page lists hundreds), drop by during a public dinner or open event, and ask for a petition. Most Texas lodges have stated meetings once a month, and many host a meal beforehand that's open to family and prospects. After you fill out the petition with two current Mason recommenders, the lodge appoints a three-person investigation committee that will visit you at home for a get-to-know-you conversation.

The committee reports back to the lodge, the lodge votes by secret ballot, and a unanimous vote elects you to receive the degrees. Texas requires proficiency in each degree (recital of obligation and key ritual portions) before you can advance, so you'll be paired with a coach for memorization work. Initiation fees in Texas vary widely by lodge, generally $200 to $500 for all three degrees combined, with annual dues running $75 to $250 a year afterward. The whole process from petition to Master Mason typically takes four to twelve months depending on how quickly you do your proficiency work and how often the lodge confers degrees.

Notable Texas Freemasons in History

Texas has produced an absurd number of famous Masons. The biggest legend is Sam Houston, hero of San Jacinto, President of the Republic of Texas, US Senator, and Governor. Houston was first made a Mason in Cumberland Lodge No. 8 in Nashville in 1817, but he transferred to Texas and was active in Holland Lodge and Forest Lodge, eventually serving as Grand Master of Texas.

Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas, was also a Mason. So was Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas and the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas. James Bowie, of Bowie knife and Alamo fame, was reportedly a Mason though documentary evidence is incomplete.

William B. Travis, the Alamo commander, was definitely a Mason. Mirabeau B. Lamar, second President of the Republic, was a Mason.

In the 20th century, Sam Rayburn, the legendary Speaker of the US House for nearly 17 years, was a Texas Mason and a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason. John Nance Garner, FDR's first Vice President, was a Mason. Lyndon B. Johnson received his Entered Apprentice degree in Johnson City Lodge in 1937 but never advanced past the first degree, which is a common quirky fact in Texas Masonic circles.

Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War II and a Texas-born movie star, was a Mason. Country music legend Gene Autry was a Texas Mason. Bob Wills, the king of Western swing, was a Mason. More recently, several Texas governors, federal judges, and astronauts (including some Apollo program veterans like Wally Schirra and Buzz Aldrin who lived in Houston) have had Masonic affiliations.

Prince Hall Freemasonry in Texas

The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas is one of the largest and oldest Prince Hall jurisdictions in the country. It was organized in 1875 in Brenham, just a decade after the Civil War ended, and grew rapidly during Reconstruction as Black Texans sought out the institutions of mutual aid, education, and civic life that segregation denied them elsewhere. Prince Hall Masonry as a whole traces back to Prince Hall, a free Black man in Boston who was made a Mason by a British military lodge in 1775 and chartered African Lodge No. 459 under the Grand Lodge of England in 1784.

The Texas Prince Hall Grand Lodge sits within that tradition. Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, Texas Prince Hall lodges were embedded in Black communities across the state and were closely tied to historically Black colleges, churches, and civil rights organizations. Many leading figures in Texas Black political and business history were Prince Hall Masons. The mainstream Grand Lodge of Texas formally recognized the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas in 2007 after years of internal debate within Texas Masonry, and the two grand lodges now have a working visitation agreement.

Today the Texas Prince Hall Grand Lodge has approximately 350 to 400 active lodges across the state, with significant concentrations in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Austin, plus dozens of smaller-town lodges. The Prince Hall jurisdiction also has its own Scottish Rite, Shrine, and youth organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions about Masonic Lodges in Texas

How many Masons are there in Texas?

The Grand Lodge of Texas has roughly 75,000 to 90,000 active Master Masons across approximately 800 to 900 lodges. The Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas adds tens of thousands more members. Combined, Texas is consistently one of the top two largest Masonic jurisdictions in the United States by absolute membership.

Was Sam Houston a Texas Mason?

Yes, Sam Houston was a Mason and eventually served as Grand Master of Texas. He was originally raised in Cumberland Lodge No. 8 in Nashville, Tennessee in 1817, then transferred his membership to Texas where he was active in Holland Lodge and Forest Lodge. He's buried with Masonic honors in Huntsville, Texas.

What is the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children?

The Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas is a world-renowned pediatric orthopedic hospital founded by Texas Scottish Rite Masons in 1921. It treats children with conditions like scoliosis, club foot, and learning disorders regardless of the family's ability to pay, and it's funded in large part by ongoing Masonic philanthropy.

How old do I have to be to join a Texas lodge?

Texas allows men 18 and older to petition. You also need to be of good moral character, believe in a Supreme Being, be a Texas resident or active military stationed in Texas, and have no felony convictions. Most lodges welcome candidates of any age beyond the minimum.

Did Lyndon Johnson become a Mason?

Lyndon B. Johnson received his Entered Apprentice degree in Johnson City Lodge in 1937 but never completed the second and third degrees. So technically he was a Mason for a brief period at the first level only, which is why some lists count him and others don't. He's not considered a Master Mason.

Sources & Further Reading

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