Threw this together for our Lodge. It was in Tuesdays paper:
Freemasonry in Gonzales
Gonzales Masonic Lodge No 30 was chartered on January 17, 1847 and been in its present location of 901 1/2 St. Joseph St. for 112 years. The City of Gonzales has a rich history with the Masonic Lodge. For example, six of the Gonzales “Old Eighteen†were Masons. The Lodge originally met in the Methodist Church building located where the parsonage (office) now stands from 1847 to 1848. Some time during 1848 the Lodge moved into a frame corner building which later was used as a Chinese laundry. In 1854 the Lodge and Methodist Church erected a two-story building where the present day church now stands. The Lodge owned the upper story and continued to meet here until 1875 when the building became uninhabitable at which time they met in the "Odd Fellows" building. The Methodist Church joined together with the Masonic Lodge and agreed to tear down the existing building and jointly replace it with a new two-story building, which at the time was known as the "Red Brick Church". It was dedicated on January 1, 1875 and the upper floor served as the Masonic Lodge for 22 years until 1897. In 1889 the Masons laid the corner stone for the Gonzales High School. The original corner stone is now located at the Gonzales Masonic Cemetery Veterans Memorial. In 1901 Masons laid the corner stone for the old Gonzales Cotton Mill and in 1924, laid the corner stone for the new Presbyterian Church building. While Texas was a Republic, Masons served in many pivotal positions. All of the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Presidents Pro Tem of the Senate were all Masons. What did Texas Heros such as Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, William B. Travis, James Bowie, David Crockett, James Bonham, Ben Milam, David G. Burnet, James Fannin, Mirabeu B. Lamar, Lorenza de Zavala, Edward Burleson, Jose Navarro, Juan N. Seguin, R.E.B. Baylor, and Thomas Rusk all have in common? They were Masons. Freemasons use operative mason tools as symbols by which to teach Masonic philosophy. The terms “acting on the square†and “being on the level†are Masonic terms which have filtered down into everyday language. The origins of Freemasonry vary. Some believe Freemasonry evolved from the skilled craftsmen of King Solomon's Temple, while others link our beginnings to the Order of the Knights Templar. Today Freemasonry works with various Masonic charities. The Shrine Crippled Children’s Hospitals and Burn Institute, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, the Scottish Rite Learning Center for Children with Dyslexia are a just handful of affilated charitable institutions. Locally, Gonzales Masonic Lodge provides numerous scholarships, Community Builders Awards, Reading for Bikes Programs, Come and Take It “Fun Runs†and much more. This brings us to the most common question, “What is Freemasonry� It is the oldest and largest world wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. Freemasons do not solicit membership. In order to be a Mason. you must take the first step. For additional information, please visit www.gonzalesmasoniclodge.org
Freemasonry in Gonzales
Gonzales Masonic Lodge No 30 was chartered on January 17, 1847 and been in its present location of 901 1/2 St. Joseph St. for 112 years. The City of Gonzales has a rich history with the Masonic Lodge. For example, six of the Gonzales “Old Eighteen†were Masons. The Lodge originally met in the Methodist Church building located where the parsonage (office) now stands from 1847 to 1848. Some time during 1848 the Lodge moved into a frame corner building which later was used as a Chinese laundry. In 1854 the Lodge and Methodist Church erected a two-story building where the present day church now stands. The Lodge owned the upper story and continued to meet here until 1875 when the building became uninhabitable at which time they met in the "Odd Fellows" building. The Methodist Church joined together with the Masonic Lodge and agreed to tear down the existing building and jointly replace it with a new two-story building, which at the time was known as the "Red Brick Church". It was dedicated on January 1, 1875 and the upper floor served as the Masonic Lodge for 22 years until 1897. In 1889 the Masons laid the corner stone for the Gonzales High School. The original corner stone is now located at the Gonzales Masonic Cemetery Veterans Memorial. In 1901 Masons laid the corner stone for the old Gonzales Cotton Mill and in 1924, laid the corner stone for the new Presbyterian Church building. While Texas was a Republic, Masons served in many pivotal positions. All of the Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Presidents Pro Tem of the Senate were all Masons. What did Texas Heros such as Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, William B. Travis, James Bowie, David Crockett, James Bonham, Ben Milam, David G. Burnet, James Fannin, Mirabeu B. Lamar, Lorenza de Zavala, Edward Burleson, Jose Navarro, Juan N. Seguin, R.E.B. Baylor, and Thomas Rusk all have in common? They were Masons. Freemasons use operative mason tools as symbols by which to teach Masonic philosophy. The terms “acting on the square†and “being on the level†are Masonic terms which have filtered down into everyday language. The origins of Freemasonry vary. Some believe Freemasonry evolved from the skilled craftsmen of King Solomon's Temple, while others link our beginnings to the Order of the Knights Templar. Today Freemasonry works with various Masonic charities. The Shrine Crippled Children’s Hospitals and Burn Institute, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, the Scottish Rite Learning Center for Children with Dyslexia are a just handful of affilated charitable institutions. Locally, Gonzales Masonic Lodge provides numerous scholarships, Community Builders Awards, Reading for Bikes Programs, Come and Take It “Fun Runs†and much more. This brings us to the most common question, “What is Freemasonry� It is the oldest and largest world wide fraternity dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. Freemasons do not solicit membership. In order to be a Mason. you must take the first step. For additional information, please visit www.gonzalesmasoniclodge.org
