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THE
MASONIC OAK
Brazoria County, Texas
Text
by John Troesser
Photos courtesy Julie McConnell |
In
the winter of 1834 (one source says March 1, 1835) the first Texas Masonic Lodge
was organized beneath the branches of a Live Oak in Brazoria County.
This
organizational meeting consisted of five or six Masons - including Dr. Anson
Jones. After organizing, a petition was sent to the Louisiana Grand Lodge
and the Texas Grand Lodge was granted soon after with Anson
Jones as the first Grand Master.
Anson
Jones was a Massachusetts physician who had failed at business in New Orleans
and had just spent two years in Venezuela. He was coaxed into coming to Texas
by close friends in Brazoria.
In a few years he had a thriving medical practice and he eventually became the
Third (and last) President of the Republic of Texas.
Although he retired
to Barrington - his farm in Austin County - Jones had suffered from depression
for years and eventually committed suicide at the Capitol Hotel*
in Houston.
His grave
in Houston's Glenwood
Cemetery acknowledges his Masonic accomplishments.
© John Troesser
First published May 2002
*The
Capitol Hotel was named for its location on the site of the former Texas Capital
in Houston. It later became the Rice Hotel. |
| | The
Brazoria County Masonic Oak? (see Readers'
Comments below)
Photo Courtesy Julie McConnell |
| This
Oak stands in the Old Brazoria Cemetery - on the south side of Pleasant Street
in Brazoria. This
area had been designated as a cemetery in 1833. It was on property that had belonged
to (General) John Austin who had died of cholera in 1833. |
Readers'
Comments:
The Masonic Oak is not at the Old Brazoria Cemetery
I believe
I have heard that some people were buried in the area of the Masonic Oak but that
is not the Old Brazoria Cemetery. The latter is much closer to the Brazos and
has a historical marker, whereas the Masonic Oak is on the west, northwest part
of town (almost the outskirts). The Masonic Oak is not at the Old Brazoria Cemetery.
- Regards, Ron Livingston, Brazoria County Historical Commission, November
16, 2003 |
| | The
Old Brazoria Cemetery historical marker
Photos Courtesy Julie McConnell |
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