|
|
THE MASONIC
OAK
Brazoria County, Texas
Text by John Troesser
Photos Courtesy of Julie McConnell |
|
|
The
Brazoria County Masonic Oak
Photo Courtesy Julie McConnell |
|
The Masonic
Oak stands in the Old Brazoria Cemetery (see Readers'
Comments) - 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.
In the winter of 1834 (one source says March 1, 1835) the first
Texas Masonic Lodge was organized beneath the branches of this Live
Oak.
|
|
|
The
Old Brazoria Cemetery historical marker
(Click on photo for larger image)
Photo Courtesy Julie McConnell |
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
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. |
Readers'
Comments
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 |
|
|
