When and where were the first Lodges in Texas Organized?



Under the leadership of Captain W.D.Mathews, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Kansas, the following Lodges were established in Texas between 1871 and 1873 and were the first Negro Free and Accepted Masonic Lodges organized in the state:

 San Antonio Lodge # 22

  Mt. Bonnell Lodge #23

 Magnolia Lodge #24

 Galveston Lodge #25

 Mt. Lebanon Lodge #26

“The First Negro Grand Lodge in Texas?”

In the early part of June, 1875, N.W. Cuney, D.G.M., and Richard Allen, DDGM, acting under the authority of the Kansas Jurisdiction, issued a call requesting the above-named Lodges to send representatives on August 19, 1875, to meet in Brenham, Texas. The purpose was to organize the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Texas.

Persuant to this call, the following Lodges sent delegates:

Mount Bonnell Lodge No.2

Magnolia Lodge No.24

Galveston Lodge No.25

• Mount Bonnell Lodge No.2 was represented by Brothers J.J. Hamilton and Edward Wilkerson

• Magnolia Lodge No.24 was represented by Brothers Richard Allen, Richard Brock, W.H. Clark, Samuel Leonard, James Kyle, L.L. James and J.S. Sanders

• Galveston Lodge No.25 was represented by Brothers N.W. Cuney, Frank Miller, Wilson Nichols, John DeBruhl, J.H. Morris, and John Lands

The convention organized by electing Richard Allen president and Brother J.H. Morris secretary.  The president appointed a committee on credentials (Frank Miller, Samuel Leonard, Edward Wilkerson, J.H. Morris, and J.S. Sanders)

“Committee Report”

Brenham, Texas

August 19, A.D. 1875, A.L. 5875

We your committee beg leave to report that the following brethren entitled to seats in this convention, viz. Mount Bonnell Lodge No.2, represented by Brothers J. J. Hamilton and Edward Wilkerson; Magnolia Lodge No.24, represented by Brothers Richard Allen, Richard Brook, W. H. Clark, Samuel J. Leonard, James Kyle, L. L. James and J. S. Sanders; Galveston Lodge No.25, Brothers N. W. Cuney, Frank Miller, Wilson Nichols, John DeBruhl, J. H. Morris, and John Lands.

Respectfully,

Frank Miller, Chairman
J. J. Morris
Samuel J. Leonard
Edward Wilkerson
J. S. Sanders

On August 20, at 10am, the convention reconvened and a committee of four consisting of Brothers L.L. James, J.H. Morris, Frank Miller, and J.J. Hamilton were appointed to recommend names for the various officers of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Texas.  The committee retired for deliberation, and on their return reported the following brethren as Grand Officers:

Most Worshipful Brother N. W. Cuney, Grand Master, Galveston, Texas

Rt. Worshipful Brother J. R. Taylor, S. G. Warden, Brenham, Texas

Rt. Worshipful Brother Edward Wilkinson, J. G. Warden, Austin, Texas

Rt. Worshipful Brother J. H. Morris, G. Secretary, Galveston, Texas

Rt. Worshipful Brother J. P. Ball, Jr., G. Register, Brenham, Texas

Rt. Worshipful Brother Wilson Nichols, G. Treasurer, Galveston, Texas

Rt. Worshipful Brother John Lands, G. Tiler, Galveston, Texas