Washington Lodge #18

A.F. & A.M.

Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas

Worshipful Master Seth D. Hudson

 

Washington Lodge #18 on March 2, 2021 - 185th Birthday of Texas

Washington Lodge #18 Celebrates Texas Independence Day at Independence Hall on March 2, 2021 - the 185th Anniversary of Texas Independence

 

Washington Lodge #18 on March 2, 2011 - 175th Birthday of Texas

Washington Lodge #18 Meeting at Independence Hall on Texas Independence Day, March 2, 2011

 

Next Stated Meeting of Washington Lodge #18

Navasota Lodge - Navasota, Texas

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Lodge Will Open at 6:300pm

All Brothers are welcome to join us for dinner afterwards at a local restaurant following the meeting.

 

   The installation ceremony of Washington Masonic Lodge #18 A.F. & A.M. on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. during the stated meeting and was very well attended.

 

Washington Lodge #18 Installation of Officers 2023

   To contact Washington Lodge, email David M. Rice at dmrsam@aol.com or write to Washington Lodge No. 18, c/o David M. Rice, 320 Moore Street, Navasota, Texas 77868. Telephone: 936-662-5838.

   Except for the Independence Day celebration every year, all stated meetings of Washington Lodge #18 are held quarterly at The Navasota #299 Lodge Room at 300 E. Washington Avenue in Navasota Texas.

   The stated meetings for the next year are planned to be held quarterly on the first month of each quarter:

   July 26, 2023

   October 25, 2023

   January 31, 2024

   April 24, 2024

   July 31, 2024

 

Historic Miller Theater in Navasota, Texas

Except for the March 2nd meeting every year which meets at Washington-on-the-Brazos, Washington Lodge #18 meets quarterly in the Masonic lodge room on the second floor of the historic Miller Theater in Navasota, Texas.

 

Washington Lodge #18

Where Texas History and Masonry Come Together.

   Washington Lodge #18 of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas A. F. &  A. M. is the Masonic lodge chartered at Washington, Texas during the Republic of Texas on January 11, 1844.  It ceased to be a working lodge in 1887 when it surrendered its charter. Washington Lodge #18 was restored by the Grand Lodge of Texas in 2004.

Washington Masonic Lodge #18 Charter - Originally chartered during the Republic of Texas in 1844

   Washington, Texas was a center of government and Masonic activities during the Republic of Texas.  On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico at Washington and the Declaration of Independence was signed there.  Therefore, Washington is referred to as the "Birthplace of Texas."  At various times, the capitol of the Republic of Texas was at Washington. The Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas held its annual meetings at Washington in 1843, 1844 and 1845.  Click here to see The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Texas 1837-1857. Today, the town of Washington is commonly referred to as Washington-on-the-Brazos.

      A few years ago this historic Masonic Lodge was re-chartered.  The members of Washington Lodge #18 are very proud of their history and open lodge every year on Texas Independence Day, March 2, in the Convention Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos on the very spot where Texas declared her independence from Mexico in 1836.  Most of the members of Washington Lodge #18 are associate members who enjoy the history of Texas and Texas Masonry.  Click to see and read the Washington Lodge No. 18 Minute Book from 1854 on the Portal to Texas History.

 

Click to Read TSHA Handbook of Texas Article about Brother Stephen Z. Hoyle

Texas National Register (Washington, Republic of Texas)

Vol. 1, No. 27, Ed. 1, Thursday, June 12, 1845, Page 6 of 8

 

Contact Information to Affiliate or Petition

Washington Lodge #18

David Rice, Secretary

Telephone# 936-662-5838

Email: dmrsam@aol.com 

 

Washington Lodge #18

 




2020 Washington Lodge Presentation Coin Obverse2020 Washington Lodge #18 Presentation Coin Reverse

2020 Washington Lodge #18 Wooden Presentation Coin

 




Washington Lodge #18 Record Book - Star of the Republic Museum - Washington, Texas

     Click here to see and read the 306 page Washington Lodge No. 18 Minute Book from 1854 on the Portal to Texas History.

 




Dedication of Marker

Honoring Brother Asa Brigham

March 2, 2011

   On March 2, 2011, Washington Lodge #18 conducted a ceremony honoring the memory and historic accomplishments of Brother Asa Brigham at Washington Cemetery in Washington, Texas.  Brother Asa Brigham was the only man to assist in the successful founding of Masonry in Texas and the successful founding of the Republic of Texas. 

   Brigham met under the Masonic Oak with a handful of other Masonic brethren in 1835 to petition the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a Masonic lodge at Brazoria, Texas.  Brigham also signed the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico at Washington, Texas on March 2, 1836.  Brother Arnold Langston of Washington Lodge #18 researched the history, designed the marker and led the ceremony.  Among those in attendance for the ceremony was Grand Master T. E. "Gene" Carnes of the Grand Lodge of Texas.  March 2, 2011 was the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

Asa Brigham - 1936 Texas Centennial Marker in Washington Cemetery

ASA BRIGHAM

ALCALDE OF BRAZORIA MUNICIPALITY, 1835

SIGNER OF THE TEXAS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, 1836

AUDITOR OF THE REPUBLIC [OF TEXAS], 1836

TREASURER OF THE REPUBLIC [OF TEXAS] 1836-1840 AND 1841-44

BORN IN MASSACHUSETTS  1790

DIED IN WASHINGTON, TEXAS  JULY 22, 1844

Erected by the State of Texas 1936

 

Asa Brigham - Masonic Marker Placed on March 2, 2011 - 175th Anniversary of the Sigining of the Texas Declaration of Independence

Asa Brigham

Alcalde of Brazoria

One of 20 who planned the Battle of Velasco June 25, 1832

Signer of petition to start the first Masonic Lodge in Texas

at Brazoria from the Grand Lodge of Louisiana March 1835

 

 




Washington Lodge #18 Project

Republic of Texas Era Masonic Aprons

Washington Lodge Apron Examples Under Consideration

Examples of lodge aprons that will be presented for consideration for adoption by the membership of Washington Lodge #18 at the July 26, 2023 meeting. Once adopted, these unique lodge aprons will only be available to the members of Washington Lodge #18. The apron will exemplify and celebrate the history of Texas, Washington-on-the-Brazos (where the Texas of Declaration of Independence was signed in 1836), and of Washington Lodge #18, (a lodge originally chartered by the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas).

 

Republic of Texas Era Masonic Apron Worn Until the 1850's

Brother Don Pugh Identified this Masonic Apron as Belonging to the Palmer/Parmer Clan that Arrived in Texas in 1825

 




Republic of Texas Era Masonic Apron Worn by Thomas Palmer/Parmer Son of Martin Parmer Signer of Texas Declaration of Independence - Sam Houston Memorial Museum

Masonic Apron Worn by Brother Thomas Palmer Who Arrived in Texas in 1825

 




Early Texas Masonic Apron Belonging to Caleb Lynn Spencer Who Came to Texas in 1857 - Star of the Republic Museum

Masonic Apron Belonging to Caleb Lynn Spencer

 




Star with Letter G Inside Square and Compasses

A Possible Alternative Would be a Masonic Apron With a Less Crowded and Less Expensive Design such as a Star with the Square and Compasses Similar to the Lodge's Current Logo

 




   Over the past several years, Washington Lodge #18 of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas A. F. &  A. M. has been gathering information regarding Republic of Texas era Masonic approns in an effort to recreate a period-authentic apron to be worn by members of Washington Lodge #18 during the annual meetings of the Lodge on Texas Independence Day every year. This meeting is conducted in Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos at the site where the Delegates of Texas declared Texas independent from Mexico on March 2, 1836, at the exact spot Where Texas Became Texas.

   In an effort to design the most most period-authentic apron possible, we have searched many different sources. It appears that linen or silk was the most common material that the aprons were made of during the period and most were hand-painted. There are also a number of similar emblematic Masonic elements seen in each of the examples shown above.

   Brothers Seth Hudson and Kameron Searle are both working on the committee to propose a design for an official apron for the Lodge that will be historically accurate to the period of the 1840's and would very much appreciate your help. If you have a Republic of Texas era Masonic apron (worn by an ancestor or not), we would appreciate a scan of it. We would also be glad to include scans of period-authentic aprons as additional examples on this site. Also, if you have historical expertise regarding American Masonic aprons of the 1840's or earlier, we would also appreciate very much hearing from you. Email: ksearle1@pdq. net or call 713-880-4529 during regular weekday business hours. 

 




Contact Information to Affiliate or Petition

Washington Lodge #18

David Rice, Secretary

Telephone# 936-662-5838

Email: dmrsam@aol.com 

 

Washington Lodge #18

 

Unless Otherwise Noted All Photos Courtesy of Brother K. K. Searle