DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, if you want to talk about an organization with roots sunk deep into the very soil of the Texas Republic — I mean the *brand new* Texas Republic — you pull over and you listen to the story of Temple Lodge Number Four. Formally chartered on May 10, 1838, this Masonic lodge was the fourth Masonic organization established in Texas, and the first to be established in the new Republic itself.
Think about that for a second. The ink on the Republic was barely dry, Houston was a newly founded city, it was serving as the seat of government, and somebody said: we are building something that lasts. That's the Masonic way.
The Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas did the chartering, and that Grand Lodge had itself been formed from three existing lodges — all three of which had originally been chartered by the Louisiana Grand Lodge. So there's a lineage here, a chain of hands passing something forward. And the men who stepped up to lead Temple Lodge?
They were not small figures. George Fisher, early colonist, was named first worshipful master. Richard Bache, a San Jacinto veteran — a man who had stood on that ground — served as secretary.
And the first junior deacon was a fellow named Francis R. Lubbock, who would one day become Governor of Texas. That's the kind of room this was.
Now, where did they hold their regular meetings? In the Senate Chamber of the Capitol in downtown Houston. The Senate Chamber.
Statesmen Anson Jones and Mirabeau Lamar were in frequent attendance. These weren't outsiders peeking through the window — they were in the room, part of the fabric of the thing. But here's the moment that stops you cold.
In July of 1838, barely months after the charter was signed, Temple Lodge conducted the first Masonic burial in the Republic of Texas. The man they honored was James Collingsworth — State Supreme Court Chief Justice. The lodge was new, the Republic was new, and already it was called upon to say goodbye to one of its own with full Masonic dignity.
That's the weight this organization carried from nearly its first breath. Since its establishment, Temple Lodge Number Four has reflected the Masonic values and teachings of its founders. And when your founders include a San Jacinto veteran, a future governor, and men who sat in the Senate Chamber of the young Republic of Texas — well, that's not a small inheritance to carry forward.
What the marker says
This Masonic Lodge traces its history to the early days of the Republic of Texas, when the seat of government was located in the newly founded city of Houston. Formally chartered on May 10, 1838, Temple Lodge was the fourth Masonic organization established in Texas, and the first to be established in the new Republic. It was chartered by the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas, which had been formed from the three existing lodges, all of which had been chartered originally by the Louisiana Grand Lodge. Playing leading roles in the organization's formation and development were many noted Texas patriots and statesmen. Early colonist George Fisher was named first worshipful master, with San Jacinto veteran Richard Bache as secretary and future Governor Francis R. Lubbock as first junior deacon. Temple Lodge held its regular meetings in the Senate Chamber of the Capitol in downtown Houston, where statesmen Anson Jones and Mirabeau Lamar were in frequent attendance. In July 1838, Temple Lodge conducted the first Masonic burial in the Republic of Texas for State Supreme Court Chief Justice James Collingsworth. Since its establishment Temple Lodge No. 4 has reflected the Masonic values and teachings of its founders.