Lodge of Union

"On a motion of Bro. Stephen F. Austin, and seconded, it was unanimously agreed that we ... organize a Lodge at this place, to be called the Lodge of Union.  -1828

We want to share with you a story.  A story of the early days of Texas and the earliest days of Freemasonry in Texas.  

In 1828 the township of San Felipe de Austin had over 200 souls, three general stores, two taverns, a hotel, a blacksmith and some 40 or 50 log cabins.  Most citizens were Anglo, but there were couple of handfuls of Hispanic citizens as well.  Stephen F. Austin established this town.  He operated the colonial land office had built his home about a half-a-mile to the west of "downtown".  

Being a frontier town, there were about 10 men for every woman.  Large numbers of immigrants and other colonists came through San Felipe de Austin almost every day, and with such a mixture of factors, trouble was not far behind.  A number of townsfolk were Freemasons and, in the interest of building a better community, they sought to establish a Freemason's Lodge in San Felipe.

Olive Branch Lodge has developed a brief reader's theater presentation titled A Lodge of Union that portrays some of the basic facts about seeking to establish this first recorded Masonic Lodge.  We want to show you a version of what could have happened on the day when Stephen F. Austin and six other men gathered to formally seek to establish Freemasonry in Texas.  

This presentation is based upon the actual surviving minutes of this meeting from the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. & A.M., and upon history of the period.  This presentation is NOT ACCURATE HISTORY, it is merely a dramatization of facts as they could have occurred.  The minutes of the meeting are the real minutes.  Watch as the first recorded Freemasonic meeting in Texas may have unfolded...

The San Felipe Players, members of Olive Branch Lodge No. 26 A.F. & A.M., are happy to work to bring this presentation to your lodge, school, or other meeting. The presentation is reader's theater, meaning that anyone can read any part and bring the play to life with their own unique presentation. 

There are seven speaking parts and a narrator.  Between four to eight readers, can complete the presentation in around 15 to 25 minutes.

If you would like more information, contact the San Felipe Players committee chair, Chris Dalrymple, at cdal@fixback.com.