While it was brother Stephen F. Austin's desire to establish a Masonic lodge in San Felipe to be called Lodge of Union, this dream has not come to fruition, in the past 190+ years. The members of Olive Branch Lodge originally worked to honor the wishes of our brother, the Father of Texas, but those efforts were in vain.
Why did Brother Austin in 1828 desire a Masonic lodge to be named Lodge of Union to be established in his colony? While I may not speak on behalf of brother Austin, I can share some observations.
In England the Premier Grand Lodge and the Atholl Grand Lodge finally worked out their differences. "The two Grand Lodges united in 1813 to form the United Grand Lodge of England." In England the "Lodge of Union No. 38 was formed in 1828 by the union of two lodges; the Lodge of Friendship, formed in 1811 under the Premier Grand Lodge (the so called Moderns) and the Lodge of Harmony, formed in 1812 under the Atholl Grand Lodge (the so called Antients)."
"The Lodge of Friendship and the Lodge of Harmony both had members of an even older lodge - the Lodge of St John. This Lodge had as its master in 1696 the 1st Duke of Richmond. He, together with the 2nd Duke, each became Grand Masters of the Premier Grand Lodge." [1]
"Austin's father, Moses, may have been a Mason, but there is only sketchy evidence to indicate this. Speculation is that he may have been made a Mason during a trip to England. If he was, his membership may have influenced Stephen to join the fraternity." [2]
"In 1820, Moses Austin drafted a plan to colonize Spanish Texas." Grant in hand, the elder Austin returned to Missouri, where he contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 59 on June 10, 1821. At his death, the elder Austin's Empresario Grant transferred to his son." [2]
"Austin's colonization efforts there were not without hardship, and included squabbles with not only the governments of Spanish Texas and Mexico, but also with the settlers, who felt they should not have to pay him a commission in return for the lands in his grant. Through it all, however, he managed to draft a constitution, organize a militia, ultimately bring in a total of 1,200 settlers and establish peaceful and productive colonies." [2]
The history of Freemasonry in Mexico can be traced to at least 1806 when the first Masonic lodge was formally established in the nation.
Many presidents of Mexico were Freemasons. Freemasonry has greatly influenced political actions in the early republic, as holder of conservative ideas gathered in lodges of the Scottish Rite, while reformists choose the York Rite. Hence escoceses became synonymous with Conservatives, and yorkinos with Liberals. Santa Anna was a Scottish Rite Mason. [3]
"In 1810, when the Mexican fight for Independence from Spain started, the first leader was a Catholic priest and possibly a Mason, Father Miguel Hidalgo. ... Unfortunately, the initial uprising was squashed by the Spanish and Hidalgo was executed. This meant that our struggle for Independence in Mexico lasted much longer than did the American one, and Mexicans took sides as to just what sort of new nation should emerge. ... imagine that after the British were beaten at Yorktown, there had been another ten years of civil war between Americans, and that the two warring parties had been based on Masonic Lodge membership." [4]
"These two Masonic groups were not the Scottish and the York Rites as we know them today, but they display some characteristics which you would recognize. The two camps became competing political clubs or parties, sharply divided over the Spanish question. Scottish Rite Masons defended the resident Spaniards, seeing their cause as a test of individual rights and guarantees; the Yorkists attacked the gachupines in a manner reminiscent of the Jacobins, as if to avenge Hidalgo and Morelos." [4]
"The Scottish Rite was more hierarchical and it supported the Emperor Agustin de Iturbide, first Emperor of Mexico, an Army private who made himself into the ruler of Mexico. The Scottish Masons were not antagonistic towards the Spanish who remained in Mexico, while many Yorkists suspected that those who remained, might still want to welcome back the Viceregal government and wanted all Spanish to leave."[4]
"Austin's biggest setback came when he learned in September, 1821, Mexico had gained its independence from Spain, a fact which nullified his land grant. Austin immediately set out for Mexico City in an attempt to convince the new regime to honor his claim. He arrived months later having traveled through over a thousand miles of badlands with a single companion. He had to wait nearly a year until, on February 18, 1823, the new emperor, General AgustÃn de Iturbide, approved his grant by royal decree. Austin, however, was shrewd enough to see General Iturbide's government would not last, so he elected to stay until a government he felt was stable could validate his claim. Austin had a keen sense of politics and secretly threw his support to the faction that eventually won, when General Iturbide abdicated three months later. Not only had Austin befriended the new government with his support, but he also wrote its new constitution. Given his overwhelming support of the new government, he had no trouble getting his grant renewed." [2]
"The first American Ambassador to Mexico was Joel Poinsett, for whom the Christmas Flower is named. ... It was he who brought York Rite Masonry to Mexico, and Mexican historians think this is because he saw the York Lodges as a way to extend American influence, which may be true. But they overlook the fact that all his life he was an enthusiastic Royal Arch Mason and, it was natural that his enthusiasm led him to side with the Yorquinos or Yorkists... and probably not entirely because of politics." [4]
"Poinsett was a Charleston aristocrat and inveterate traveler, he paid an initial visit to Mexico in the summer of 1822, when he met and formed an unfavorable opinion of the Emperor Iturbide and his Court." [4]
"Poinsett determined that he must change the attitudes of the Mexican government, challenging the Spanish-born who still looked towards Europe. Although Poinsett himself was a Freemason, many of those he opposed were Scottish Rite Masons. In 1824, he arranged for five Lodges to be chartered by the Grand Lodge of New York, working in the York or American Rite. The next year, they proceeded to form a York Rite Grand Lodge for Mexico under the name of "La Gran Logia Nacional Mexicana", which rapidly grew to more then 100 Lodges." [4]
"Then came an episode without precedent in Masonic history. Iturbide's short-lived Empire had come to an end in 1823 to be substituted by a Republic. A civil war broke out over the question of a centralized and conservative Republic, or a federal and liberal one. The Scottish Masons favored the first, the Yorquinos the second, and they actually went to war against one another." [4]
In 1828, Austin "convened what was most likely the first Masonic meeting there. Held in the colony capital of San Felipe, its purpose was to request a charter from the Grand [York] Lodge of Mexico:"
"At a meeting of ancient York Masons in the town of San Felipe de Austin on the 11th day of February, 1828 for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of petitioning the Grand York Lodge of Mexico for granting a charter or dispensation for organizing a subordinate Lodge at this place, the following brethren were present: Brothers H. H. League, Stephen F. Austin, Ira Ingram, Eli Mitchell, Joseph White, G. B. Hall and Thomas M. Duke. On motion of Brother Ira Ingram and seconded, Brother H. H. League was appointed Chairman and Thomas M. Duke Secretary. On motion of Brother Stephen F. Austin and seconded, it was unanimously agreed that they petition to the Grand York Lodge of Mexico for a charter or dispensation to organize a Lodge at this place, to be called the Lodge of Union."
"On balloting for officers of the Lodge the following Brothers were duly elected: Brother Stephen F. Austin, Master; Brother Ira Ingram Senior Warden; Brother H. H. League Junior Warden. Signed H. H. League, Chairman; attest, Thomas M. Duke, Secretary." [4]
"In 1828 all secret societies were forbidden and the police soon closed those Lodges that did not obey. By the time Poinsett left Mexico in January 1830, the York cause was collapsing and many other Yorquinos were leaving the country. Both Scottish and York Masonry became largely dormant while the new Mexican National Rite rose to prominence. [4]
"Somehow, in the middle of all the conflict, the Texas Lodge's bid for a charter was lost, and Austin's Lodge of Union never came into existence. [2]
"Over the next few years the thought of Texas independence continued to gain ground when, in 1833, Austin wrote a letter to a Mexican official, which was interpreted as advocating it. For that, the Mexican government imprisoned him in Mexico City. He spent nearly two and a half years in prison, including nine months in a dungeon. He was released under the conditions of a general amnesty in 1835, without ever having gone to trial." [2]
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