82R16261 MGR-D
By: Kleinschmidt H.R. No. 1026
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 2011 Masonic Oak ceremony and picnic is taking
place on May 15, 2011, at Masonic Oak Park in Brazoria; and
WHEREAS, In March of 1835, before the establishment of the
Republic of Texas, John A. Wharton, Asa Brigham, James A. E. Phelps,
Alexander Russell, J. P. Caldwell, and Anson Jones gathered under
an oak tree near Brazoria and made the decision to petition the
Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a dispensation to form a new lodge in
Texas; the dispensation was granted and the inaugural meeting of
Holland Lodge No. 36, the first Masonic lodge established in the
state, was conducted later that year; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones, who took part in the Battle of San Jacinto
with the charter for the new lodge in his saddlebags, went on to
become the first Worshipful Master of the Holland Lodge and the
first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, which was founded in
1837; he also served as the last president of the Republic of Texas
before annexation to the United States; other renowned Masons have
included Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Paul Revere, George
Washington, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur, and Harry Truman; and
WHEREAS, The oak tree under which the six Texas founders met
is now known as the Masonic Oak, and each year, Masons from
throughout the State of Texas come together to commemorate the
founding of that first lodge; today there are more than 90,000
Masons in the Lone Star State, who enjoy fellowship at over 900
lodges; and
WHEREAS, With an emphasis on helping those less fortunate,
Masons provide more than $1.5 million each day to worthy causes in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, From its establishment in Texas 176 years ago to the
present day, Freemasonry has significantly benefited communities
across this state, changing countless lives for the better through
its members' many good works; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 2011 Masonic Oak ceremony and
picnic and extend to all those taking part in the event sincere best
wishes for a meaningful and memorable observance.