History of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Texas

 

Galveston is the Mother of Scottish Rite Masonry in Texas. San Felipe Lodge of Perfection No. 1 was established May 15, 1867, hence, it is the Mother of all Bodies in Texas. During the early years of its existence, with only a few members, they had a hard struggle to keep the Body alive.

About the year 1882 new blood was added, and a Rose Croix Chapter was instituted. The members soon realized the importance of exemplifying the work in full and ample form. In order to create an interest and propagate the Rite, it was then agreed that none of the Degrees would be communicated, which has been adhered to strictly since that time. From that time the membership began to increase rapidly. In 1898 a Council of Kadosh was petitioned for and granted.

In 1902 the present Cathedral was purchased and remodeled from time to time, until it is now one of the finest and best equipped Scottish Rite Cathedrals in the Southern Jurisdiction, valued at about $200,000.00. In 1899 Letters Temporary for a Consistory was granted, and the Brethren from Dallas, Crockett, Beaumont, Orange and Houston displayed great interest in the work, as each of them put on a Degree Team and attended every Reunion for several years. Beaumont, Orange and Houston still keep up the good work. The Galveston Bodies have the distinction of being the first in the Southern Jurisdiction to confer all the Degrees from the Fourth to the Thirty-second, inclusive, without book or memorandum.

When James D. Richardson, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, visited Galveston, March 2, 1907, he said in his address to the Bodies, "My pleasure has been enhanced by being afforded the opportunity of seeing that which I had never seen before; namely, the conferring at a Reunion of every one of the Degrees of the Rite from the 4° to the 32°, inclusive. With the Bodies here every Degree is "Independent".

More information on the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Texas can be found in books available in the Valley's library.  Books on the subject include "The First Century of Scottish Rite Masonry in Texas, 1867-1967" by the Texas Scottish Rite History Committee, James Carter 33°, Editor, 1966.