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 This painting is believed to be of the first Matagorda Masonic Lodge in the 1850s. |
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On Saturday 3rd February the brethren of the Masonic fraternity accompanied by a large concourse of the citizens of Matagorda and its vicinity proceeded in procession to lay the corner stone of a new Masonic Edifice in this city. The procession and ceremonies were highly interesting and imposing. The order of procession was as follows to wit:
1. Matagorda Lodge No 7. The ceremony was commenced by the Rev. Mr. Ives followed by a Masonic Ode sung by the brethren. The usual ceremonies of lowering and laying the stone depositing the medals, coins &c were performed by Joseph W. E. Wallace the worshipful Master of the Lodge. A Medal, with the following address, was presented by His Honor the Mayor in behalf of the corporation;
Fellow citizens--With the most
unfeigned pleasure we join in the ceremonies of laying the corner stone
of the new Masonic Hall proposed to be erected in this city by Matagorda
Lodge No. 7. The celebrity which your institution has from time
immemorial had throughout the civilized world, for inculcating good
moral precepts and binding mankind together in the ties of good
fellowship and brotherly love fill me with the hope that it will be
beneficial to our city. As a token of respect for your institution lo
the name of the corporation I present to you this medal, on which is
engraved the names of the officers of the corporation for the present
year, together with the name of our young The following oration was delivered by the Architect W. W. Stewart Esq. Friends and fellow citizens: We have this day assembled ourselves together for the purpose of laying a corner stone, upon which Is to be erected the first masonic edifice that has ever been reared in the Republic of Texas. It has been a custom, from time immemorial, that previous to the erection of public buildings, and particularly of masonic edifices, the masonic fraternity, accompanied by the citizens of the place, form in procession and march to the spot and there lay the foundation or corner stone upon which the building is to be erected, in the manner and form that you have this day witnessed. It is with pleasure I behold Individuals engaged In this important work who were among the first to lay the foundation or corner stone for the building up of civil society in this country, and whose heads have grown gray in settling and serving the same. O that I could here display the virtues of those men with many others, who were the brave defenders of their country during our late struggle for liberty. But those heroes who fell in defence of their country, why does there remain nothing but a recollection of their services? They shall however live in our hearts, and their children will be dear to us, and this republic will, I have no doubt, pay them the debt that it owes to their fathers; and we will here discharge ours, first by proclaiming their glory, and secondly, our gratitude. Fellow citizens—but a few years ago the ground that we this day so quietly occupy, was only inhabited by the wild beast and savage Indian with whom it was unsafe for the white man to dwell. But, my friends how changed is the scene. Instead of the wild beast and savage this place has changed its solitude lo the bustle of a flourishing city. Notwithstanding the many difficulties and losses sustained by her citizens during the late struggle with Mexico and notwithstanding the scarcity of money in the country the improvements in this young and flourishing city are rapidly advancing and I have not a doubt but Matagorda will, in a very short time, rise superior to any other city In the Republic of Texas, and the time will come when she will not be surpassed as a commercial city, by any other in the world. Citizens of Matagorda--so long as you are so ably represented in your congress legislature and council halls, prosperity and happiness will lie yours. My masonic brethren--as you have this day committed to my charge, as principal architect, the superintendence of this building, the tools that you have placed in my hands will teach me this moral lesson. The plumb, that I may walk uprightly before God and man; the square, to square my actions by the square of virtue; and the level, that I should remember that I am travelling on the level of time to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveller returns; and when this building shall be completed, and there is no more use for these tools. I hope to be able lo resign them with honor to myself and satisfaction lo all those who are interested. As a small tribute of our gratitude and respect to our worthy friend and fellow citizen S. R. Fisher, who has so generously donated to us a portion of the ground on which this building is to be erected on behalf of my masonic brethren, I do hereby tender him my most grateful thanks; sincerely hoping that he may enjoy all the blessings and comforts through life that his generous heart could possibly wish, and when death, the grand leveller of all human events shall overtake him, his soul may be transported to that house not made with hands, eternally in the heavens. The concluding remarks of Mr. Stewart called forth the following reply from S. R. Fisher Esq.; Gentlemen of the Masonic Fraternity--I regret that I had not been previously furnished with those heads of the address which allude to myself, and which have just been so ably and interestingly delivered, that I might have been prepared to have responded in a manner suitable lo the occasion. As the donor of the site on which you have now laid the "corner stone" of the first temple erected to masonry south of the Sabine I was actuated by personal friendship to many of your members, and a desire to evince a conviction, that as a Christian I was called on, so far as my humble means would permit, to unite with you in inculcating a “Peace on earth and good will to man." This divine and scriptural injunction, it appears to me is the ground work of your order; and I ardently hope it may not be confined solely within the walls of Masonry, but extend its being and christian influence throughout the diversified sphere of all social intercourse. Not being a brother of your order, allow me, particularly to thank you for your complimentary allusions to myself, and to observe, that as the most certain and rational means of advocating and fostering universal benevolence, let us individually commence the great work in individual charity and forbearance. This will operate upon our little community—its influence will diverge--and the rays emanating from this, it’s almost imperceptible center, will, under blessing of Divine Providence, thus spread themselves to the remotest population of our beloved Texas, and give us a character for moral integrity, and christian philanthropy, which must be a sure guaranty for our national permanency.
Matagorda Bulletin, Thursday,
February 7, 1839 |
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Records from the archives of the Masonic Lodge indicate
Lodge No. 7 had a difficult time existing through the years.
In 1845 the District Deputy Grand Master (D.D.G.M.) of the
second Masonic District wrote the Grand Lodge telling of the
plight of Matagorda Lodge No. 7. It seems they had paid
their dues and the Master was surprised when a letter was
received from the Grand Lodge notifying the lodge they were
suspended for nonpayment of dues. On investigation, it seems
that their representative to the Grand Communication had not
been able to attend so they were not represented.