In March 1835, Anson Jones, John Wharton, Asa Brigham, James Phelps, and Alexander Russell,

wishing to formally meet as an organized masonic lodge, met under the Masonic Oak near the

burial ground of General John Austin and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for

dispensation to organize a lodge in the Texas territory.

On December 27, 1835, the dispensation was granted and Holland Lodge #36 of Louisiana was

instituted and opened on the second floor of the old courthouse in Brazoria, Texas. Meetings

continued here until March 1836, when Brazoria was abandoned due to events related to the

Texas Revolution.

During this time, the official charter issued to Holland Lodge #36 was delivered to Texas and

presented to Anson Jones just before the Battle of San Jacinto. This document arrived safely in

Brazoria after the battle, but the brethren had dwindled in number post-revolution.

Original Brazoria Courthouse, from WA Chatham

In November 1837, Anson Jones assembled Masons living near Houston in the Senate Chamber

of the original Capitol building (the site of the Rice Hotel and currently the Rice Lofts) and

opened Holland Lodge regularly at this location until October 27, 1838. On November 13,

1837, the lodge appointed a committee to meet with members of Nacogdoches and San

Augustine to organize the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas. This convention occurred on

December 20, 1837 in the Senate Chamber meeting place, presided over by Sam Houston, and

included representatives of Milam #40 and McFarland #41. The Grand Lodge's first session

was opened on April 24, 1838 at which time Texas lodges were renumbered according to the

dates of dispensation. Thus was established Holland Lodge #1, Milam Lodge #2, and

McFarland Lodge #3.

By November of 1838, other lodges formed under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the

Republic of Texas, including Temple #4 (Houston), St. Johns #5 (Brazoria), Matagorda #7

(Matagorda), and Phoenix #8 (Washington).

The Old Capitol Building, from WA Chatham

On November 8, 1838, Holland Lodge, Temple Lodge, and the Grand Lodge of Texas (all

previously meeting in the crowded Senate Chamber) secured lodge rooms in the upstairs

apartments of Kesler's Arcade at 910 Congress Avenue. After a dispute over the rent, the

bodies were barred from the building in September 1839 and could not resume labor until

February 1840, when they met once again in the Senate Chamber. On June 10, 1840, Holland

Lodge agreed to a six month contract for rooms in the CC Dibble Building at 201 Main Street.

During this time, officers of the lodge made a new contract with the heirs of Mr. Kesler and

returned to the arcade apartments between February 1841 and January 1847.

After the turbulent first decade of masonry in Texas, members of Holland Lodge sought to

establish a permanent building. Brothers William Marsh Rice and Nichols offered the second

story of their new building at 1011 Congress Avenue for five years for the interest on a

payment of $1100 which was eventually returned to the lodge. This facility was dedicated on

January 16, 1847 and served as the home of Holland Lodge, Houston Chapter #8, and Houston

Council #10 until November 23, 1852.

In May 1851, a committee was formed of members from Holland Lodge, Washington Chapter

#2, and Ruthven Commandery #2 and submitted a plan for a new three-story building for lodge

rooms and a school. By March 1852, a lot had been purchased at the corner of Capitol and

Main streets for $600. The erection of the three-story building was contracted for $2500 and

completed in October 1852. As planned, the first floor was rented as a school for $20 per

month, and the associated bodies met in this new hall until it was destroyed by fire in October

1862.