The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 110, No. 41, Ed. 1 Friday, October 14, 2005 Page: 7 of 24
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Friday, Oct. 14, 2005
The Clifton Record
From The Past, Into The Present: Clifton Masons Begin A New Era
By Deborah Mathews
STAFF WRITER
CLIFTON — Being part of the
oldest fraternal organization in
the world, the Clifton Freemasons
have begun a new campaign to re-
vitalize their historic organization.
Chartered by dispensation in 1887,
the group has survived much in its
time and continues to exist with-
out fanfare.
The Freemasons of Texas are
older than Texas itself. Earlier at-
tempts to form in 1828 were for
naught when Masonry was out-
lawed in Texas by the Mexican
government, following an issued
Charter to Stephen Austin.
In 1837, a Charter for Holland
Lodge No. 36 was delivered to Dr.
Anson Jones by John M. Allen.
Jones placed the important docu-
ment in his saddle bags and car-
ried it through the battle of San
Jacinto. The Lodge was reopened
in Houston in October of that same
year, with Brother Anson Jones as
Grand Master.
From the initial three Lodges of
Texas, the Masons have grown to
nearly 910. As early as 1848, the
Grand Lodge of the Republic pro-
vided for an Education and Char-
ity Fund of ten percent of its
revenues, and appointed a super-
intendent of education. Many
early schools were established by
Masonic Lodges, and actually met
THE ORIGINAL CLIFTON
LODGE HALL followed the pattern
of including a school house within
their walls. The original Clifton two-
story rock structure, located on the
east side of the Bosque River just
north of the old iron bridge, used
the first floor of the as a school
house and the second floor as the
Lodge. — Staff Photo By Deborah Mathews
in Masonic Lodge buildings.
The Clifton Lodge followed that
pattern with the building their first
lodge, a two-story rock structure.
Located on the east side of the
Bosque River, just north of the old
iron bridge, the first floor of the
building served as a school house
and the second as the Lodge. Af-
ter countless years of service, the
CLIFTON LODGE 360
A.F. & A M
1972
872
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EMBEDDED IN THE WALL of the present Clifton Masonic Lodge, the
stone came from the previous building of the Masons.
— Staff Photo By Deborah Mathews
SEAL STAMPS AND GAVELS from past Masons are proudly displayed
in the Clifton Masonic Lodge Hall. These old items represent a long
history of the fraternal group. — Staff Photo By Deborah Mathews
NOT REPLICAS, BUT THE GENUINE ARTICLES lay neatly within a
protective glass case inside the Clifton Lodge Hall. These accouter-
ments have been passed down through the long history of the Lodge.
— Staff Photo By Deborah Mathews
BRAD NEWSOM
Attorney At Law
304 W. Morgan
P.O. Box 465
Meridian, TX 76665
(254) 435-2001
old building was abandoned and
the Masons moved to the corner
of Hwy 219 and Fifth Street. In the
third move to their present loca-
tion, at 315 W. 7th Street, the Or-
der took a cornerstone of the
building. That stone is embedded
in the wall of the Lodge today.
Commonly thought of as a se-
cretive organization, the longest
serving member of the Clifton
Freemasons Ed Grimes said,
“We’re not secretive, we just have
secrets.”
A look into the history of the
Freemasons explains that since
with origin of the group, there ex-
isted a strong need for secrecy in
belonging. Beginning in an era
during which were built in west-
ern Europe the hundreds of great
Gothic cathedrals, Masons or
builders banded together in
workmans’ Guilds. Each Guild
then formed a Lodge consisting of
three different levels—the first
were the apprentices; the second
were craftsmen; and the third
were the masters. It was these
Guild Lodges that actually gave
birth to modern Masonic Lodges
and the present-day Freemasonry.
During their inception some 800
years ago, persecution was a real
factor. Coming together for most
any reason was forbidden and to
be involved in anything could re-
sult in severe punishment or
death. As a result, members devel-
oped “secret handshakes” in or-
der to identify themselves to each
other and no one else. This was
how many of the practices fol-
lowed today evolved.
Remembering the significance
of its history, present-day Freema-
sons continue the formal cer-
emony of such adopted practices.
As a result, the organization has
often been ridiculed for its secrecy
and many have speculated on its
purposes.
The Masons are very clear
about their purpose—brotherhood
of man under the fatherhood of
God. It uses the tools and imple-
ments of ancient architectural
craftsmen symbolically in a sys-
tem of instruction designed to
build character and moral values
in its members. Its singular pur-
pose is to make good men better.
Its bonds of friendship, compas-
sion, and brotherly love have sur-
vived even the most divisive
political, military, and religious
conflicts through the centuries.
Freemasonry is a fraternity which
encourages its members to prac-
tice the faith of their personal ac-
ceptance. Masonry teaches that
each person, through self-im-
provement and helping others,
has an obligation to make a differ-
ence for good in the world.
Thirteen American presidents
were Freemasons, including
George Washington. A significant
number of the signers of the Dec-
laration of Independence as well
as the drafters of the Constitution
were members of the Fraternity.
Many believe the Freemasonry
and Masonic thinking contributed
most significantly to the founding
of the democracy of the United
States.
Even with such a significant his-
tory as the birth of the United
States and the beginning of public
schools, recently Masons found
themselves slipping into second
place when it came to member-
ship. Following World War II,
people had less and less time for
church and clubs, alike. Working
more hours and sometimes more
than one job, attendance in the
Lodge became secondary. As a re-
sult, memberships average age
began to get older and the num-
ber of new members began do de-
cline.
Following the lifelong practices,
Freemasons continues to do their
work. Providing scholarships and
funding of research for sick chil-
dren was just some of the noble
work of the Order.
The Clifton Lodge of the Free-
masons continues that tradition
with the gift of a scholarship each
year to a deserving senior student.
Not widely known, the student
does not have to be a boy. Whether
male or female, the student must
be hard working and deserving.
Today, the Lodge has reached a
point in its long history where
members wish to invigorate their
Order. In efforts to dispel many of
the misconceptions associated
with Freemasonry, local lodge
members discusses hosting a
gathering for interested men
where members and Masters both
would be on hand to discuss Ma-
sonry. One notion Masons would
like to dispel is that of having to
be descended from a Masonic fa-
ther or grandfather.. “Men of good
character” are those accepted by
the Order.
Recently beginning the new
practice of awarding lapel pins and
certificates in recognition of ser-
vice, Clifton Lodge awarded three
widows of Masons the honor. In-
stituting new practices along with
the ancient traditions, members
are dedicated to their Order and
to its continuity.
JUfcr*.
HAVING IN THEIR RANKS MORE THAN JUST PAST AMERICAN PRESIDENTS, the Masons claim the honor
with several notable men throughout histroy. Hanging in the Clifton Masonic Lodge is a hand drawing of
some of those famous men, including Sam Houston, Stephen Austin, Davy Crockett, and John Paul Jones.
The drawing was done by local artist Terry Thompson and proudly displayed in the Lodge.
— Staff Photo By Deborah Mathews
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Smith, W. Leon. The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 110, No. 41, Ed. 1 Friday, October 14, 2005, newspaper, October 14, 2005; Clifton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth788937/m1/7/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nellie Pederson Civic Library.