Dr. George M. Patrick

On Monday April 23, 2007, the Ancient York Masons of Texas gathered at the Texas State Cemetery located at 909 Navasota, Street in Austin Texas to honor their greatest leader Dr. George M. Patrick of Anderson Texas who died in June 1889 with a footstone and special ceremony.

Dr. Patrick was the only Texas Mason to have been elected and to have served two full terms as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. Dr. Patrick was also the only Texas Mason to have served the Grand Royal Arch Chapter Republic of Texas in 1849, and the current Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in 1852.

Additionally, Dr. Patrick served the Grand Council of Royal And Select Masters of Texas in 1859, and the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in 1860, making him the first Texas Mason to have occupied all four chief presiding officer positions of the bodies that constitute the York Rite of Freemasonry. Dr. Patrick was a charter member of Orphans Friend Masonic Lodge No. 17, in 1842, Jerusalem Chapter Royal Arch Masons in 1846 under the GRAC Republic of Texas, the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas in 1856, and Jerusalem Council No. 7 of Royal and Select Masters in 1858, all of which are located in Grimes County Texas.

The reason for this ceremony is that it is part of the Centennial Year of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas. The Grand Council originally existed in Texas from 1856 to 1864 when it demised. It was revived in 1907, and one the major Centennial projects is to mark the graves all of the Past Grand Masters of the first embodiment, along with their other York Rite Service to Texas.

Dr. Patrick also served the Republic of Texas as a militia organizer and officer, as well as a Naval Commander of the Schooner Flash. It was at his farm called Deepwater along Patrick Bayou, (located in modern day Deer Park, Texas) after the battle of San Jacinto that the Texas Provisional Government signed the initial treaties with General Santa Anna ending the Texas Revolution, these treaties would later be made public at Velasco, and known as the Treaties of Velasco.

Shown in the photo are Cliff Cameron, D. D. KYCH, (Center) who is the current Grand Historian for the Grand Council and member of Jerusalem Chapter No. 3 and Council in Navasota, Texas, who was Specially Deputized by Donald Wayne Broughton, Grand Master of Texas Masons to represent the Grand Lodge of Texas at the Ceremony. James Roy Elliot (Left) Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas and C. Louis Hopkins, Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas.

Cliff Cameron, D. D., KYCH
Chairman,
History and Preservation Committee 2007
Grand Council of Royal & Select Masters of Texas