Masonic Happenings in South Texas

A group of Masons from various lodges began to meet on a regular basis last November for coffee and fellowship. Since there is no Masonic Lodge in Port Isabel or South Padre Island this was a good way to get acquainted with Masons in this area. South Padre Island and Port Isabel are privileged to have in the fall and winter months many Masons from other Grand Jurisdictions, as well as from Texas, spend the winter here. At the meetings bother Masons and non Masons were welcomed and even after the winter brethren had gone home we still had good attendance. Some of the non Masons have now become Masons in Rio Grande Lodge No. 81 (the closest Lodge to us). In order to raise Masonic awareness in our community we decided to ask permission of the local museum to establish a Masonic exhibit. We were able to borrow from Harlingen Lodge No. 1132 a display that they put together using wooden panels that depict Masonry from its beginning in colonial times (George Washington, Paul Revere, Ben Franklin) thru the Republic of Texas, including the Alamo, & San Jacinto, and lists many of the Masons involved (Governors and legislators of both the Republic and the State). The museum was so impressed with the exhibit that they offered the balance of the room to use for further Masonic displays. Thanks to Wharton Lodge No. 621 we obtained officers chairs, an altar and columns and added these to the display. We will have on display from Rio Grande Lodge No 81, a traveling certificate of good standing for Brother Samuel Stokley, a Master Mason, from Wellsburg Virginia, dated 1820.

Other lodges have offered artifacts that have greatly enhanced the display.

We are continuing to build the display adding weekly to its beauty. The enthusiasm continues to build.

Port Isabel has a unique Masonic history. Gen. Zachary Taylor brought a large force to defend the city when it was rumored that it was under siege and it is our belief that officers and members of his command (many from the east coast of the where Masonry had flourished for 100 years) requested a charter in 1847 for Point Isabel No. 33 (Point Isabel was the early name for the city now known as Port Isabel) from the Grand Lodge of Texas. The charter was never issued and the reason is unknown. However, about the same time Rio Grande Lodge No. 81 located at Brownsville went under dispensation and received a charter in 1851. General Taylor forces were subsequently deployed to Fort Brown (Brownsville) and perhaps this is the reason that the charter was never issued to Point Isabel. We will continue to research to prove or disprove this theory.

Now the rest of the story:
Out of all of the Masonic activity has emerged a desire for a lodge in Port Isabel and we have currently submitted paperwork to pursue this with in excess of 50 charter members. The excitement among the brethren is high and we are enjoying great fellowship and purpose together. In memory of those brethren of 1847 and with time, patience and perseverance we will have a lodge of which we can all be proud. POINT ISABEL NO. 33

Respectively submitted,

W. M. "Mike" Gower
Past Grand Master 1999
Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. & A.M.

Masonic Display in the Port Isabel Museum