Lee once again honored by Texas Masonic lodge
Todd Shelton | 1/18/2005 It is a signal honor for Texas KA to be part of this historySeveral members of Kappa Alpha Order residing in Texas recently had the privilege of restoring the charter to Robert E. Lee Masonic Lodge No. 431. Pictured (L to R) are the officers installed at the initial meeting: Greg Smith (Delta Kappa), Reed Jackson (Beta Lambda), Ken Flournoy (Gamma Upsilon), Councilor Russell Brown (Delta Sigma), John Waldie (Delta Iota), James Earp (Epsilon Pi), Senior Councilor Mike Duncan (Delta Kappa) and Dwain Knight (Delta Kappa). Other charter restoration members include Former Knight Commander Loren Hanson and Executive Director Wiese.
“It is a signal honor for Texas KA to be part of this history,” said Brown. “Robert E. Lee Lodge No. 431 was first chartered in 1875 by veterans of Lee’s command who returned home to Texas after the war and sought to honor his memory after his passing.”
“It is unheard of for a Masonic Lodge in Texas to be named after a non-Mason. However, because of the stature of Lee in Texas, an exception was obviously made,” said Brown. “The lodge demised in 1920 after the railroad passed Strickling and rendered it a ghost town.”
“Russell has been working hard for the past two years to restore the charter of this old lodge,” said Duncan. “Obviously, as members of the Order, we had personal interest in doing this and it was no easy task. However, the Grand Lodge of Texas was impressed with our persistence and our dedication to the memory of Lee. Russell convinced the Grand Master here in Texas to give us permission to do this and we had a large turnout from Grand Lodge to install us.”
There is no evidence that Lee was a Mason, however, his father was, as was George Washington, who both had great influence on his early life.
“While we do not claim him as a member,” said Brown, “we honor him by restoring this lodge named in his honor, much as our early KA brothers did when they named him our spiritual founder. I expect that a good many Texas Masons, who are also members of KA, will want to affiliate with us.”
Those interested in the lodge may contact Councilor Russell Brown at (903) 649-1959 or rb@wellbornhouston.com.
|
