Lodge Was Formed In 1800's

 
TENNESSEE COLONY -- More than 120 years ago, on March 3, 1856, seven Master Masons, members of Magnolia Lodge No. 113, met at Hanks' Store in Tennessee Colony and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Texas for the creation of a separate lodge.

A. L. Porter was named first Worshipful Master; D. M. Waits, Senior Warden, and W. C. Kenney, Junior Warden. Others signing the petition were John M. Burns, John Vannoy, L. M. Hudson and D. C. Cogburn.

Meeting July 28, 1856, at Magnolia, Lodge No. 113 approved the petition, The Grand Lodge, meeting March 15, 1856, in San Augustine, already had granted the dispensation in an order signed by Grand Master Frank B. Sexton.

Tyre Lodge No. 198 thus came into being April 5, 1856, with Deputy Grand Master A. J. Fowler opening the lodge.

An old log building one mile from Tennessee Colony was used as a meeting place temporarily. In August, 1856, the new lodge authorized purchase of a house for $400 from a Mrs. Alverson. It was used for some four years.

A Bible given to the lodge March 31, 1857, by Mrs. Arabella Hanks still is being used as of this date.

In 1860, a two-story building was erected by the community and the lodge for joint use as a church, school and lodge hall.

Completed in 1861, it was used continuously as a lodge hall until 1948, when a new lodge building was erected.

During the Civil War, John D. Robinson, a member of Tyre Lodge, was wounded in the thigh in battle that had gone badly for the Confederates. All day he lay without water in the hot sun.

Union troops rode over the battlefield, putting gravely wounded Confederates out of their misery with bullets through their brains. When they approached Robinson and one raised his pistol to end the Colony Mason's life, Robinson gave the Grand Hailing Cry of Distress. That saved his life. One of the Yankees, recognizing the cry, leaped from his horse, ran to Robinson, gave him water and ordered him taken back and given medical attention.

M.E, Avant donated ground on which the new lodge building was erected in 1948 with volunteer labor. The building was dedicated Oct. 18, 1952, by Grand Junior Deacon Joe J. Woolket. Oil used in the ceremony came from a well in which the lodge had an interest.

A 100th anniversary lodge meeting attended by 250 members and visitors was held Jan. 19, 1957. Several Grand Lodge officers participated.

History of the lodge to 1912 was written by the late Gordon Calcote, with later history by C. N. Shelton and R. T. Radford.

 

Historic Lodge Hall

Tyre Masonic Lodge, Tennessee Colony, joined with the community in building an 1860 structure which served as a school, church and lodge hall. It was used continuously until 1948, when a new lodge building , pictured above, was erected. (Photo courtesy Jay Banks)

 

 


Tennessee Colony
Order of the Eastern Star No. 102

The first order of the Easter Star (OES) chapter chartered in Anderson County, this organization was founded in 1902 for the wives and female relatives of the members of Tyre Masonic Lodge No. 198. Originally known as the Redbud chapter, it took the name of the Tennessee Colony community in 1936.

Charter members of this chapter, which included members of the Tyre Masonic Lodge, where: Will H. and Annie Calcote, Pete Oldham, Tom Wyley, H.H. Auld, Marcus E. and Tennie Avant, Albert DuPuy, T.F. Wylie and John L. Carroll. Officers elected for the first year where: Bula Graham, W.N. Montgomery, Mamie DuPuy, Fannie Holt, Jesse Graham, Missie Swayze, Maud Montgomery, Emma Swayze, Eva Woolverton, Addie Carroll, D. Welborn Gore, Carrie Carroll, Annie Calcote, Alice Swayze, Vera Vannoy, Mattie Woolverton, E.A. Swayze and Will H. Calcote.

The order of the Eastern Star is always Associated with a Masonic Lodge, and its purposes are fellowship and charitable works. Meetings of the Tennessee Colony chapter were held once a month until 1940 - 41, when a change was made to hold meeting twice monthly. The chapter met in the Masonic lodge hall.

Membership in the Tennessee Colony OES increased substantially after World War II, with many local and area residents accepted into membership. Members have been active at the district and state level, and their charitable works have played an important part in the cultural heritage of Tennessee Colony.

 


Tyer Masonic Lodge No. 198

Until this Masonic Lodge was chartered in 1857, local Masons traveled to Magnolia Lodge No. 113 near the trinity river. On March 3, 1856, seven Tennessee Colony Masons met at the store of James S. Hanks and adopted a resolution to petition the Grand Lodge of Texas for a new lodge. The Grand Lodge approved the request on January 19, 1857, and Tyre Lodge No. 198, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, was officially chartered four days later.

A.L. Porter served as the first Worshipful Master. Other officers the first year were John Nelson Woolverton, Dr. W.C. Kenney, John Vannoy, Johm M. Burns, Thomas Hudson, Joshua Brown Hanks, J.R. Fulton, C.D. Holliman and M.A. Anderson. Members met in a log building, but soon bought a house for lodge purposes. In 1861, a two-story building was constructed and put into use as a community school, a place for Sunday worship and a meeting place for the masons. A 1949 building replaced the 19th-centruy structure as the hall.

Throughout its history, the members of the Tyre Masonic Lodge have sponsored a number of programs and outreach projects for the community, including the Tennessee Colony Masonic Institute, which provided school classes for local children in the late 1850s. Lodge members have served in various armed conflicts, including the Civil War, World War I and World War II. The organization draws members from surrounding communities as it continues to uphold the ideals and traditions of its founders. 

 

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