On various occasions during the year of 1921 a number of Masons, mostly members of Fort Worth Lodge #148 and Julian Field Lodge #908, had discussed the need for a new Masonic Lodge near their homes in the Arlington Heights area.
Bro.
William F. Wortham sates that before he became a Mason, while serving in the Navy in San Francisco he noticed there were Masonic Lodges in every section of the city. When he came home he mentioned this to his father. They lived in Arlington Heights and his father would have to go downtown to attend Lodge. He says his father told him that when he and his brother Pete (Robert R. Wortham) became Masons they could do something about staring a Lodge out here in the Heights. Frank took his degrees in 1919 in Julian Field Lodge and soon began talking to others about a new Lodge in Arlington Heights.
On 14 November 1921 a group of these Masons met at the Arlington Heights School, 5100 Camp Bowie Blvd. (at that time the school of the Arlington Heights Independent School District). There were 46 masons present at this meeting and they took some very positive steps toward the formation of a new Lodge.
After electing Bro. William C Timmons of San Antonio Lodge #1079 as Chairman and Bro. William Frank Wortham of Julian Field Lodge #908 as Secretary, they then voted to petition the Grand Lodge of Texas for a Charter, and to request Fort Worth Lodge #148 to sponsor their petition by recommending to the Grand Master that he give his approval and that he encourage the Grand Lodge to approve the petition at the December 1921 Communication.
They also voted that the petition reflect their desire that the new Lodge be named “Arlington Heights Lodge”.
Their last votes of the evening were to request that the Grand Master appoint the following Brethren as Charter Officers:
1)Charles W. Laney, a Past Master Fortitude Lodge #107, Independence, Kansas as Worshipful Master
2)William C. Timmons, as Senior Warden
3)William F. Wortham Jr., as Junior Warden |
On 7 January, 1922, Right Worshipful A. L. Hartshorn, District Deputy Grand Master, Masonic District 64 called the meeting to order, read his commission from the Most Worshipful Grand Master D. Frank Johnson authorizing him to institute the Arlington Heights Lodge #1184 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and to install the duly appointed officers.
Brother Hartshorn then opened a representation of the Grand Lodge of Texas and set the lodge to work. After the visitors were excused, the lodge truly did begin work. Several members spoke relative to the building of the temple, after which a motion to delay building was passed. A motion to purchase the site at stop 15 was duly seconded and passed. The first two petitions to be made a Mason were received. These two petitioners were each made a Mason on 17 February, 1922 as was the third petitioner whose petition was received on 10 January, 1922. These three brethren are in order of their initiations:
1)Andrew Jackson Lawrence, a native of Fort Worth who was born on 26 September, 1888. He was engaged in the printing business and he dimitted in 1926.
2)Frederick Hiram Bush, who was born on 4 February, 1887 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and came to Fort Worth at about age five. He was a Master Plumber and remained a member until his death in 1979, being then a 57 year Mason.
3)Alfred Julian Ball, born in Anniston, Alabama on 10 April, 1898. He was a salesman and dimitted in 1933 when he was transferred to Ohio. |
The building of the Temple really got started at the meeting on 14 February, 1922. There had been much discussion since Brother Laney's letter of 2 January in which he outlined three possible types of construction and his comments on financing. The building committee reported with plans for the Temple. Brother Wortham reported that Brother Stonestreet would deed the building site to the Lodge "free and clear" if the Lodge were to build immediately according to the plans reccomended by the building committee. Brother Hartman moved that the Lodge approve the plans, accept Brother Stonestreet's offer, and instruct the building committee to begin immediately to erect the Temple. Of course the motion was quickly seconded and passed with a near unanimous vote. Brother Wortham states there was one dissenting vote.
We must note here that although the minutes reflect that only Brother Stonestreet was donating the building site, the previously cited deed records of Tarrant County show that Brother Sparrow was an equal partner in ownership of the land. The said deed also shows a consideration of two thousand dollars; however, there is no record in the ledgers of the Lodge that any money was ever paid for the land.
It has often been told that during the depression years in the early 1930's, the Lodge sold off lots to the west of the Lodge in order to obtain funds to meet the annual mortgage payments etc. The facts are: The land involved in the purchase by Brothers Stonestreet and Sparrow was a large triangular tract encompassed by what is now Camp Bowie Blvd. on the south, Kenley St. on the west, and Dexter St. on the North, with the east being a point where Dexter and Hulen intersect. Brothers Stonestreet and Sparrow deeded to the Lodge only the eastern portion of this tract, the original west boundry of which was located about ten feet west of the sidewalk at the west end of the Temple building, in what is now known as Ray St. on the city plats. There are no entries in the deed records of Tarrant County nor in the property tax rolls to indicate the Lodge ever owned any part of the large trapezoidal tract between Ray and Kenley Streets.
The only sale of property by the Lodge was in 1933, when the Lodge deeded the west 10 feet of the east twelve and three tenths of lot 11 block 22 of the Chamberlain Arlington Heights addition, 1st filing to the City of Fort Worth to be used for street purposes only. See Tarrant County deed records volume 1183, page 539. In regards to this transaction the records of the Lodge established this was done at the request of the owner of the property to our immediate west, and that he paid $900.00 and bore all the expense of installing the curb, sidewalk and paving of the street. Lastly the $900.00 all went to the holder of the Mortgage on our property to be applied to reduction of the principle amount due.
At the February meeting the petitions of Lawrence, Bush and Ball were favorably acted upon. We Masons of today seldom hear of a Masonic Summons; however, they were rather common in the twenties and thirties and at this meeting an edict of the Grand Master was read, after which the Secretary was ordered to summons all members for Friday evening 17 February. The purpose of the summons being to make all Masons aware of the need to raise substantial funds for the Masonic Home and School of Texas. So at that meeting on 17 February a committee to raise funds for the Masonic Home and School was appointed as required by edict of the Grand Master. And, after which Lawrence, Bush and Ball were initiated as Entered Apprentice Masons.
The Lodge stayed busy with receiving petitions and conferring of degrees, and by April 14th six Entered Apprentices had passed their examinations and received their Fellowcraft degree that evening.
Two items of note occurred at the second stated meeting in April, 1922: First the By-Laws committee reported a set of By-Laws which were read and spread on the minutes, after which the committee was discharged. Second, the building committee which had on two previous occasions asked for delays, now reported final plans for the Temple and moved that we borrow $9,000.00 from Fort Worth Lodge #148. There was to have been a letter explaining the terms of the loan attached to the minutes; however, said letter is not now in the files, nor is there an indication that the motion was ever acted upon. The motion must have passed, because by the 24th of May, 1922 the foundation was down and brick were laid up to the cornerstone level, ready for the stone to be laid.
Prior to that ceremony we had conferred our first Master Masons Degrees on 12 May and the candidates were A. H. Ball, F. P. Carvey, J. R. Overstreet, and A. S. Meineche.
In the Lodge Notices of the Fort Worth Record, dated 23 May, 1922 we find this:
"Stated Meeting Arlington Heights Lodge #1184 Tuesday 4:30pm 808 1/2 Houston Street, 5:30pm laying cornerstone in new building, 8:30pm Business Meeting 808 1/2 Houston Street. Chas. W. Laney WM, C. M. Doyle Secy."
In the Lodge minutes we find that by edict of the Most Worshipful Grand Master D. F. Johnson, Arlington Heights was authorized to lay the cornerstone of their new temple in public ceremony with the Right Worshipful Sam P. Cochran presiding. Therefore a special meeting of the Grand Lodge of Texas was opened on Tuesday 23 May, 1922 with the following brethren filling the several stations:
R. W. Sam P. Cochran, Past Grand Master (1912) acting as Grand Master
Claude Cross, Past Master Fort Worth Lodge #148 as Deputy Grand Master
Howard M. Marks, WM Panther City Lodge #1183 as Grand Senior Warden
Joe B. Hines, PM Julian Field Lodge #908, as Grand Junior Warden
Francis H. Sparrow, Charter Member and Treasurer Arlington Heights Lodge #1184 as Grand Treasurer
Chas M. Doyle, PM Dunns Rock Lodge #908, Brevard North Carolina, Charter Member and Secretary of Arlington Heights Lodge #1184 as Grand Secretary
James K. Thompson, Minister of First Presbyterian Church, (believed to be an Oklahoma Mason) as Grand Chaplain
Worshipful G. R. M. Montgomery, Grand Senior Deacon and PM Fort Worth Lodge #148 as Grand Marshall
H. J. Perkins, WM Hemphill Heights Lodge #1164 as Grand Senior Deacon
W. N. Stephens, WM, Polytechnic Lodge #925 as Grand Junior Deacon
J. L. Lockett, WM, W. W. Peavy Lodge #942 as Grand Senior Steward
Walter Smith, WM, Tarrant Lodge #942 as Grand Junior Steward
H. H. Sanders, Charter Member and Tyler Arlington Heights Lodge #1184 as Grand Tyler.
Although not mentioned in the minutes we note in the newspaper articles that Brother C. A. Bonnett, Charter Member and Senior Steward of Arlington Heights Lodge #1184 acted as Grand Orator, which duty he relinquished to the Reverend Brother Thompson at the ceremony.
After the Grand Lodge was opened at 808 1/2 Houston street, it was called from labor for the purpose of laying the cornerstone in public ceremony and directed to reassemble at the Temple building site for the leveling of the cornerstone as directed by the Grand Master. In the minutes we find only that the cornerstone was laid in due and ancient form, after which Brother J. K. Thompson gave an impressive address followed by lunch on the grounds.
In accordance with customs as old as the building of King Solomon's Temple, Sam P. Cochran, thirty-third degree, past grand master, acting as grand master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, assisted by other acting grand officers, laid the corner stone to the temple of the Arlington Heights Lodge #1184, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The occasion was a propitious one, the ceremonies of laying a stone that came up to the requirements of the order of being square and plumb were performed as the golden sun was sinkng into the west, and the hallowed light of twilight was beginning to spread over Mother Earth, and the stars were beginning to pin back the curtains of night.
The occasion was a fitting one, in that the laying of the stone, the main support of the building, was completed as the sun sank to its rest. A squad from the drill team of Worth Commandery, under the direction of Robert A. Spain, acted as escort to the grand officers. The stone was tried by the square in the hands of acting Deputy Grand Master Claude Cross, worshipful master of No. 148. It was tried by the plumb in the hands of acting Grand Senior Warden Howard M. Marks. It was tried by the level in the hands of acting Grand Junior Warden Joe B. Hines. It was found true by the acting Grand Master Sam P. Cochran, who also delivered the charge to the architect, Jack Davies. The charge delivered to the architect was to build the building as per the requirements of the order to bless mankind.
The stone was sprinkled with the corn of plenty, the oil of contentment and the wine of joy by the acting Deputy Grand Master, the acting Grand Senior Warden and the acting Grand Junior Warden.
Representatives from all the other lodges in Fort Worth took part in the ceremonies. Among the visitors here from Dallas accompanying Sam P. Cochran were Walter C. Temple, thirty-third degree; John L. Stephens, thirty-third degree; and Mr. Kirby, thirty-second degree.
Before the ceremonies began the band from the Masonic Home rendered several selections. At the conclusion of the ceremonies a barbecue dinner was served with all the necessary fixings.
It was the first time in many years that the Grand Lodge of Texas, through its delegated authorities, laid the corner stone for a strictly Masonic structure.
Dr. J. K. Thompson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, who acted as chaplain, also made the leading address, strictly along Masonic lines.
The contents of the box placed in the corner stone comprised of a certified copy of the charter, constitution and by-laws, copy of the charter of the grand lodge, list of charter members, original officers, bible, list of present members, list of officers laying the stone, list of officers who instituted the lodge, names of the building committee, architect, builder and superintendant, an amulet from Jerusalem, a bead from Constantinople, a number of cards and coins from those in attendance, a collar button from the reliable laundry and other things.
The officers taking part in the ceremonies consisted of Sam P. Cochran, thirty-third degree, past grand master, acting as grand master; Claud Cross, worshipful master of Fort Worth Lodge No. 148; H. M. Marks, worshipful master of Panther City Lodge; Joe B. Hines, worshipful master of Julian Field; Frank H. Sparrow, acting grand treasurer, and treasurer of Arlington Heights Lodge; Charles M. Doyle, acting grand secretary; Rev. J. K. Thompson, acting grand chaplain; G. R. M. Montgomery, acting grand marshall; H. J. Perkins, worshipful master of Hemphill Heights Lodge, acting grand senior deacon; W. M. Stephens, master of Polytechnic Lodge, acting grand junior deacon; J. L. Lockett, master of W. W. Peavy Lodge, acting grand senior steward; Walter Smith, master of Tarrant Lodge, acting grand junior steward; A. H. Sanders, tiler of Arlington Heights Lodge, acting grand tiler; C. A. Bonnett, senior steward, acting grand orator, which honor he conferred upon Dr. J. K. Thompson. At the conclusion of the ceremonies Mr. Cochran expressed pleasure at having been thus honored and spoke of the kindly relations that exist between the Dallas and Fort Worth brethren of the craft.
Delegated authorities of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, for the first time in several years, assisted in laying the cornerstone for a strictly Masonic structure when the ceremonies were held at the temple of the Arlington Heights Lodge No. 1184, Tuesday evening. Sam P. Cochran, thirty-third degree, past Grand Master, acting as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, directed the ceremonies and was assisted by local Masons. A squad from the drill team of Worth Commandery, under Robert A. Spain, acted as escort for the Grand Officers. Acting Deputy Grand Master Claude Cross, tried the stone with the square; Acting Deputy Senior Warden Howard M. Marks, tried it with the plumb; Acting Grand Junior Warden, Joe B. Hines, tried it with the level, and it was found true by Acting Grand Master Cochran, who charged the architect, Jack Davis, to build the temple by the requirements of the order to bless mankind.
A box containing a certified copy of the charter, constitution, by-laws, charter of the Grand Lodge, lists of charter members, original officers and members, present officers and members, officers who instituted the lodge, the ones who laid the stone and other material were placed in the stone. It was sprinkled with the corn of nourishment, the oil of joy, and the wine of refreshment.
Before the ceremonies the Masonic Home Band gave a concert, and after the stone was laid a barbecue dinner was given under the direction of Frank P. Singer.
Dr. J. K. Thompson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, gave an address along Masonic lines.
The follwoing officers took part in the ceremonies; Sam P. Cochran, Claude Cross, H. M. Marks, Joe B. Hines, Frank H. Sparrow, Charles M. Doyle, Dr. J. K. Thompson, G. R. M. Montgomery, H. J. Perkins, W. M. Stephens, J. L. Lockett, Walter Smith, A. H. Sanders and C. A. Bonnett.
Things continued to run smoothly and at the end of the Masonic year of 23 June, 1922 the Lodge had initiated 16 Entered Apprentices, passed 7 Fellowcrafts, and raised 6 new Master Masons, along with 11 affiliations to bring the total membership to 85. Note that Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts are not counted in official reports of total membership.
On 27 June, 1922 the new officers were installed at the stated meeting, and after which the usual business followed with the building committee of Brothers Stonestreet, Sparrow and Hartman being reaffirmed. The Masonic Home committee reported they had raised $310.00 and transmitted it to the Home and School. That committee was discharged with the thanks of the lodge. Brothers Luther, Laney, and Davies were appointed as a committee to call on members for pledges to finish the temple building at 4th and Blvd. (Dexter and Camp Bowie today).
By 25 July the building of the temple was progressing on time and there was a vote that an additional $3,000.00 be borrowed from Fort Worth Lodge #148 to complete the building. Then on 8 August it was reported that only $2,000.00 had been borrowed. At this time the Secretary was directed to write the Grand Master that our Temple would be ready for use in September and ask the Grand Master's permission to move the Lodge to its new home on Camp Bowie Blvd. at 4th Avenue.
There is no record of the Grand Master's approval to move, nor any entry in the minutes setting forth the date of the first meeting in our new temple. There is, however, good circumstantial evidence that the first meeting here was on 16 December, 1922.
Any figure as to what our Lodge Temple building actually cost must be an estimate or deduction at best, since reports and audits of those days are scarce. Perhaps the best guess would be $20,078.10 based upon the fact that Walter Cox was the contractor and that his commission of ten percent was paid in the amount of $2,007.81 which he donated to the lodge. Also the same report of 20 June, 1925 showd the architect commission of five percent to be $1,004.29 which would place the cost at $20,085.80. The lower figure is probably right because there is a note somewhere about blueprints costing seven dollars and some cents.
It was at the meeting on 14 November, 1922 that the trustees reported that they had leased the lower floor to the Hi-Twelve Club, (a recognized society of Master Masons of the city of Fort Worth) and a resolution was adopted setting forth the terms of the lease. The facilities were to be dedicated as a community Center for the purpose of holding entertainments, which would be open to all persons of good moral character; and the Hi-Twelve Club was charged to exercise great care that no objectionable persons attend such entertainments.
Over the past 35 years I have been told by many ladies a few years older than I, that when they were young ladies their parents knowing that the premises were strictly patrolled by the Masons and absolutely no intoxicating beverages were allowed on the grounds. Several of these lades have also stated that no smoking was allowed at the dances and the young men would have to go outside to smoke. Of course the prohibition against intoxicating beverages remains in Masonic Law to this date.
The band stand at the west end of the banquet room which measured 7 X 14 feet and was elevated one foot high with a low metal railing around the front and sides was removed when the room was remodeled around 1967 or 68. The Saturday night dances were not the only community use of the room.
We find that on 23 November, 1922 being just a year and a few days after that first organizational meeting at the school; Brother Myron Wood Sherman was made a Master Mason. At that meeting there were exactly 100 Master Masons who signed the register, they came from 20 different lodges, 18 in Texas and 1 each from Alabama and Indiana. There is no mention in the minutes of the reason for the large attendance, it may have been due to Brother Sherman's popularity or an early first birthday celebration of the Lodge.
Most Worshipful Mike H. Thomas, Grand Master of Texas visited the Lodge for its official dedication on 3 January, 1923. The lodge was duly opened and the Grand Master was formally received with privat grand honors. The Lodge was called off and a representation of the Grand Lodge opened, after which the temple was dedicated in due and ancient form. On this occasion 156 Master Masons signed the register and they represented 18 different lodges. The Grand Lodge was then closed and our lodge called up and closed.
Work continued as usual for the balance of the year with attendance especially large when Master Masons' degrees were being conferred. Two special meetings were called in May of 1923 by edict of the Grand Master, to raise funds for the Masonic Home and School. Results of these two meetings shoed over $1,500.00 contributed by the members with some still to be heard from.
The first recorded Lodge of Sorrow opened by Arlington Heights Lodge was at 3:00pm on 3 April, 1923. This was to conduct the Masonic Graveside Services of Brother C. E. Abbey who was sojourning in Fort Worth when he passed to teh Supreme Grand Lodge. The name and location of his Lodge was omitted from the minutes.
On 19 July, 1923, just a little over a year after our own cornerstone was laid, we leveled the cornerstone of Fort Worth Fire Station #18 at the corner of Camp Bowie Blvd. and Carleton Street. The stone has been relocated in 1986 and is now mounted in a marker at the corner facing Camp Bowie Blvd. Upon investigation we find there were five new fire stations erected in Fort Worth in the summer of 1923. The Grand Master had authorized the lodge nearest to each of the stations to level the cornerstones of each with the usual ceremonies of the craft. The stone was located on the northeast corner of the building according to traditino. During the 1986 remodeling it was moved to its present locationalong with the container behind it.
In 1924, like today, any mention of raising the dues brings a lot of discussion. On 22 April, 1924 a resolution to raise the dues to $6.00 per year was introduced, voted on and carried. It seems the resolution was in two parts, in the first part some ammendments were made in the wording before it passed. The second part supposedly was in conflict with the by-laws and was therefor rejected, after which a committee was appointed to redraft it to remove the conflict. You see there were attorneys around in those days as there are now. There is no clear explanation as to what all the discussion was about. Then on 23 December, 1924 the amount of the dues again came up and a motion to raise to $7.50 failed. Then a motion to raise to $6.50 also failed, and then a motion to raise to $6.00 passed. A check of the ledger sheets shows that the dues did raise to $6.00 beginning on 1 January, 1925. Dues were then payable in advance for the annual calendar year starting on 1 January.
After all that voting on dues at the December, 1924 meeting there was then some discussion concerning those who were delinquent in dues payments. Then at the first stated meeting in January, 1925 the Junior Warden was instructed to prefer charges against those who were delinquent in dues payments.
To our modern officers and members who seem to question conferring even two degrees in one evening as keeping us late, we should note that on many occasions different degrees and multiple degrees were conferred on the same evening. We cite the meeting of 3 June, 1924: Lodge was opened at 7:30pm after which they conferred two Fellowcraft Degrees, gave the lecture, and charge; and then conferred a Master Mason's degree, gave the lecture and charge, apron presentation etc. At the time there was no cooling of any kind in the lodge room, not even fans.
In August of 1924 there was a resolution introduced and passed, which modified the ballot box and the ballots. After studying the short note in the minutes one comes to the conclusion that the changes were made in order to make secrecy of the ballot more secure.
This is as far as the history compiled in the late 1980's takes us. It will now be up to the current generation of brethren to bring our history up to date.