History

WASHINGTON CHAPTER No. 2

The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the Republic of Texas was formed by a convention of delegates from the Chapters of San Felipe de Austin (Galveston), Cyrus (Matagorda), Lone Star (Austin), and Rising Star (San Augustine).  A constitution was adopted by the convention on 21 December 1841, but San Felipe de Austin declined to sign and withdrew from the convention.

The General Grand Chapter of the United States did not regard the formation of the Grand Chapter of the Republic of Texas as legitimate, since the Texas body had not sought permission from the General Grand Chapter to form.  Therefore, the national organization was determined to suppress it.  After failing to accomplish its purpose by milder means, the General Grand Chapter passed a resolution in 1847 forbidding Royal Arch Masons residing in Texas from having masonic relations with those under the jurisdiction of the Grand Chapter of Texas.  Two years later, “for the sake of peace and harmony among the Craft,” the Grand Chapter dissolved.  At the time of the dissolution, there were nine Chapters under its allegiance:  Cyrus No. 1 (Matagorda), Lone Star No. 3 (Austin), Rising Star No. 4 (San Augustine), Washington No. 5 (Washington), De Witt Clinton No. 6 (Clarksville), Jerusalem No. 7 (Alta Mira), Houston No. 8 (Houston), Brenham No. 12 (Brenham), and Trinity No. 13 (Crockett).

After the passage of the aforesaid resolution by the General Grand Chapter, a group of Royal Arch Masons in Houston petitioned the General Grand Chapter, through its officers, for its permission to open a Chapter in Texas.  A dispensation was granted to Washington Chapter No. 2 on 5th May 1848.  The Chapter received its charter on 13 September 1850, when the General Grand Chapter held its triennial convocation in Boston that year.

A Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was established on 30 December 1850.  Washington Chapter was represented by its M.E.H.P. Ebenezar B. Nichols, C. W. Buckley (who was proxy for E.K. Robert Brewster), and E.S. Jonathan N. Reed.  The Chapter surrendered the authority it had received from the General Grand Chapter, and received a Charter dated 25 June 1851.

HOUSTON COUNCIL No. 1

 The Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas was organized on 24 June 1856, by Houston Council No. 10, Austin No. 22, and Coleman (number unknown).  The Grand Councils records do not show from whence these Councils received their Charters, but the records of the Grand Council of Kentucky show that one came from Kentucky, one from Alabama, and one from New York.  By 1860 here were twenty-one Councils under the jurisdiction of the Grand Council of Texas, but due to the advent of the war, interest in the Cryptic degrees began to wane, and in June 1864, the Grand Council of Texas turned the degrees of Royal Master and Select Master over to the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Texas, with instructions to all subordinate Councils under its allegiance to append themselves to the nearest Royal Arch Chapter.  Houston Council No. 1 (previously No. 10) appended itself to Washington Chapter No. 2.

The Grand Council was reorganized on 3 December 1907, in Waco, Texas.  Representing Houston Council No. 1 were Past T.I. Masters John C. Kidd, Frank C. Jones, A. N. McRae, and Ingram S. Roberts.  The Council was allowed to retain its original Charter, and was issued a new Charter with the same name and number.

(The above histories of the beginnings of the Chapter and Council were compiled from the Transactions of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas and the Grand Council of Royal and Select Master of Texas.)