Masonic Oak Picnic and Pilgrimage

05/15/2018

MASONIC OAK
PICNIC AND PILGRIMAGE
MAY 20, 2018

05/15/2018

Birthplace of Texas Masonry
When the first colonist arrived in Texas their life was one of survival without the benefit of churches, schools and lodges, or even homes as they put together shanties of one kind or another until they could find the time and means to build something more substantial. By March of 1835, there were six brethren in Brazoria who had decided that the time had come for making an attempt to have a lodge in Texas. On March 10, 1835, John A. Wharton, Asa Brigham, James A. E. Phelps, Alexander Russell, Anson Jones and J. P. Caldwell met in a secluded grove near Brazoria and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a dispensation to form a new Lodge to be called Holland Lodge. The dispensation was granted and the first meeting of Holland Lodge No. 36 was conducted on December 27, 1835. The charter for this new lodge was eventually delivered to Anson Jones just before the battle at San Jacinto, and the charter remained in his saddlebags through the battle.

05/15/2018

Program
• 9:00 A.M. Registration and Fellowship
• 10:15 A.M. Call to Order: Daniel Jacobs Chairman of Picnic
• Invocation by: R: W: Paul Wunsche
• Presentation of Colors
o Litt S. Perry Commandery No.111
• Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. & Texas Flags
o Sir Knight John Woolsey
Welcome Daniel Jacobs
• Stone Dedication-
To William Berret Travis (1812- 1883)
By Ken Weltch

• Awards Presentation By: Dakota Schroeder
• Morning Worship Service by R: W:
• Introduction of the Grand Master
By DDGM 31C R:W: Henry C Mendez
• Reenactment Presentation: Scott Leopole
Warrant for Disdentation to the Grand Lodge of Louisana to form a Masonic Lodge in Texas.

Grand Masters Remarks M: W: Tommy Frank Chapman
Benediction: by R: W: Paul Wunsche
Lunch: Catfish with sides.

05/15/2018

Getting ready for 2018 Picnic

03/11/2018

The Masonic Oak Picnic and Pilgrimage committee held their first meeting of the year last week. Officers were elected and are as follows:
President - Danny Jacobs, Brazoria #327
Vice-President - David Wausson, Angleton #829
Secretary/Treasurer - Dakota Schroeder, St. John's #5

The Masonic Oak Picnic and Pilgrimage, which is hosted by District 31 every year, is scheduled for Sunday, May 20th. The event will be catered and our Grand Master is slated to be in attendance.

05/12/2017

Brother working hard for you

05/11/2017

Everyone who wants to help pickup trash and do some w**d eat at the park show up in the morning at 9am. The park is looking great and i would like to thank all who has been working on it. St. Johns will also be having a E.A. Sat.at 7 am. breakfast will follow the degree so get up and get out of the house.

05/09/2017

05/02/2017

Masonic Oak Park in Brazoria on Saturday. May 21, 2017 to celebrate 182 years of Masonry in Texas

05/01/2017

Texas Masons, their families, friends, the public and anyone interested in Masonry, Eastern Star, DeMolay and Rainbow Girls will gather at the Masonic Oak Park in Brazoria on Saturday. May 21, 2017 to celebrate 182 years of Masonry in Texas. The Masonic Oak Park is located at 100 Pleasant St. in Brazoria, the cradle of Texas and the home of the first Masonic Lodge in Texas.
Grand Master Most Worshipful Jerry N. Kirby and other officers of The Grand Lodge of Texas will be present at this 69 th annual Masonic Oak Picnic.

This year Masonic District 31 hosts the annual Masonic Oak Picnic. The nineteen Lodges in District 31 are
Alvin Lodge #762
Angleton Lodge #829
Anson Jones Lodge #1416
Brazoria Lodge #327
C. F. Spencer Lodge #1384
Danbury Lodge #1432
Dickinson Lodge #1324
Frontier Lodge #28
Harmony Lodge #6
John Mitchell Lodge #1401
La Marque Lodge #1325
Lake Jackson Lodge #1317
League City Lodge #1053
Old Ocean Lodge #1284
Serenity Lodge #1462
St. John's Lodge #5
Texas City Lodge #1118
Tucker Lodge #297
Velasco Lodge #757

The Masonic Oak gates open to the public at 9:00 regardless of the weather. There will be entertainment for the kids and fellowship for everyone from opening to close. At 10:15 we will call all present to order followed by an invocation, the presentation of colors, pledges to the flags of our nation and state, a welcoming address by Picnic leader Daniel Jacobs. A program follows including dedications and awards plus Grand Master Remarks. The program will wrap up with Benediction. Then Lunch will be serviced catered by Catfish on Wheels serving up a fresh fish fry for $15 per plate all you can eat with all the trimmings.

History: in March, 1835 several Master Masons met under an oak tree in Brazoria, Texas, now called the Masonic Oak. These men decided to establish the first regularly formed Masonic Lodge in Texas, at the time a province of Mexico. An application was made to the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a dispensation to form and open a Masonic lodge. Under a special dispensation, Holland Lodge was opened on December 27, 1835 in Brazoria, Texas with Dr. Anson Jones presiding as Worshipful Master. The formal charter granted to Holland Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana was delivered to Anson Jones just before the Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836. The charter was in Jones' saddlebags in the Texas camp while Jones fought as a private in the infantry during the Battle of San Jacinto.