Waco Masonic Lodge 92

05/30/2026

Here is Governor Ann Richards releasing a rehabilitated bald eagle along the Rio Grande near Lajitas in 1993. Her father, Robert Willis, was a member of Waco Masonic Lodge for over 30 years. Our members raise strong daughters!

Prior to her leadership, Waco Lodge also had three of its members serve as Governors of Texas in the past since our Lodge first met in 1851.

Thanks, Traces of Texas, for posting!

05/14/2026

Here are a few of our longtime members at the Baylor Club last week for a night honoring past masters of the Lodge, led by our current WM Paul Curttright

05/02/2026

Our very own past master was chosen as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Midwest Masonic Conference on Masonic Education. Here he is with the other lecturers who were all oustanding in their perspectives on how to improve education in Masonic Lodges nationwide.

Several of them also survived a Hot Ones challenge so the audience could indulge in some good ol' schadenfreude.

04/24/2026

Teddy Roosevelt became a Master Mason on this day in 1901. Eleven years later, he became the first president to have his photo(first below) taken while wearing Masonic regalia during a visit to Spokane, Washington.

The other photos of Teddy were taken by Waco Lodge member Fred Gildersleeve, a pioneer in the field of photography, who developed a friendship with Roosevelt over the years. It all began with a bet between friends!

In 1909, Teddy was on his way back from a Rough Riders reunion in San Antonio when he stopped to give a speech at the train station in Waco. He had a reputation for not smiling in portraits. Brother Gildersleeve took up a friend on a bet that he wouldn’t scream at the President so he hollered, “SHOW YOUR TEETH, TEDDY!” and snapped a photo(second below). Not only did he win the wager but Roosevelt laughed and responded, “Bring him up here. I want to shake that young man’s hand.” Two years later, Gildersleeve snapped a series of photographs when Roosevelt again visited Waco(the remaining photos) and the two Masons developed a friendship.

Another chance for a laugh happened at a rally Teddy put on a few years later. Gildersleeve's elderly mother was a big fan of Roosevelt so he decided to take her to the rally while on a visit to see her in St. Louis. While the beloved politician made his way through the crowd, Gildersleeve yelled out to his mother, "Hey, look, Ma! It's Teddy. Let's go say hi." Gildersleeve's mother was appalled and began to scold her son for speaking so informally about so great and good a man as Roosevelt who turned around and exclaimed, "Hey Fred! It's good to see you." and shook Gildersleeve's hand. The two Brothers then began to chat as old friends do.

This was a lifelong highlight in Gildersleeve's career due to his mother's delight at her son being on such friendly terms with the President, a story she repeatedly told for the rest of her life.

Other Presidents who visited Waco Lodge or met with members of it here include:
Sam Houston(1860), Teddy Roosevelt(1909), William Taft(1920), Calvin Coolidge, FDR(1936), Harry Truman(1947), Dwight Eisenhower(1956), LBJ(1965), and Gerald...

04/24/2026

Teddy Roosevelt became a Master Mason on this day in 1901. Eleven years later, he became the first president to have his photo(first below) taken while wearing Masonic regalia during a visit to Spokane, Washington.

The other photos of Teddy were taken by Waco Lodge member Fred Gildersleeve, a record breaker and pioneer in the field of photography, who developed a friendship with Roosevelt over the years. It all began with a bet between friends!

In 1909, Teddy was on his way back from a Rough Riders reunion in San Antonio when he stopped to give a speech at the train station in Waco. He had a reputation for not smiling in portraits. Brother Gildersleeve took up a friend on a bet that he wouldn’t scream at the President so he hollered, “SHOW YOUR TEETH, TEDDY!” and snapped a photo(second below). Not only did he win the wager but Roosevelt laughed and responded, “Bring him up here. I want to shake that young man’s hand.” Two years later, Gildersleeve snapped a series of photographs when Roosevelt again visited Waco(the remaining photos) and the two Masons developed a friendship.

Another opportunity for a laugh happened at a rally Teddy put on a few years later. Gildersleeve's elderly mother was a big fan of Roosevelt so he decided to take her to the rally while on a visit to see her in St. Louis. While the beloved politician made his way through the crowd, Gildersleeve yelled out to his mother, "Hey, look, Ma! It's Teddy. Let's go say hi." Gildersleeve's mother was appalled and began to scold her son for speaking so informally about so great and good a man as Roosevelt who turned around and exclaimed, "Hey Fred! It's good to see you." and shook Gildersleeve's hand. The two Brothers then began to chat as old friends do.

This was apparently a lifelong highlight in Gildersleeve's career due to his mother's delight at her son being on such friendly terms with the President, a story she repeatedly told for the rest of her life.

Other Presidents who visited Waco Lodge or met with members of it here include:
Sam Houston(1860), Teddy Roosevelt(1909), William Taft(1920), Calvin Coolidge, FDR(1936), Harry Truman(1947), Dwight Eisenhower(1956), LBJ(1965), and Gerald Ford(1976) and Jimmy Carter(1993@Grand Lodge). All of the interactions have accompanying stories that are, in my opinion, at least as interesting as the Teddy stories above.

01/18/2026

01/18/2026

Fenix Theory once again rocked the night at our Eleventh Annual Waco Masonic Concert. Hundreds of Brothers and wives from across the country joined us to celebrate a year of fraternity and labor.

12/05/2025

Sometimes, our historian is away being a tiler/guardian at other Lodges with a sword like they used to do in the Middle Ages. Is the pen mightier than the sword? Approach and find out if you dare!

12/01/2025

Today marks 140 years since the first time Dr Pepper was served to customers. It was invented by our past master Charles Alderton, a pharmacist. For a while, locals and travelers could pop into the pharmacy and ask for a "Waco." Alderton would pass over a glass of what the pharmacy's owner eventually renamed "Dr Pepper," after his ex-girlfriend's father.

Brother Alderton offered it to customers inside the Old Corner Drugstore in downtown Waco on this day in 1885 and it has been Texas' favorite soda ever since!

The only photo of him is our past master photo where you can see his Masonic PM jewel hanging on his breast. We also have some of the only biographical info known about him via a letter his widow sent our Lodge historian.

Check out the old ad in the second image for a subtle nod to Ancient Free and Accepted Masons!

11/19/2025

On this day in 1893, past master Mark Bell was initiated as a Mason in Gray Lodge 329 of Houston. Later that year, he moved to Waco and affiliated with us.

Brother Bell owned the first automobile(pictured below parked in front of the Grand Lodge) in McLennan County and served as master of the lodge in 1900.

He was a successful businessman with many interests. He owned the Cotton Palace Drug Store and the Artesia Cream Company. Bell also opened the city's first car dealership in 1904 where he sold Wayne and Franklin vehicles. He was president of the Waco Electric Company and owned Majestic Cleaners.

Read more here:
https://www.wacomasonic.org/mark-bell/