A brief history of Gatesville Lodge No. 197

 On the 7th of April , 1856, a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge of Texas for a Masonic Lodge in the town of Gatesville to be named “Coryell Lodge”.  This petition, signed by James H. Collard, Joseph A Haynes, J. G. Jacob, J. D.  Odle, Thomas H. Robertson, Washington Boyd, Thomas Garrard, R. B. Wells, F. H. Lutterloh, and John Armstrong, was Accompanied by a certification from Tom Blakely Lodge No. 166 of Belton, Texas, duly certifying that the petitioners were duly qualified to confer Masonic Degrees, and that the proposed Lodge for Gatesville was more than ten miles distant from any other Lodge.  This petition was filed slightly less than two years after the founding of Coryell County., but could not be acted upon until the next meeting of the Grand Lodge of Texas.  As was customary in such cases, the petitioners were permitted, under authority of the Grand Lodge to enter upon their Masonic work under dispensation.   

 On June 24th, 1856, this dispensation was signed by John B. McMahon, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Authorizing the opening of a Gatesville Lodge of Master Masons, under dispensation.  The minutes of Gatesville Lodge U. D. Open as of the 19th day of July 1856.  The minutes do not reflect where the first meeting was held but it can be reasonably assumed that this meeting was held at the home of Dr. F. H. Lutterloh in Gatesville, for at the next meeting held in August, 1856, a room in his house was formally rented for purpose of conducting a Lodge at a monthly rental of $5.00.  However, this Arrangement was apparently temporary, for on November 8, 1856, “The Lodge rented from Mr. D. A. Hammock his house and enclosures in Gatesville for Lodge Room at $6.00 per month.”

The meeting of November 8, 1856 was a memorable one in the history of the young Lodge.  Hon. Orville T. Tyler, First Chief Justice of Coryell County, was raised to the degree of Master Mason, and thereby became the first to receive this distinction in Coryell County.

 At the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Texas held at Palestine, Texas, on the 23rd day of January, 1857, a meeting was called by Deputy District Grand Master Samuel Mather for the purpose of constituting this Lodge and installing the first officers.  James H. Collard, a Circuit Methodist Minister, was installed as first Worshipful Master: J. A. Haynes, Senior Warden; Thomas Garrard, Junior Warden; Dr. F. H. Lutterfloh, Junior Deacon; John Jacob, Senior Deacon,; Thomas H. Robertson, Treasurer; R. B. Wells, Secretary; and John Armstrong, Tiler.

 Aside from the officers shown above, the following were charter members of Gatesville Lodge No. 197, as reflected by the first report to the Grand Lodge of Texas; Washington Boyd, J.D. Odle, O.T. Tyler, M. A. Britain, John Bibles, G.W. Haney, John Nichols, J.H. Chrisman, and Hiram W. Cooke, Master Masons; John C. Russell, W.H. Logan, and R.L. Hayes, Fellow Craft; and Chester C. Sadler, E. A.

 During the early years of the Lodge several committees were appointed to procure a suitable lot for the erection of a permanent Lodge, but from existing minutes it appears that for undeterminable reasons no suitable location could be found, or as was more probably the situation, there were insufficient funds available to purchase a desirable location.  A committee was appointed to consider the formation of a stock company where by the members were afforded an opportunity to subscribe for stock “as their means permit” with all stock subscribed to be used for purchase of a Lodge site. This plan did not meet with success.  The minutes do not reflect when the Lodge stopped using the Hammock House as a meeting place, but by 1862 the meetings were being held in facilities acquired from Brother Thomas Garrard with Payment being made in Confederate money.  

 The General depression suffered throughout the South following the War between the States forced abandonment by the members of the Lodge of plans for a new lodge room, and it was not until 1885 that the lodge acquired “the right to erect a second story” on premises situated at the southwest corner of the public square in Gatesville, and constituting the present quarters of the Masonic Lodge.  During this period the Lodge also dedicated a Masonic Cemetery, and many of the members whose names adorned the early minutes were buried in ths same final resting place. Click here for Coryell County Link about event.

On October 2, 1897 a called Session of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas was held in the Gatesville Lodge Hall with District Deputy Grand Master J. S. Livingston presiding.  This meeting was called for the purpose of leveling and laying the corner stone of the new courthouse in Gatesville.  Sixty-two Master Masons from the Gatesville Lodge were present for the occasion, and in addition, there were representatives from Bee House Lodge No. 550, Evant Lodge No. 742, Maple Lodge No. 791, Plum Creek Lodge No. 509, Rock House Lodge No. 417, Coryell Lodge No. 442, Oak Grove Lodge No. 408, leon Lodge No. 193, Turnersville Lodge No. 620, mt. Hyram Lodge No. 595, Crawford Lodge No. 585, Robt. E. Lee Lodge No. 431, McGregor Lodge No. 376, and representatives from a Lodge in Kansas and one in Kentucky.

 The opening prayer was deliverd by the Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Texas, S. D. Wadill, and the rules regulating the procession to the court house were read by the Secretary of the Grand Lodge.  F. A. Thomson, Worshipful Master of the Gatesville Lodge, and the oldest Lodge represented, was afforded the honor of carrying the Constitution. J. R. Saunders carried the square and compasses, supported by Stewards R. M. Thompson and A. S. Busby. T. A. Sawyer was Grand Sword Berer, and J. W. Saunders, Grand Marshal, assisted by S. M. Sadler, John Clements, Frank Hill, George Smith and J. H. Wilson, T. D. Bone was principal Architect.  The procession marched to the court house, where the Grand Orator Norton Moses delivered the principal address and dedication ceremony.  Music for the occasion was furnished by Mrs. Shaden’s orchestra.  After the cornerstone was leveled at the northeast corner of the present courthouse building, the procession returned to the Lodge Hall, and thus concluded one of the most colorful and widely known ceremonies of the Gatesville Lodge.  

 Throughout its first century, Gatesville Lodge No. 197 A. F. & A. M. Has vigorously carried out the tenets of Freemasonry and its membership has zealously adhered to the high principles of the order.