Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19, A. F. & A. M.
Huntsville, Texas

Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19 was chartered by the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas on January 11, 1844. Forrest Lodge has continuously served the Huntsville and Walker County, Texas, community for over 164 years. Pictured above left is the first meeting place of the lodge, which was on the second floor of the first brick building constructed in Huntsville. The building was built by Alexander McDonald the first Worshipful Master of  Forrest Lodge. Pictured above right is the present lodge building, which was built in 1908, and has been designated by historical architects as one of three historic structures located on the downtown Huntsville square. Forrest Masonic Lodge has approximately 240 members.

Huntsville, Texas, is located in the piney woods of Southeast Texas. It is on Interstate 45, approximately 70 miles north of Houston, 170 miles south of Dallas, and 55 miles east of Bryan/College Station. It is the location of the headquarters of  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (Texas Prison System) and Sam Houston State University. The population of Huntsville is approximately 30,000.

Forrest Masonic Lodge is located on the downtown Huntsville square at 1030 12th Street and meets each Monday evening at 7:00 P. M. The regular Stated Meeting (Business Meeting) is held on the first Monday evening of each month. Dinner is served beginning at 6:15 P. M. The lodge is handicap accessible from the street.

Larry Snyder     Charles Watson     T. J. Burdett     Ronald Adams     Royce Adams     Irl Coyle

Forrest Lodge No. 19 Brochure On-line

Forrest Lodge No. 19 has a Tri-Fold Brochure available which gives information about Freemasonry in general, plus information about Forrest Lodge, and the many projects in which we participate and support. Members can obtain copies of the brochure from the Lodge Secretary. This brochure can be viewed and printed on-line.

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On-Line Pictures of Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19 Activities

2007 Awards Presentations
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2007 Golf Tournament Presentation
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2006 Awards Presentations
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2005 Awards Presentations
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2004 Awards Presentations
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Flag Presentation
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2003 Golf Tournament Presentation
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Picture of 4th of July Parade
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Forrest Masonic Lodge Temple
Exterior View of Temple with New Canopy
Exterior View of Temple Constructed in 1908
Lodgeroom of Forrest Lodge No. 19
Sign Showing Organizations Meeting in the Masonic Temple

View Pictures of Past Masters of Forrest Masonic Lodge
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For A Complete List of Past Masters of Forrest Lodge
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Following the formation of the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas in 1837, that Grand Lodge body chartered 25 lodges before Texas became a state in 1846. Following statehood, the Grand Lodge name was changed to the Grand Lodge of Texas, A. F. & A. M. The headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Texas is located in Waco, Texas.

In January1844, a group of nine Master Masons living in the Huntsville area petitioned the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas asking that a lodge be established in Huntsville and also asking that the lodge be named Forrest Lodge No. 19. Through extensive research, it has not been determined why the lodge name was spelled with two "r", but the petition specifically designated that spelling. On January 11, 1844, Forrest Lodge No. 19 was granted a charter and began with those nine Master Masons being the charter members of the lodge.

Throughout its 164 year history, Forrest Lodge has been privileged to have as members several Texas heroes and statesmen. Among those are one Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas and two Texas Governors. General Sam Houston, who presided at the formation of the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas in 1837, was President of the Republic of Texas, Governor of Texas, and Governor of Tennessee as well.  Sam Houston, who took his Masonic work in Tennessee, became a member of Forrest Lodge No. 19 in 1854. Governor George Tyler Wood became a member of Forrest Lodge in 1847, and that same year was elected Governor. During his administration, the State Penitentiary in Huntsville, and State Library, in Austin, Texas, were created. Henderson Yoakum, who wrote the first definitive history of the State of Texas, served as Worshipful Master of Forrest Lodge in 1850.

130 men have served in the highest office of the lodge, that of Worshipful Master. A list of these men and their years of service is located at Past Masters.

The high point in the history of Forrest Lodge came with the affiliation of William Martin Taylor. William Martin Taylor served as Worshipful Master of Forrest Lodge in 1849, and went on to serve as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas in 1854. Taylor was elected a State Senator in 1855 and 1857, and also served as a District Judge. Recognized as an outstanding Masonic scholar, William Martin Taylor was appointed by the Grand Lodge of Texas to create a Uniform Masonic Ritual for the State of Texas. That uniform ritual was officially adopted in 1858, at a Grand Lodge communication held in the Lodge Hall of Forrest Lodge No 19. Because of his love, efforts, and achievements for Freemasonry, William Martin Taylor is known by Texas Masons as the "Father of the Texas Work".

Forrest Lodge No. 19 has had four meeting places during its 164 year history. The first meeting place was on the second floor of the first brick building constructed in Huntsville, which was built by Alexander McDonald, who served as the first Worshipful Master of Forrest Lodge No. 19. The first Lodge Temple was constructed in 1849 on the north side of the downtown square. That building was destroyed by fire in 1881, and a new Lodge Temple was built in approximately the same location. The Lodge moved into its present lodge building in 1909.

In honor of the150th anniversary of Forrest Lodge in 1994, a Complete History was published in a book authored by Past Master J. D. Dickenson entitled, "Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19 Huntsville, Texas - 150 Years - 1844-1994". A copy of this book can be purchased by contacting Dickenson Research, P. O. Box 387, Huntsville, Texas 77342-0387. The price of the book is $20.00 plus $3.00 postage. Further information can be obtained at the home page above or by E-Mail.

In honor of its 150 year anniversary, Forrest Lodge No. 19 had a Commemorative Coin minted to note this historic event. The lodge still has some of these coins available. The coins are 1-9/16 in diameter and may be ordered from the address below.

J. D. Dickenson, Secretary - E-Mail
Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19, A. F. & A. M.
Post Office Box 1004
Huntsville, Texas  77342-1004
Telephone 936.295.5551 or 936.295.2833

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Some of our favorite Local links:

Dickenson Research - Professional Genealogists
Huntsville-Walker County, Texas, Genealogical Society

Some of our favorite Texas Masonic links:

28th Masonic District Lodges (Walker and Montgomery Counties):
28th Masonic District Calendar
Conroe Masonic Lodge No. 748 - (Conroe)
John Sims Masonic Lodge No. 458 - (New Waverly)
Montgomery Masonic Lodge No. 25 - (Montgomery)
Oakwood Masonic Lodge No. 1444 - (The Woodlands)
Sam B. Crawford Masonic Lodge 1418 - (New Caney)
San Jacinto Masonic Lodge No. 106 - (Willis)

Grand Lodge of Texas, A. F. & A. M. - (Waco)

Texas Masonic Lodges
Texas Masonic Related Organizations

Other Masonic Links:

National and States Masonic Links