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"5th Oldest Texas Masonic Lodge"

History of Constantine Lodge No. 13, AF & AM

Est. February 2, 1840

Constantine Lodge No. 13, AF & AM, is the fifth oldest continuing Masonic Lodge in the State of Texas and was the thirteenth Masonic Lodge organized in Texas by virtue of a warrant from the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas, on Nov. 3, 1840. It was organized at the east of justice of Fannin County, which was then at Warren, about 15 miles northwest of Bonham, from the Red River.

As stated, when Constantine Lodge was organized, Texas was an Independent Republic, of which Mirabeau B. Lamar was President. Fannin County, at that time, covered a territory included in a boundary beginning at the mouth of Bois d'Arc Creek on the Red River and running thence due south 60 miles; thence west about 300 miles; thence north to the Red River and down the Red River to the place of beginning.

Fannin County included 24 of the present organized Counties of Texas and also included that part of the Oklahoma Territory known as Greer County. On Jan. 16, 1843, the Congress of the Republic of Texas designated "Bois d'Arc" as the county seat of Fannin County, which was soon afterwards renamed "Bonham."

The meeting places of Constantine Lodge, from its organization to the present time are as follows: First, Nov. 3, 1840 until March, 1844 at Warren, in a log hut; Second, 1844 until 1848, in a small one story house which was located on Tony Ave. (now W. 5th St.) about 100 yards west from the northwest corner of the public square in Bonham; Third, 1848 until 1867, in the upper story of the school house situated on the lot where the Christian Church now stands (N. Main and W. 7th Sts.); Fourth, 1867 until 1877 in a room over T.R. Williams' store (about middle of the west side of the public square in Bonham); Fifth, Jan. 1877 until Dec 1877, back to the building where the Christian Church now stands (N. Main and W. 7th Sts.); Sixth, Jan 1878 until 1980 in a room over, which was then the Fannin County Bank building, located on the southeast corner of the square (N. Center St. and E. Sam Rayburn Dr.); Seventh, from 1980 until the present, at 517 N. Main St.

Dr. Daniel Rowlett (1786-1848) of Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 39 in Dover, TN was one of the founders of Constantine Lodge No. 13, AF & AM, and was its first Worshipful Master. Dr. Rowlett came to Texas in 1836 and was one of the first settlers in Fannin County. He was a noted physician and served as a Congressman, Republic of Texas in the First Texas Legislature. His remains now rest in the Old Inglish Cemetery here in Bonham.

James S. Baker was another founder of the Constantine Lodge No. 13 and was its first Senior Warden. He was a member of Constantine Lodge No. 64 in Lexington, TN and it is quite possible that our local lodge took its name from this circumstance. He was a farmer and lived on the Red River, near Elwood.

Some of the other early prominent members of Constantine Lodge No. 13 were Brother Charles Carlton, who came to Bonham in 1867, under contract made with Constantine Lodge and opened his school in the building known as the Masonic Female Institute. In later years, the land was deeded to the City of Bonham for public free school purposes and became known as the Bailey Inglish Ward School.

Because of this ability, the Republic of Texas granted him a survey containing 1476 acres. The indians were under treaty with the United States to surrender their lands in the States of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi for exchange fo lands in the Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. This treaty was carried into effect the year that Locke came to Fannin County. Many years after his death, an Indian Chief came to Fannin County and presented a pair of fine beaded moccasins to the widow of Brother Locke, as remembrance from his tribe, who had been so fairly and well-treated by her husband.

Judge J.P. Simpson was the fifth person to petition Constantine Lodge for initiation, which occurred on Nov. 4, 1840. He later became Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1852. Brother Simpson came to Fannin County in 1837 and settled near Fort Inglish. he was elected Sheriff of Fannin County in 1839 and County Judge in 1844. Brother Simpson built the first jail, mill, and cotton gin in Bonham. He also donated to the Town of Bonham the land on which the Courthouse and principal business portion is built, as well as a large part of the residential area.

Robert M. Lusk served as Worshipful Master of Constantine Lodge No. 13, later to serve as the Worshipful Grand Master of the Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas during 1898.

The citizens of today in and around Bonham can behold the fruits, sacrifices, and toil that the early members of this Constantine Lodge gave to our community. Masons of Constantine Lodge No. 13 have promoted, sacrificed, defended, endured, and have been a great factor in building and perfecting educational, religious, industrial, commercial, and social institutions in and around Fannin County.

©1997-2010 Constantine Lodge No. 13, AF & AM.  All Rights Reserved.
Maintained by Bro. Timothy M. La Vergne Sr., PM -  Blue Knight
Last Updated:  Sunday, January 10, 2010 23:37:00 CT