BRIEF HISTORY OF HARLANDALE MASONIC LODGE NO. 1213, A.F. & A.M.

During the summer of 1923, several Brothers began the task of preparing the necessary documents to establish the Harlandale Masonic Lodge. By December, the group of Brothers had selected the recommended officers of the Lodge and agreed the name would be Harlandale Lodge. This was finalized at a get together in December of 1923.

The Letter dated April 2, 1924, submitted to the District Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Lonnie Irvin, "A prayer of Dispensation for a new Masonic Blue Lodge empowering us to meet at Harlandale, Texas, on the first and third Tuesday of each month." The letter from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas dated April 4, 1924, granted dispensation to form a new Lodge at Harlandale.

The entire upper floor of a building located at 5110 Corpus Christi Road (South Flores) was leased for 2 years beginning the 10th of May 1924 and ending the 9th of May 1926. The lease included permission to remove several partitions.

Harlandale Lodge U.D. was set to labor on June 3, 1924, by Right Worshipful Lonnie Irvin, District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District 39. Brother Irvin called the Lodge to order and duly assigned the recommended officers.

On June 10, 1924, the Lodge received a letter from Grand Lodge advising that dues for the members were owed for the year.

On June 21, 1924, the Lodge was granted permission to appear in public, as Masons on June 27, 1924, for the purpose of attending the ceremonies of dedication of the Scottish Rite Temple.

The Charter for Harlandale Lodge No. 1213 is dated on the 5th day of December A.D. 1924, A.L. 5924.

On June 4, 1926, a representation of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas was opened at 5:00 P.M. for the purpose of leveling the cornerstone for the current Lodge building at 6031 South Flores. The ceremony was conducted by R.W. M.A. Childers, Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas.

Over twenty Lodges were represented in the petition to form the Lodge. The 24 affiliated Masons that established our Lodge increased to a membership of 1,190 in 1962. The membership as of June 23, 2004, was 355.

Over the years we have received 2,542 petitions. There have been 358 affiliations from Lodges over the world. We have raised 1,670 members to the degree of Master Mason.

We are proud to have had two member of the Committee On Work, one Grand Marshal, one Grand Tiler, eight District Deputy Grand Masters, one District Education Officer, and one District Masonic Relations Officer. We have four members of Harlandale who have served as District Deputy Grand Masters of other Masonic Districts. There are 74 endowed members and 64 members with 50 or more years of service to our fraternity. We have 13 Life Members and six members who are Past Masters of other Lodges, both Texas and one other Grand Jurisdiction.

The title "THE GREAT LODGE OF HARLANDALE," as we have been referred to in correspondence by some Grand Jurisdictions, has been well-earned, and it is with a great deal of pride we cherish the honor.