History of Parsons Lodge by Past Master Keye Perry
Efforts begun in 1857 to establish a lodge at Wilbarger’s Creek in northeastern Travis County under the aegis of Colorado Lodge #96 of Webberville finally bore fruit on June 16th, 1858, when the brethren of Parsons Lodge #222 received their Warrant from the Grand Lodge of Texas. Prior to establishing Parsons Lodge, Masons from Wilbarger’s Creek had to travel eleven miles to attend either Colorado Lodge #96 or Austin Lodge #12 in Austin.
The new Lodge met two goals for the residents of Wilbarger’s Creek. Sited along Parsons Road, the ground floor served as the Parsons Female Seminary, educating the daughters of the residents, while the upper floor housed the Lodge. The structure was built by the members, under the leadership of Worshipful Master T. M. Rector, Sr., on land donated by Brother Isaac Wildbahn, with funds donated by Brother Silas Parsons. Within two years Lodge membership increased from fourteen to twenty-five. Initially, the Lodge met on the fourth Saturday of the month, but in 1867 the meeting was changed to the Saturday night “of or before the full moon.” Parsons Lodge remained a “moon Lodge” until 1930, when a designated night was set for the Stated Meeting. Membership grew to fifty-two in 1875, then decreased slightly through the end of the decade.
During the Civil War, several brethren served in various units of the Confederate Army. Brother E. S. Dodd, before leaving to fight with Terry’s Texas Rangers (8th Texas Cavalry Regiment), donated silver coins to be melted down into both the officer’s jewels and square and compasses for use on the altar. Unfortunately, Brother Dodd was killed in a skirmish a few weeks before the jewels were ready for presentation to the Lodge. Although we don’t know if the coins were Yankee or Mexican, the resulting jewels, engraved with Brother Dodd’s name and Parsons Lodge #222, are still in use by the Lodge today.
As the area grew in agricultural prosperity, the small community established the town of Manor, named after Brother James A. Manor. Growth continued with the coming of the railroad, and Manor grew into the second largest city in Travis County. At the end of the 19th Century, the small city began to suffer a decline which was reflected in the Lodge. In 1907, the Lodge lost their warrant because of internal dissension. When Masonry returned to Manor in December, 1910, the Lodge was chartered as Manor Lodge #1034 even though a majority of the new Lodge had been members of Parsons Lodge. The jewels and furniture of the Lodge which had been held by Colorado Lodge #96 were returned. The Square and Compasses, reported to have been taken to the Grand Lodge of Texas and used in the Grand Annual Communications until 1910, were also returned. In 1925, the Lodge successfully petitioned to have their name restored, but the original Warrant was not returned. In 2007, the Grand Lodge of Texas, following precedent established in the 1870s, exchanged the Charter of Manor Lodge #1034 for a Charter of Parsons Lodge #222, with an effective date of December 10, 1910.
Membership grew rapidly, increasing to 75 in 1927 before beginning a gradual decline that lasted until 1947. After WWII, most members of the Lodge resided in Austin, and the Lodge petitioned to move from its third lodge building on Lexington Street in Manor into Austin. The Lodge moved first to the Scottish Rite Temple at 18th and Lavaca Streets. Membership increased rapidly to over two hundred members, peaking at 233 members in 1966. In 1981, the Lodge moved to the York Rite Temple at 7th and Lavaca Streets, where it currently resides. Membership declined until 1995, when new members started a renewal within the ranks. The Lodge began to actively celebrate exceptional degree work and participation in Grand Lodge programs. The Lodge has been certified by the Grand Lodge of Texas Committee on Work as proficient in all three degrees every year since 1996, and has been designated a Vanguard Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Texas in every year except one since 1996.