San Saba News & Star
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San Saba Lodge No. 612 Celebrating 125 Years 1885-2011
Part 9 World War I - World War II
Thursday, March 31, 2011 • Posted March 31, 2011

The years from the Great War through World War II would be some of the fruitful. In 1911, the railroad had finally arrive in San Saba, which brought a great prosperity. The lodge also prospered with an increase in membership. There was also an increase in Freemasonry itself. Charters were granted to Locker Lodge No. 846 in 1900, Richland Springs Lodge No. 882 in 1904 and Bend Lodge No. 1124 in 1917.

The minutes speak of the lodge hard at work during the Great War. The pages are filled with peace and harmony as there were many called meetings for conferring degrees. There were also four Masons of the lodge that served during the conflict. T. A. Murray had a son, not a Mason, who was wounded and died in France. As he assisted the lodge in 1913, he would now assist the returning war veterans of the community by allowing them to meet in of his buildings. When the local American Legion was organized, the Wiley B. Murray Post No. 27 was named in honor of his son.

A great help to the lodge was the establishment of York Rite Masonry. The York Rite was organized into two parts; the Royal Arch Chapter and the Royal and Select Masters Council. These are referred to as chapter No. 400 and Council No. 332. Both were chartered 8 December 1920, constituted 23 March 1921 and held their monthly meetings at the lodge hall. A previous body, San Saba Chapter No. 223 had been chartered 6 December 1899 but it demised 11 July 1914 after the fire destroyed the building. The minutes of these new York Right bodies reflect a solid core of membership that worked well supporting the lodge. Over the years the Chapter & Council would come to pay one-third of the monthly gas bill and one-half of the janitor's salary. Money was even loaned to the lodge, without interest, to pay bills on roof repair. Donations were made to install the new telephone, purchase a fireproof filing cabinet, repair the furniture and install new carpet.

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