Part 17

Just like any other successful organization, it could have not survived that long without strong leadership. From its earliest days ledge members included some of the best known and respected men not only in the county, but the state. Many were lawmen such as sheriffs S.B. Howard, S.E.W. Hudson, A.J. Hawkins, Hugh Miller, Edgar T. Neal and Billy C. Williams. Although most were local farmers and ranchers, many were military veterans from the Confederate Army to the Vietnam War. Others were involved in public school education as teachers and school board members. There were also county commissioners, county judges, two district judges, one Texas Ranger and even one speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

In 2011, San Saba Lodge celebrated its 125th anniversary. The highlight of the year was a personal visit from the Grand Master of Mason, T.E. "Gene" Carnes. The one-hundred twenty-five history of the lodge is unique, as it is the oldest and most successful fraternity in San Saba County supported by the Order of Eastern Star and the Scottish Rite Club. Today the lodge maintains a membership of sixty-eight with forty-one living in the county. Although small in number, it is active in the community and continues its tradition in the support of the public schools.

Throughout its history, San Saba Masonic Lodge No. 612 had endured through the most difficult situations. There were enough reasons for the lodge to fold including fire, floods, trials, and discourse and even the San Saba Mob. However, the fact remains the institution is just too strong. After all, Freemasonry is a firm belief in fatherhood, God, and the brotherhood of man. What can be stronger than that?