H.R. No. 505 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor 1-2 Tenaha Masonic Lodge No. 737 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, 1-3 which will commemorate a century of Masonry in its community at the 1-4 Tenaha Masonic Temple on November 6, 1993; and 1-5 WHEREAS, On June 11, 1892, William Martin, the secretary of 1-6 Sam Samford Lodge No. 149 in Center, requested permission from 1-7 Grand Master John Watson to form a Masonic Lodge in Tenaha, and a 1-8 temporary dispensation to create the lodge was granted by Grand 1-9 Master John Waters on September 3, 1892; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The new lodge had as its first officers Worshipful 1-11 Master Jesse J. Ramey, Senior Warden Peter Lazarus Johnson, and 1-12 Junior Warden Dr. O. P. Martindale, who shared their considerable 1-13 leadership abilities with the lodge's membership through this 1-14 formative period until December 6, 1893, when the Grand Lodge of 1-15 Texas granted the Tenaha Masonic Lodge's charter, naming 1-16 O. P. Martindale as worshipful master, J. E. McWhorter as senior 1-17 warden, and A. J. Clayton as junior warden; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The Tenaha Masonic Lodge's growth paralleled that of 1-19 the burgeoning community it served, increasing its membership from 1-20 the original 20 to 80 during its first decade of existence; among 1-21 the lodge's many distinguished members through the years have been 1-22 A. B. Knight, who served both as the group's worshipful master in 1-23 1909 and as Tenaha's first mayor, his great-great-nephew, Ike 1-24 Reeves, who served as master in 1991, and the lodge's current 2-1 officers, Worshipful Master Clarence P. "Larry" Fontaine, Senior 2-2 Warden Carl A. Anderson, Junior Warden Ronald E. Fleming, and 2-3 Secretary Homer J. Potter; and 2-4 WHEREAS, The members of Tenaha Masonic Lodge have played a 2-5 vital role in the Tenaha community over the course of the past 2-6 century, and their lodge continues to lend assistance to a wide 2-7 variety of worthy projects, including the Shriners Hospitals for 2-8 Crippled Children and Burns Institute, the Knights Templar Eye 2-9 Foundation and Education Foundation, the Scottish Rite Hospital for 2-10 Crippled Children and Dyslexia Program, the York Rite Home for Aged 2-11 Masons, and the Blue Lodge Masonic Home and School; and 2-12 WHEREAS, For 100 years, the members of Tenaha Masonic Lodge 2-13 No. 737 have generously donated their time and talents to the 2-14 betterment of their community; the initiative, commitment, and 2-15 dedication shown by these caring individuals have earned them the 2-16 high regard of their neighbors and all Texans, and they are indeed 2-17 deserving of special recognition as they prepare to celebrate this 2-18 momentous occasion; now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby congratulate Tenaha Masonic Lodge No. 737 on the 2-21 occasion of the 100th anniversary of its founding and extend to its 2-22 members sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness 2-23 throughout the years to come; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for Tenaha Masonic Lodge No. 737 as an expression of high 2-26 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. 2-27 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. 3-1 Johnson 3-2 H.R. No. 505 3-3 _______________________________ 3-4 Speaker of the House 3-5 I certify that H.R. No. 505 was adopted by the House on May 3-6 28, 1993, by a non-record vote. 3-7 _______________________________ 3-8 Chief Clerk of the House