H.R. No. 250
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, On February 25, 1995, the members of Milam Lodge No.
1-2 2 in Nacogdoches will celebrate Past Masters Night by honoring the
1-3 individuals who have given so generously of their time and
1-4 leadership to that organization throughout the course of its rich
1-5 history; and
1-6 WHEREAS, The lodge was created August 16, 1837, as Milam
1-7 Lodge No. 40 under the Louisiana dispensation; Haden Edwards
1-8 presided over the first meeting, thus beginning the long travail of
1-9 building a temple in the wilderness; and
1-10 WHEREAS, Two years later, the organization was renamed Milam
1-11 Lodge No. 2 under the dispensation of the Republic of Texas, and
1-12 for the next 92 years, meeting places were borrowed or rented; past
1-13 meeting places included such historic sites as the Old Stone Fort,
1-14 the Nacogdoches University Building, the Woodmen of the World
1-15 building, and the Hoya Building, before a permanent facility, Milam
1-16 Hall, was dedicated in April 1931; and
1-17 WHEREAS, Milam Lodge has grown from an initial membership of
1-18 eight to its present membership of 350; there are currently 95
1-19 brethren endowed members, and the lodge has been recognized for its
1-20 highly proficient degree teams; and
1-21 WHEREAS, Several past worshipful masters of Milam Lodge were
1-22 legendary Texas pioneers, including Haden Edwards, Adolphus Sterne,
1-23 John Henry Holland, Charles S. Taylor, and John H. Hyde; Milam
1-24 Lodge No. 2 has had one past grand master of the Grand Lodge of
2-1 Texas, William B. Ochiltree, and several deputy grand masters; and
2-2 WHEREAS, This fine organization has been presided over by 31
2-3 living past masters who will be honored on this night, and they are
2-4 Rayford D. Allen, Robert Bradley, George W. Biggerstaff, Loyd
2-5 Gerald Collier, E. T. Culp, Jr., John Derrick, Clemon C. Dillen,
2-6 Geo L. Goldsberry, Dale Francis Groves, Archie W. Haney, Gerald W.
2-7 Hebert, Travis Holt, Spencer Roby Jernigan, J. F. Johnson, Raymond
2-8 William Knott, Jr., Bobby Edward Mosley, Gerald B. Partin, Robert
2-9 M. Partin, William Hotchkiss Peacock, Jerry Gilbert Poole, James
2-10 Elbert Raney, W. D. Richey, Sylvester Roberts, Cecil J. Sparks,
2-11 J. C. Tischhauser, James Edward Watkins, M. C. Widner, Raymond Mark
2-12 Wiggins, B. L. Williams, T. N. Williams, and John J. Yarbrough; and
2-13 WHEREAS, The members of Milam Lodge No. 2 have played a vital
2-14 role in the Nacogdoches community over the past one and one-half
2-15 centuries, and their lodge continues to lend assistance to a wide
2-16 variety of worthy projects and organizations, including the
2-17 Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children and Burns Institute, the
2-18 Knights Templar Eye Foundation and Education Foundation, the
2-19 Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children and Dyslexia Program,
2-20 the York Rite Home for Aged Masons, and the Blue Lodge Masonic Home
2-21 and School; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Nearly 158 years after the first worshipful master's
2-23 crack of the gavel summoned the brethren to labor, the members of
2-24 Milam Lodge No. 2 continue to generously donate their time and
2-25 talents to the betterment of their community; the initiative,
2-26 commitment, and dedication shown by these individuals have earned
2-27 them the high regard of their neighbors and all Texans, and they
3-1 are indeed deserving of special recognition on this momentous
3-2 occasion; now, therefore, be it
3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-4 Legislature hereby congratulate the members of Milam Lodge No. 2 on
3-5 the occasion of Past Masters Night and extend to Worshipful Master
3-6 Jack Stilley and the lodge's members sincere best wishes for
3-7 continued service and success throughout the years to come; and, be
3-8 it further
3-9 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-10 prepared for Milam Lodge No. 2 as an expression of high regard by
3-11 the Texas House of Representatives.