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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of Grandview Masonic Lodge No. 266 are |
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dedicating an official Texas Historical Marker at the lodge on |
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March 30, 2013, in recognition of the important role that |
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organization has played in the community for more than 150 years; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The oldest Masonic group in continuous existence in |
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Johnson County, the Grandview lodge was chartered on June 14, 1861, |
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shortly after the town of Grandview was laid out; those petitioning |
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for the charter--D. L. Files, Andrew Jackson Hart, A. D. Kinnard, |
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B. B. Lightfoot, W. W. Madison, L. M. Richards, and Thomas Darcy |
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Taliaferro--were among the county's leading citizens; early |
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members also included Elbert Monroe Heath, who had played a leading |
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role in organizing the county and who served in several county |
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offices, and James Hiner, a Methodist minister who served as |
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postmaster and county judge; and |
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WHEREAS, Lodge activities were initially held in a log |
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building that the Masons shared with the local Methodist Church and |
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with a school, which the Masons were instrumental in organizing; |
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after the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad bypassed the young |
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community in 1882, residents moved to be closer to the tracks, and |
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the Masons relocated their lodge as well; except for an |
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interruption caused by a fire that devastated much of the town in |
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1920, the members of the lodge have been meeting at the same site in |
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Grandview since 1895; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to supporting Masonry's charitable |
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endeavors throughout Texas, members of the Grandview lodge assist |
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their community in a number of ways; local programs include the |
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promotion of dental health care among first graders and the |
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awarding of scholarships to area students; and |
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WHEREAS, Through its longstanding tradition of community |
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involvement, the Grandview Masonic Lodge has made significant |
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contributions to Grandview and its residents, and it is indeed |
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fitting that this venerable organization be recognized; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of an official Texas |
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Historical Marker at Grandview Masonic Lodge No. 266 and extend to |
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all those associated with the lodge sincere best wishes for |
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continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the lodge as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |