Gatesville Lodge No. 197, A. F. & A. M. - Gatesville, TX - Masonic Temples on Waymarking.com

On the 7th of April, 1856, a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge of Texas for a Masonic Lodge in the town of Gatesville, to be named "Coryell Lodge". This petition, signed by James H. Collard, Joseph A. Haynes, J. G. Jacob, J. D. Odle, Thomas H. Robertson, Washington Boyd, Thomas Garrard, R. B. Wells, F. H. Lutterloh, and John Armstrong, was accompanied by a certification from Tom Blakely Lodge No. 106 of Bel-ton, Texas, duly certifying that the petitioners were duly qualified to confer Masonic Degrees, and that the proposed Lodge for Gatesville was more than ten miles distant from any other Lodge.

This petition was filed slightly less than two years after the founding of Coryell County, but could not be acted upon until the next meeting of the Grand Lodge of Texas. As was Customary in such cases, the petitioners were permitted under authority of the Grand Lodge to enter upon their Masonic work under dispensation.

On June 24, 1856, this dispensation was signed by John B. Mc Mahon, Deputy, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, authorizing the opening of a Gatesville Lodge of Master Masons, under dispensation. The minutes of Gatesville Lodge U. D. open as of the 19th day of July, 1856. The minutes do not reflect where the first meeting was held, but it can be reasonably assumed that this meeting was held at the home of Dr. F. H. Lutterloh in Gatesville.

At the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Texas held on the 23rd day of January, 1857, a formal Charter was granted to Gatesville Lodge No. 197 A F & A M. On January 30, 1857, a meeting was called by Deputy District Grand Master Samuel Mather for the purpose of constituting this Lodge and installing the first officers.