Lodge History

JAMES A. SMITH MASONIC LODGE

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Freemasonry is perhaps the oldest fraternity in the world, embracing men of all monotheistic faiths who strive to become better men through instruction, fellowship, and charitable community service.  Masonry as we know it today arose in Scotland and England, where in 1717 the Grand Lodge of England was formally established.  Since that time, Grand Lodges have been established around the world with jurisdiction over local Lodges in their respective countries.

Masonry in the United States began with the Founding Fathers and many ordinary citizens. Famous American Masons include George Washington, Ben Franklin, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh, Will Rogers, Harry Truman, Douglas MacArthur, Danny Thomas, John Wayne, and Buzz Aldrin to name a few.

Freemasonry in Texas began with six Masons who met under an oak tree near Brazoria in 1835 and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a dispensation to form and open a Lodge.  A dispensation was granted and later a charter was issued for the first lodge in Texas, Holland Lodge No. 1.  This charter was brought to Anson Jones just before the battle of San Jacinto in 1836.  Since then, Masonry has become an integral part of Texas history, with strong support for statewide free public education and world-renowned charitable treatment of children through the Shriner’s Hospitals and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.  Today there are over 90,000 Masons in Texas and more than 900 Lodges.  Famous Texas Masons include Sam Houston, Anson Jones, Stephen F. Austin, Lorenzo de Zavala, William B. Travis, Mirabeau B. Lamar and Jose Navarro.

James A. Smith Masonic Lodge No. 395 was chartered in 1874 and was named in honor of Reverend James A. Smith, who came to Texas in 1846 and settled in the Peters Colony area of Dallas County just north of the present location of S.M.U. Rev. Smith was the first minister to establish a Methodist Church in Dallas County, and he became very involved in many Dallas area civic activities including being appointed the president of the first annual Dallas County Fair, now the State Fair of Texas. Rev. Smith became a Master Mason in Tannehill Lodge No. 52 in 1851. Rev. Smith died in 1863. His son William Smith was the first Worshipful Master of James A. Smith Lodge, which was located in Mound Prairie, Texas (the area around Midway and Northwest Highway today). The Lodge moved around 1898 to the Odd Fellows building in Farmers Branch at the corner of Old Denton Road and Valley View Lane. In 1957, the Lodge moved to its present location at 12823 Demetra Drive in Farmers Branch. James A. Smith Lodge has been very active in the community for many years, and a number of community leaders have been Lodge members including Milburn Gravley, Jack Blanton, W.H. Blanton, R.J. McInnish, Eugene Biggerstaff, Abe Godfrey, Jesse Woody, H,D. Myers and Dave Blair.

One of James A. Smith’s key Masonic goals is to help make good men better men through our Degree work, our meetings and fellowship and our community service.  Our current areas of community service include the following:

1. Fantastic Teeth – we distribute oral hygiene kits to first graders at 4 and sometimes 5 elementary schools together with the Carrollton Masonic Lodge of Carrollton;

2. Toys for Tots – we donate new toys, in conjunction with the Farmers Branch Fire Department, to the Marine’s Toys for Tots program for distribution to needy children each Christmas Season;

3. Community Builder Award – we give this Grand Lodge award to a special citizen who does outstanding work for others and is not a Mason;

4. Lamar Awards – every year we give these Grand Lodge awards to outstanding public school teachers and scholarships to deserving graduating seniors;

5. Feed the Funnel – we send a team of volunteers to this Dallas area community event to pack mobile meals to distribute to starving children in Haiti, Africa and Mexico;

6. Metrocrest Services – we participate in the annual food drive to help provide food for needy families in our community;

7. Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children – we organize fund raisers for the Scottish Rite Hospital to benefit children with orthopedic conditions and learning disabilities;

8. Masonic Widows – each year we distribute Christmas baskets of food and other items to the widows of our Masonic brothers;

9. Masonic Family Services – we make financial contributions to this state-wide Masonic organization that provides funds for children’s health including physical exams, autism evaluations and dental care;

10.  First Responder Breakfast – we invite all first responders of Farmers Branch to a complimentary breakfast prepared by the brothers.

11. Blair Elementary School – we have adopted Blair Elementary which is named after one of our members and former Mayor, Dave Blair. We do drives for school supplies, backpacks or whatever is needed.

If you would like more information about James A. Smith Masonic Lodge and Masonry, please contact our Lodge at the following:

                          Mailing Address: 12823 Demetra Drive, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234

                          Telephone: 972-677-8547

                          Website: www.jas395.org

                          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesASmithLodge

                          Email: info@jas395.org