Making Good Men Better
BUDA MASONIC LODGE #800 AF&AM
A serious fraternity dedicated to moral instruction, fellowship, and personal growth. Not a reform society, but a path for good men seeking light.
A fraternity for men · No hazing · Moral instruction
A Fraternity of Purpose
From Operative to Speculative
Freemasonry is a fraternity restricted to men, distinguished by its deeply serious nature. Unlike some college fraternities, we do not engage in hazing. We are the inheritors of an ancient tradition—transitioning from operative stonemasons who built Europe's great cathedrals to speculative moral masons who build character.
Elevating the Individual
We are not a reform society. Freemasonry does not exist to rehabilitate criminals, nor would such individuals benefit from our teachings. Rather, we exist to take already good men and provide them with the moral and intellectual tools to become better men—polishing the rough ashlar of character into a refined stone.
The Ancient Lineage
ORIGINS OF THE CRAFT
Variously known as Freemasonry, Masonry or The Craft, the beginnings of our fraternity are lost to history. Somewhere between 1390 and 1717, lodges of operative masons began to accept men from other occupations - sharing a ritual replete with allusions to carpentry, architecture, and stone masonry.
The Three Degrees
SYMBOLIC MASONRY
A progressive system of moral instruction, anchored in the ancient and biblical imagery of King Solomon’s Temple.
1st Degree
Entered Apprentice
The foundational degree introduces the candidate to the moral principles of Masonry. It is a progressive drama where the initiate takes an obligation of duty, beginning his symbolic labor in the building of King Solomon’s Temple.
2nd Degree
Fellow Craft
Focusing on intellectual growth and the tools of the craftsman, this degree advances the moral instruction. The candidate assumes further obligations, moving deeper into the symbolic architecture of the Temple.
3rd Degree
Master Mason
The highest degree of Symbolic Masonry represents the ultimate trial of integrity and moral truth. Through solemn drama and binding obligation, the Mason completes his spiritual journey within the Temple.
Myths & Realities
TRANSPARENCY & TRADITION
Faith & Civic Life
Masonry is not a religion, nor is it a substitute for one. There is nothing in our fraternity to interfere with a man’s religious life; in fact, persons of all faiths are a part of the worldwide Masonic fraternity. To preserve harmony, religion and politics are strictly prohibited from discussion when a lodge is in session.
We do, however, require of our adherents a belief in God and in life after death, though we ask no one to expound upon the particulars of their understanding.
The Nature of Secrecy
We ask our candidates not to share the details of our rituals with non-Masons. This is not because Masonry is ashamed of its work, but because an element of secrecy serves to heighten interest and preserve the impact of Masonic teaching.
Why keep rituals a secret? For the same reason that ancient stonemasons kept their trade secrets: to maintain a standard of excellence. Today, our privacy helps us preserve the quality of our moral instruction as we continue our work of making good men better.
A Legacy of Leadership
NOTABLE MASONS
It is difficult to believe that the secrets of Masonry are evil when you consider our heritage. A long list of influential leaders—such as Paul, George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and Douglas MacArthur—were proud members of the Craft. Such men of character prove that our teachings exist not to hide, but to make good men better.
Our Texas Heritage
1835 • Brazoria, Texas
In March 1835, beneath the sprawling canopy of a majestic oak tree near the town of Brazoria, six Masons gathered to hold the first Masonic meeting in Texas. Driven by a shared vision, they petitioned the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a dispensation to form a new lodge.
Their request was granted, and the newly chartered Holland Lodge No. 36 was born. Anson Jones, a man of profound destiny, became its first Worshipful Master. The lodge's charter was carried by John M. Allen and delivered to Anson Jones on the very eve of the Battle of San Jacinto—a silent witness to the birth of a republic.
By 1837, two additional lodges had been established in Nacogdoches and San Augustine. Representatives from these three foundational lodges convened in Houston to form the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas. The convention elected Anson Jones as the first Grand Master of Masons in Texas—the same Anson Jones who would soon serve as the fourth and final President of the Republic of Texas.
To Be One, Ask One
The Path To Membership
Freemasons do not solicit members. A man must ask a Mason he knows for a petition to join the fraternity. There are nominal one-time fees collected for the conferring of the three degrees, followed by yearly dues to support the lodge.
Begin your journey today.
Buda Masonic Lodge #800 AF&AM.
Taking good men and helping them become better men. Serving the Buda community with honor and integrity.
Lodge Location
Buda Masonic Lodge #800
Buda, TX 78610
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (833) 458-0800
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