This entire section would not have been able to be done without the help of one great mason,
and fellow member of Phoenix Masonic Lodge #275, brother Dexter Sammons who researched the
history of our lodge and wrote the book Phoenix Lodge The First Twenty-Five Years.
To purchase a copy of Phoenix Lodge The First Twenty-Five Years please contact the lodge by phone or by email.

The History of Phoenix Masonic Lodge #275 A.F & A.M

To those first Masons who came west with a pioneer spirit, a love of freedom, and a fear of God. With these qualities they fought to establish democracy and built the churches, schools and lodge halls that became the foundation of the great heritage we enjoy today as Americans, as Texans and as Masons.

Ocean Lodge #230

Parker County was created in 1855 and by 1858 there was enough interest in Weatherford for Masons to request a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Texas. The names on the petition were A.F. Corning, Edwart T. Balch, Robert P. Baker, G.W. Wilson, James A. Cahill, John R. Fondren, R. Willis Duke, John Deavours and W.B. Fondren. The request for a dispensation was accompanied by a letter from Walnut Creek Lodge #205 which was dated December 18, 1858. The letter recommended A.F. Corning as Worshipful Master, E. Calch as Senior Warden, and Robert P. Baker as Junior Warden. They described as being "competent suitable persons to confer the degrees of E.A., F.C., and Master Mason according to our ancient rules and customs." The letter went on to note that the new lodge would be more than ten miles away from the nearest lodge. The recommendation had received a unanimous vote and the letter was signed by R.J. Billingsley, Secretary and T. Short, W.M. The recommendation was accepted and dispensation was granted on January 15, 1859. The dispensation recognized Corning, Balch and Baker as the principle officers and was signed by Grand Master Henry Sampson.

Ocean Lodge U.D.(under dispensation) met from January to June of 1859. In a brief report submitted by J.N. Reed, eight lodges including Ocean Lodge were recommended to the Grand Master. The charter was granted in June of 1859 and was signed by Grand Master James F. Taylor. The annual report filed on December 27, 1859 contains a summary of the Lodge's acctivities from July to December

The returns also reorted that they were meeting on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays and that three petitions had been rejected. The officers for 1860 remained the same except for Robert P. Baker, the Junior Warden, who was replaced by John W. Squyres.

In 1862 a Mason by the name of H.A. Hamner who was a initiated by Relief Masonic Lodge was wanting recieve his Fellowcract, and Master Mason degree's to join Ocean Lodge. A petition was read during Refief Lodge stated meeting to let Ocean Lodge pass and raise brother Hamner. The petition was denied with four dissenting votes. On March 4, 1862 the request was renewed. The Master of Relief Lodge refused the request "in positive terms" and left the lodge hall to prevent them from opening the lodge. He returned later in the evening and was informed by the Junior Warden that the lodge had been opened and an order had been passed granting the request. He later learned that the bretheren of Ocean Lodge had conferred the degrees upon brother Hamner. The report of the committee on Grand Officers' Reports is found in the 1862 proceedings. They felt that Relief Lodge had "purged itself by dealing with and punishing the offending members." They did express a regret that the Master of Relief Lodge had failed to take the charter with him when he left the lodge hall. They felt this would have prevented the other brethren from trying to open a lodge in his absence. Apparently, Ocean Lodge had made no attempt to punish the offenders. The committee recommended that the District Deputy be instructed to arrest the charter of Ocean Lodge. This remmendation was accepted by the Grand Master and DDGM John Matlock was so instructed. Since the last meeting of Ocean Lodge as in May of 1862 the order must have been carried out immediately. The Grand Lodge Proceedings for 1864 recored that the charter was returned to the Grand Lodge in 1863 and that the jewels and furniture of the lodge had been donated to Phoenix Lodge U.D. which was set to work in June of 1863.

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