W.M. William A. Brooke
S.W. B.R. Baker
J.W. A.J Block, Jr.
Treasurer E.W. Brautigam
Secretary R.J. Boyer
Chaplain C.R. Harper
S.D. K.R. Toon
J.D. N.H. Acuff
S.S. H.D. Wagner
J.S. E.H. Brundrett
Tiler R.D. Welch
After the numerous meetings, Friendswood Lodge was now more and more a reality. On Januuary 28, 1966 R.W. Frank Middleton DDGM of the Masonic District No. 31A made a formal request to M.W. H.W. Fullingim Grand Master to set Friendswood Lodge to work in due and proper form. The Grand Master immediately replied with instruction on the immediate formation of a regular lodge under the jurisdiction of the MW Grand Lodge of Texas. Several months of anxious waiting were in store for the new lodge. Finally on June 14, 1966 M.W. Brother Fullingim advised the application for Friendswood Lodge U.D. was approved and the lodge would be set to work on July 29, 1966. Dispensation forms dated June 14, 1966, were received by Friendswood Lodge appointing Brothers W.A. Brooke and the first Worshipful Master, B.R. Baker, the first S.W. and N.H. Acuff as the first J.W. On July 29, 1966 a Master Masons lodge was opened in Pearland Lodge #1384, Pearland, Texas, for the purpose of setting to work Friendswood Lodge #1416. A reception was held for friends and relatives in the Friendswood H.S. Cafeteria with approximately 250 people attending. M.W.G.M. H.W. Fullingim gave Pearland Lodge permission for Friendswood Lodge to hold their meetings in the Pearland Lodge until a suitable location could be obtained by Friendswood Lodge. Friendswood Lodge set to work with much determination. On November 1, 1966, Mr. G.V. Greathouse was initiated into the 1st degree of Masonry. Brother Greathouse was passed on March 21, 1967 and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on April 18, 1967, thereby becoming the first MM raised by Friendswood Lodge #1416. Unknown to those attending on April 18, 1967 Brother Greathouse would become the first Worshipful Master of Friendswood Lodge to have received all the Blue Lodge degrees in Friendswood. Upon direct request of M.W. J.D. Tomme, Jr., Grand Master of Masons in Texas in 1966, R.W. J.W. Chandler, Deputy Grand Master, formally constituted Friendswood Lodge #1416 AF & AM on December 17, 1966. Approximately one year after the first informal meetings, Friendswood Lodge #1416 AF & AM was at work. Enjoying the initial success, the founding brethren would continue their efforts later resulting in acquiring property and their own lodge building. Acquisition of the Original Lodge Building: "And Solomon had three score and ten thousand that bore Burdens and four score thousand hewers in the mountains .. ..three thousand three hundred which ruled over the people that wrought the work." I Kings V (15 & 16) After meeting for several months at Pearland Lodge, Friendswood Lodge attempted to obtain their own lodge building. Since the lodge was new and the membership small, this would be quite an undertaking. It was learned that the U.S. Government was taking bids on surplus buildings located at Ellington AFB near Friendswood. After careful consideration a bid was made "as is, where is" in the amount of $550.90. On May 31, 1967 the U.S. Government informed the Lodge they were the successful bidder, Friendswood Lodge had a home. After considerable negotiation with the U.S. Government and Messrs. Olshans, a local house moving firm, the building was moved from Ellington Field to its present location, 110 Willowick, Friendswood, Texas, on July 10, 1967. Once again the brethren were called upon to set forth their time, energy, and money for the refurbishing of the old building. A joint effort made by many of the original brethren resulted in the completion of the "temple". Brother Ellis W. Grisham, Sr., DDGM Masonic District 31-A, formally inspected the lodge building on behalf of the MW Grand Lodge of Texas on October 27, 1967. He advised the Grand Lodge immediately that the Lodge was properly constructed and masonically secure. He recommended that Friendswood Lodge be immediately granted dispensation. He ended his repon stating the brethren of Friendswood Lodge accomplishments to date were remarkable in view of the short time they had been organized. On November 7, 1967 the first meeting was held in the present lodge building. On April 15, 1968 M.W. J.W. Chandler, Grand Master of Masons in Texas, formally dedicated the Friendswood temple in accordance with ancient usages and customs and in full compliance with the Laws of the Grand Lodge of Texas. The following Grand Lodge members or representatives were in attendance: J.W. Chandler as Grand Master T.E. Briggs as Deputy Grand Master A.C. Tircuit as Grand Sr. Warden E.N. Squyres as Grand Jr. Warden J.M. Davis as Grand Treasurer C.F. Spencer as Grand Secretary D.B. Little as Grand Chaplain W.A. Brooke as Grand Orator F.D. Middleton as Grand Marshall D.F. Prince as Grand Sr. Deacon M.L. Shaw as Grand Jr. Deacon E.W. Brautigam as Grand Sr. Steward B.R. Baker as Grand Jr. Steward W.W. Carter as Grand Pursuivant Virgil Griffin as Grand Tiler The following gifts were donated to the Lodge before or just subsequent to the dedication of the Lodge: July 29, 1966, Bro R.E. McBride, PM Angleton Lodge #829 presented gavels for each of the officer's stations. These gavels were handmade by Bro McBride from the Masonic Oak. A Holy Bible for the altar, the bible was donated by Mrs. H. Gary Hollis in memory of H. Gary Hollis a member of Eastern Star Lodge #284, Groveton, Texas.
Walter M. Pierson Lodge #1339 presented the poem "Last Night I Knelt Where Hiram Knelt." The poem was framed in aluminum plating with an inscribed aluminum plaque.
January 17, 1967, Bro. C.F. Spencer, PM of Pearland Lodge #1384 donated the three burning tapers.
May 16, 1967, Bro. W.R. Whipkey of Friendswood Lodge #1416 fashioned from wood the Lodge's present Working Tools and the case. These tools and case are handmade and are the work of a master craftsman. They are exquisite and unique in this area.
October 3, 1967, 21 chairs for the Lodge were obtained.
October 17, 1967, Bro. J.R. Bencal, Jr. reported aprons for the Lodge were being made by Mrs. Jo Nita Bencal.
January 16, 1968, Bro. T.H. Roberts, WM of Alvin Lodge #762, presented the Square and Compasses for the Holy Bible. Bro. R.F. Bahler presented the aluminum receiving tools.
March 5, 1968, Bro. Ken Toon obtained the stove for the Lodge. Bro. J.R. May obtained two refrigerators.
March 19, 1968, Mr. and Mrs. F.S. Kennebrew presented the Lodge with a set of Mackeys Encyclopedias.
In addition to the above just before and during the spring of 1967, Bro. C.R. Harper constructed the two entrance pillars, the officer's chairs and the altar. All of the furnishings are hand constructed or hand tooled. Friendswood Lodge has the distinction of being the only Lodge in the area with furnishings constructed by one of its own Lodge members. The construction of these furnishings was only one of several significant accomplishments by Bro. Harper. Bro Harper continued to pursue his Masonic career by subsequently becoming Friendswood Lodge's first Certificate Holder, Master of the Lodge for 1970-71 and District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 31A for 1974. As Friendswood Lodge continued to grow it had almost doubled its membership by June of 1970. On February 9, 1971, Bro. C.R. Harper, presently Master of the Lodge, made formal application to the M.W. Grand Lodge of Texas to incur an indebtedness so the Lodge could purchase the land where the Lodge building is presently located. M.W. J.W. Steed, Grand Master, replied to the application on March 6, 1971, stating that after review of all documentation presented he would not recommend that the application for indebtedness be accepted. Once again the brethren were called upon to give of their time, energy, and money to maintain the Lodge. In order for the purchase of the property to be made each brother of the Lodge was solicited and asked if they would pledge regular donations to support a plan to purchase the property. Upon recurring positive reactions from the brethren, Bro's G.V. Greathouse, M.L. Abbe, W.B. Patton, and C.R. Harper formed the Keystone Trust. The Keystone Trust was formed to receive funds from the pledges which would be applied to the note on the property which was signed by each member of the trust. Upon liquidation of the note, the Keystone Trust will transfer the property to the Lodge. At this writing the brethren have been solicited in an effort to relieve the four brothers from as much of their obligation as possible by promoting $200.00 cash donations on behalf of the Keystone Trust. The Masons in Friendswood, desired to form their own Masonic Lodge. They did. The Masons in Friendswood desired to purchase an old Air Force barracks building and form it into a Masonic Temple. They did. The Masons in Friendswood desire to own the property on which th Lodge now stands and someday build another edifice. When the next historian of Friendswood Lodge takes pen in hand to write Decade II, it is a certainty he will place after the sentence desire to do----They did. "That cement which unites us into one sacred band or society of Friends and Brothers among whom no contention should ever exist except that noble contention or rather emulation of who can best work and best agree.", John H. Roberts, III Friendswood. TX June 1974