A History of the Masonic Temple
of fort worth
Undeveloped site of Fort Worth Masonic Temple
The Masonic Temple Association of Fort Worth was Chartered by the State of Texas on January 26, 1929. This Charter was granted to a Board of Trustees; a group of thirty representatives of ten Masonic Bodies, three from each, which had agreed to be members of the Association.
THE TEN PARTICIPATING BODIES:
Fort Worth Lodge No. 148
Julian Field Lodge No. 908
W. W. Peavy Lodge No. 1162
Panther City Lodge No. 1183
Fort Worth Chapter No. 58
Texas Chapter No. 362
Fort Worth Council No. 42
Texas Council No. 321
Worth Commandery No. 19
Moslah Temple
SIGNING THE CONTRACT TO BUILD THE TEMPLE, APRIL 20th, 1931
Seated left to right: Sam S. Lard, Frank Taylor, Sam B. Cantey Jr., W. Steve Cooke & Claud Cross. Standing first row left to right: Paul Rogers, Raymond C. Gee, Max Bergman, E. E. Rutledge, W. A. Grimes, W. E. Yancey & H. Malvern Marks Jr. Standing back row left to right: Jno. F. Lyons, H. Ward Collier, Clarence Kraft, Claude A. Arthur, Joe B. Hines & E. L. Ross.
The principal guiding force behind the concept of a Masonic Temple must be attributed to Brother William Stevenson Cooke. His family emigrated to Texas from Mississippi and, at the age of 28, he received the Blue Lodge degrees in Brownwood Lodge No. 279, while operating the Harkrider-Keith-Cooke produce business there. He then returned to Fort Worth and became a successful businessman. He affiliated with Julian Field Lodge No. 908 and was its Charter Senior Warden. Brother Cooke received his Scottish Rite degrees in Dallas in 1916. He was a charter member of Moslah Temple in Fort Worth and served as Potentate in 1921.
He was the predominant leader in the desire for the establishment of a Masonic Temple for Fort Worth.
He may very well have been the instigator of the meeting of 1918, which had the effect of crystallizing the opinion of Masonic leaders that a Temple was indeed necessary and a positive reality. At a meeting of the Moslah Temple on September 20, 1923 a favorable vote was held on the outright purchase of the property for the Masonic Temple. Now there was no turning back. Everything now depended upon the willingness of all downtown bodies to pool their resources in a common effort to create a Masonic Temple.
The Firm of W. G. Clarkson was decided as architects, and the plans were presented on June 11, 1926. Because of fundraising difficulties during The Great Depression, progress was slow and the original $1,000,000.00 budget for a Masonic Temple was adjusted.
The groundbreaking ceremonies were held November 14, 1930 and actual construction on the temple began.
“THE TEMPLE WHEN COMPLETED” 1932
The first regular meeting was held in the new Masonic Temple (even though the upper floors and decorating had not been completed) on May 12, 1932. This was a celebration of the 18th Anniversary of the founding of Moslah Shrine. During 1932, all 10 bodies of the Association moved into the new and, now essentially completed, Masonic Temple.
Information and images from A History of the Masonic Temple of Fort Worth, by James Hunt Evans, Jr.