Masons in Early Texas

[sloanrodgers]

Jul 11, 2011 23:35:02 GMT -5 Hiram said:

RangerRod,

To answer your questions, the apron has remained within the Stiles family since 1836. There is no evidence that it came from anyone other than John Stiles, and they have politely but firmly declined my offer to have it displayed at The Alamo.

And apparently no proof that it did. Seventy years ago the Stiles Family was claiming their revolutionary ancestor
was a johnny-come-lately to the San Jacinto battle, that Gen. Houston knew him by name and placed Gen. Santa
Anna under his control. They also stated that "some tradition" claims a masonic apron or regalia belonging to Santa
Anna fell into John Stiles' hands at the time, but we know this is impossible since Capt. Becknell's company was not
enlisted yet and Mr. Stiles was still in northern Texas. In my opinion this throws a few loose threads into the whole
apron story even though it has been up-dated for masonic and internet consumption.

Evidence of the disproportionate percentage of Master Masons assigned guard duty can be found in Carter's book, it is well-researched and well-written.

Where did Gen. Houston or any other contemporary masonic commander state that this was a requirement for guarding
Santa Anna? Perhaps they were just looking for unbiased or honest soldiers to do their duty. Can I assume that James A.
Sylvestor's Santa Anna capture party (w/ Joel W. Robison, Alfred H. Miles, Joseph Vermillion, Thompson, Cole and Mason)
and Santa Anna's Washington D.C. escort (George W. Hockley, William H. Patton, Bernard E. Bee and Rueben Potter) are
included as guards and the majority were masons? I don't have this book.

As for the Stiles family story changing, I can only speak to the conversation I had with Lewis Stiles' father Lester some nine years ago. He spoke about his ancestor being in Columbia in October 1836, and having no evidence in my possession of anything contrary to that, I took him for his word.

It's perplexing how a simple story can change so drastically without the infusion of new-found contemporary and primary
information. Interpretation sometimes comes into play with these little-known family accounts and distorts the kernals of
truth within. Initially Capt. William Patton and his Columbia Company was given as the protector of Santa Anna after the
San Jacinto battle, which seems corroborated by Capt. Patton's taking Santa Anna all the way to the Whitehouse to see
President Jackson. Since John Stiles didn't get the masonic apron at the San Jacinto battlground, I wonder what evidence
implies he was in town to obtain it at Columbia in October. Pvt. Stiles was one of the rangers that was left at Nacogdoches
on Aug. 31st, when the remainder of Capt. William Becknell's company moved forward. While some were on sick call/ duty
and others were AWOL, Stiles apparently had severe equipment problems. Stiles was one of a few rangers that seems to
have been left in camp because he had no, horse, rifle, blanket or equipment that was valued by his commander. Isaiah D.
Lawson (Stiles companion and alleged Santa Anna guard) was in a similiar situation although he had a $90 horse. It's hard
to perform great historical and military deeds when you lack transportation, weapons and a few dollars in your pocket, but
many people have been placed in this situation.

Authentic or not, it's an interesting item, and even many Masons are surprised when they learn that freemasonry was rampant throughout Latin America (and still continues as such.)

I agree it's an interesting tale, but probably not for the same reasons. Freemasonry has played a big role in world history,
but so have many institutions and there are always surprises.

[Hiram]

RangerRod,

We have never met, and yet I respect your knowledge and your dedication to unmasking those who lay claim to glory without merit. I have neither a horse nor an ancestor in this particular race. I only know what I have read and what I have seen and who I have talked to. I cannot shed light on what Lester Stiles' ancestors claimed, and since we're on that subject, please direct me to the book or article or monogram which details the duplicity of the Stiles' clan.

I am open to all possibilities; and in that same spirit I heartily recommend that you pick up a copy of Carter's Masonry in order to fully understand the impact that the fraternity has had on the formation of what we call America, and what we know as Texas.

[stuart]

I think he just did...

As to masons I'm not going to say anything beyond the simple fact that masonry was both widespread and unremarkable in the 19th century - unremarkable because many of those who shaped history were talented people who happened to be masons; they did not shape history because they were masons - except perhaps at a minor level by assisting brothers in distress.

[sloanrodgers]

Jul 12, 2011 23:56:01 GMT -5 Hiram said:

RangerRod,

We have never met, and yet I respect your knowledge and your dedication to unmasking those who lay claim to glory without merit. I have neither a horse nor an ancestor in this particular race. I only know what I have read and what I have seen and who I have talked to. I cannot shed light on what Lester Stiles' ancestors claimed, and since we're on that subject, please direct me to the book or article or monogram which details the duplicity of the Stiles' clan.

Well, we may have met as I've visited San Antonio and the Symposium in the years since you became a member here and you work at the
Alamo. Correct? I don't recall an actual meeting, but that doesn't mean it never happened in this hobby. I appreciate your kind words, but
my knowledge and dedication is not directed toward revealing stolen valor cases in Texas history and someone's else's family tree. I'm not
a professional author, historian or particularly intelligent, but I grew up in an archive (Barker Center) among old books and maps and know a
fish story when I smell one or a tale like this one that doesn't seem to be based on contemporary facts. I've also done a little Texas ranger
research over the years and what innitially interested me about John Stiles' Santa Anna guard story was the ranger connection. I wanted a
lowely minute man guarding the once powerful Santa Anna, against the Texan mob, instead of a company backed by officers, but evidence
just doesn't get me to the conclusions of others on this story, especially with the odd masonic overtones. I think John Stiles probably found
himself poor, but patriotic in North Texas after the battle of San Jacinto and decided to do something about it. He joined an obscure ranger
company (Joe Nance and Steve Moore don't even mention this unit) under William Becknell and marched to the seat of conflict in the hope
that they could be of service. At some point along the trail Stiles apparently lost his horse with his rifle and equipage, but more likely it was
stolen by Indians, which probably put a dampner on his patriotism. Pvt. John Stiles stayed at Nacogdoches and later gained the rank of 4th
corporal, but no glory. Stiles may have been a mason, probably owned the Scotish Rite apron and possibly saw Santa Anna at some point in
Texas and the guard story could have grown from there. I know you don't have a dog in this historical hunt for truth in this tale and I didn't
mean to challenge or offend you or anyone in this exchange.

I am open to all possibilities; and in that same spirit I heartily recommend that you pick up a copy of Carter's Masonry in order to fully understand the impact that the fraternity has had on the formation of what we call America, and what we know as Texas.

[/font][/quote]

As am I within reason and I think I've been very tolerant of this convoluted story with few facts. I'm sure it's a very interesting book, but I believe
politics, religion, economics and greed played larger roles in the formation of Texas, although I'm not a big reader of these subjects either.

Here's some of the requested links.

John Stiles' Santa Anna story and masonic apron. Pages 16-18
www.txgenweb6.org/txredriver/clark/pc_016.htm

24. Pvt. John Stiles
www.tshaonline.org/supsites/military/t/beckw_2t.htm

[Hiram]

Political, religious, and economic beliefs played a large part in how the United States and Texas developed. The equality of men and their natural rights, their freedom to express their own religious beliefs, and the right to pursue happiness (through economic freedom) are basis tenets of freemasonry; so it is natural that men who held those beliefs would be attracted to the fraternity.

The impact of freemasonry was that men who shared the same ideals found kinship and community within the fraternity. Masonry did not give these men these ideals, it gave them a place to share them and to build upon them.

Freemasonry didn't make Texas or the U.S., but some of the men who shaped this nation and it's history were Masons. The same can be said for Europe and Latin America.

[Hiram]

RangerRod,

Thanks for the links. It seems the story of Stiles as guard of Santa Anna @ San Jacinto is attributed to Becknall and Clark. Is it safe to assume that the author, Pat. B. Clark is a descendant of Lieut. Clark?

Also I see John Stiles listed as pvt. on one roll, and as a 4th corporal on another; and I found several legal documents in the Clark book which show Stiles to be a Justice of the Peace, which I wasn't aware of. This has nothing to do with being a guard, I just found it interesting.

Whether or not, Stiles was at anytime a guard of Santa Anna, it's hard to say unequivocally yes or no. I'm not quite clear on whether Becknall and Clark were @ San Jacinto; the Clark book says they were.

So I guess one of my points is a question: is it the Stiles' family that started these stories? Or did they just read the same thing I read and assumed it was without error?

On a personal note, I was once told by Stuart Reid that the three of us were among those gathered at a table during a San Jacinto symposium at the U of Houston Hilton. So while we apparently shared a table, we unfortunately didn't share a conversation. Hopefully we can rectify that in the not too distant future.

[sloanrodgers]

Jul 14, 2011 16:18:43 GMT -5 Hiram said:

RangerRod,

Thanks for the links. It seems the story of Stiles as guard of Santa Anna @ San Jacinto is attributed to Becknall and Clark. Is it safe to assume that the author, Pat. B. Clark is a descendant of Lieut. Clark?

You're welcome. Pat Clark makes it clear that they were all at San Jacinto and specifically John Stiles, but I don't
know how this information was obtained.

Also I see John Stiles listed as pvt. on one roll, and as a 4th corporal on another; and I found several legal documents in the Clark book which show Stiles to be a Justice of the Peace, which I wasn't aware of. This has nothing to do with being a guard, I just found it interesting.

Yes, John Stiles was a Justice of the Peace in Red River County and you'll find him in several old newspapers.

Whether or not, Stiles was at anytime a guard of Santa Anna, it's hard to say unequivocally yes or no. I'm not quite clear on whether Becknall and Clark were @ San Jacinto; the Clark book says they were.

Well, there's no evidence they were there and they don't appear on any San Jacinto muster rolls or in any
accounts of the battle. There are indications they were in north Texas though.

So I guess one of my points is a question: is it the Stiles' family that started these stories? Or did they just read the same thing I read and assumed it was without error?

Who knows.

On a personal note, I was once told by Stuart Reid that the three of us were among those gathered at a table during a San Jacinto symposium at the U of Houston Hilton. So while we apparently shared a table, we unfortunately didn't share a conversation. Hopefully we can rectify that in the not too distant future.

[/font][/quote]
See there, we met. I don't recall meeting anyone named Hiram, but I introduced myself to everyone at the table, then
started talking to Stuart about his new book. I was a little star struck since it was my first meeting with a Scottish Riter

[Hiram]

RangerRod,

I think we can put this one to bed thanks to Carter's Masonry in Texas and the Grand Lodge of Texas. After all has been written and said, Carter indicates in his book that John Stiles was raised in Friendship #16. I looked that up today in the DRT Library. I assumed that Friendship Lodge was located somewhere in the United States. I failed to find any lodge called Friendship and numbered 16 in any state east of the Mississippi. I then logged on to my Grand Lodge of Texas account, and found that Friendship #16 is in fact in Texas. This presents a huge dilemma for John Stiles, as the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas was formed in 1837. Moreover, Friendship #16 was chartered on 11 December, 1841. Therein lies the problem; a Master Mason would never give his apron to a non-Mason, it would have no meaning; and John Stiles was a non-Mason till at least December 1841.

If you go back and look at some of the earlier posts in this thread, I stated that the apron was Scottish Rite and could be traced back to John Stiles. A phone conversation with Lester Stiles is how I learned the story of the Phelps' plantation and Santa Anna, and as a fellow Mason, I accepted the story as factual. I will give Lester Stiles the benefit of the doubt that he simply was repeating a family story, not intentionally misleading a Brother.

Muster rolls and county histories are excellent sources of information, but in this case, all it took was determining which Masonic lodge John Stiles was raised, thus dismissing the connection between Stiles and the Masonic apron of Santa Anna.

When we met, it was unlikely that you introduced yourself as RangerRod, and equally unlikely that I introduced myself as Hiram.

[Hiram]

I guess this is the addendum. Additional perusing of Masonry in Texas led me to the names of Richard Bache, A.E.C. Johnson, Orlando C. Phelps, Virgil H. Phelps, and William H. Patton, all being listed as Master Masons who guarded Santa Anna (notice of course the absence of John Stiles' name. With the exception of Patton, all were future Masons yet to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Bache was raised at Harmony #6, Virgil Phelps at St. John's #5 (Columbia), and Orlando Phelps at Rio Grande #81.

For those unfamiliar with the "language" of freemasonry, a man is initiated as a Entered Apprentice, passed as a Fellowcraft, and raised as a Master Mason. Those words hold special significance within the fraternity. Technically, once a man is initiated as an EA, he is in fact a Mason, but would not be considered a Mason in the real sense of the word. Lyndon Baines Johnson was initiated, but did not pursue the second and third degrees, so when the number of U.S. Presidents who were Masons is counted, LBJ is (and should be) left off the list. There have been 14 Master Masons elected as POTUS, the most recent being Gerald R. Ford.

[sloanrodgers]

Jul 15, 2011 1:26:44 GMT -5 Hiram said:

RangerRod,

I think we can put this one to bed thanks to Carter's Masonry in Texas and the Grand Lodge of Texas. After all has been written and said, Carter indicates in his book that John Stiles was raised in Friendship #16. I looked that up today in the DRT Library. I assumed that Friendship Lodge was located somewhere in the United States. I failed to find any lodge called Friendship and numbered 16 in any state east of the Mississippi. I then logged on to my Grand Lodge of Texas account, and found that Friendship #16 is in fact in Texas. This presents a huge dilemma for John Stiles, as the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas was formed in 1837. Moreover, Friendship #16 was chartered on 11 December, 1841. Therein lies the problem; a Master Mason would never give his apron to a non-Mason, it would have no meaning; and John Stiles was a non-Mason till at least December 1841.

Well John, this strange tale really shouldn't have escaped the John Stiles bedtime story hour since it apparently "never had"
any contemporary/ primary source, narrative consistency or provenance for the masonic apron. So after all is said and done,
Mr. Stiles wasn't a mason in 1836, which places him in the same boat as non-mason Santa Anna? Why would a "real" mason
even give up his prized apron (which masons usually take to the grave) or anything that had the potential of protectng him
from execution? This story had more holes than a masonic doilie, well if there is such a thing.

If you go back and look at some of the earlier posts in this thread, I stated that the apron was Scottish Rite and could be traced back to John Stiles. A phone conversation with Lester Stiles is how I learned the story of the Phelps' plantation and Santa Anna, and as a fellow Mason, I accepted the story as factual. I will give Lester Stiles the benefit of the doubt that he simply was repeating a family story, not intentionally misleading a Brother.

Yes, I remember and it sounded plausible until I did a little research. I rarely give family stories the benefit of the doubt, but
I often doubt their benefit. I've been fooled too many times by family tall tales to not harbor some skepticsm, especially when
evidence has been altered or is completely absent. Mr. Stiles may have been given this apron after his 1841 masonic baptism,
but I never believed it had any connection to Santa Anna or San Jacinto.

Muster rolls and county histories are excellent sources of information, but in this case, all it took was determining which Masonic lodge John Stiles was raised, thus dismissing the connection between Stiles and the Masonic apron of Santa Anna.

Yes, they are and in this case they raised severe doubts that John Stiles was at San Jacinto, was able to serve as Santa Anna's
guard without a weapon and was even able to travel from Nacogdoches to Columbia without a horse or money to meet him. Your
new revelation that Mr. Stiles wasn't even a mason in 1836 is simply another nail in an already sealed coffin, but is appreciated in
burying this entertaining, but fictional Santa Anna/ masonic story.

When we met, it was unlikely that you introduced yourself as RangerRod, and equally unlikely that I introduced myself as Hiram.

[/font][/quote]
True, but I've met a lot of people incognito. Maybe next time. Later.


*corrected spelling

[sloanrodgers]

Jul 15, 2011 14:42:41 GMT -5 Hiram said:

I guess this is the addendum. Additional perusing of Masonry in Texas led me to the names of Richard Bache, A.E.C. Johnson, Orlando C. Phelps, Virgil H. Phelps, and William H. Patton, all being listed as Master Masons who guarded Santa Anna (notice of course the absence of John Stiles' name. With the exception of Patton, all were future Masons yet to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Bache was raised at Harmony #6, Virgil Phelps at St. John's #5 (Columbia), and Orlando Phelps at Rio Grande #81.

I don't see the relevance. Santa Anna was also guarded by "future" politicians and rangers.

[Hiram]

Jul 17, 2011 18:36:33 GMT -5 sloanrodgers said:

Jul 15, 2011 14:42:41 GMT -5 Hiram said:

I guess this is the addendum. Additional perusing of Masonry in Texas led me to the names of Richard Bache, A.E.C. Johnson, Orlando C. Phelps, Virgil H. Phelps, and William H. Patton, all being listed as Master Masons who guarded Santa Anna (notice of course the absence of John Stiles' name. With the exception of Patton, all were future Masons yet to be raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Bache was raised at Harmony #6, Virgil Phelps at St. John's #5 (Columbia), and Orlando Phelps at Rio Grande #81.

I don't see the relevance. Santa Anna was also guarded by "future" politicians and rangers.

Ahhh, the foibles of posting as opposed to actual conversing. I was making the same point; i.e., being guarded by future Masons is not the same as being guarded by current Masons in terms of it's relevance to the claim that Santa Anna was protected by fellow brothers.

[sloanrodgers]

Jul 18, 2011 8:17:41 GMT -5 Hiram said:

Jul 17, 2011 18:36:33 GMT -5 sloanrodgers said:

I don't see the relevance. Santa Anna was also guarded by "future" politicians and rangers.

Ahhh, the foibles of posting as opposed to actual conversing. I was making the same point; i.e., being guarded by future Masons is not the same as being guarded by current Masons in terms of it's relevance to the claim that Santa Anna was protected by fellow brothers.

Sorry I didn't get that from your posts yesterday. I thought you were still promoting masons as the movers and shakers of Texas history
instead of soldiers and politicians, etc. I guess we are now on the same page as this one becomes less visited and our little controversy
comes to an abrupt, but pleasant end. It was a lively discussion for a brief moment. Later.

[johnk]

If Santa Anna was a mason could a silly Masonic sign to Houston save his life.
After the brave sacrifice of the brave men of the Alamo who gave their lives .If so Masonery is a much is a much powerful force the i had realised..........What could be more powerful then putting your life on the line ?

[yeluacm]

Jul 12, 2011 21:50:05 GMT -5 sloanrodgers said:

It's perplexing how a simple story can change so drastically without the infusion of new-found contemporary and primary
information. Interpretation sometimes comes into play with these little-known family accounts and distorts the kernals of
truth within. Initially Capt. William Patton and his Columbia Company was given as the protector of Santa Anna after the
San Jacinto battle, which seems corroborated by Capt. Patton's taking Santa Anna all the way to the Whitehouse to see
President Jackson. Since John Stiles didn't get the masonic apron at the San Jacinto battlground, I wonder what evidence
implies he was in town to obtain it at Columbia in October. Pvt. Stiles was one of the rangers that was left at Nacogdoches
on Aug. 31st, when the remainder of Capt. William Becknell's company moved forward. While some were on sick call/ duty
and others were AWOL, Stiles apparently had severe equipment problems. Stiles was one of a few rangers that seems to
have been left in camp because he had no, horse, rifle, blanket or equipment that was valued by his commander. Isaiah D.
Lawson (Stiles companion and alleged Santa Anna guard) was in a similiar situation although he had a $90 horse. It's hard
to perform great historical and military deeds when you lack transportation, weapons and a few dollars in your pocket, but
many people have been placed in this situation.

skr,

I would be interested in your sources anent the whereabouts of Becknell's Red River Blues, particularly with regards to the soldiers you noted being on sick call or AWOL, as my great-great-grandfather's brother served under Becknell. His name was Balda C. Johnson (1811-1852), an emigre of the year 1834, he enlisted on 28 April 1836 in Becknell's company of Mounted Volunteer Rangers, and was mustered out on 28 May 1836. On 14 July he again enlisted at Sulfur Fork Prairie (Clarksville) for three months, was promoted to 3rd Corporal, and mustered out 13 September 1836 (Maxey, 1997). According to his bounty warrant issued by the General Land Office (No. 9617) for 320 acres, gives his service dates as 14 July to 14 October 1836.

He was the son of John R. Johnson (1778?-1852?), an emigre of the year 1830, who settled in Shelby County, where two other sons also settled. Balda's brothers, Allen H. Johnson (1797?-1843?) was formerly a magistrate and Deputy Clerk of County Court at Ecore Fabre (later renamed Camden), Union (afterwards Ouachita) County, Arkansas, where Balda had lived immediately prior to coming to Texas; and pioneer congressman Alvey R. Johnson (1803-1862), of Shelby County. Balda's eldest son, John Ruffin Johnson (1843-1889) of Clarksville later served as sheriff of Red River County. We don't rightly know for certain but strongly suspect that the son was named for his grandfather, nothing that for four consecutive generations have perpetuated the name 'John Ruffin Johnson'.