East Trinity Lodge No.157 - AF & AM

On July 26, 1854, the East Trinity Lodge No. 157, A.F. & A.M. was given charter under the Grand Lodge of Texas. Ten petitioners had applied for the creation of the Lodge, two of whom were Sterling Rex Barnes and John Oswell Heath, pioneering businessmen of the region.
These men were two of the first settlers in what became Rockwall, Texas, locating their homesteads along the Central National Road of the Republic of Texas. The location of their homes offered them easy access to travel and a chance to earn a living from the travelers who required bread and board when stopping on their journies.
Other petitioners on the Lodge petition were Ephraim P. Chisholm, Isham Chisholm, William K. Camp, J. Davis, Miles Graves, M.W. Matthews, James Smith and James Wilson. These men were also notable within their own right. E.P. Chisholm was a 47 year old Methodist Minister listed in the 1860 Kaufman County census as "E. Chisholm", a native of Tennessee who had been in Texas since the early 1840's and owned $11,670 worth of personal property as well as $5,700 worth of real estate. Isham Chisholm, listed as "I. Chisum" on the 1860 census was a native of Mississippi, had a thirty six year old wife named Charlotte and a family that included six sons and two daughters.
Mansell W. Matthews was a physician, Church of Christ Minister, Republic of Texas Congressman and State Representative who made a living by grazing his cattle herd on unclaimed lands. He was a staunch member of the Masonic Lodge at Clarksville, Texas before the creation of the lodge in Rockwall.
The history of the lodge was printed in the Rockwall Success in 1951, from the diaries of Judge E.C.Heath, written in 1906. Surviving records do not indicate where East Trinity Lodge held it's first meeting, and there are differing opinions on this subject. Heath stated that on December 12, 1853, John Butler donated two acres of land for a schoolhouse, conveying it to S. F. Boydston, Solomon Fletcher and Watson Bowles, Trustees for Union Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was located in the East part of Rockwall.
The small building was about sixteen by twenty feet, being built of native timber from East Fork Bottom and covered and sided with boards from the same area. The Masonic Lodge held it's meetings in the schoolhouse until they built their new hall. They kept their records and regalia in one corner of the schoolhouse behind a curtain, protected by the Teacher, John Butler, who was to become a four-time Worshipful Master of East Trinity Lodge.

A 1858 Daguerreotype of John Butler
In his Masonic Garb
Submitted by his descendant, Charleze Gray

On December 15, 1859, C. L. Jones, conveyed to the Masonic Lodge, lots two and three in Block "S". A Lodge Hall was erected with the lower room of the two-story building being used as a schoolroom, and the top floor used by the Masons. According to Judge Heath, the laying of the cornerstone of the building brought a large crowd to Rockwall. The building was torn down in 1878.
Another two-story building was soon erected at this same location, and lodge owned and continued to use the upper story at least from 1885 until 1955 when it was sold. The Lodge then purchased the adjacent one story building and continues to use that place to meet.
East Trinity Lodge obtained it's charter on January 18, 1855. The committee on work and returns had reported on January 17, to the Grand Lodge that:
"East Trinity Lodge, U. D. work correct. Returns corrected. We recommend that a Charter be issued on payment of fees."
Sterling R. Barnes was the first Junior Warden of the Lodge. When he moved his family to the area in 1844, from Holly Spring, Mississippi, he carried with him a Demit from the Holly Springs Lodge No. 35 - AF & AM, and that Demit continues to hang above the station of the Junior Warden.
By 1857, the East Trinity Lodge held its stated meeting at the town of "Rock Wall" on the first Saturday in each month. It's officers were C. K. Vance - Worshipful Master, J. Wilson - Senior Warden, J. U. Vance - Junior Warden, J. A. Heath - Treasurer, Q. P. Barnett - Secretary, A. G. Vance - Senior Deacon, J. H. B. Jones - Junior Deacon, D. J. Anderson - Tyler. The Past Master was James Wilson. Master Masons included: J. S. M. Baker, S. R. Barnes, S. Carrington, E. P. Chisholm, I. Chisum, M. Graves, W. S. Monroe, F. J. Vance, T. U. Wade and H. Williams. Fellowcraft, M. B. Jones and Entered Apprentices Andrew A. Love and A. Brown.
John O. Heath had an interest in a mercantile store in Rockwall and still lived in the vicinity, but for some reason, perhaps an oversight, was not listed amount the 1857 members of East Trinity Lodge. Heath's farm was near Willow Springs. The Post Office was in J. O. Heath's home and was called "Black Hill."

Newspaper Articles about the Rockwall County Lodge
December 30, 1896

June 25, 1897

October 7, 1897

In later years, a son of John O. Heath, Ephraim C. Heath, who became County Judge of Rockwall County, said the family had few neighbors in the early years, but then proceeded to name about 200. Years later, there was an E. C. Heath Masonic Lodge, affirming the constance of the Heaths to Masonic ideals. In 1968, the E. C. Heath Lodge No. 1149 merged with East Trinity Lodge No. 157.

The Texas Historical Marker Commemorating the
History of East Trinity Lodge No. 157