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John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company

Most Texas Masons are well aware of the longstanding relationship that has existed between Freemasonry and the Texas Rangers. Some are also aware of the fact that the Texas Rangers were instituted by Masonic Brother Stephen F. Austin, and supported and maintained by Masonic Brother Sam Houston, Masonic Brother Mirabeau B. Lamar, and every subsequent President (who were all Masons) of the Republic of Texas; and later, by each Governor of Texas, many of whom were Masons. At the Annual Grand Communication in December of 2010, the Grand Lodge of Texas ratified the following resolution:

Resolution Whereas, the Texas Rangers were instituted by Masonic Brother Stephen F. Austin, and supported and maintained by Brother Sam Houston, Brother Mirabeau B. Lamar, and every subsequent President of the Republic of Texas; and later, by each Governor of Texas, many of whom were Masons, and Whereas, a majority of the most famous Texas Rangers have been members of the Masonic Fraternity, including Major John B. Jones who was the commander of the Texas Rangers during their most famous era, the Frontier Battalion period and was also the Grand Master of Masons in Texas during the same period, and Whereas, the 113 year-old Former Texas Rangers Association and Former Texas Rangers Foundation are organizations that are dedicated to the preservation of the history, philosophy and life experiences of one of Texas’ oldest institutions, the Texas Rangers, andWhereas, the Former Texas Rangers Association and Foundation are committed to the construction of The Texas Rangers Heritage Center which will be located at Fort Martin Scott in Fredericksburg, Texas. The Texas Rangers Heritage Center which will focus on youth education and will contain Ranger artifacts, a library containing Ranger archives and will include five interactive timeline exhibits that will tell the history of the Texas Rangers, and Whereas the story regarding the long standing relationship between the Texas Rangers and Freemasonry will be a part of the visitor’s experience at the Texas Rangers Heritage Center,which will result in a heightened awareness of both organizations, both of whose members are considered heroes and role models to many people, and Whereas the Former Texas Rangers Foundation has proposed to establish a special membership group exclusively for Master Masons which will be named the Major John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company in honor of the early Frontier Battalion leader who was the 1879 Grand Master of Masons in Texas, and Whereas memberships in the Major John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation will be composed solely of Master Masons who are members in good standing of a Lodges which are recognized by the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. & A.M., and Whereas memberships in the Masonic Company of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation will contribute to the positive public image of Freemasonry, the financial support of the Texas Ranger Heritage Center and the financial support of The Grand Lodge Library; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Major John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation is hereby recognized by the Grand Lodge of Texas, pursuant to Article 225a as an organization to which Texas Masons may belong and participate in as members, subject to the provisions of Article 225a.