A Brief Overview of the Life of Baylor Lodge

Baylor Lodge was officially conceived when, in 1852, a petition from fourteen Master Masons “willing to exert their best endeavors to promote and diffuse the general principles of Masonry” petitioned the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Texas for “a new lodge in Gay Hill in the county of Washington to be named Baylor Lodge.”  

The the two other Masonic Lodges in the County, Milam No. 11 in Independence, and Graham No. 20 in Brenham on December 25, and December 27, 1852, respectively, resolved that “the petition of R. E. B. Baylor and others for the establishment of a new lodge at Gay Hill to be called Baylor Lodge be recommended for the favorable consideration of the most worshipful Grand Lodge.”  The petition was received by the Grand Lodge and Dispensation was granted to the Lodge in 1853.  

In 1853, Judge Baylor was 60 years old and he continued to serve his community until his death in his 80th year in 1873.

In 1881 the community of Gay Hill moved several miles to the West to be nearer the railroad.  Little remains at the original site of the original community of Gay Hill.

In 1886 Baylor University moves and consolidates with Waco University to become Baylor University at Waco.  In this same year PGM John Sayles moves to Abilene, Texas and demits from Baylor Lodge No. 125.

In 1888 Baylor Lodge No. 125 surrenders its charter.  In 1900 the Hurricane destroys or damages many buildings in the area and in 1904 Milam Lodge No. 11 also surrenders its charter.