BY SHELBIE HAMILTON
was created in England in the 18th century. The organization, which is non-religious and non-political, promotes the self-improvement and personal development of its members. Members of the lodge progress through three Masonic Degrees, which teach common morals, values and self-knowledge, the organization’s website states. The lodge is not a charity, but often supports the community through charitable works. “You do a lot of self re ecting in Masonry,” Damewood said. “You can be a good man. We’re gonna make you a better man.” Get involved The organization is not a secret society, Jacob- sen said, noting that they are open to admitting new members. “We’re not a secret society, we’re a society that has secrets,” Jacobsen said. “The only secrets that we have are certain passwords … things that we use to identify ourselves to other Masons.” The organization hosts a dinner that is open to the community prior to its monthly meeting, held at 6:30 p.m. the rst Tuesday of each month.
relocating in 2020. Roger Jacobsen, who serves as the organization’s secretary, attributed the move to the building’s age and maintenance needs, as well as market demand for the spot just o of the McKinney square. The former Masonic lodge is now occupied by Harvest at the Masonic, a Michelin recommended restaurant, and the lodge is now located in west McKinney, just south of University Drive. The organization, which began with eight members, has had thousands of members in its 175 years of existence, member Eric Damewood said. Many early McKinney leaders and business owners were members of the lodge, Jacobsen said, includ- ing James W. Throckmorton, the 12th governor of Texas, and G. A. Foote, a local doctor and banker. The organization currently has 190 members, and continues to grow. “We’ll be here, hopefully, another 175 years at least,” Jacobsen said. The context Freemasonry is one the oldest fraternal organi- zations in the world, Jacobsen said, noting that it
St. John’s Lodge No. 51 relocated in 2020 and now operates from a location in west McKinney.
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