compiled by Bobby Jay Wadsworth; reprinted from Hood County Genealogical Newsletter dated November 1995.
The village of Paluxy in southwest Hood County was just a small part of the large Paluxy Valley community that stretched from Erath to Somervell County. It was this larger community for which Paluxy Lodge was named, and from which it drew its members. The following men signed the Petition for Dispensation (application) to form Paluxy Lodge circa 1873.
| James A. Brooks | Demitted from Stephenville Lodge No. 267, Texas |
| Zachariah Brooks | Stephenville Lodge No. 267, Texas |
| George W. Bullion | Bloomfield Lodge No. 243, Arkansas |
| Jesse Caraway | No lodge given |
| B. P. Earp | Prairie Point Lodge No. 271, Texas |
| W. N. Freeman | Americus Lodge No. 13, Georgia |
| A. J. Godwin | Valley Lodge No. 203, Alabama |
| F. D. Hobnes | Walnut Grove Lodge No. 264, Alabama |
| J. R. Jones | No lodge given |
| C. C. Meek | Stephenville Lodge No. 267, Texas |
| Isaac Moore | No lodge given |
| W. H. Pate | No lodge given |
| (Dr.) P. K. Phenix | Bloomfield Lodge No. 243, Arkansas |
| A. B. Roberts | No lodge given |
| G. A. Roberts | Oak Bowery Lodge No. 81, Georgia |
| Lindsey Robertson | Walnut Grove Lodge No. 264, Arkansas |
| T. M. Self | Meridian Lodge No. 268, Texas |
| J. A. Stewart | Sylvan Lodge No. 111, Alabama |
| G. H. Turner | No lodge given |
| G. W. White | Acton Lodge No. 285, Texas |
| D. M. Wood | No lodge given |
Paluxy Lodge was organized 21 June 1873 and met UD (under dispensation) until 6 June 1874, when it was officially chartered by the Grand Lodge of Texas. According to the first returns, the charter members of Paluxy Lodge were:
James A. Brooks
Zachariah Brooks
G. W. Bullion
Jesse Caraway
B. P. Earp
W. N. Freeman
A. J. Goodwin
F. N. Holmes
J. R. Jones
C. C. Meek
Isaac Moore
W. H. Pate
P. K. Phenix
A. B. Roberts
Lindsey Robertson
T. M. Self
Daniel Shipman
J. A. Stewart
G. H. Turner
G. W. White
M. N. Woods
The first officers of Paluxy Lodge were installed by Worshipful Master I. N. Roberts of Stephenville Lodge. They included:
| B. F. Earp | Worshipful Master (presiding officer) |
| J. A. Stewart | Senior Warden |
| G. W. White | Junior Warden |
| Z. Brooks | Treasurer |
| J. R. Jones | Secretary (although lower in rank than the Worshipful Master, this officer generally kept the Lodge’s business running smoothly) |
| P. K. Phenix | Senior Deacon (not to be confused with a church deacon, this officer usually was responsible for introducing visitors) |
| A. B. Roberts | Junior Deacon |
| J. A. Brooks | Junior Steward |
| W. H. Pate | Tiler (generally an older member entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the door during meetings) |
At a meeting held 2 August 1873, a Building Committee comprising J. Caraway, D. M. Wood, and J. R. Jones was appointed to build a Masonic hall. This apparently resulted in the construction of Rock Church. Although the date of this historic landmark’s origin has been placed as early as 1871, the deed in which Jesse Caraway donated five acres of his homestead “for the purpose of having a church, a school house and a Masonic Lodge in my neighborhood on [the] Paluxy” was dated 22 May 1875.
Nevertheless, the evidence appears to indicate that Rock Church was built between those two dates. Masonic records show that a bill was allowed and ordered paid to Gilpin & Graham (likely the contractors who built the Masonic hall) 4 October 1873. It also is related that the Paluxy Masons moved into their new building 1 November 1873. In addition, it is supposed that the first person buried at Rock Church Cemetery was Sarah [McGill] Brooks, wife of Zachariah. She died 30 May 1873 and was buried 1 June 1873.
Paluxy Lodge flourished for many years until 9 October 1943, when it merged with Bluff Dale Lodge No. 724.
If you have more information on the early history of Paluxy Lodge and / or Rock Church, please contact:
Bobby Wadsworth
2809 Carriage Court
Carrollton, Texas 75006