Lone Star # 85 Free & Accepted Masons of Prince Hall Affiliation                  

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On a Saturday, the 11^th day of November in the year 1893 A.D., 5893 A.L., Lone Star Lodge #85 was founded in Hempstead, TX., to operate under what was then called The Most Worshipful Grand lodge of Texas Free & Accepted Masons, obviously during an era following slavery, racial injustice and hate crimes. Our first principle officers, J.M. Scott, Master of the Lodge; E. Johnson, Senior Warden; and George Bailous, Junior Warden, were the immediate offspring of slaves in what was known as Six Shooter Junction, an infamous nickname given to Hempstead, during this time. As with all towns especially Texas towns the first two community edifices were the church and the Masonic lodge. Lone Star and its members struggled thru the racial oppression that burdened blacks at this time. With many members being students, faculty and staff of Prairie View Normal School as well as noted community leaders, Lone Star continued to educate its members and the community despite the blatant obstacles. The great and wonderful 85^th Lodge to be chartered by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, was done under the administration of M.W.G.M. John Madison of Austin, TX.  

To this day Lone Star #85 continues to grow, and maintains the reputation for being one of the most active and progressive lodges under the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Texas and its Jurisdictions. We still carry on the tradition of Service, Education, Research, and of course Brotherly Love. Our little lodge in Hempstead continues to claim membership that includes students, blue collar workers, white collar workers, university professors, university presidents, politicians, pastors, and the list goes on and on. Each brother of Lone Star humbly educates one another on issues that will help, aid and assist his brother regardless of their profession or social status. We gladly boast that we have brothers who have been members for 30, 50 and even 80 years. We still faithfully operate in our hometown of Hempstead, TX which has outgrown its notorious reputation. The citizens of Hempstead can usually find us participating in sporadic church sit-ins, Palm Sunday services, Prince Hall Weekend church services, Martin Luther King Jr. parades, Juneteenth parades, workshops, banquets, tutorial services, blood drives, Waller County Family and Friends Day, school supply drives, toy drives, and our Lone Star Child Identification Kit Program. Lone Star’s lodge hall has relocated a few times, the most recent and current location is 310 7^th Street in Hempstead, where we have been since December of 1964.We are currently working on a building that will house the Alpha and Omega Outreach Program of Hempstead, which will assist the local youth in furthering their education and serving as an outlet from the constant negatives that surround our youth.

Since its inception, over a hundred years ago, Lone Star has boasts great community names such as:

Ø       L.C. Anderson, Second Principal of Prairie View A&M University

Ø       James Muse, 1^st Black County Commissioner in Waller County after Reconstruction;

Ø       Leroy Singleton, 1^st Black Mayor of the City of Hempstead & County Commissioner of Pct. 1;

Ø       Frank Jackson, Mayor of the City of Prairie View, well known speaker;

Ø       Larry Watson Captain of Navy ROTC Houston Consortium;

Ø       Dr. Charles Hines 6^th President of Prairie View A&M University;

Ø       Charles McClelland Athletic Director Of Prairie View A&M University;

Ø       Dr. Frank Hawkins Retired Professor of Mathematics for Prairie View A&M University;

Ø       Dr. Tracy Andrus first black to receive PhD in Juvenile Justice from Prairie View A&M University;

Ø       Waller County Constable Duke Ali- Shariff Bey;

Ø       Coach John Cochran Prairie View Men’s Tennis Coach and SWAC Championship Winners;

Ø       Alexander Rigsby (Deceased) local ranch owner and owner of Goat Farm for Agricultural Research for Prairie View A&M University.   

and a host of great Past Masters: Brooks, Alex Walker, J.M. Tompkins, Jonathan Davis (1977-97), Frank Jackson (1997-2000), and Charles Gray (2000-2004).  Lone Star’s current principle officers are: Alaric Bowens, W.M.; Torrie Richardson, S.W.; and Derrick White, J.W.