Our History

Allen Lodge No.1435 was chartered in December 1975 after a thorough application and qualification process. Those not familiar with the process of chartering a masonic lodge may not know the detail, study and supporting documentation required to begin this undertaking. Masonic lodges are not simply born out of an application and fee, rather, they are organized and built through many hours of work, planning, study, physical labor, fundraising, a little frustration and even laughter. Masonic Lodges are a labor of love built out of a desire to serve others as well as form lifelong friendships and a Band of Brothers.

The idea of starting a lodge in Allen, Texas gained steam during an ice storm in 1974 where several founding brothers (Warren Harden, Joe Perks and Steve Allen) who lived in the same neighborhood on the east side of Allen spent the day helping their fellow neighbors by pushing their cars in and out of driveways and alleyways. Some of them were clad in golf shoes for better traction. These founding brothers were members of masonic lodges in neighboring cities such as Plano, McKinney and Bonham. As they rested later that afternoon, Warden Hardin started the conversation regarding the idea of forming a lodge in their small township of Allen, Texas population 5,956.

Warren Harden (Allen’s Charter Worshipful Master) and Joe Perks (Allen’s Charter Secretary) soon thereafter reached out to Bill Proctor who was a past Grand Master of Texas Masons in 1961. Brother Proctor was instrumental in assisting the brothers in Allen by his guidance and leadership throughout the chartering process with the understanding that the newly formed lodge would serve the citizens of both Allen and in Collin county. Brother Proctor’s picture and apron are proudly displayed within the lodge as a token of appreciation and esteem. These brethren applied for and received dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Texas to begin meeting and organizing the plans to form a future lodge including designating the Charter Members, Officers and meeting location.

The initial planning meeting to discuss the formation process and timeline occurred in early October 1975 in the old Allen School cafeteria. This building no longer exists, and the site is now the home to the First Baptist Church of Allen. Those brothers in attendance were masons from neighboring cities who lived in Allen. Many of these masons knew each other outside of masonry because they were also members of the Allen Jaycees. Items discussed were the Grand Lodge requirements, Charter Members and officers as well as a potential lodge location.

Charter Officers designated at that meeting were:
Worshipful Master: Warren Harden
Sr. Warden: Joe Dungan
Jr. Warden: Jack B Hall
Treasurer: Steve V Allen
Secretary: Joe Perks
Sr. Deacon: C. Rocky Sanders
Jr. Deacon: Joe D. Dungan ll
Sr. Steward: Ashley R Langley
Jr. Steward: Les Willoughbey
Chaplain: Eugene Dalsing
Tiler: Anthony M Warrick

At the time, a new prospective lodge had to have at least 25 members with a minimum of 6 of those members having an esoteric certificate issued by the Grand Lodge of Texas. These certificates affirmed that the recipients were well skilled and competent to impart correct instruction and the esoteric rituals of a lodge. These required esoteric certificates were earned through an examination process administered by the well-known and respected Brother Sam I. Smith. Brother Smith was a strict proctor and ritualist. If you passed “Sam I” as he was known, you knew your work! Sam I knew at that time masonry in Collin county depended on meeting or exceeding the Texas Grand Lodge requirements and he devoted his time and resources to ensuring Allen Lodge No. 1435 got off on the right foot. Brother Smith took it one step further. The podiums and altar were donated to Allen lodge from Brother Smith. The furniture was from a York Rite lodge in Waxahachie Texas that had recently been demised. This furniture is still being used today by the grateful masons in Allen, Texas.

The needs for a new lodge building were met in part by twelve founding brothers who joined together and took out a $3,000 loan backed by the local banker Dudley Robertson (Father of future Allen Lodge’s Past Worshipful Masters Ray and Allen Robertson) to secure funding for an upstairs space in a building in downtown Allen. The space had served several purposes since 1905 including the Allen Telephone office. The space was being used at that time by a local service station across the street run by Don Terrell to store tires. Many of the brethren led by Brothers Lynn Pridgen and Joe Dungan transformed the new space into a Masonic Lodge. Carpeting, flooring, framing, paneling, plumbing, and electrical work were all needed. Most of the materials were donated or purchased by the founding brothers with the assistance from Masons throughout North Texas.

The lodge Bible was donated By Brother Joe Dungan and his lady Cybil. The bible still rests upon the altar today. The metal Square and Compasses that adorned the original building and now is mounted on the side of the current building were donated by Brother Joe Perks.

The four gavels that currently adorn our lodge room walls have a special meaning for Allen and Texas Masons. Three of the gavels mounted on a singular plaque were donated by the Past Grand Master of Texas Masons (1961) Bro. Bill Proctor and were made from the original timber from the homestead of Collin Mckinney, the namesake of McKinney and Collin county. The fourth gavel mounted on a singular plaque was donated by the Past Grand Master of Texas Masons (1944) Bro. Claude L Austin and is made from timber from The Masonic Oak Tree in Brazoria, Texas. The Masonic Oak holds a special place in the heart of every Texas Mason. Historically, in the winter of 1834-35, five Master Masons, who had made themselves known to each other near Brazoria by March of 1835, decided that it was time to have a Masonic Lodge in Texas. On March 10, 1835, these 5 men, Brothers John A. Wharton, Asa Brigham, James A. E. Phelps, Alexander Russell, Anson Jones and by then Brother J. P. Caldwell had joined them, met in a secluded grove near Brazoria. The area was secluded, and out of the way of cowans and eavesdroppers, and they felt they were alone. They held the meeting sitting in the shade of a majestic oak tree. Ever since then it has been known as The Masonic Oak. They decided to petition the Grand Lodge of Louisiana for a dispensation to form a new Lodge which later became Holland Lodge No.1. Bro. Anson Jones later became the first Grand Master of Texas Masons in 1838 and was the last President of the Republic of Texas from 1844 to 1845.

Allen Masonic Lodge No. 1435 was officially chartered on December 4, 1975. The chartering ceremony was well attended by Texas Masons, families, Allen citizens and Masonic dignitaries. Masonic dignitaries included two Past Grand Masters of Texas Masons Bro. Bill Proctor and Bro. Claude L Austin who set our lodge to labor.

Allen Lodge No. 1435 has grown exponentially alongside the population of the city of Allen and the surrounding communities. In 2009, the brethren of Allen Lodge were faced with a decision regarding the future of the outgrown space along with the deteriorating structural issues of the building at that time. The brethren voted to search for a suitable site within the city of Allen. Fortuitously at that time, the First Christian Church of Allen located in downtown on the corner of Allen Drive and Main Street became available. The church was in the process of moving to a new location in west Allen and the masons of Allen moved quickly to secure this ideal location. Because the Grand Lodge of Texas does not allow for a loan or a debt from a subordinate lodge to be secured by the Grand Lodge, the brethren of Allen Lodge once again stepped up to the challenge of ensuring the Masons of Allen had a home well into the future. The members at that time contributed approximately $100K out of their own pockets to secure a Non-recourse loan that was backed by the collateral funds donated by the brethren. The current lodge was purchased in 2010 and is the current home to approximately 170 masons. Allen Lodge No. 1435 paid off this debt in 2016 ahead of schedule and has since established a new building fund in anticipation of future growth.

Allen masons have been comprised of men of a multitude of faiths and occupations as do all masons. Allen Masons have served the local community in various vocations including healthcare professionals, first responders, city government and in the educational field. As a note, Allen Past Master Brother ET Boon, a long respected local dentist, past President of the Allen ISD Board of Trustees and charter member of Allen Lodge No. 1435 was honored to have an Elementary school named after him and Brother’s Mickey Pierson and Stephen Terrell served as mayors of Allen.
Allen Masons have continuously given back to the local community in a multitude of ways. Allen masons annually participate in blood drives, fundraisers to support scholarships for high school seniors, the Fantastic Teeth program that teaches elementary kids good oral hygiene and the Take Time to Read program designed to promote the importance of literacy and good reading habits in our young people. The masons of Allen also recognize local educators with the prestigious Mirabeau B Lamar award to those that have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the future of our youth. The lodge also awards a Community Builder award which recognizes local non-masonic leaders in our community that have demonstrated exceptional guidance and direction to and for the citizens of Allen.

Over the years, several members of Allen Lodge have proudly served the Masonic Fraternity and The Grand Lodge of Texas in many roles including serving as Grand Lodge officers on a state and district level as well as officer roles in the various masonic appendant bodies.

Allen Lodge No. 1435 is a multiple Vanguard Award winner. The Vanguard Award is an award of excellence from the Grand Lodge of Texas which is earned by those lodges that meet exhaustive requirements on lodge administration, community involvement, member service, masonic education, fraternalism, and the Grand Master’s emphasis. Allen Lodge No. 1435 has been awarded the prestigious Vanguard award 19 times since 1992 and counting!

Allen Lodge No. 1435 AF&AM is now very much entrenched within the city of Allen and the surrounding community as a whole and is proud to represent the masonic fraternity to all North Texans. Freemasonry, the world’s oldest fraternity, reaches across all geographical and physical boundaries, oceans, mountains and borders where its members must be of high moral character and who agree to meet on the level regardless of life’s experiences, religious affiliation, educational background, social standing or income level. Allen Lodge No. 1435 AF&AM has been blessed with great men and servant leadership throughout its history and prides itself on the role of being good stewards for the benefit of future generations of Masons in Texas.