Welcome To Irving Masonic Lodge 1218

Making Good Men Better

How To Join Us
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Our Location

132 East 2nd Street
Irving, TX 75060

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Stated Meetings

Second Tuesday of the Month
Light meal served at 6:15pm
Meeting begins at 7:00pm

Secretary

IrvingMasonic@gmail.com

About Our Lodge

Irving Masonic Lodge #1218 was chartered on December 5th, 1924 by the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. and A.M.

Our History

From a petition signed by thirty-one Master Masons in 1924 to more than a century of brotherhood, charity, and service to the City of Irving.

December 5, 1924

The Charter

The Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M., granted a charter to thirty-one Master Masons living in or around Irving, forming Irving Lodge #1218.

February 18, 1925

First Meeting

The first meeting of the new Lodge, a Called Meeting, was held to confer the Entered Apprentice Degree — conducted as a courtesy by visiting officers of Trinity Valley Lodge #1048 of Dallas.

February 24, 1925

First Officers Installed

At the first Stated Meeting, J. M. Popplewell was elected and installed as the first Worshipful Master of Irving Lodge, alongside the Lodge’s founding officer line.

June 18, 1925

First Master Mason Raised

Brother George Walter Story was raised a Master Mason on this date and became the first Master Mason raised as a member of Irving Lodge.

December 1931

Care For Our Widows

The first Christmas Relief Committee was appointed to care for the Masonic widows of Irving Lodge — a tradition of fraternal kindness that continues to this day.

March 11, 1941

A Home Of Our Own

The Building Committee reported the purchase of Lots 23 and 24 of the original Town Site of Irving from the City — the future home of Irving Lodge.

June 19, 1948

Ground Is Broken

Worshipful Master Harlan T. Goode presided as 104 Master Masons gathered to break ground for a new Masonic Temple at the corner of Second and Jefferson Streets.

May 21, 1949

The Cornerstone Laid

Most Worshipful Hugh M. Craig, Grand Master of Masons in Texas, laid the cornerstone of the new Irving Masonic Temple before approximately 250 Brethren and guests.

June 30, 1950

Moving In

Irving Lodge held its first meeting in the new Masonic Temple at 132 E. 2nd Street, installing Brother Verner A. Taylor as Worshipful Master for the 1950–51 Masonic Year.

October 6, 1961

Burning Of The Note

With the building fully paid for, Worshipful Master John P. Shafer welcomed Grand Master W. G. “Bill” Proctor as the mortgage note was ceremonially burned in the Lodge Room before 231 Brethren.

January 3, 1975

Peak Membership

With the raising of Brother Charles Randall Goolsby, Irving Lodge reached its highest recorded membership: 1,089 Master Masons.

March 14, 1985

Endowed Memberships

Brother William B. Tinsley purchased the first Endowed Membership in Irving Lodge, beginning a long-term effort to secure the Lodge’s financial future.

May 11, 1991

Memorial Hall Dedicated

Worshipful Master Phillip D. Baker dedicated the newly remodeled downstairs as “Memorial Hall” — in memory of those Brethren who have gone to the Celestial Lodge Above.

December 18, 1999

Seventy-Five Years

Irving Lodge celebrated seventy-five years of Masonic labor. Past Master and Secretary Dean Alexander compiled and read the Lodge’s history, which forms the basis of this timeline.

December 2024

One Hundred Years

Irving Lodge #1218 marked its Centennial — one hundred years of fraternal brotherhood, service to the City of Irving, and the enduring work of Freemasonry.

“This room is dedicated to the memory of those Irving Masons who are now attending the Celestial Lodge Above. Their time, efforts, and talents have prepared the way for Irving Lodge #1218 and its members to enjoy the fruits of their labors.” — Memorial Hall Dedication, 1991

What Our Lodge Provides

Freemasonry offers an opportunity to grow as a man through tradition, education, brotherhood, and service to others.

Masonic Ritual

Time-honored ceremonies, performed for centuries, that mark each step of a Mason's progress through the degrees.

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Education

A lifetime of study in the symbols, history, and philosophy of the Craft, supported by experienced mentors.

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Brotherhood

Genuine fellowship among men of every walk of life, united by shared values and mutual respect.

Charity & Service

Opportunities to give back to Irving and the surrounding community through lodge charities and outreach.

How To Become A Freemason

Becoming a Mason is a personal decision and a deliberate process. Here is how it begins at Irving Lodge #1218.

I

Inquire

The first step is to get to know us. Freemasonry is not for everyone, and we want you to be sure that the Lodge is the right fit for you. Reach out to the Secretary or visit on a meeting night to meet the Brethren.

II

Ask

No man is invited to become a Freemason — he must ask of his own free will. Once you have come to know some of our members, simply ask one of them for a petition.

III

Petition

Submit your completed petition to the Lodge. An investigation committee will meet with you to talk about your interest, and the Lodge will then vote on your petition.

2026 Officers

The elected and appointed officers serving Irving Masonic Lodge #1218.

2026 Officers of Irving Masonic Lodge #1218
2026 Officers

Past Masters

Those who have served Irving Lodge #1218 as Worshipful Master since its founding in 1924.

1925J.M. Popplewell
1926S.H. Elliott
1927Chris Johnson
1928J.C. Allen
1930Wm. S. Johnson
1931Charles H. Lucas
1932Lynn B. Lemmons
1933Harry S. Pollard
1934George H. Knight
1935J. Franklin Williams
1936Ernest L. Bennett
1938–39John L. Brandenburg
1939–40J. Clyde Kirkpatrick
1940–41J. Daniel Caster
1941–42Richard M. Hatfield
1942–43Luther J. Branon
1943–44Walter Brashear
1944–45Jere H. Hayes
1945–46John D. Leggett
1946–47Joe Chandler
1947–48Harlan T. Goode
1948–49Thomas M. Bynum
1949–50Luther F. Newman
1950–51Verner A. Taylor
1951–52Earl E. Palmer
1952–53Gerald D. Morton
1953–54Floyd C. Williams
1954–55Roscoe L. Christy
1955–56Marvin H. Doss
1956–57Robert H. Haymes
1957–58Loyd L. Jones
1958–59Jabe Morris
1959–60R. Sam King
1960–61M. Doyle Inge
1961–62Johnnie P. Shafer
1962–63W.G. Cunningham
1963–64Ollie Smith
1964–65John A. Sanders
1965–66A.H. Trotter
1966–67Fred Studer
1967–68Dean Alexander
1968–69C.J. Range
1969–70W.O. Giddins
1970–71Lamar Jones
1971–72J.C. Waller
1972–73Jack E. Winfrey
1973–74Victor Cassano
1974–75Charles Coats
1975–76Charles Yarbrough
1976–77Billy E. Stevens
1977–78Newman Palmer
1978–79Charles Hartford
1979–80Ray Wall
1980–81James Vaughn
1981–82Jan Dillon
1982–83Robert Winkle
1983–84Billy Don McConathy
1984–85Carl Weant
1985–86Bruce Wilson
1986–87Ivan Alexander
1987–88J. Roland Jeter
1988–89B.W. Ike Junell
1989–90Harold E. Morris
1990–91Phillip Baker
1991–92Dean Donaldson
1992–93Frank C. King
1993–94Bob A. Barnes
1994–95Jim R. Wilson
1995–96Randall Wilson
1996–97Tom Uhr
1997–98Mike Woolsey
1998–99J.L. Rusty Smith
1999–00Max L. Perry
2000–01Robert C. Dunn
2001–02Nicky King
2002–03Norman Millican
2003–04Douglas Brock
2004–05O.L. Butch Murden
2005–06Dale Fullenchek
2006–07Loyd Hinch
2007–08Clayton Shores
2008–09Ray Marr
2009–10Jimmy Walters
2010–11Michael Shrum
2011–12John Thalacker
2012–13N.T. “Bill” Adra
2013–14David R. Gisler
2014–15Tony Head
2015–16John Samuel
2016–17Carl Roberts
2017–18Ron Coats
2018–19Larry Gammill
2019–20Ron Cox
2020–21Mark Tilley
2021–22Kevin Kasky
2022–23Dustin L. Carter
2023–24Marcus McIntyre
2024–25Harold Bolen

Affiliated Past Masters

Brethren who served as Worshipful Master of another Lodge before affiliating with Irving #1218.

R.B. Miller1972–73
James V. Callan Da-Lite #1442
Joe M. Canafax1972–73
Whitewright #167
Billy Ray Bell1981–82
Thomas B. Hunter #1356
Lawrene Paschall1983–84
James V. Callan Da-Lite #1442
Kevin D. Reno1986–87
Hutchins #1154
Glenn S. Reid1992–93
Hutchins #1154
Billy Jack Davis1992–93
Love Field #1274
Floyd E. Hall1999–00
Arlington #438
Scott C. Brosi2001–02
Hillcrest #1318
Richard D. Mitchell2004–05
Lamesa #909
Charles R. Garner2007–08
William Foster #312
Robert W. Cleere2011–12
James Ladd Burgess #1305
Marvin D. Krebsbach Jr.2012–13
De Soto #1409
Thomas W. Burk Jr.2014–15
George B. Dealey #1312
Dennis A. King2016–17
George B. Dealey #1312
Edward S. Collins2018–19
Sam R. Hamilton #1031
Brian S. Johnson2021–22
Carolina #330
Jeremy R. Johnson2022–23
Carolina #330
Raymon C. Johnson2024–25
Carolina #330

Lodge Calendar

Stay up to date with stated meetings, degree work, and lodge events.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Freemasonry and how to become a member of Irving Lodge #1218.

What is Freemasonry?

Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest fraternal organizations, tracing its roots back to the stonemasons who built the great cathedrals of medieval Europe. Today, it is a society of men bound together by a shared commitment to moral and personal development, mutual support, and service to others.

Masons meet in lodges to share fellowship, participate in time-honored ceremonies, study the symbolism and philosophy of the Craft, and work together on charitable endeavors in their communities.

Who can become a Mason?

To petition a Masonic lodge in Texas, a man must be at least 18 years of age, of good moral character, and profess a belief in a Supreme Being. He must come of his own free will and accord — no one is ever asked or recruited to join.

Freemasonry welcomes men of every race, religion, occupation, and background. What unites Masons is not where they come from, but the shared values they practice.

Do I have to be religious?

Masonry requires only that a candidate profess a belief in a Supreme Being. It is not a religion and does not favor one faith over another. Men of all faiths meet as equals within the Lodge, and religious discussion is set aside so that Brethren may focus on what unites rather than what divides.

How do I join?

The first step is to get to know us. Masonry is a lifelong commitment, and we want you to be certain it is the right fit. You are welcome to contact the Secretary, visit on a stated meeting night for dinner, or meet a current member for coffee.

When you are ready, ask a Mason for a petition. Once you submit it, an investigation committee will meet with you, and the Lodge will vote on your application.

How much does it cost?

There is a one-time fee for the three degrees, which covers the cost of your initiation, degree materials, and Grand Lodge assessments. After that, members pay annual dues that help maintain the Lodge building and support its charitable work.

Exact amounts change from time to time. Please contact the Secretary for current fees and dues.

How long does it take to become a Master Mason?

There are three degrees in Masonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. Each degree includes both a ceremonial initiation and a period of study and memorization of a proficiency.

Depending on how quickly a candidate learns his work and the Lodge’s calendar, the full journey from petition to Master Mason typically takes several months to a year.

Is Freemasonry a secret society?

No. Masonry is often described as “a society with secrets” rather than a secret society. Our buildings are clearly marked, our members are openly known, and our charitable work is public. What we keep private are the specific modes of recognition and ceremonial traditions that have been passed down for centuries — details that every Mason promises to safeguard.

Can women become Masons?

Regular Freemasonry, including the Grand Lodge of Texas, is a fraternity for men. However, there are several related Masonic-family organizations that welcome women, including the Order of the Eastern Star, which is open to Master Masons and their female relatives. Young people also have opportunities to participate through DeMolay International (young men) and the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls.

When does the Lodge meet?

Irving Masonic Lodge #1218 holds its Stated Meeting on the second Tuesday of every month. A light meal is served at 6:15 PM, followed by the meeting at 7:00 PM. Additional called meetings are held throughout the year for degree work and special events.

Prospective members are warmly welcome to join us for dinner before a stated meeting. Please see our Calendar for upcoming dates.

Get In Touch

Questions about Freemasonry or interested in visiting Irving Lodge #1218? We’d love to hear from you.

Lodge Address

132 East 2nd Street
Irving, TX 75060

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 170936
Irving, TX 75017

Prospective members are welcome to join us for a light meal and fellowship before our Stated Meeting on the second Tuesday of every month. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM, followed by the meeting at 7:00 PM.

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