A bevy of various Masonic organizations call Temple Masonic Center home. These include 2 Masonic lodges, and several other organizations consisting of Freemasons and their family members
Blue Lodges
The basis of Freemasonry; blue lodges, or Masonic Lodges, have existed for hundreds of years. Our building is home to two lodges subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Texas.
Knob Creek Lodge #401 – founded in 1875. Knob Creek members planned, designed, and built our building in 1906. Their storied history reaches back to early days as Little River Lodge #401, and subsequent re-locations as our area developed. They have been a part of the landscape of Temple since its founding in 1881.
King Solomon Lodge #1427 – founded in 1971. King Solomon lodge was founded in the early 1970’s to provide an alternative to burgeoning membership at Knob Creek. The youngest lodge in Masonic District 48, King Solomon meets actively twice a month, and moved to Temple Masonic Center in 2011.
York Rite of Freemasonry
The York Rite is a system of bodies for men who have already labored as a Master Mason in their blue lodge. York Rite Masons come from all walks of life, and the Temple York Rite organizations draw members from a broad geographic area including Bell, Falls, Williamson, McLennan, and Milam counties.
Temple Chapter #199, Royal Arch Masons provides an active continuation of the lessons and allegories of Masonry. The Chapter has jurisdiction over four Masonic degrees: Mark Master Mason, Past Master (Virtual), Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason. Our chapter presents each of these degrees no less than twice a year with our own members serving as the cast. We encourage new members to attend, experience, and learn from the degrees of the York Rite in a familiar environment.
Temple Council #137, Royal and Select Masters presents two degrees of the Cryptic Masonic system – Royal Master and Select Master. To be eligible for these degrees, a Mason must have completed both the Blue Lodge and the Chapter degrees. Like their counterparts in Temple Chapter, Temple Council confers the Cryptic degrees multiple times each year. Both degrees can typically be received in one evening, but should be studied over the course of several years.
Temple Commandery #41, Knights Templar is the final group included in the York Rite, and presents three commemorative orders of knighthood based on embracing Christian virtues.
Order of the Eastern Star
Vashti Chapter #32, Order of the Eastern Star is an co-ed organization consisting of Master Masons and ladies with a Masonic connection, including wives, daughters, mothers, sisters, and granddaughters of Freemasons. They meet monthly at Temple Masonic Center. Regular meetings are the 1st Tuesday of each month.
Clubs
Tem-Bell Shrine Club – as a part of Waco’s Karem Shrine, the Tem-Bell Shrine Club meets monthly September-May on the 4th Thursday. They also participate in numerous charitable events throughout the year, including Red Fez fundraisers, the Karem Shrine Circus at Bell County Expo Center, and parades both as a unit and as part of Karem Shrine. All Shriners are also Master Masons, and their charitable cause is the world famous network of Shrine Hospitals.
