Masons?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Masons?

My maternal Great Grandfather and namesake, Wadd (or Watt) Wadson Ellis, was a muckety-muck of some sort in the Masons ... important enough to have the Masonic Emblem on his headstone ( I have been told that one is not allowed to do that until one has reached a certain level in Masons)

My Father was a Mason, and other than wearing the ring, never went to a meeting (that I knew of), and never used a secret handshake or some such (that I saw).

Is there someone who might know how I would politely and appropriately research my great grandfather's Texas Mason Roots?

TTFN & Thanks!

Wadd Watson Ellis ! and II:

[Vernon/IN]

The Grand Recorder of the Texas Grand Lodge should be able to help you.  If you know the name and/or the number of his home Lodge, that would help.  I'll do some checking and PM you a link to the Texas Grand Lodge web site.  I'd do it now, but I'm on my Nook and don't have those bookmarks on this device.

Vernon

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Vernon,

Thanks! This is one side of my family that I know a lot less than I would like, so any information on the man ... or even becoming a Mason ... would be of great interest ....

TTFN,

[Vernon/IN]

Wadd,

I guess my York Rite officers line got mixed up with my Blue Lodge officers line.  The officer you need to contact is the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Texas.  Here is a link to the their web site.
http://www.grandlodgeoftexas.org

The Grand Secretary should be able to help with information about your Father and Grandfather.  He will need to know their full names and where they lived when the entered the Lodge.  If you know (or can find out) their respective home Lodges, it will help in the research.

For information on becoming a Mason, have a look at the California Grand Lodge web site at the following link.
http://www.freemason.org/index.htm;jsessionid=EF22A2FD076E0A25D1307E9FBD2CC734.node2

Their site has a Lodge locator as well information on becoming a Mason.

If you should decide to become a Mason, you may want to consider Hiram's Rangers once you complete the process.  Here is a link for the Hiram's Rangers web site.
http://www.hiramsrangers.org/

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Vernon