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The Story Of The Unknown Mason
The remains of a
Caucasian male were uncovered in El Paso, Texas on June 12, 1998 during a road
work project. The skeleton was contained in a wooded coffin which was almost
completely decomposed. Texas Department Of Transportation archaeologists and the
Medical Examiners Office in El Paso was immediately contacted. They determined
that the skeleton remains were at least 100 years old and contacted the
Anthropology Research Center at the University of Texas El Paso.
After archaeological research, it is suggested that the
grave was part of a cemetery that had been relocated to this site in 1868
and later relocated to the existing Concordia Cemetery in El Paso. This grave
was apparently missed in the later move. The original cemetery was a Masonic
Cemetery located next to a Masonic Lodge. Therefore, it is presumed that the
remains were of a member of the Masonic Fraternity.
At the conclusion of his examination it became Dr. King's responsibility to re-inter the remains. Since the remains were presumed to be a Mason, Dr. King contacted The Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas. The Masons of Texas have taken responsibility for his re-internment.
Brother Melvin Ford of Gus Garrison Lodge in Winnsboro, Texas prepared a wooden container for the remains (above).
This container was placed inside this coffin (above) built by Brother R.E. McGowan, Past Master of Keller Masonic Lodge #1084 in Keller, Texas.
Monte Brown, President of Brown, Owens & Brumley Funeral Home and member of Arlington Height Lodge in Ft. Worth, assisted the Masonic Service Bureau by providing preparation service and transportation to the cemetery.
Masonic Memorial Services were held on August 29, 2001 at 10:30 AM at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The Services were conducted by Dan Gilbert of Haltom City / Riverside Lodge located in Haltom City, with assistance from Clair Billington and Max Billington of Keller Lodge in Keller, Paul Mason of Richland Hills Lodge in Richland Hills, and Bob Franklin of Cooke-Peavy Lodge in Ft. Worth, and Johnny Cozart of Southside Lodge in Ft. Worth.
The Pall Bearers were Richard Davies of Richardson Lodge in Richardson, Brian Bass of Handley Lodge in Ft. Worth, D. Randall Lockhart of Hurst Lodge in Hurst, and Phillip Moore of Arlington Lodge in Arlington.