mylavernia.com

Old time residents of La Vernia, 23 miles of San Antonio, in Wilson County claim that not another Masonic building in Texas has the record established by Brahan Lodge 226 building at that place. The Structure, which is of red sand stone and two stories high, can be seen at the right of the highway about half a mile just in the western outskirts of town.Not only is Brahan Lodge, A. F. and A. M. of the oldest Masonic Lodges in Texas, the charter granted in June 15, 1869, but the building itself predates the lodge and was the home of Bethsaida Lodge, which was formed many years before the Civil War, the date of its members went to war and the charter was called in for lack of organization. When the war was over a new charter was granted and the lodge named for Major Howard Brahan, a distinguished citizen of that area of the country. The original Bethsaida Lodge was first organized in old Concrete School House some miles from La Vernia, in Guadalupe County. The date of organization is not known but many of the early settlers recall that the lodge meetings were held there in the 50's. After meeting in the school house for a number of years La Vernia sprung up and grew into a town and it was decided to erect a building there. The general opinion prevails that the old building was put up in 1854 but definite information on that score is not available. There is no corner stone with the date of building on it to go by.