|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Chapter History
On
the 19th day of June 1952, the officer and members of Melrose
Masonic Lodge #1294 A.F.& A.M. of 
the Grand Lodge of
Texas,which was located in Houston, Harris County Texas at 2826
Luell Street, Houston, Texas filed for Temporary Letter to setup
and operate a DeMolay Chapter under their sponsorship.
This
chapter was officially named Robert L. Wilbourn Chapter Order of
DeMolay. On the 17th day of September 1952 Melrose Lodge received
the Letters Temporary and the Temporary Charter #2168 to operate
in Houston, Texas by the Grand Council - Order of DeMolay and
signed by C.W. Gushkey Grand Master.
The Chapter was named after the first Worshipful Master of Melrose Masonic Lodge, Robert L. Wilbourn. The appointed chairman was A.P.Garrett. His advisory board was Alvin Deiss,Checter Lee Hood, John H. Ferguson, L.H. Harper, Donald V McHinney, Ray E. Stansel, Howard D. Munday, Clint Faulkner & H.O. Finch, all Master Masons with Melrose.
Letters Patient of Perpetual Constitution was approved and issued the 1st day of March 1954. The Lodge received the Signed and Sealed Charter on the 6th day of May 1954 from the District Deputy at Wheeling, west Virginia.
Wilbourn chapter continued
to operate out of Melrose Masonic Lodge located on Luell Street
until early in the 1970's when ground was broke for a new
building on Chrisman Road, Aldine, Houston, Texas.
The Corner Stone was
Leveled in April 1970 at 13106 Chrisman Road. The building was
occupied later that year.
After the move to it's new location, the chapter started to loose membership. The major part of the boys became Sr. DeMolays and new members were hard to find.
Robert L. Wilbourn Chapter operated out of the new location until it transferred and merged with Houston Chapter. In mid-1991, St. John Chapter voted to change its name back to Houston Chapter. Robert E. Lee and Robert L. Wilbourn Chapters voted to merge into Houston Chapter in 1991. Sam B. Cantey, Jr. Chapter merged in 1992.The San Jacinto Lodge of Perfection became the new sponsoring body. Houston Chapter moved to the Houston Scottish Rite Temple and later to Holland Masonic Lodge #1, In Houston, Texas.
In
February 2009, Worshipful Master Jack Vance of Melrose Masonic
Lodge 
along with several other Masonic brothers, Charles Morgan II,
Joshua Bonds, & Charles P. Morgan brought before the
membership a plan to restart a DeMolay Chapter at Melrose Lodge.
The brother of the lodge along with the sisters of Melrose Order
of the Eastern Star agreed to support and sponsor R. L. Wilbourn
Chapter of the Order of DeMolay.
An
advisory board was setup. Charles P Morgan was named Chairman of
the advisory board, which also contained, Charles Morgan II,
Rhonda Morgan, James Carpenter, Jim Price, Raymond Bates,
Danielle Morgan, Debra Sue Miller, Kenneth Bonds, Taye Gilmore
& the Worshipful Master
Jack Vance. Octavia
Seitzler(Melrose OES's W.M.) and Joshua Bonds (Melrose Masonic
Lodge's Sr. Steward) joined later after the reception of the
LETTER TEMP. The Letter Temporary was issued on May 21, 2009, the
chapter number was 44083.
Recruitment
started upon receiving the LETTERS TEMP. 37 Applications were
distributed. Only one boy petitioned that first rush party.
