Our Beginnings (1921–1930s)

Pasadena Masonic Lodge No. 1155 was officially chartered under the Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F.&A.M. on December 9, 1921. We predate Pasadena’s re-incorporation in December 1928, and our lodge has been a steady civic presence ever since. In those early years, our founding brothers—merchants, farmers, and craftsmen—met in borrowed halls, exemplifying the resilience of new lodges in Texas at that time.

Texas Freemasonry was booming after World War I, rising from about 94,000 members in 1920 to 134,000 by 1929, before falling back to 95,000 by the mid-1930s as the Great Depression hit. Pasadena Lodge #1155 shared in that trajectory, maintaining its work through mutual aid and brotherhood even during lean years. Oral history suggests that in the 1930s our brethren remitted dues for unemployed brothers and continued charitable outreach despite economic hardship.

Growth, a Permanent Home, and Post-War Expansion (1940s–1960s)

By the early 1940s, our lodge had become an established part of Pasadena’s civic life. Members served in World War II, and after the war returning veterans and new residents propelled us into a period of major growth. As Pasadena’s population surged with the petrochemical industry and NASA’s nearby facilities, so did our membership.

During this boom, Pasadena Lodge No. 1155 acquired a permanent home at 1030 Main Street, Pasadena, TX 77506, where we still meet today. This building provided a visible landmark for stated meetings, degrees, and social events. Over the years we added air conditioning, a dining hall, and updated furnishings to accommodate our growing membership. By the 1950s and 1960s, Pasadena Lodge #1155 was one of the largest in the Houston metropolitan area.

Leadership during these peak decades included many civic leaders. Harmon Rayford Sorge served as Worshipful Master in 1960, remaining active for over 50 years and also participating in Pasadena’s Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 711. Several other Past Masters were business owners, clergymen, teachers, and even city officials. Our lodge sponsored Masonic youth groups as well, with DeMolay boys’ chapter events and Rainbow Girls assemblies mentoring young people in leadership and service.

By 2010, Pasadena Lodge #1155 had 564 members, ranking among the top five largest lodges in Texas. We also helped “birth” other lodges: our members were involved in founding Deer Park Lodge No. 1362, chartered December 8, 1955, and supported nearby lodges like South Houston No. 1295, ensuring Freemasonry kept pace with suburban expansion.

Community Involvement and Civic Traditions

From our inception, Pasadena Lodge No. 1155 has maintained a strong community focus. We award scholarships for Pasadena ISD high school seniors, donate bikes and school supplies, and support the Texas Masonic Home in Fort Worth. Many Pasadena Masons have also served as Scout leaders, Little League coaches, and in church groups, extending our positive influence on youth outside the lodge.

We frequently open our doors to the public for charitable events. For instance, we have hosted blood drives and barbecue fundraisers benefiting Shrine Hospitals for Children and local Pasadena charities. We have also partnered with the Pasadena Police and Fire Departments for community safety fairs and to honor public servants.

Our connection with the fire department became part of local history on August 28, 2010, when Pasadena Lodge #1155 took part in cornerstone ceremonies for two new Pasadena city fire stations. At Fire Station No. 3 on Red Bluff Road and Station No. 4 on Queens Road, we organized public cornerstone leveling ceremonies complete with city officials, firefighters, and the Grand Master of Texas in attendance. This tradition of symbolically dedicating public buildings with our square, level, and plumb dates back to our heritage and gave Pasadena citizens a glimpse of living Masonic tradition.

Beyond ceremonies, Pasadena Masons have quietly performed countless acts of service in the community. During natural disasters—such as hurricanes that have struck the Houston area—our members have volunteered in relief efforts. After Hurricane Harvey (2017), for example, Pasadena Lodge members helped distribute food and water and assisted brother Masons whose homes were flooded. Earlier, in the Texas City chemical plant disaster of 1947, Pasadena Masons joined relief convoys, underscoring our ethos of helping the community through mentorship, fundraising, and scholarships.

We have longstanding ties to other local institutions. Pasadena’s annual Strawberry Festival has seen participation from Lodge 1155 members running booths or volunteering for festival logistics. We have worked with Pasadena’s Historical Society on preserving artifacts—donating old minute books and early photographs to the Pasadena Heritage Park & Museum to ensure our history is interwoven with the city’s documented story.

Our extended Masonic family includes not just the Blue Lodge (#1155) but also Pasadena Chapter No. 711 O.E.S., and at times a DeMolay Chapter for boys and a Rainbow Assembly for girls. These groups jointly participate in community service such as OES charity cook-offs and Rainbow Girl service projects, engaging entire families in service.

Membership, Leadership, and Notable Members over Time

Our lodge began with a handful of petitioners in 1921. After World War II, membership soared, with many men returning from military service or moving to Pasadena for new jobs joining the fraternity for fellowship and networking. Our reputation as a large, active lodge is illustrated by the 2010 membership figure of 564 members.

Leadership rotates annually through a line of officers, per Masonic tradition. In the early years, farmers and merchants took the Master’s chair; later came engineers from the refineries, school principals, and city officials. Notable members include Wor. Bro. Harmon Sorge (Master in 1960), Wor. Bro. Jimmy Harper (Master in the late 2000s, instrumental in outreach), Bro. Milton Hanks (a Pasadena surveyor and community leader who maintained over 50 years of membership), and Past Master Lupe Sandoval, who in 2024 received the Golden Trowel Award—our lodge’s highest honor for service—for decades of contributions both to the lodge and to local charitable efforts.

Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs

Like any century-old organization, Pasadena Lodge #1155 has faced its share of challenges. Economic downturns tested our finances and membership levels. Nationwide, Masonic membership fell from about 4 million in 1959 to under 2 million by 2000; Texas saw a similar trend. Pasadena’s roster decreased from its mid-century heights but remains robust through public outreach and family-friendly events.

Physical challenges such as hurricanes and floods are also part of Gulf Coast life. Hurricane Ike in 2008 caused damage across Pasadena, though our building at 1030 Main Street was spared major flooding. We rallied to assist brethren and neighbors. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to suspend in-person meetings briefly, but by summer 2021 we resumed with safety measures.

Our resilience culminated in the celebration of our 100th anniversary. On November 6, 2021, Pasadena Masonic Lodge No. 1155 hosted a centennial celebration inviting members, families, and local dignitaries. We honored the past with displays of historic lodge artifacts, including the original 1921 charter and a list of all Past Masters, and looked to the future with our Worshipful Master speaking about continuing our legacy of community service. MW Ken Curry attended and praised the lodge for its century of brotherhood and civic involvement.

Legacy and Continuing Relevance

Today, Pasadena Masonic Lodge No. 1155 stands as a living link between Pasadena’s past and present. Our building on Main Street is not just a meeting place for Freemasons but a community landmark. Through wars, booms, busts, and social changes, we have continuously adapted while upholding the timeless tenets of Freemasonry.

Founding members helped set up Pasadena’s first civic organizations; mid-century Masons built lasting institutions; and recent members carry that forward through volunteerism and mentorship. Many in Pasadena may not realize that the cornerstones of their fire stations bear Masonic marks placed there in ceremonies, or that we have provided college scholarships to local high school graduates.

As we enter our second century, Pasadena Lodge #1155 faces the task of remaining relevant to modern men and their families. Younger members find that our long tradition of community engagement offers meaningful opportunities to serve, while older members ensure that our history and lessons are passed down. We embrace technology and collaborate with nearby lodges on events, staying connected in the broader Masonic network of the Houston area.

Pasadena Masonic Lodge No. 1155 has evolved from a small group of brethren meeting in 1921 with hopeful hearts into a cornerstone institution of Pasadena, Texas. We have marked major milestones—acquiring our own building, celebrating 50th, 75th, and 100th anniversaries, and seeing our members rise to prominence in the city. We have weathered economic depressions, social upheavals, and natural disasters, always returning to our foundational values. And through it all, we maintain an emphasis on community involvement, whether through symbolic ceremonies like cornerstone layings or tangible charity like supporting children’s health and education.

With our second century underway, Pasadena Masonic Lodge #1155 stands as a proud example of how a local Masonic lodge can shape and serve a community, from its founding days to the present—true to the credo that “How good and pleasant it is when Brothers live together in unity.”

This “About Us” reflects verified milestones from our lodge’s history. For more details on our programs or to inquire about membership, please contact us directly at our Main Street location.

Pasadena Masonic Lodge #1155: