El Paso Lodge # 130 AF & AM

John Temple Rice was born in Danville, Virginia, on December 9, 1888. According to lodge records, he relocated with his family to Greensboro, North Carolina, before establishing permanent residence in El Paso around 1904. Following the death of his father, Rice assumed responsibility for the care and support of his mother and sisters, a duty he carried while building a successful career in the city. He operated a prominent pharmacy and became widely respected for his professional integrity and civic commitment. 
 
Rice was an active member of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, where he served as both vestryman and senior warden. During the First World War, he served as a medic with the 36th Division of the Texas National Guard and participated in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, one of the most significant campaigns involving American forces during the conflict. 
 
His Masonic career was distinguished by service at every level of the fraternity. A member of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M., he served as Worshipful Master from 1915 to 1916 and as Lodge Secretary from 1927 until 1949. His leadership extended far beyond the local lodge. He was elected Grand Master of Masons in Texas, Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas, Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Texas, and Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States. He also served as Grand Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Texas and attained the Thirty-third Degree in the Scottish Rite. In recognition of his contributions to the Craft, he received the first honorary membership conferred by the Grand Lodge of New Mexico. 
 
Archival Photograph Courtesy of the Archives and Library of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. 

Maurice C. Edwards was born in Highland, Indiana, in 1858. During his youth he became acquainted with O.T. Bassett and C.R. Morehead, relationships that would later shape his future. After Bassett and Morehead established themselves in El Paso, Edwards followed approximately one year later and entered the lumber trade under Bassett’s direction. Through industry and sound judgment, he advanced from employee to manager and ultimately became a stakeholder in the enterprise. 
 
Edwards later served as president of the El Paso Sash and Door Company, a business organized by Brother C.N. Bassett and closely connected to the city’s early commercial growth. Beyond his professional endeavors, he earned recognition as a standout player for the El Paso Browns baseball club during the formative years of organized baseball in the region. 
 
A lifelong bachelor, Edwards shared a residence for many years with C.N. Bassett and George Flory, a prominent executive of the State National Bank. He enjoyed golf, hunting, and fishing, pursuits frequently shared with his brethren and friends. 
 
According to lodge records, Edwards was initiated into El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. in 1886 and was elected to life membership in 1939. He became a member of the Shrine in 1907 and joined the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in 1900. He also belonged to the Pioneer Association, an organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the region’s earliest settlers and builders. At the time of his death, Edwards was the second-oldest member of the Lodge, a distinction reflecting decades of faithful service to both the fraternity and the civic life of El Paso. 
 
Archival Photograph Courtesy of the Archives and Library of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M.  
 

Robert Ewing Thomason was born on May 30, 1879, in Rover, Tennessee. According to the archives of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M., he attended Southwestern University before enrolling at the University of Texas School of Law. During his student years, he distinguished himself as a gifted orator and debater, helping secure what was reportedly the University of Texas’s first victory in intercollegiate debate against Baylor University. 
 
Following his legal studies, Thomason embarked upon a career in public service. In 1902, he was elected County Attorney and later District Attorney in Cooke County, Texas. A bout of malaria in 1911 prompted him to relocate to the higher, drier climate of El Paso. 
 
After settling in El Paso, Thomason established a successful law practice that included partnerships with prominent attorneys, among them Brother Thomas C. Lea Jr. His rise in public affairs continued with election to the Texas Legislature in 1916 and reelection in 1918. During his legislative service, he was chosen Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. A Democrat and advocate of Prohibition, he also served on the legislative committee that investigated allegations of misconduct involving Governor James E. Ferguson. 
In 1927, Thomason was elected Mayor of El Paso. Three years later, voters sent him to the United States Congress, where he represented the region for more than a decade. His legacy remains visible throughout the city. The Robert E. Thomason Federal Courthouse bears his name, and the former Thomason Hospital commemorated his longstanding contributions to public life before its later designation under Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. 
Masonic records indicate that Thomason was a member of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. and the El Maida Shrine. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as Illustrious Potentate, reflecting the prominent role he held within the fraternity and the broader civic community of El Paso. 
 
Archival Photograph Courtesy of the Archives and Library of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. 

Johann P. Dieter, known to many as John Dieter, was born in Germany on February 2, 1851. Historical records preserved by El Paso Lodge No. 130 indicate that after settling in El Paso, he entered into a business partnership with Al Houck, establishing the firm Houck & Dieter. Contemporary accounts credited the company with exerting substantial influence over the region’s soft-drink trade, with local newspapers noting that the enterprise maintained what amounted to a virtual monopoly within the industry. 
 
Dieter emerged as one of the city’s leading commercial and civic figures during a formative period in El Paso’s development. Archival sources consistently describe him as a businessman whose reputation rested upon integrity, reliability, and public confidence. His contributions extended beyond commerce into municipal affairs, where he served as an Alderman and participated in the civic institutions that helped shape the growing community. 
 
His fraternal commitments reflected a similar dedication to public service. According to lodge records, Dieter was a member of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M., a 32° Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and an active participant in the Pioneer Association. His life illustrates the interconnected roles that business leaders, civic officials, and fraternal organizations played in the economic and social development of early El Paso. 
 
Archival Photograph Courtesy of the Archives and Library of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. 
 

Samuel Schutz was born on January 4, 1828, in Wünnenberg, Westphalia. Like many of El Paso’s early settlers, he arrived in the United States with limited means but ultimately emerged as one of the city’s most influential businessmen. According to lodge records, he first resided in San Antonio before establishing permanent residence in El Paso, where he built a successful mercantile enterprise and became a leading figure in the region’s commercial development. 
 
Schutz played a significant role in the city’s transportation history. He is credited with establishing El Paso’s first railway system, commonly known as the mule line, an early transit network that facilitated commerce and movement during a formative period in the community’s growth. His entrepreneurial efforts contributed to the economic foundations upon which the city later expanded. 
 
Beyond business, Schutz was active in civic and fraternal affairs. He belonged to the Pioneer Association, an organization whose earliest membership rolls included numerous Freemasons before eligibility was broadened beyond the fraternity. His life also reflected the religious diversity of the early Southwest. A member of the Jewish faith, his funeral service was officiated by Brother Rabbi Martin Zielonka, a respected religious leader and fellow member of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. 
 
Within Freemasonry, Schutz was a valued member of El Paso Lodge No. 130. His family’s connection to the lodge continued into the next generation, as his nephew would later serve as Worshipful Master. His career illustrates the influence of Masonic pioneers whose commercial, civic, and charitable endeavors helped shape the development of early El Paso. 
 
Photo Credit/Rights: El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. Archives.  

Gustavus Adolphus Trost, known to friends and brethren as “Gus,” was born on June 20, 1876, in Toledo, Ohio, to German immigrant parents. Although he never earned a university degree, his professional accomplishments reflected exceptional talent, discipline, and perseverance. Trost began his career as a draftsman with Bacon & Huber before gaining additional experience with the prominent St. Louis firm of Mauran, Russell & Crowell, where he developed the technical and artistic abilities that would later distinguish his work. 
 
Around 1902, Trost relocated to El Paso during a period of rapid growth and civic development. At the time, the Carnegie Foundation had provided funding for the construction of a public library, reflecting the city’s expanding ambitions and commitment to public institutions. Together with his brothers, Henry and Adolphus, he helped establish the architectural and engineering firm of Trost & Trost, a practice whose influence extended throughout the Southwest. Their designs shaped the architectural character of numerous communities and remain among the region’s most enduring landmarks. 
 
According to lodge records, Trost met his future wife through her employment as secretary to Adolph Schwartz, a respected El Paso businessman and fellow Mason. His professional standing continued to advance, and in 1921 he was admitted to the American Institute of Architects, a distinction that recognized his contributions to the profession despite the absence of formal academic credentials. 
 
Beyond architecture, Trost was active in the fraternal life of the community. He was a member of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M., a 32° Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner. His career reflects the contributions of Masons to the commercial, civic, and architectural development of El Paso during the early twentieth century. 
 
Photo Credit/Rights: El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. 

We are pleased to share this PBS documentary with the membership. The program highlights the significant contributions of El Paso’s Jewish community to the city's early development. Many of the individuals featured were members of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M., the oldest Masonic lodge in the region. Through their leadership in commerce, civic affairs, and public service, they helped shape the foundations of local government, business, and community life during El Paso’s formative years.

People of the Crossing: The Jews of El Paso A journey across the culture and history of a unique Jewish community.

Adolphus Gustavus Trost was born in Toledo, Ohio, on August 25, 1876. A twin to his brother Gustavus, he received his education at the University of Toledo before beginning a career that combined practical experience with an exceptional aptitude for engineering and mathematics. Prior to joining the family firm, Trost worked for several industrial concerns, including the Lloyd Brothers Monument Company, C.A. Longdon, and the Donovan Wire and Iron Company. 
 
After relocating to El Paso, he became an integral part of Trost & Trost, one of the most influential architectural and engineering firms in the Southwest. Although his training was not formally rooted in engineering, his command of mathematics and structural design earned the respect of his profession. In 1913, he was nominated as an Associate Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and in 1939 he obtained his Texas engineering license. 
 
In 1915, Trost married Carol Lea Hayes, a cousin of Mayor Tom Lea Sr., a prominent Mason and civic leader. Beyond his professional responsibilities, he devoted considerable time to the study of mathematical problems and engineering principles. His lasting contributions to the built environment were recognized in 2006 when he was inducted into the Texas Structural Engineering Hall of Honor. 
 
Trost’s service extended beyond his profession into the fraternal life of El Paso. As a member of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite, and El Maida Shrine, he belonged to a generation of Masons whose leadership and technical expertise helped shape the city’s physical and civic development. His work stands as a reminder of the role Masonic craftsmen, engineers, and builders played in the growth of El Paso during a transformative era. 
Photo Credit / Rights: El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. Archives.  

Adolph Schwartz was born in Hungary on December 31, 1866, and arrived in the United States with little more than determination and a willingness to work. After learning English and traveling throughout the country, he eventually settled in the Paso del Norte region, where family ties in Ciudad Juárez encouraged him to establish permanent roots. 
 
Schwartz became one of the most influential merchants in El Paso history. Through sound judgment and perseverance, he transformed the Popular Dry Goods Company into one of the city’s leading commercial enterprises. Expanding beyond a single storefront, the business served generations of residents and remained a fixture of downtown El Paso for nearly a century. 
 
His influence extended well beyond retail. Schwartz served as president of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, held leadership positions in banking, and guided several civic and religious organizations, including B’nai B’rith and Temple Mount Sinai. His career reflected the important role immigrant entrepreneurs played in the economic development of the borderlands. 
 
The Popular Dry Goods building, designed by renowned architect Henry Trost, became one of downtown El Paso’s most recognizable landmarks. Its history intersected with both civic and fraternal life. In 1916, the third floor served as the meeting place of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M., illustrating the close relationship between Freemasonry and the city’s commercial leadership during a formative period in El Paso’s growth. Family accounts further maintain that Mexican President Francisco I. Madero and revolutionary leader Pancho Villa were present in the store at the same time, though an employee reportedly ensured the two men never crossed paths. 
 
Schwartz was a member of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M., the Shrine, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Pioneer Association. His life illustrates how business leaders, civic institutions, and fraternal organizations worked together to shape the development of modern El Paso. 
 
Photo Credit / Rights: El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. Archives.  

Jefferson W. Hall was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1827. After spending part of his youth in Missouri, he journeyed to Texas during an era when the frontier was undergoing profound political and social change. A veteran of the Mexican-American War, Hall eventually settled in El Paso County, where he became one of the region’s principal advocates in state government. 
 
Elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1857, he was returned to office in 1859 and again in 1863. His legislative career included service as chairman of the Committees on Indian Affairs and on Privileges and Elections, responsibilities that placed him at the intersection of frontier governance and the evolving institutions of Texas. Contemporary observers regarded Hall as a conscientious public servant whose attentiveness to local concerns earned the confidence and respect of those he represented. 
 
Though he never married, Hall devoted much of his life to public and civic affairs. His influence extended beyond the political sphere into Freemasonry, where he became a charter member of El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. Lodge records identify him as the lodge’s first Tiler, a role that linked his name to the earliest years of one of the oldest Masonic institutions in West Texas. His career reflects the contributions of a generation whose efforts helped shape the civic and political foundations of El Paso County and the Texas frontier. 
 
Photo Credit / Rights: El Paso Lodge No. 130 A.F. & A.M. Archives.