The Supreme Council granted a Charter to San Jacinto Lodge of Perfection #6 on January 18, 1884, and, according to the record, was set to work on the same date by Phillip C. in Texas, assisted by A. Chamberlain, 32°, Deputy of the S.G.I.G., in Texas with twelve members; after which they installed the officers. The first class was held on May 14, 1884, in the old Hutchins House Hotel. The work was
communicated by the S.G.I.G. in Texas, Phillip C. Tucker, 33°. The Lodge secured quarters in the Odd Fellows Hall on Milam Street and for several years, met with more obstacles and disappointments than success, to the extent that at a stated meeting on May 4, 1893, it was moved that the Charter be surrendered. After serious discussion, the motion was lost, and the Brethren agreed to continue for another year. With renewed courage and determination, the Lodge was rewarded with a large measure of success, to the extent that early in 1896 the Brethren applied to the Supreme Council to charter a new Chapter of Rose Croix. The Charter was granted on October 20, 1897, and, according to the records, Houston Chapter of Rose Croix was Constituted on the same date in the Lodge room of Washington Chapter #2, R.A.M. located in the Grand Lodge Temple on Main Street, by Brother A. Chamberlain, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Texas with fifteen Charter members. After constituting Houston Chapter of Rose Croix they installed the first set of officers. The Lodge and Chapter set out on an era of growth and prosperity, and in November, 1903, they built a Scottish Rite Cathedral on a lot they had secured at 709 LaBranch Street at a cost of approximately $5,000. This property they occupied until October 1, 1912. Finding they would need larger quarters, they sold the property on LaBranch Street to the Woodsmen of the World, and bought from the Tabernacle Methodist Church the building and ground on the corner of Polk and Caroline Streets. The church building was remodeled and used as a Lodge room until they rebuilt the Old Scottish Rite Building that was completed on the same site in 1923. In the meantime, the Brethren had begun to clamor for a Council of Kadosh and Consistory, which they obtained after the new Scottish Rite Temple was erected. The Houston Council of Kadosh and Consistory were granted their charter, but in the meantime these bodies were set to work under Letters Temporary on May 14, 1924 with 143 Charter members by Illustrious Sam P. Cochran, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Texas, assisted by a number of distinguished Scottish Rite Masons of Texas. The Council and Consistory were finally constituted, under Charter, on October 22, 1925 by Sam B. Cochran, 33°, S.G.I.G.. With a magnificent, new Temple and all Bodies now securely established, the prospects looks rosy indeed, for the Houston Scottish Rite Bodies. The Scottish Rite Dormitory for Girls in Austin was erected and all Scottish Rite Bodies in Texas pledged 50% of their fees to pay for the Dormitory. The Houston Scottish Rite began their payments on January 1, 1924, and continued to do so, until the great depression hit in 1929-1932. With the large debt on the Temple and furnishings, a tremendous loss in membership, and fees for the degrees down to a mere dribble, the Bodies were in dire distress financially. The Scottish Rite had a hard struggle for several years, but through the patience and understanding of our bond holders, we were able to struggle through and pay off all our indebtedness in 1946. In 1980 the Scottish Rite sold their building and began looking for a new home. In 1984 J. W. Chandler, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Texas and Chairman of the Valley of Houston, signed a contract with Arabia Shrine and construction started on our new building. The building was completed in 1986 and we continued to meet there until 2007.
