Henry Bates Stoddard

1880 Officer Corps

Lodge

Brother Stoddard was Raised to the sublimed Degree of Master Mason in Brazos Union Lodge # 129 in April of 1869. He served Brazos Union Lodge as Master in 1875 and again in 1876.

Companion Stoddard was Exalted a Royal Arch Mason on July 26, 1869 in William T. Austin Chapter # 87 in Bryan, Texas. He served Sterling Chapter # 50 at Calvert in 1870 and his home Chapter, William T. Austin # 87 at Bryan in 1885, 1886, 1887, 1896 and 1897.

Sir Knight Stoddard was created a Knight Templar in Ivanhoe Commandery # 8, Knights Templar of Texas at Bryan on December 25, 1869. He served this Commandery as Commander in 1875, 1876, 1882 and 1883. Sir Knight Stoddard was elected Prelate of Ivanhoe Commandery # 8 in 1895 and served continuously until his passing in 1926.

Sir Knight Stoddard was appointed as Grand Warder in 1874. He was elected Grand Junior Warden in 1875 and served in the several stations until 1880 when he was installed as Grand Commander, Knights Templar of Texas.

In that same year, 1880, Sir Knight Stoddard was appointed Sword Bearer for the Grand Encampment, K.T.U.S.A. For the next 21 years, Sir Knight Stoddard served in the several stations until his election at the Triennial in 1901 in Louisville, KY where he was installed as Grand Master, Knights Templar of the United States of America and presided at the 29th Triennial in 1904 held at San Francisco, CA. At the Triennial in 1904, Grand Master Stoddard was made a Knight Commander of the United Orders of England and Wales by the visiting The Right Honorable the Earl of Euston, G.C.T., M-E and Supreme Grand Master of the Great Priory of England and Wales and the Dependencies of the British Crown.

History

Sir Knight Stoddard was born June 22, 1840 In Essex County, New York to John and Margaret Bates Stoddard. He moved to Texas in 1860 and at the outbreak of the War of Northern Aggression, entered the Confederate Army as a Private. Serving throughout the Civil War, he was discharged in May of 1865 at Jackson, Mississippi with the rank of Captain.

Returning to Texas, he took up residence in the town of Millican and entered the Cotton Brokerage business. Following the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1867, Brother Stoddard relocated to Bryan, where he remained until his departure from this Life.

During his time in Bryan, Sir Knight Stoddard served as a Colonel of the Second Texas Volunteer Guards; 1880-1885, Brigadier General of the Texas Volunteer Guard; 1885-1893, President of the Texas Live Stock Association; 1887, President of the Interstate Convention of Cattlemen; 1890 in Fort Worth, and Chairman of the School Committee of Bryan. He often declined election to Public Office but did serve one term as Alderman of Bryan, having been elected in abstention.

Sir Knight Stoddard’s final duty to the Craft was installing the Grand Commandery Officers on May 7, 1925 in Beaumont. Funeral Services for PGC Stoddard were held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Sunday evening, May 31, 1925 in Bryan, followed by Full Templar Burial Service by the Grand Commandery, KT of Texas.