Kurtz Edward Gaugler

Kurtz Edward Gaugler was born in Houston on February 26, 1897, and lived there all his life. A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, he practiced civil law for 30 years before retiring in 1951.

He received his degrees in Gray Lodge in 1919: the Entered Apprentice on July 8, the Fellowcraft on August 12, and the Master Mason degree on September 13. He served as Junior Steward and Junior and Senior Deacon, was elected Junior Warden for 1928–1929, and was installed as the 58th Master in 1929 by Past Master Norman Atkinson. V. R. Currie, a former Senior Warden who had been transferred to New York before he could become Master, made a special trip home to see the installation.

His year connected the lodge with its past. When the old Houston Light Guard Armory was torn down, the lodge’s officers were invited to the opening of the cornerstone box Gray Lodge had laid on May 23, 1891. Inside was an original printing of Gray’s by-laws, along with Houston, Galveston and San Antonio newspapers and one printed in Boston in 1728. Brethren presented a trowel made from nickel used in the Gulf Building and the first Taylor-Hamilton Monitor used in the lodge, and a case was bought for the lodge’s relics. Past Master S. R. Henderson gave the lodge a photographic copy of Mark Twain’s 1860 petition to St. Louis Lodge No. 3. Members and their families enjoyed a watermelon party at Hermann Park.

It was also the year the stock market crashed, in October 1929, with the lodge still carrying heavy building debt. Gray joined the other Houston lodges, Washington Chapter and Ruthven Commandery to create the Houston Masonic Board of Relief. Brother W. S. Humphrey left his estate to the lodge, which set it aside as the W. S. Humphrey Benevolent Fund. An audit put the lodge on a budget system. In his closing report Worshipful Master Gaugler recommended matching dress for officers, a celebration of the lodge’s sixtieth anniversary and revised by-laws. Reflecting on his years in the chairs, he urged a waiting period of six months before acting on a petition and between degrees, because it had become “entirely too easy to join.”

He served Gray Lodge again as Secretary from 1946 until his death. He was High Priest of Washington Chapter No. 2, R.A.M., in 1944–1945, was elected Grand Scribe in 1947, and rose to Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas in 1950–1951. He was a Past Thrice Illustrious Master of Houston Council No. 1, R.&S.M., a member of Ruthven Commandery No. 2, K.T., a 32° Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Arabia Temple. He died on October 16, 1952. After a memorial service at First Presbyterian Church, he was buried in Forest Park with Masonic honors by Gray Lodge. He was survived by his wife, Vera.