Joseph Meyer Grassman

Joseph Meyer Grassman was born at Bonney, Texas, on March 15, 1914, the son of John and Bessie Grassman. He finished high school at Angleton, attended Texas A&M, and became senior title analyst for the Humble Oil and Refining Company. He and his wife, Florence, had five children: Jon Michael, James Robert, Jobeth, John Jackson and Andrea Jackson. A member of the Angleton Methodist Church, he enjoyed woodworking and fishing.

He received his degrees in Gray Lodge in 1954: the Entered Apprentice on January 13, the Fellowcraft on February 25, and the Master Mason degree on March 27. He became Senior Steward in 1955–1956 and then served as Junior Deacon, Junior Warden and Senior Warden. He was installed as the 88th Master in 1959 by Past Master Melvin E. Prescott, aided by Past Master George W. Evans, and Bluebell Chapter and Assembly served refreshments.

Grand Master Randall E. Briscoe, long a friend of the lodge, was received with Private Grand Honors and seated in the East in July 1959, and on October 7 he presented a Fifty-Year Award to Lee B. Wellman. Three Eastern Star chapters were allowed to meet in the Gray Lodge room while their new building at Milam and Hadley was under construction. The lodge learned of the deaths of Past Masters Guy E. Stoy, on April 18, 1959, in Oklahoma, and F. G. Belk, on October 9, 1959, in El Paso. When Jacques DeMolay Lodge was formed, twelve Gray members affiliated with it as dual members on December 12, 1959.

New flags were bought and the old stands refurbished. At the Third Annual Reunion and Awards Day, Jack Lamb of Austin Lodge No. 12 spoke, and a Past Grand Master of Missouri visited. Past Master Arthur H. Bloch presented a Fifty-Year Award to H. H. Plaster of Bedias Lodge, who spoke on “The Good of Being a Master Mason.” On May 7, 1960, by special dispensation, Gray Lodge was opened in the City Auditorium for Grand Master John T. Bean’s address to the Masons of the 30th District, and the lodge received a written history of the Masonic Oak at Brazoria by the daughter of member A. R. Foster.

Brother Grassman became a Royal Arch Mason in Washington Chapter No. 2 on April 16, 1956, a member of Houston Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, and a Knight Templar on June 22, 1956. He became a Shriner of Arabia Temple in 1962 and served in its Provost Guard. He later presented Fritz Carl Schrott’s Fifty-Year Award and served as Grand Marshal at the leveling of the cornerstone of the new Gray Lodge building in 1964.