J. T. Slaughter

J. T. Slaughter was born in Clayton, Alabama, on September 23, 1874. He was an air brake repairer when he petitioned Gray Lodge, and he received his degrees in 1902: the Entered Apprentice on February 28, the Fellowcraft on April 1, and the Master Mason degree on May 21. After serving as Senior Steward and Senior Deacon, he was elected Junior Warden for 1908–1909 and Senior Warden for 1909–1910.

He opened a new decade as the 39th Master in 1910, installed by Past Masters O. M. Longnecker and L. Lechenger of Holland Lodge No. 1. Houston was growing fast: ground was broken for Rice Institute, Union Station opened, and the 16-story Second National Bank Building became the tallest building in Texas.

His year began with another $1,400 in Masonic Building Association stock and a vote to present every living Past Master with a Past Master’s Jewel. The first went to W. N. Shaw, George H. Brown and J. S. Luckie. In October, T. U. Lubbock, a charter member and the oldest living Past Master, received his jewel and gave the Brethren a history of the lodge’s early days. In November, 24 Master Masons from Houston Heights petitioned for recommendation to form a new lodge. Gray Lodge granted it, and so began Reagan Lodge No. 1037. In December the lodge voted to ban smoking in the new Temple, since doing so would lower the building’s insurance premium.

In January 1911 the lodge announced that Worshipful Master Slaughter had attended the Grand Lodge committee on work and “passed the examination with the highest honors, being the first member of Gray Lodge, who had obtained a certificate for proficiency in the work.” That same month a joint degree night with Holland Lodge drew 31 visitors, including Brethren from Belfast, Ireland, and Cairo, Egypt. In February and March Past Master Jewels were presented to eleven more Past Masters. The lodge room was refurnished with new chairs for the principal officers and Deacons, a triple chair in the East and a new altar, and new officers’ jewels replaced the set given by Peter W. Gray at the lodge’s founding.

He was a 32° Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner of Arabia Temple. In 1912 he assisted at the installation of Sam R. Henderson as Master. He died on January 26, 1943. The Rev. Harry G. Knowles officiated, and Gray Lodge conducted the Masonic rites at his burial in Washington Cemetery. He was survived by a brother, W. L. Slaughter of Monterey Park, California, and a sister, Mrs. John McEnroe of Houston.