What "Number 201, A.F. & A.M." Means for Lewisville Masonic Lodge

Updated

Lewisville Masonic Lodge is Lodge No. 201 because it was the 201st lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Texas, and it received that charter in 1857. The letters A.F. & A.M. stand for "Ancient Free and Accepted Masons." Together, the full name identifies both the lodge's place in Texas Masonic history and the tradition it belongs to.

Breaking Down the Name

Part of the name Meaning
Lewisville Masonic Lodge The local lodge, named for its home community
Number 201 The 201st lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Texas
A.F. & A.M. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons

Why the Number Matters

In Texas, each Masonic lodge is chartered by the Grand Lodge of Texas and assigned a number in the order it was chartered. A low number like 201 signals a long history: this lodge's charter dates to 1857, and the site notes the lodge has entered its 170th year in the area.

The number is an identifier, not a rank or a measure of size. It tells you where the lodge falls in the sequence of Texas charters and helps distinguish it from other lodges with similar names.

What A.F. & A.M. Means

"Ancient Free and Accepted Masons" is the full form of the abbreviation. It describes the branch of Freemasonry the lodge operates under. You will see the same abbreviation in the names of many lodges chartered under the Grand Lodge of Texas, so it is a marker of affiliation rather than something unique to Lewisville.

What the Lodge Does With That History

The site frames the lodge's identity around community support rather than the charter itself. Its stated work includes:

  • Local fundraising for charities around the Dallas area.
  • Support for schools and children's health and education.
  • Support for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (tsrhc.org), a pediatric orthopedic center in Texas.

According to the site, the hospital was established in 1921 by a group of Texas Masons to care for children with polio regardless of a family's ability to pay. It has since broadened its focus to other orthopedic and related conditions and, per the site, treats children free of charge. Families do not need any Masonic affiliation for a child to be cared for.

The site also notes that the lodge elects and appoints new officers each year, with the current officer term running from June 2026 to June 2027.

Practical Takeaways

  • If you are researching the lodge, "No. 201" tells you it is an old Texas charter (1857), and "A.F. & A.M." tells you it is a lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons under the Grand Lodge of Texas.
  • If you encountered the name on a charity or community event listing, the connection is likely the lodge's fundraising for Dallas-area charities, including the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
  • The site does not publish meeting times, membership steps, or costs in the material available here, so those details would need to come from the lodge directly.