Early in 1916 the Masonic fraternity was growing rapidly and with only five Masonic lodges in the city of Dallas it was decided that a new Lodge was needed to facilitate this growth and give brethren increased opportunities to serve Masonry. A group of Dallas Masons received commitments from 188 fellow Masons to begin this new lodge. Searching through Masonic history they found no more appropriate namesake than that of the man who served as master of his lodge during his term as President of the United States, George Washington. It was then that Washington Lodge was formed. The first master of Washington Lodge was John L. Terrell, a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas.