The Broughtons & the A.F.&A.M

Throughout the years, several generations of Broughton men have become Shriners and/or joined Masonic lodges. Here are just a few:

Cecil Shelby Broughton joined Louisiana's Dubach Lodge No. 277 in 1946. There he served as the lodge's "Worshipful Master" twice; the first time in 1968, the second time in 1974. Cecil is also an active member of the Barak Shrine Temple in Monroe, Louisiana.

Rev. Dempsey W. Broughton was Master of Athens Lodge No. 165 during 1856, 1857 and 1858. Prior to that time, records of the DeWitt Clinton Lodge No. 29 in Arkansas indicate that in November 1846, Broughton was about to move beyond the lodge's jurisdiction and was granted a demit as a member in good standing.

William David Broughton was a Master Mason. A family tale passed down through the generations first tells of how William David used a masonic hand-sign to gain his freedom from Union troops who detained him and a fellow Confederate soldier while they was enroute home following General Lee's surrender. After settling in Louisiana, William David became a member of the Sabine Lodge No.75 in Fort Jesup. In April 1890, he was on the first board of directors of the Fort Jesup Masonic Institute which was chartered by Lodge No.75 on May 5, 1887. The Institute would later become known as the Sabine Central High School. WD, as he was known to friends and family, later moved to East Texas where he became affiliated the Elkhart Lodge, No 400. Then, on March 12, 1907, William David - at age 66, a farmer living 3 miles south of Palestine, Texas - petitioned for affiliation to the Palestine Lodge No.31. Several of his descendants would follow in his footsteps... and in fact... For five generations and for more than nine decades (1907-1999) a Broughton has been an active member of the Palestine Lodge. Other Broughtons listed on the membership roster of the Palestine Lodge No. 31 are:

• Oscar Broughton - Raised to Master Mason on February 26, 1907 (son of William David Broughton)
• Z Broughton - Affiliated on May 28, 1907 (son of William David Broughton)
• Albert E. Broughton -Raised to Master Mason on February 23, 1924 (son of V Broughton)
• Herbert George "Dick" Broughton - Plural member on January 5, 1988 (son of Z Broughton)

HG "Dick" Broughton initially joined the East Gate Lodge No. 1153 in Houston, TX on August 23, 1935. He was raised to Master Mason on November 5th of that same year. Dick held an Endowed Membership in Goose Creek Masonic Lodge No. 1192 as in the Palestine Lodge. He was a Shriner, active in the Eastern Star, and received the Masonic Golden Trowel Award for "consistently demonstrating outstanding and exemplary service" to both his lodge and his community.

Walter Broughton, son of William David Broughton, decided to join the fraternity as his father did before him. So, for the first time, he petitioned for "the Mysteries of Freemasonry" on January 2, 1932. At the time he was 51-years-old, a self-employed auto mechanic. His son, John William Broughton signed the petition as a witness. John W. became affiliated with the Masonic Lodge No. 31 in Palestine, Texas on November 8, 1949.

Walter LaRoy Broughton, son of Walter Broughton, is a long-time member of the Palestine Lodge No. 31 He joined Nov. 10, 1936, but it wasn't until Feb. 10, 1987 that W.L. was raised to Master Mason bestowed upon him by his cousin H.G. "Dick" Broughton. Like his cousin, W.L. is a Shriner. He's a member of the Scottish Rite and Sharon Shrine & Anderson County Shrine Club. But one of his biggest accomplishments came on Saturday, June 25, 1994 when at age 83, he became the 133rd "Worshipful Master" of the Palestine Lodge, the eldest member to ever serve in the position in the history of that lodge.

Walter LaRoy was in attendance for the ceremony that marked his own son Roy Clark Broughton as a Master Mason at Joppa Lodge in Shreveport, Louisiana. And keeping the tradition alive at Lodge No.31 in Palestine, Walter LaRoy was also on hand when his grandson, Cliff D. Broughton joined the brotherhood on August 3, 1994. A year later, on July 21, 1995, Walter LaRoy's youngest son, Davy H. Broughton Sr.(Cliff's father), would become also become a mason. Davy would eventually become a Shriner as well.

Other Broughtons who were Masons and Shriners include Z Broughton's son, V. Humbert Broughton (b:1908 - d:1987) and his first cousin, Dr. Jerome William Broughton, (b:1908 - d:1984) the son of V Broughton. Dr. Broughton was a member of the Waco Masonic Lodge No. 92, Waco Scottish Rite Temple, Karem Masonic Temple and the Royal Order of the Jesters.

Walter LaRoy and his wife, Olabel Clark Broughton are also active in the Palestine Chapter No. 395, Order of the Eastern Star (a type of auxiliary organization for relatives of Masons).