1860

The Hermann Sons movement came to Texas in 1860 when two members, John Lemnitzer and Jakob Goll, moved to San Antonio.

They assembled several German speaking citizens of the Alamo City on New Year’s Day in 1860 and talked about Hermann Sons. The group voted to organize a lodge, and on July 6, 1861, the first Sons of Hermann Lodge in Texas was founded as San Antonio Harmonia Lodge of the Order of the Sons of Hermann. The lodge exists to this day.

Judging from early meeting minutes, the pioneers of Harmonia Lodge organized as a brotherhood to be of assistance to each other.

Only three months after the lodge formed, one of the original members passed away. Eleven members of the lodge attended the funeral in a group. Harmonia Lodge paid for both the coffin and the grave at a cost of $24. Records indicate the widow received assistance from the lodge for a considerable time.

1873

It was during a Harmonia Lodge meeting on Dec. 18, 1873, that connecting life insurance to lodge membership was first suggested.

Harmonia Lodge asked the National Grand Lodge to institute a life insurance program and make the insurance obligatory for all members. The National Grand Lodge adopted the recommendation and announced on Sept. 22, 1876, that each brother would be entitled to $300 life insurance and $60 at the death of his wife. In promoting this national project, Harmonia Lodge and Texas gained national stature.

1890

On Feb. 2, 1890, almost three decades after the founding of Harmonia Lodge No. 1, the second lodge, Eintracht Lodge No. 2, was established in Austin.

Within the next two months, lodges were organized in Taylor, Waco, Temple, Brenham, Houston and La Grange, bringing the total number of lodges in the state to eight and total membership to 242.

The National Order recognized the formation of a State Grand Lodge when at least eight lodges existed in any state. So, on March 27, 1890, the Grand Lodge of Texas of the Sons of Hermann was founded. Some 92 Hermann Sons lodges were established in communities throughout Texas during the ensuing year.

The organization was named in honor of German national hero, Hermann the Cherusker. Hermann, also known by the name of Arminius, was the son of a Germanic Cheruscan chief.

Now

After more than 160 years,

Hermann Sons Life has active lodges throughout the State of Texas and is very proud to remain active in Texas communities while continuing to provide life insurance protection for families.