Los Doce Apóstoles
Among the immigrants to Texas from Mexico in the early 20th century were many Master Masons who formed lodges and operated in Spanish throughout the state.
They had recognition from neither Mexico nor the Grand Lodge of Texas.
At the time, Hispanic Masons in Texas lodges were few and far between and it was from one of these disenfranchised lodges that a small group of twelve Masons decided to petition the Grand Lodge of Texas for a Charter in the late 1950's and early 1960's. The Grand Lodge of Texas was open to the idea and they informed the petitioners that there must be 50 Texas Masons in good standing to issue a charter.
In order for the Mexican Masons to transfer membership to that Texas Lodge, they would need to be "regularized" in a lodge with fraternal relations with the Grand Lodge of Texas. Arrangements were made with Tancredo Lodge, No. 10 in Zaragoza, Coahuila, Mexico for the brethren to receive their degrees.
After many trips to Tancredo Lodge, on May 30, 1962, a letter was issued that all the requirements and legal formalities had been completed, and a "Carta de Quite" or "demit" was issued on behalf of the twelve brethren so they might be included as charter members of the new lodge.
The name Lorenzo De Zavala Lodge No. 1397 A.F.& A.M. was chosen to reflect its Hispanic heritage, as well as the devotion of that small group of Masons who brought Hispanic Masonry to the mainstream in Southeast Texas.
The lodge affectionately dubbed these men "Los Doce Apóstoles" or "The Twelve Apostles"
| Francisco Alvarado |
| Arthur de Alba |
| Jose Angel Flores |
| Basil P. Rivera |
| Ausencio R. Arias |
| Filemon G. Dias |
| Jesus Pena Prieto |
| Antonio R Rodriguez |
| Juan H. Beltran |
| Edward R. Flores |
| Mario Quinones |
| Jesse Towers |
Past Worshipful Masters of the Lodge
| 1962–63 | Jay Bryson ✝︎ |
| 1963–64 | Robert McAllister ✝︎ |
| 1964–65 | James W. Smith ✝︎ |
| 1965–66 | Jesse W. Mcdaniel |
| 1966–67 | Francisco J. Benito ✝︎ |
| 1967–68 | Hugh S. Morrison ✝︎ |
| 1968–69 | Eduardo E. Castro ✝︎ |
| 1969–70 | Arthur C. Thomason |
| 1970–71 | Elias Ramirez ✝︎ |
| 1971–72 | Curtis L. Roberts |
| 1972–73 | Arthur G. Arias ✝︎ |
| 1973–74 | Joe G. Adames |
| 1974–75 | Fidencio G. Romero |
| 1975–76 | Almond Brown ✝︎ |
| 1976–77 | Jose F. Chavez |
| 1977–78 | Armando Vasquez ✝︎ |
| 1978–79 | Samuel Sustatta ✝︎ |
| 1979–80 | Ralph G. Rodriguez ✝︎ |
| 1980–81 | Fermin Deleon |
| 1981–82 | Carlos Villarreal |
| 1982–83 | James Rodriguez |
| 1983–84 | Ignacio C. Garcia ✝︎ |
| 1984–85 | Abraham Adames |
| 1985–86 | Allen R. Steelman |
| 1986–87 | Eduardo F. Castro ✝︎ |
| 1987–88 | Charles P. Mitchell |
| 1988–89 | Carlos N. Moreno ✝︎ |
| 1989–90 | Ruben Yzaguirre |
| 1990–91 | Adrain Almaguer |
| 1991–92 | Gilbert Reyes |
| 1992–93 | Wenceslao Salinas |
| 1993–94 | Rodolfo Rivas |
| 1994–95 | Martin Saldua ✝︎ |
| 1995–96 | George Wirtanen ✝︎ |
| 1996–97 | Henry A. Gonzalez |
| 1997–98 | Raymond Faz |
| 1998–99 | Jose Lucio Marquez ✝︎ |
| 1999–00 | Benito Lopez |
| 2000–01 | Joseph Oliver |
| 2001–02 | Ramon Solano ✝︎ |
| 2002–03 | Felipe Narvaez, Sr. |
| 2003–04 | John Barrientes ✝︎ |
| 2004–05 | Regulo Salinas |
| 2005–06 | Dagoberto Hernandez |
| 2006–07 | Sam Cerda |
| 2007–08 | Bill Medina |
| 2008–09 | David Fernandez III |
| 2009–10 | Rick Villarreal |
| 2010–11 | Victor Garcia |
| 2011–12 | Roberto T. Salazar |
| 2012–13 | Thomas Ponce |
| 2013–14 | Ronnie Morales |
| 2014–15 | Horacio C. Gonzales |
| 2015–16 | Juan Facundo |
| 2016–17 | Glenn Martinez |
| 2017–18 | Mike Munoz |
| 2018–19 | Edgar E Valenzuela |
| 2019–20 | Alejandro Carreon, Jr. |
| 2020–21 | Alejandro Carreon, Jr. |
| 2021–22 | Jorge Olvera |
| 2022–23 | Mario Benavides |
| 2023–24 | Kenneth Sparks |
| 2024–25 | Henry Gohlke |