San Antonio Lodges
Eight San Antonio Hermann Sons lodges call Hermann Sons Hall home. Each lodge is a 501 (c)8 fraternal organization. Together the lodges support dozens of local organizations.
The lodges are listed in the order chartered.
HARMONIA #1
Harmonia is the oldest lodge in Texas, and was the only lodge in the state for the first 30 years. Harmonia is the only lodge in Texas founded prior to the Grand Lodge. Originally German ancestry was required for membership. Until January 1, 2024 only men could join.
The lodge is named after the Greek mythological daughter of Aphrodite and Ares, considered to be the goddess who brought harmony and order to the lives of mortals.
Jakob Goll, founder of Harmonia Lodge
July 6, 1861
SIEMERING #32
Siemering lodge’s name honors August Siemering, the original publisher of the San Antonio Express News in 1865, as well as the German language newspaper Die Freie Presse für Texas.
August Siemering, eponym of Siemering Lodge
May 30, 1891
LOUISE SCHUETZE #3
Louise Schuetze is one of two remaining sister lodges in San Antonio which only admit women. The lodge is named for Louise Seelman Schuetze who was the mother of Julius Schuetze, the second grand president of Hermann Sons of Texas.
September 27, 1896
ANTON WENZEL #174
The Anton Wenzel lodge is named for a brother who served as the membership solicitor in the 1890s and is credited with dramatically increasing Hermann Sons membership across Texas during that time.
Anton Wenzel, eponym of Anton Wenzel Lodge
October 11, 1897
BRUNHILDE #7
Brunhilde is named after the mythical sixth century Queen Brunhilde; her name signifies “Valkyrie in Armor,” the subject of Richard Wagner 1848 opera Valkyri.
The lodge was initially a women-only sister lodge but began admitting men in 1979.
Queen Brunhilde, eponym of Brunhilde Lodge
April 15, 1899
VINETA #15
Vineta Lodge was the third San Antonio sister lodge, named for the German warship SMS Vineta that visited New Orleans and several ports in Mexico through January and February 1901 before returning to the Venezuelan coast. The ship was visited by many San Antonians at the time.
Marie Zellweger, founder of Vineta Lodge
August 25, 1901
PERSHING #160
The lodge is named for General John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. General Pershing visited San Antonio in 1917 and participated with Hermann Sons in the Loyalty Day march and demonstrations.
Pershing was the first “family lodge” in Texas allowing both men and women, and was the first lodge to conduct all business in English.
March 1, 1920
MISSION-ALAMO #80
The lodge was formed when two existing lodges merged:
Mission Lodge #80, chartered October 31, 1962 (formerly Werder Lodge #80 chartered Oct 14, 1893)
Alamo Lodge #169, chartered May 26, 1897
January 1, 2003
Former San Antonio Lodges
- Werder Lodge #80 (brother lodge), chartered October 14, 1893 (third lodge organized in San Antonio, named for the 16th century German epic poet and hymn writer Diederich von dem Werder)
In 1962 the name changed from Werder to Mission and became a mixed lodge. - Frederick Ludwig Jahn Lodge #172, chartered 1897 (named for German gymnastics educator and writer credited with the founding of the German gymnastics (Turner) movement and inventing the parallel bars, rings, pommel horse)
- Alamo Lodge #169, chartered May 26, 1897
Hermann Sons Hall 