This article examines the missionary activity of Sir Knight Samuel May Williams (1795—1858), the first Knight Templar of Texas. Having been received into the Masonic Order of Knights Templar on December 1, 1835, Samuel M. Williams devoted the remainder of his life to service within the Order. In the conclusion, the author argues that the activity of Samuel M. Williams represents a rare example of the combination of political, civic, and Masonic missions that exerted a long-term influence on the development of Texas.
