MWSA District No. 108 - Issue No. 31

July 2021

Click the image below to be taken to the District No. 108 MWSA website.

Want to be added to the mailing list for this newsletter? Please email Past Master Berndt at david@karateclarient.com and let him know your name, email address, and home lodge and he will add you to the list!

District Service Team

Your District Service Team is here to assist our Lodges in any way they can. Pictured from left to right: Past Master Albert Davis, District Education Officer, R:.W:. David Berndt, District Deputy Grand Master, Past Master Cody Cockroft, District Instructor, & Past Master Carter Sharbrough, District Communications Officer

MWSA Vision

EXCELLENCE BY VIRTUE: Lead with our HEARTS; Think with our HEADS; Work with our HANDS

MWSA Mission Statement

Through education and in consequence of our streamlined focus in pursuit of Masonic excellence, Masonic District No. 108 will work in harmony as a common mass to reinforce our District Lodges in support of the Grand Lodge of Texas.

Contained in this Issue

  • President's Message

  • Called from Labor

  • Lodge Installation Schedule

  • District 108 July Stated Meetings

  • DDGM Fall Official Visit Schedule

  • Rosenberg Lodge Dual Cornerstone Ceremony

  • Hempstead Lodge Blood Drive - 17 July 2021

  • Waller County First Responder's Event - 7 August 2021

  • Personal History & Funeral/Memorial Service Planning Guide

  • Upcoming Cornerstone Events

  • Lodge Suspense Dates

  • Charitable Raffles

  • Kumntakit Grotto

  • Fun Facts

  • New app from the Grand Lodge of Texas

  • Grand Master's Proclamation - 25 March 2021

  • Degree Team/Esoteric Survey

  • MWSA Business Meeting Rotation Schedule

  • Committee on Work, Southeast Texas - Forum & Exam Schedule

  • Morton Lodge History Book

  • Other Upcoming Events

  • Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay

  • Newsletter Archive

"It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it." - Benjamin Franklin

President's Message


Brethren,


Congratulations to all of the newly elected officers. I have a feeling that this year will no doubt be as great as or greater than the last. The MWSA officers are looking forward to visiting with all of you and working with you to imporve the education in our District.


Many Lodges will be very busy this year with cornerstones, training and education programs, fundraising, etc. The MWSA would love to assist you in any way possible during your busy times, if within length of our cabletow.


Next, I want to thank Worshipful Master-Elect Larry Rankin for opening Brookshire Lodge on 17 June for the MWSA Called Meeting. We had around fifteen Brothers attend Part Two of the Masonic Burial Service DEO Program. Part Three will be held at Katy Lodge on Thursday 29 July 2021 at the MWSA Stated Meeting. Past Master Davis, our District Education Officer, will go through more details and the planning guide during this final part of the program.


Multiple Lodges in our District will continue to hold Lodges of Instruction each week. The locations and times are listed in this newsletter. We would love for everyone to join us!


Past Master Sharbrough, our District Communications Officer, has continued to provide a valuable service to our District. If you have any events or information that you feel is worthy of being sent out, please contact him.


Good luck to you all, and God Bless,


Brother John Bradley

Called from Labor

None reported for June 2021

Lodge Installation Schedule

We would love to see you all around the District at the various Installations!

District No. 108 Upcoming Stated Meetings

DDGM Fall Official Visit Schedule

We hope to see you all at the 2nd Official Visits of R:.W:. Berndt!

Rosenberg Lodge Dual Cornerstone Ceremony

Congratulations to Rosenberg Lodge on a fantastic Cornerstone Ceremony for two new LCISD schools on Tuesday 29 July 2021. There was a great turnout of Masons and the public for this event, and it was very well-received! The article below is from the front page of the Fort Bend Herald.

Hempstead Lodge Blood Drive

Hempstead Lodge No. 749 will be hosting a blood drive on 17 July 2021 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the lodge building. If you are able, please come donate!

Waller County First Responder's Event

Hempstead Lodge No. 749 will participate in hosting the Waller County First Responder's Event on 7 August 2021. For details, please contact Hempstead Lodge.

Personal History & Funeral/Memorial Service Planning Guide

As was discussed at the MWSA Business Meeting held on 27 April 2021, attached below is the Memorial Service Planning Guide that is provided for the use of Brothers by the Grand Lodge of Texas. We plan to do a more in-depth presentation on this guide before the end of the Masonic Year.

funeral_guide.pdf

Lodge Suspense Dates

July 15 – Resolutions and Statements of Availability due to GS Office. (Articles 172 6a).

July 31 – Lodge installations must be performed from June 24 to prior to midnight July 31 (Art. 298).

August 15 – Annual Returns Report due to Grand Lodge (Art. 493).

August 15 & August 31 – Vanguard Applications are due to the DDGM NLT August 15 and to the Grand Secretary NLT August 31 (refer to Vanguard Application Instructions).

September 1 – Lodge By-Laws that must be reviewed by the GL Committee on By-Laws due to the GS Office NLT September 1 (Art. 219).

September 15 – Lodge Minimum Audit Report 71 are due to the GS Office NLT September 15 (Art. 284).

November 15 – Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard), must be filed with the IRS by Lodges that have gross receipts of $50,000 or less, or do not meet the requirements for filing the IRS 990 or IRS 990EZ. Lodges must file the appropriate Form 990 no later than the 15th day of the fifth month following the close of the organization’s fiscal year.

December 28 – Proxy Certificates are due to the GS Office NLT December 28 (Art. 4). You should always appoint a Proxy (in case of an emergency) but he would not vote if any of the top three officers were available. Remember, each Brother can have no more than four votes. Therefore, a sitting Worshipful Master cannot be proxy for another Lodge.

Kumntakit Grotto

Kumntakit Grotto was instituted on Saturday 27 March 2021 at Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141 and began by initiating nearly 40 new members and installing its new Officers. The Officers and members of the new Grotto represent several of our District Lodges, bringing our Lodges closer together.

Fun Facts

Here are the current dues for each Lodge in our District!

New App from the Grand Lodge of Texas

The Grand Lodge of Texas has just launched a new app! It contains copies of the current law book and monitor, as well as several years worth of Briscoe Workshops. It can also serve as a communications tool between Brothers. You may find the links to the app below:

Apple App Store - https://apps.apple.com/au/app/tx-mason/id1532889175

Google Play Store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gltx.app

Grand Master's Proclamation - 25 March 2021

Please click the image to the right for an excerpt from the latest proclamation from the Grand Master of 25 March 2021.

Degree Team/Esoteric Survey

We are attempting to aggregate the esoteric abilities from around the District to provide a common resource to help find Brothers to help in Degrees and Burial Services when needed. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey below regarding your esoteric abilities in regards to those goals. Your information will be kept secure and only made available to members of our District in need of it.

MWSA Business Meeting Rotation Schedule

Please click the image to see the rotation schedule for MWSA Business Meetings through 2022.

***Note: The dates and locations in red are changes from the previously published schedule.***

Committee on Work, Southeast Texas - Forum & Exam Schedule

Please click on the image for the complete 2021 schedule of R:.W:. Ken young, Committee on Work. The Forum & Exam for District No. 108 will take place on Saturday 2 October 2021 at Katy Lodge.

Morton Lodge History Book

Morton Lodge has completed the third edition of the book on its history. Copies may be purchased from Past Master Cody Cockroft for $20.

Lodge Study Nights

Are you interested in attending a Study Night? Please join us for the following evenings of fellowship and study:


Mondays - 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Morton Lodge No. 72

Mondays - 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - Waller Lodge No. 808

Mondays - 6:30 PM - Katy Lodge No. 1439

Mondays - 7:00 PM - Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141

Wednesday - 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Rosenberg Lodge No. 881

Wednesdays - 7:00 PM - Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141


If your Lodge holds a Study Night that is not listed, please let us know so that we may include it here and get the word out to more Brothers!


Other Upcoming Events

Below you will find dates for upcoming events around Masonic District #108, along with other Masonic events in our area. Full calendars for events around District #108 may be found at the District #108 website by clicking the button below this list.

***Thu, Jul 1, 2021 - Brookshire Lodge #1066 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***

Mon, Jul 5, 2021 - Park Place Commandery #106 Stated Conclave - 6:30 PM

***Tue, Jul 6, 2021 - Katy Lodge #1439 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***

Tue, Jul 6, 2021 - Waller O.E.S. Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM

Wed, Jul 7, 2021 - Matagorda Lodge #7 Stated Meeting

Thu, Jul 8, 2021 - Richmond Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 6:30 PM

***Thu, Jul 8, 2021 - Hempstead Lodge #749 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***

Fri, Jul 9, 2021 - Ruthven Commandery #2 Stated Conclave @ Holland Lodge - 6:30 PM

Sat, Jul 10, 2021 - Melrose Commandery #109 Stated Conclave @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM

Mon, Jul 12, 2021 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Sugar Land Lodge - 7:00 PM

***Tue, Jul 13, 2021 - Morton Lodge #72 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***

***Tue, Jul 13, 2021 - Waller Lodge #808 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***

Tue, Jul 13, 2021 - Sugar Land OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM

Tue, Jul 13, 2021 - Westside Assembly No. 233, International Order of Rainbow for Girls @ Katy Loge - 7:00 PM

Wed, Jul 14, 2021 - North Houston Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM

Thu, Jul 15, 2021 - Katy OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM

Fri, Jul 16, 2021 - Houston Commandery #95 Stated Conclave @ Conroe Lodge - 6:30 PM

***Sat, Jul 17, 2021 - Pleasant Hill Lodge #380 STATED MEETING - 11:00 AM***

***Mon, Jul 19, 2021 - Sugar Land Lodge #1141 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - AT MORTON LODGE***

***Tue, Jul 20, 2021 - Rosenberg Lodge #881 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***

Thu, Jul 22, 2021 - Houston Valley Scottish Rite Stated Meeting - 6:00 PM

Mon, Jul 26, 2021 - Fort Bend Commandery #74 Stated Conclave @ Rosenberg Lodge - 6:30 PM

Tue, Jul 27, 2021 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Sugar Land Lodge - 7:00 PM

Tue, Jul 27, 2021 - Westside Assembly No. 233, International Order of Rainbow for Girls @ Katy Loge - 7:00 PM

The full Google Calendars for District No. 108 may be found on the MWSA website.

Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay

Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay was set to work on Saturday 31 August 2019. DeMolay is a wonderful organization for young men from 12-21 years of age. It strives to teach virtues and help young men grow into responsible and committed members of society.


You can learn more about DeMolay here: http://www.texasdemolay.com/what-is-demolay/#


If you know anyone who may be interested in membership at Imperial Chapter, please have them contact David Berndt, Chapter Advisor at chapteradvisor@imperialdemolay.com.

MWSA Newsletter Archive

Need to refer back to a past issue of the newsletter? Click the button below to go to the newsletter archive on the MWSA website.