MWSA District No. 108 - Issue No. 43

July 2022

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District Service Team

Your District Service Team is here to assist our Lodges in any way they can.

R:.W:. Chris Ryland - District Deputy Grand Master (Brookshire No. 1066)

Past Master Cody Cockroft - District Instructor (Morton No. 72)

Past Master Carter Sharbrough - District Communications Officer (Katy No. 1439)

Past Master Stan Kitzman - District Education Officer (Brookshire No. 1066)

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

  • District No. 108 Installations

  • Vanguard Award Application

  • Lodge Education Officer Program

  • District 108 Spring Workshop

  • Requirements for Installation

  • Officer Leadership Training

  • District Instructor Ritual Forum

  • Upcoming Degrees/Proficiency Exams

  • District 108 Upcoming Stated Meetings

  • Lodge Suspense Dates

  • Kumntakit Grotto

  • Grand Lodge of Texas App

  • MWSA Business Meeting Rotation Schedule

  • Morton Lodge History Book

  • Other Upcoming Events

  • Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay

  • Newsletter Archive

"The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes." - Winston Churchill

President's Message

Brethren,

As the 2021-2022 Masonic year has ended, the officers of MWSA No. 108 offer our congratulations to the Worshipful Masters and their officers for all the hard work and sacrifices poured into making each Lodge successful. Good results happen through careful planning and execution. It is not an easy undertaking, especially in volunteer run organizations. We applaud you and wish you continued success. Know that your Lodges still need your time and involvement. Masonry works best when there are many hands to carry the load. This great fraternity is worth your time, and we hope to continue to see you in future events and activities.

Looking to the future, installation is always a busy time throughout the district and masonry as a whole. Three lodges have already had their installations, and the remaining five will occur within the next few weeks. The installation schedule is as follows:

  • Morton Lodge No. 72 – Worshipful Master Mark Eastwood, who was installed on June 29, 2022;

  • Rosenberg Lodge No. 881 – Worshipful Master John Bradley, who was installed on June 29, 2022;

  • Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141 – Worshipful Master Chris Choat, who was installed on June 29, 2022;

  • Katy Lodge No. 1439 – Worshipful Master Dusten Garrett, who will be installed on Friday, July 15, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.;

  • Brookshire Lodge No. 1066 – Worshipful Master David Boedecker, PM, who will be installed on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.;

  • Waller Lodge No. 808 – Worshipful Master Otto Carl, PM, who will be installed on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.;

  • Hempstead Lodge No. 749 – Worshipful Master Dave Fehrenbach, who will be installed at a time to be determined.

The officers of MWSA No. 108 congratulate the incoming Worshipful Masters, and wish you and your officers the best during your upcoming year. If we can be of assistance, please reach out to one of the MWSA officers and we will be glad to lend a hand. In addition, all of you are invited to our quarterly business meeting, which will be held on July 26, 2022. Further details will be forthcoming on this event, which will include a visit by Right Worshipful Jim R. Rumsey, Chairman of the Committee on Work for the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Chris Choat

President, MWSA No. 108

Mobile: (713) 206-4242


Called from Labor

Leslie A. Wheeler III - 24 May 2022 - Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141

District No. 108 Installations

Vanguard Award Application

Link to download the application:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aCVbJk6eaYwhAU-XUBf0MEjWQMeYpYgy/view?usp=sharing

2021-2022_Vanguard_Application.pdf

Lodge Education Office Program

Please see below for the recently-released Lodge Education Officer. Each Worshifpful Master should appoint a Lodge Education Officer who should offer portions of this program throughout the year.

The program may be downloaded here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o8g_mCHynu9IKcyNkTQgr48qv1tb8wvl/view?usp=sharing

LEO 2022_Final_01112022.pdf

District 108 Spring Workshop

Our DEO and our DDGM will be planning a Spring Workshop for our District. Keep an eye out for further information!

Requirements for Installation

As a reminder, in accordance with Articles 276 and 276a of the Laws of the Grand Lodge of Texas, the requirements for installation as a Warden or Worshipful Master are:

  1. Be voted proficient by his Lodge to open and close an EA, FC, MM, and MM LoS Lodge; and

  2. Successfully complete the L.I.F.E. Program or complete the OLT 101 (for JW) and OLT 201 (for SW and WM); and

  3. Possess a current Class A, B, or C certificate issued by the Committee on Work; or

    • Be certified by the current District Instructor of the district in which the Lodge he is being installed as a Warden or Worshipful Master is situated, or by a District Instructor At Large within 12-months prior to installation; or

    • Be certified by a member of the Committee on Work withing 12-months prior to installation; or

    • Attend a Forum hosted by a member of the Committee on wrok within 12-months prior to installation.

Officer Leadership Training

Note: Registrations will not be accepted via mail. They must be completed through Grandview. If you need assistance registering, please contact the Grand Secretary's office.

FINAL_2022 Officer Leadership Training Registration Form.pdf

District Instructor Ritual Forum

Our District Instructor will be planning a Ritual Forum to take place soon that will focus on the first section of the Entered Apprentice Degree and the second section of the Master Mason Degree. Watch for further information.

Upcoming Degrees/Proficiency Exams


District No. 108 Upcoming Stated Meetings

Lodge Suspense Dates

July 15 – Statements of Availability due GS Office. (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 – Resolutions due in GS Office (Art. 172).

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 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 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.

Grand Lodge of Texas App

Do you have the Grand Lodge of Texas 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

MWSA Business Meeting Rotation Schedule

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

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 7, 2022 - Brookshire Lodge #1066 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM

  • Fri, Jul 8, 2022 - Ruthven Commandery #2 Stated Conclave @ Holland Lodge - 6:30 PM

  • Sat, Jul 9, 2022 - Melrose Commandery #109 Stated Conclave @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM

  • Tue, Jul 12, 2022 - Westside Assembly No. 233, International Order of Rainbow for Girls @ Katy Loge - 7:00 PM

  • Tue, Jul 12, 2022 - Morton Lodge #72 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM

  • Tue, Jul 12, 2022 - Sugar Land OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM

  • Tue, Jul 12, 2022 - Waller Lodge #808 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM

  • Thu, Jul 14, 2022 - Hempstead Lodge #749 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM

  • Thu, Jul 14, 2022 - Richmond Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 6:30 PM

  • Fri, Jul 15, 2022 - Houston Commandery #95 Stated Conclave @ Conroe Lodge - 6:30 PM

  • Sat, Jul 16, 2022 - Pleasant Hill Lodge #380 STATED MEETING - 11:00 AM

  • Sat, Jul 16, 2022 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Ritual Practice & Fellowship @ Katy Masonic Lodge - 9:00 AM

  • Mon, Jul 18, 2022 - Sugar Land Lodge #1141 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM

  • Tue, Jul 19, 2022 - Rosenberg Lodge #881 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM

  • Thu, Jul 21, 2022 - Katy OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM

  • Mon, Jul 25, 2022 - Fort Bend Commandery #74 Stated Conclave @ Rosenberg Lodge - 6:30 PM

  • Thu, Jul 28, 2022 - Houston Valley Scottish Rite Stated Meeting - 6:00 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 Matt Woodard, 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.