MWSA District No. 108 - Issue No. 42
June 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
Ritualistic Certificate Presentations - 15 June 2022
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
"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self." - Benjamin Franklin
President's Message
Brethren,
We hope that you will be able to join us for the Esoteric Certificate presentations on Wednesday, 15 June 2022. Our District Instructor, Cody Cockroft, will be presenting certificates and pins to Brothers who earned an esoteric certificate in 2021. Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM with the presentations to follow. The event will be held at Katy Lodge No. 1439. We hope to see you there!
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Chris Choat
eMail: chris.choat@comcast.net
Mobile: (713) 206-4242
Called from Labor
Leslie A. Wheeler III - 24 May 2022 - Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141
District No. 108 Installations
25 June 2022
Morton Lodge No. 72 - 8:00 AM
Rosenberg Lodge No. 881 - Noon
Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141 - 6:00 PM
15 July 2022
Katy Lodge No. 1439 - 6:00 PM
16 July 2022
Brookshire Lodge No. 1066 - 2:00 PM
Waller Lodge No. 808 - 6:00 PM
23 July 2022
Pleasant Hill Lodge No. 380 - 2:00 PM
Vanguard Award Application
Link to download the application:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aCVbJk6eaYwhAU-XUBf0MEjWQMeYpYgy/view?usp=sharing
2021-2022_Vanguard_Application.pdfLodge 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.pdfDistrict 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:
Be voted proficient by his Lodge to open and close an EA, FC, MM, and MM LoS Lodge; and
Successfully complete the L.I.F.E. Program or complete the OLT 101 (for JW) and OLT 201 (for SW and WM); and
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.pdfDistrict 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.
Ritualistic Certificate Presentations - 15 June 2022
Our District Instructor, Past Master Cody Cockroft, will be presenting ritualistic certificates to those Brothers who earned a certificate in 2021 on Wednesday, 15 June 2022 at Katy Lodge. Meal @ 6:30 PM, presentations to follow.
Upcoming Degrees/Proficiency Exams
District No. 108 Upcoming Stated Meetings
Lodge Suspense Dates
Mid-June – Look for Annual Returns Format from GL. (Downloaded from the Grandview System after June 24th. Notify the GS staff if you need the returns mailed as a printout).
June 23 – Lodge elections must be completed at the last stated meeting prior to midnight of June 23 (Art. 292). Notify us of new Lodge Officers immediately so they can be printed in the Directory of Constituent Lodges (do not wait for installation). Submission will be available on the Grandview System from May 24 through midnight June 23.
June 23 – Endowed Membership checks must be in the Office of the Grand Secretary by June 23 to start earning interest in order to receive returns by the next year (Art. 318a). Changes to the amount of endowments must be voted on at the same meeting as the Lodge elections, and notification to Grand Lodge must be before June 24th. Endowed Membership applications received at the Grand Lodge on or after June 24 must be for the amount that the Lodge reported.
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.
Mon, Jun 6, 2022 - Park Place Commandery #106 Stated Conclave - 6:30 PM
Tue, Jun 7, 2022 - Katy Lodge #1439 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM
Tue, Jun 7, 2022 - Waller O.E.S. Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Thu, Jun 9, 2022 - Hempstead Lodge #749 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM
Thu, Jun 9, 2022 - Richmond Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 6:30 PM
Fri, Jun 10, 2022 - Ruthven Commandery #2 Stated Conclave @ Holland Lodge - 6:30 PM
Sat, Jun 11, 2022 - Melrose Commandery #109 Stated Conclave @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM
Tue, Jun 14, 2022 - Westside Assembly No. 233, International Order of Rainbow for Girls @ Katy Loge - 7:00 PM
Tue, Jun 14, 2022 - Morton Lodge #72 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM
Tue, Jun 14, 2022 - Sugar Land OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Tue, Jun 14, 2022 - Waller Lodge #808 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM
Thu, Jun 16, 2022 - Katy OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Fri, Jun 17, 2022 - Houston Commandery #95 Stated Conclave @ Conroe Lodge - 6:30 PM
Sat, Jun 18, 2022 - Pleasant Hill Lodge #380 STATED MEETING - 11:00 AM
Sat, Jun 18, 2022 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Ritual Practice & Fellowship @ Katy Masonic Lodge - 9:00 AM
Mon, Jun 20, 2022 - Sugar Land Lodge #1141 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM
Tue, Jun 21, 2022 - Rosenberg Lodge #881 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM
Thu, Jun 23, 2022 - Houston Valley Scottish Rite Stated Meeting - 6:00 PM
Mon, Jun 27, 2022 - Fort Bend Commandery #74 Stated Conclave @ Rosenberg Lodge - 6:30 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.