MWSA District No. 108 - Issue No. 33
September 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
District 108 September Stated Meetings
DDGM Fall Official Visit Schedule
Katy Lodge No. 1439 Family Day - 30 October 2021
Katy Lodge No. 1439 Certificate Exam Study Nights
Personal History & Funeral/Memorial Service Planning Guide
Lodge Suspense Dates
Charitable Raffles
Kumntakit Grotto
Fun Facts
New app from the Grand Lodge of Texas
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
"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning."
Benjamin Franklin
President's Message
Brethren,
I hope this letter finds you well. August was a very busy month for many and it appears that September will be even busier. I have seen that many lodges in our District have made new Masons and others are about to increase the knowledge for other Masons by passing them or raising them. I am very excited to see so many new members and Brothers. Keep up the great work.
As you may know, the exams are coming soon and some of us need to work hard to remember our work while others may cruise through without any issues. Many will be taking the C Certificate for the first time and will need our encouragement. As Masonry grows along with new Brothers, we will definitely need more instructors.
This all being said, many are hosting mock exams in preparation for the big event. I encourage everyone to attend to brush up or assist with the work. It appears that Katy Lodge will be hosting a mock exam on 22 September in conjunction with an MWSA Called Meeting. Confirmation will follow.
Good luck to all and I hope to see you then.
Brother Bradley
Called from Labor
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!
Katy Lodge No. 1439 Family Day
Katy Lodge No. 1439 will host a Family Day at the Katy Elks Lodge (1050 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy, TX 77493) from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM on Saturday 30 October 2021.
For more information, please contact a member of Katy Lodge No. 1439.
Katy Lodge No. 1439 Certificate Exam Study Nights
Katy Lodge No. 1439 will host a certificate exam study night every Wednesday through September 29, 2021 beginning at 6:30 PM. Anyone interested in testing for a certificate this year will be sure to learn a lot by attending!
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
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
Ever wonder about the Masons involved in the government of the Republic of Texas?
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
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.
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.
Wed, Sep 1, 2021 - Matagorda Lodge #7 Stated Meeting
***Thu, Sep 2, 2021 - Brookshire Lodge #1066 STATED MEETING & DDGM OFFICIAL VISIT - 6:30 PM***
Mon, Sep 6, 2021 - Park Place Commandery #106 Stated Conclave - 6:30 PM
***Tue, Sep 7, 2021 - Katy Lodge #1439 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Tue, Sep 7, 2021 - Waller O.E.S. Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Wed, Sep 8, 2021 - North Houston Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM
Thu, Sep 9, 2021 - Richmond Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 6:30 PM
***Thu, Sep 9, 2021 - Hempstead Lodge #749 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Fri, Sep 10, 2021 - Ruthven Commandery #2 Stated Conclave @ Holland Lodge - 6:30 PM
Sat, Sep 11, 2021 - Melrose Commandery #109 Stated Conclave @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM
Mon, Sep 13, 2021 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 7:00 PM
***Tue, Sep 14, 2021 - Morton Lodge #72 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
***Tue, Sep 14, 2021 - Waller Lodge #808 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Tue, Sep 14, 2021 - Sugar Land OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Tue, Sep 14, 2021 - Westside Assembly No. 233, International Order of Rainbow for Girls @ Katy Loge - 7:00 PM
Thu, Sep 16, 2021 - Katy OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Fri, Sep 17, 2021 - Houston Commandery #95 Stated Conclave @ Conroe Lodge - 6:30 PM
***Sat, Sep 18, 2021 - Pleasant Hill Lodge #380 STATED MEETING - 11:00 AM***
***Mon, Sep 20, 2021 - Sugar Land Lodge #1141 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - Tentatively @ Morton Lodge***
***Tue, Sep 21, 2021 - Rosenberg Lodge #881 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Thu, Sep 23, 2021 - Houston Valley Scottish Rite Stated Meeting - 6:00 PM
Mon, Sep 27, 2021 - Fort Bend Commandery #74 Stated Conclave @ Rosenberg Lodge - 6:30 PM
Tue, Sep 28, 2021 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 7:00 PM
Tue, Sep 28, 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.