MWSA District No. 108 - Issue No. 32

August 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

  • Welcome New Worshipful Masters

  • Upcoming Degree

  • District 108 August Stated Meetings

  • DDGM Fall Official Visit Schedule

  • 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

  • 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

"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self."

Benjamin Franklin

President's Message


Brethren,


I pray this message finds you well. It's been a busy year so far and it looks like it's going to remain busy. Many of our Lodges have new members and our great lessons in Masonry are being handed down. May we all strive to keep our Fraternity going and growing.


It was great to see so many Brothers at our last MWSA Business Meeting on 29 July. Big thanks to Katy Lodge No. 1439 for hosting and providing the meal, and also to our District Instructor, Past Master Cody Cockroft for his excellent instruction in the floor work of the Master's Degree. It was very educational and I am certain lessons were learned by all. And finally, thank you to R:.W:. David Berndt for his support and assistance with our meeting and educational program.


As of now, we have no MWSA program set for August, so if anyone has any specific topics they'd like to see discussed, please advise any of the MWSA Officers as soon as possible and we will do our best to get a Called Meeting put together.


We have a Called Meeting (date to be determined) planned for September (mock certificate exam) and MWSA Officer Elections and our Briscoe Workshop set for our October Business Meeting. I encourage all members of our District to to consider being a part of the MWSA Leadership.


Also in October, we will have the Forum & Exam conducted by the Committee on Work. Even if you do not plan to sit for an exam, you are encouraged to attend and observe. You are guaranteed to learn something!


Finally, I want to tell you all that I have enjoyed being a part of District No. 108. Our District is very active in our respective areas and people are noticing. I look forward to witnessing all of your efforts in our District in educating the public on what we, as Masons, do in regards to education and charity.


Great work to you all and God Bless.


Brother John Bradley

Called from Labor

None reported for July 2021

Welcome New Worshipful Masters

Upcoming Degree

Entered Apprentice Mason's Degree

Wednesday 4 August 2021

Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141 @ Morton Lodge No. 72

Meal @ 6:30 PM, Degree @ 7:30 PM

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!

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

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 degree fees 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

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.


Mon, Aug 2, 2021 - Park Place Commandery #106 Stated Conclave - 6:30 PM

***Tue, Aug 3, 2021 - Katy Lodge #1439 STATED MEETING & DDGM VISIT - 6:30 PM***

Tue, Aug 3, 2021 - Waller O.E.S. Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM

Wed, Aug 4, 2021 - Matagorda Lodge #7 Stated Meeting

***Thu, Aug 5, 2021 - Brookshire Lodge #1066 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***

Mon, Aug 9, 2021 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ MortonLodge - 7:00 PM

***Tue, Aug 10, 2021 - Morton Lodge #72 STATED MEETING & DDGM VISIT - 6:30 PM***

***Tue, Aug 10, 2021 - Waller Lodge #808 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***

Tue, Aug 10, 2021 - Sugar Land OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM

Tue, Aug 10, 2021 - Westside Assembly No. 233, International Order of Rainbow for Girls @ Katy Loge - 7:00 PM

Wed, Aug 11, 2021 - North Houston Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM

Thu, Aug 12, 2021 - Richmond Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 6:30 PM

***Thu, Aug 12, 2021 - Hempstead Lodge #749 STATED MEETING & DDGM VISIT - 6:30 PM***

Fri, Aug 13, 2021 - Ruthven Commandery #2 Stated Conclave @ Holland Lodge - 6:30 PM

Sat, Aug 14, 2021 - Melrose Commandery #109 Stated Conclave @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM

***Mon, Aug 16, 2021 - Sugar Land Lodge #1141 STATED MEETING & DDGM VISIT - 6:30 PM @ Morton Lodge***

***Tue, Aug 17, 2021 - Rosenberg Lodge #881 STATED MEETING & DDGM VISIT - 6:30 PM***

Thu, Aug 19, 2021 - Katy OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM

Fri, Aug 20, 2021 - Houston Commandery #95 Stated Conclave @ Conroe Lodge - 6:30 PM

***Sat, Aug 21, 2021 - Pleasant Hill Lodge #380 STATED MEETING & DDGM VISIT - 11:00 AM***

Mon, Aug 23, 2021 - Fort Bend Commandery #74 Stated Conclave @ Rosenberg Lodge - 6:30 PM

Tue, Aug 24, 2021 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 7:00 PM

Tue, Aug 24, 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.