MWSA District No. 108 - Issue No. 31
July 2021
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
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.
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.
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.
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.