MWSA District No. 108 - Issue No. 35
November 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@karateclarinet.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
Rainbow Girls Dinner - 13 November
Waller Lodge Workday - 13 November
Sugar Land Lodge Golden Trowel Award - 17 November
Briscoe Workshop - 29 November
Grand Junior Warden Candidate Forum
Texas Illumination Event
Upcoming Degrees/Proficiency Exams
Rosenberg No. 881 BBQ Plate Sale
District 108 November Stated Meetings
Personal History & Funeral/Memorial Service Planning Guide
Lodge Suspense Dates
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
"The true Mason's level of discernment increases with every use of the working tools, because the true Mason is ever working on himself."
- William Howard Taft
President's Message
Brethren,
October has been a busy month with new EA’s, training, and elections. District # 108 MWSA has been very busy as well to bring to you as much training and knowledge as possible. Congratulations to the MWSA officers for putting together an excellent meeting agenda and program for the October Business Meeting. Thank you to Rosenberg Lodge #881 for hosting the program. I truly wish I could have been there.
Thank you to Brothers George Moxley and Raborn Reader for your participation in the candidate forum and good luck with your quest to the Grand South.
Thank you to the Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls, and Demolay for your participation as well. I was pleased to hear of your participation and you are welcome to attend any of our events.
Thank you and congratulations to the newly elected Officers for the MWSA. They are as follows;
President- Brother Christopher Choat
Vice President- Brother James Michael Spencer
Treasurer/Secretary- Brother Eric Beane
I am certain this team will continue to build and strengthen the knowledge of all Masons who seek it.
It has been a pleasure to serve and I will continue to serve as much as I can in the future as well as in the present.
I look forward to the remainder of the year and seeing what lies ahead in the next.
May you all stay healthy and God Bless you.
Brother Bradley
Called from Labor
Brother Bob Radke of Brookshire Lodge No. 1066
Called from Labor on 10 October 2021
66-Year Mason
Rainbow Girls Dinner
West Side Assembly invites you to join them for Dinner In the Clouds, 13 November 2021, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM at 3158 Katy Hockly Road. A lemonade auction will follow the dinner. $15 per ticket, payable at the door.
Waller Lodge Workday
Waller Lodge will be holding a workday on 13 November from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. All Brothers are encouraged to come and help in the upkeep of the Lodge.
Briscoe Workshop - 29 November
All Master Masons are encouraged to join us for an informative Briscoe Workshop led by the District Education Officer, Past Master Albert Davis. The event will take place on Monday 29 November 2021 at Katy Lodge No. 1439. A meal will be serve dat 6:30 PM and the workshop will beginat 7:00 PM. This will be an excellent opportunity for all Masons, especially those moving through the chairs, to explore different scenarios and brainstorm how you would handle them.
Grand Junior Warden Candidate Forum
On Tuesday 26 October 2021, the MWSA hosted Brother Reader and Moxley, who have both made themselves available for the office of Grand Junior Warden at the 2022 Grand Annual Communication. A forum was held consisting of prepared questions, as well as questions from the floor, were posed to both Brothers and time given to answer. Questions were also posed by Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay, and the Rosenberg Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.
The Officers of Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay, also gave a short presentation about the Order of DeMolay, including information on several famous DeMolays. Lastly, elections for the 2022 MWSA Officers were conducted. Congratulations to Brother Chris Choat, who was elected President, Brother James Michael Spencer, who was elected Vice President, and Brother Eric Beane, who was elected Secretary/Treasurer.
Texas Illumination Event
District Instructor Cody Cockroft and District Communications Officer Carter Sharbrough participated with approximately 200 people in the first leg of the Texas Illumination Event honoring those members of the armed forces from Texas that have given their lives in service to our State and Country.
More photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=108MWSA&set=a.2985348878347915
Sugar Land Lodge Golden Trowel Award
Wednesday 17 November 2021
Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141 will present the Golden Trowel Award to Past Master Michael Tunnell. A meal will be served at 6:30 PM and the presentation will begin at 7:30 PM.
Upcoming Degrees/Proficiency Exams
Fellowcraft Proficiency - Monday 1 November 2021 - Katy Lodge No. 1439
Rosenberg No. 881 BBQ Plate Sale - Thursday, November 18th
Rosenberg Lodge will be selling BBQ plates to support their scholarships. The sale will take place Thursday, November 18th at Davis Bros Auto Supply in Rosenberg. Plates at $15. Pre-Orders Only.
District No. 108 Upcoming Stated Meetings
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
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.
Mon, Nov 1, 2021 - Park Place Commandery #106 Stated Conclave - 6:30 PM
***Tue, Nov 2, 2021 - Katy Lodge #1439 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Tue, Nov 2, 2021 - Waller O.E.S. Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Wed, Nov 3, 2021 - Matagorda Lodge #7 Stated Meeting
***Thu, Nov 4, 2021 - Brookshire Lodge #1066 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Mon, Nov 8, 2021 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Sugar Land Lodge - 7:00 PM
***Tue, Nov 9, 2021 - Morton Lodge #72 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
***Tue, Nov 9, 2021 - Waller Lodge #808 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Tue, Nov 9, 2021 - Sugar Land OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Tue, Nov 9, 2021 - Westside Assembly No. 233, International Order of Rainbow for Girls @ Katy Loge - 7:00 PM
Wed, Nov 10, 2021 - North Houston Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM
Thu, Nov 11, 2021 - Richmond Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 6:30 PM
***Thu, Nov 11, 2021 - Hempstead Lodge #749 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Fri, Nov 12, 2021 - Ruthven Commandery #2 Stated Conclave @ Holland Lodge - 6:30 PM
Sat, Nov 13, 2021 - Melrose Commandery #109 Stated Conclave @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM
***Mon, Nov 15, 2021 - Sugar Land Lodge #1141 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
***Tue, Nov 16, 2021 - Rosenberg Lodge #881 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM***
Thu, Nov 18, 2021 - Houston Valley Scottish Rite Stated Meeting - 6:00 PM
Thu, Nov 18, 2021 - Katy OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Fri, Nov 19, 2021 - Houston Commandery #95 Stated Conclave @ Conroe Lodge - 6:30 PM
***Sat, Nov 20, 2021 - Pleasant Hill Lodge #380 STATED MEETING - 11:00 AM***
Mon, Nov 22, 2021 - Fort Bend Commandery #74 Stated Conclave @ Rosenberg Lodge - 6:30 PM
Tue, Nov 23, 2021 - Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Sugar Land Lodge - 7:00 PM
Tue, Nov 23, 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.