My thread with these amendments where lost in translation so wanted to repost them with my introduction to them. I hope maybe the introductions make them easier to understand. I plan to present them in this order as well.
Grand Masters Recommendation:
Amendment 3 offered by:
• William “Rhit” Moore
• Worshipful Master
• Fort Worth Lodge 148
Resolved, that Article 163, Masonic Laws, be amended so as to hereafter read as follows:
Article 163 amendment
Each Subordinate Lodge shall pay to the Grand Secretary fees, dues, and contributions as follows:
1. Unchanged
2. Unchanged
3. Unchanged
4. Unchanged
5. Unchanged
6. Unchanged
7. For the use of the Masonic Home and School for each member on the rolls of the Lodge, to be remitted annually with its returns, the sum of $1.25 required by Section 2 Article IX (pg52) of the Constitution, plus the sum of $3.75 for the use of Teas Masonic Charities Foundation, Inc. the total um of……………$5.oo
For the use of the Masonic Home and School for each member on the rolls of the Lodge, to be remitted annually with its returns, the sum of $1.25 required by Section 2 Article IX (pg52) of the Constitution, plus the sum of $3.75 for the use of Teas Masonic Charities Foundation, Inc. the total um of……………$0.00 until 2014, no more or less than three consecutive years, at which time the fee will be fully reinstated as heretofore approved.
8. Unchanged
9. Unchanged
10. Unchanged
11. Unchanged
12. Unchanged
13. Unchanged
14. Unchanged
This amendment my Brothers would relieve lodges of $5.00 from their per capita payment which goes to in house charities. Our in-house charities have ample funds for years to come and have other sources to draw funds from if needed. This amendment would suspend the fees for three years, at which time the fees would be fully reinstated. The purpose of this amendment is to lessen the burden of a per capita increase by decreasing the amount we put away for in-house charity.
Grand Masters Recommendation:
Amendment 2 offered by:
• William “Rhit” Moore
• Worshipful Master
• Fort Worth Lodge 148
Resolved, that Article 163, Masonic Laws, be amended so as to hereafter read as follows:
Each Subordinate Lodge shall pay to the Grand Secretary fees, dues, and contributions as follows:
1. Unchanged
2. Unchanged
3. Unchanged
4. Unchanged
5. Unchanged
6. For the Grand Lodge General Fund, to be remitted by the Lodge with its annual returns, for each degree conferred as required by Section 2 (pg52) of Article IX of the Constitution the sum of……….$1.oo
For the Grand Lodge General Fund, to be remitted by the Lodge with its annual returns, for each degree conferred as required by Section 2 (pg52) of Article IX of the Constitution the sum of……….$15.00
7. Unchanged
8. Unchanged
9. Unchanged
10. Unchanged
11. Unchanged
12. Unchanged
13. Unchanged
14. Unchanged
This amendment my brothers would increase the degree fee we pay to the Grand Lodge General Fund from $1 dollar per degree to $15 dollars per degree. The purpose of this amendment is to allow lodges with much more resources to draw from, help the smaller struggling lodges who rarely if ever do degrees. In 2008 Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Texas performed over 6000 degrees which would constitute $84,000 for the Grand Lodge general fund. If this amendment is approved brothers it would be very wise for every lodge to seriously consider a degree fee increase in your lodge. I know of a lodge who charges $150 dollars per degree and did over 100 degrees last year so I know men will pay for the mysteries after all they are some of the most valuable assets a man will ever have in his possession.
Grand Masters Recommendation:
Amendment 4 offered by:
• William “Rhit” Moore
• Worshipful Master
• Fort Worth Lodge 148
Resolved, that Article 163, Masonic Laws, be amended so as to hereafter read as follows:
Article 163 amendment
Each Subordinate Lodge shall pay to the Grand Secretary fees, dues, and contributions as follows:
1. Unchanged
2. Unchanged
3. Unchanged
4. Unchanged
5. Unchanged
6. Unchanged
7. Unchanged
8. Unchanged
9. Unchanged
10. For the Grand Lodge General Fund to be remitted by the Lodge with its Annual Returns, for each member on the rolls of the Lodge, the sum of $.50 required by Section 2 of Article IX (pg52) plus $6.40, the total sum of…….$6.90
For the Grand Lodge General Fund to be remitted by the Lodge with its Annual Returns, for each member on the rolls of the Lodge, the sum of $.50 required by Section 2 of Article IX (pg52) plus $15.40, the total sum of…….$15.90
11. Unchanged
12. Unchanged
13. Unchanged
14. Unchanged
This amendment my brothers if approved would increase the per capita payment by $9 dollars, making the total amount of the per capita fee $23.25. The purpose of this amendment is to relieve some of the per capita increase which is now covered by the degree fee increase approved by the former amendment.
Grand Masters Recommendation:
Amendment 1 offered by:
• William “Rhit” Moore
• Worshipful Master
• Fort Worth Lodge 148
Resolved, that Article 163, Masonic Laws, be amended so as to hereafter read as follows:
Each Subordinate Lodge shall pay to the Grand Secretary fees, dues, and contributions as follows:
1. Unchanged
2. Unchanged
3. Unchanged
4. Unchanged
5. For the use of the Texas Masonic Charities Foundation, Inc. for each Master Masons Degree conferred, which the Lodge shall from each applicant for said degree, in addition to the regular fee charged by the Lodge, and which sums, when collected, shall be remitted by the Lodge to the Grand Secretary with the annual returns, as provided in Article 318 (pg171), the sum of ……$25.00
For the use of the Texas Masonic Charities Foundation, Inc. for each Master Masons Degree conferred, which the Lodge shall from each applicant for said degree, in addition to the regular fee charged by the Lodge, and which sums, when collected, shall be remitted by the Lodge to the Grand Secretary with the annual returns, as provided in Article 318 (pg171), the sum of ……$10.00
6. Unchanged
7. Unchanged
8. Unchanged
9. Unchanged
10. Unchanged
11. Unchanged
12. Unchanged
13. Unchanged
14. Unchanged
Furthermore be it resolved, Article 318 of Masonic law be amended so as to hereafter read as follows:
Art. 318. Twenty-Five Ten Dollar Donation to Texas Masonic Charities Foundation. There shall be presented to each Brother receiving the Master’s Degree a Certificate on Form 29, setting forth the fact the Twenty-Five Ten Dollars paid by him under Art. 163-5 has been so paid as a contribution to the Texas Masonic Charities Foundation. Such presentation shall be made in open Lodge by the Worshipful Master or under his direction at the close of the degree following the presentation of the Lambskin Apron. An appropriate address concerning the Texas Masonic Charities Foundation may be given at such presentation. When the Secretary sends in his Annual Returns of the Lodge required by Art. 488 he shall transmit to the Grand Secretary the amount received during the preceding Masonic year from the Brothers contributing such Twenty-Five Dollar donations together with the full name of each contributing Brother. (Revised 2006).
This amendment my brothers if approved would reduce the Master Masons degree donation given to in-house charities by $15 dollars. Our in-house charities have ample funds for years to come and have other sources to draw funds from if needed. The purpose of this amendment is intended to lessen the burden of degree fee increases that are needed to benefit our Grand Lodge general fund.