Golden Trowel

Could someone please clarify the requirements for the Golden Trowel Award? (Texas) I was told that a committee had to consist of the past three past masters and there was a waiting period for the individual who is recommended. That being said, doing a quick search through the GL bylaws pdf, I see no such thing.

Art. 14c. The Golden Trowel Award.
Grand Lodge hereby establishes the Golden Trowel Award to be presented to any living member of a Texas Lodge who has consistently demonstrated outstanding and exemplary service to his respective Lodge through any one or combinations of Masonic and community service. The Committee on Masonic Education and Service is authorized and directed to prepare and distribute, to the Lodges, the guidelines by which this award can be made. Such guidelines shall be binding on the Lodges and may be amended by the Committee on Masonic Education and Service from time to time. (Adopted 1995)

The rules promulgated by the Committee on Masonic Education & Service state that the Lodge Golden Trowel Committee is to be "comprised of 3 of the 5 most immediate, and available, living Past Masters of the Lodge." and that "A member who has served as Master or a Warden is not eligible for the award until three years after the date he completes his term of office in a Texas Lodge."

I just wish Brother Bill knew a little more about masonry. :sneaky2:

Yeah- me, too! :wink:

Last night I went to a golden trowel ceremony and saw just one more thing I need to strive to acheive. Man I have a lot of work ahead of me.

I'm not so sure you should set you eyes only on earning The Golden Trowel Award. That seems a little short sighted. The first Golden Trowel ceremony I attended was when I still petitioning the Lodge. Although I was in awe at the things this particular Brother had achieved, to him it was just another day. He didn't set out with the idea of one day receiving such an illustrious award. He did what came naturally to him, which was helping the community and brethren in anyway he could. As much as I hope to one day achieve this, I hope to achieve much more in the way of becoming a better man for my Brothers and neighbors. They are the ones that would truly benefit, not me with an award on my shelf. Just my opinion...

In California,we have a similar award called the Hiram Award.Who gets it however is controlled by the Lodge,GL has no say so.In my Lodge we tend to award it to a Brother rather than a PM.It is the highest honor a Lodge can bestow on a Brother.