2010 Grand Lodge Annual Communcation Results

[My Freemasonry]

Brethren

As many of you already know, we at MasonsofTexas.com work hard to be the first to break Masonic News as it happens in Texas and abroad as it is deemed pertinent. Last year we started a tradition of giving up to the minute updates on the outcome of resolutions and officer elections. This year we will continue this through various methods we have at our disposal.

This particular thread will be closed so it does not get too confusing for people to read at a glance. There will be another thread found at CLICK HERE that will be used for responses to votes and such. It will be open to any and all Grand Lodge Communications discussion.

As always we want to thank you for making MasonsofTexas.com the best Masonic resource for Masons in Texas.

Fraternally,

 

[My Freemasonry]

2010 RESOLUTIONS
Grand Master's Recommendation amends Article 163 to provide that the present
$14.25 per capita amount of $14.25 be increased to $25.00 and that the increased amount of $10.75 be designated to the Grand Lodge General Fund for use in the operations of Grand Lodge.

Holdover Resolution #18, 2009. Amend Constitution to decrease the MHS Board to five members; deletes Grand Master & DGM from Board, and negating GSW & GJW from serving as interim members.
(Russell Brown).

Resolutions
1. Amend Article 433 to require candidates to learn only the answers to questions in the first section of the EA and FC degrees, except by request the GM by dispensation may waive any part of the learning requirement of the EA. (Louis Libel)

2. Amends Article 129 and 505 to require the Committee on Work to prepare separate and distinct cipher books for each of the primary Masonic Degrees and be published and sold by the Grand Lodge of Texas. In addition, it places restrictions on candidates using the cipher book. (Adolph McKnight).

3. Amends Article 318a and 353 for Lodges to not per capita payments to the Grand Lodge for any member with an endowed membership. (Ray O. Robinson).

4. Repeals Article 405a to permit names of petitioners, candidates, etc., be published. (Travis M. Major).

5. Amends Article 225a to recognize the Major John B. Jones Masonic Rangering Company of the Former Texas Rangers Foundation as an organization to which Texas Masons may belong and participate in as members. (F. Richard "Dick"
Brown).

6. Amends Article 505.17 to add "canvass publicly for or against the reinstatement of a suspended or expelled Mason, or the admission of an unaffiliated Mason. (Fletcher L. Gray).

7. Amend Article 276 to delete the word Warden and replace it with "Junior and Senior Warden" of a Lodge in this Grand Jurisdiction to be considered eligible to be elected Worshipful Master. (Garlon E. Evans).

8. Amend Article 318a to add the provision that in any year that Grand Lodge fails to pay on the endowment, Lodges shall be exempt from paying Grand Lodge per capita on all endowed members. (James A. Acton).

9. Amend Articles 292, 302, 331, 332, 436, and 437 to use the term "Degree"
in lieu of "Lodge." (Daniel B. Owczarzak).

10. Amend Article 397. Removes all extra wording in the Article except the first few lines, "A firm belief in the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, and the divine authenticity of the Holy Scriptures is indispensably necessary before a candid can be initiated." Eliminates wording regarding books of chosen faith. (Thornton Lodge No. 486).

11. Amend Article 505 to add item 37 "Make any negative reference or take any negative action in regard to a petitioner's or member's faith, creed or race at any time. (William A. "Bill" Lins).

12. Amends Article 278 to further define tradition of no person other than the Master shall preside "covered." (T. Neal Porter Lodge No. 1354).

13. Amends Article 14c and 111 to clarify the rules for selecting Golden Trowel Award recipient. (Charles S. Robinson).

14. Amend Forms 26 and 44 to delete the requirement for a petitioner to provide his full social security number. (Cale Clark Stephenson, III).

15. Amend Article 318a to repeal the Endowed Memberships and return the funds to the Lodges. (Frank M. Gentsch, Jr.).

16. Amend Article 353 to restrict plural members from paying Grand Lodge per capita but that all taxes, dues or contributions shall only be paid by the Lodge where the Mason is a regular member. (Harvey S. Dorman).

17. Amend Articles 397 and 398 and Form 26 to delete the divine authenticity of the Holy Scriptures. (James W. "Sonny" Marchbanks).

18. Amend Article 6a to add information other than Grand Lodge of Texas service or activities in the Statement of Availability. (W. Vernon Burke, Jr.).

19. Amend 318a to permit a member holding an Endowed Membership to add to the value of his endowment in increments of $100 or multiples thereof. (W. Vernon Burke, Jr.).

20. Amend the Monitor to add the word "Amen" in various places of the Ceremony for Leveling a Cornerstone. (W. Vernon Burke, Jr.).

21. Amend Article VII of the Constitution in regards to the Manner of Voting in the Grand Lodge. (William A. "Bill" Lins).

22. Amend Article VII of the Constitution in regards to the Manner of Voting in the Grand Lodge. (William Harold Collum, Jr.).

23. Amend Article 20c regarding the appointment of the Audit Committee of the Grand Lodge Trustees and required the Audit Committee report on the last day of the Annual Communication. (Fred R. Smith).

STATEMENTS OF AVAILABILITY
Grand Junior Warden:
1. Claude Ervin
2. Gerald Harris
3. Jerry L. Martin
4. Charles McKay
5. Thomas Shelton
6. D.C. Taylor

Masonic Home and School Board:
Paul D. Underwood

Committee on Work:
None submitted

Library & Museum:
Graham H. Childress

 

[My Freemasonry]

I would like to start the updates with a link to the Grand Lodge of Texas' website for the 2010 Annual Communications Order of Business Program.

Click here to access a PDF of the Program

The 2010 Annual Communications Today will begin at 9:00 AM. Please check back periodically to see updates.

Let the games begin!!!!

Thursday

9:30 am - The Most Worshipful Grand Master just reported that the charter for Panhandle Lodge was arrested for failure to submit the IRS Form 990 that is required by ALL lodges in the US.

9:47 am - Various reports on the Temple building and library are being given.

10:03 am - Just reported that the Texas Masonic Charity is not being utilized by Texas Masons to its fullest. They will match funds to most Lodge charitable donations. Your Lodge secretary should be able to help you get more information if needed.

10:08 am - The Square and Compass Holding Inc. has just over $10.6 Million in funds from property owned by the Grand Lodge of Texas. The fund has made over $3.7 million from gas leases on the property owned since 2007.

11:13 am - The Fraternal Relations Committee report was presented to the Grand Lodge Members. It included that "the other Grand Lodge that we share a jurisdiction with" will be meeting with our Fraternal Relations committee over the next year to discuss full recognition with visitation. This of course is speaking of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas, F&AM as we have already reported in a previous exclusive report on MasonsofTexas.com. This makes our report official by word of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas, AF&AM.

11:24 am - Break for lunch

1:15 pm - The Grand Junior Warden is giving an oration on Trust.

1:48 pm - Resolutions 4, 9, 10, 15, 17, and 23 have been withdrawn.

2:18 pm - Art. 318 A has changed the endowment cap to allow a disbursement anytime money is made in the fund. This basically removes the requirement that the Grand Lodge could only distribute dividends if the funds were worth more than $100.

2:31 pm - Holdover Resolution from 2009 No. 18 (Passed)

2:37 pm - Resolution No. 1 did not get support from the Purpose and Policy Committee.

2:45 pm - Resolution No. 1 put to vote by the members (Failed)
Note: Resolution No. 1 Failed by a massive amount. Just a glance estimate 100 for and 3200 against.

2:54 pm - Resolution No. 2 was "Not Heard" meaning not considered for vote or discussion. Since this was brought up and failed last year it needed a 2/3 vote to allow it for reconsideration. There are 5 more resolutions that require the 2/3 vote this year.

2:58 pm - Resolution No. 3 was "tabled"

3:00 pm - The committee supports Resolution No. 5.

3:02 pm - Resolution No. 5 put to a vote by the members (Passed)

3:11 pm - Resolution No. 6 was amended and put to a vote by the members (Passed)

3:15 pm - The committee did not support Resolution No. 7 and put to a vote by the members (Failed)

3:16 pm - Resolutions No. 8, 9, and 10 were withdrawn.

MoTx reminder: The next resolution is No. 11 which was submitted by MoTx staff member Bill Lins. It is to make it a Masonic Disciplinary Action to "make any negative reference or take any negative action in regard to a petitioner's or member's faith, creed or race at any time."

3:24 pm - Resolution No. 11 was supported by the Committee on Procedures and Policy with a wonderful speech by PGM M. Boyd Patterson. It was then sent to vote by the members (Passed)
Note: This passed overwhelmingly.