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Results- 2013 Texas Grand Annual Communication

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Grand JW- Jerry Kirby

Grand Treasurer- Archie Scott

Committee on Work- T.K. Anthony

2012 Holdover #7- rename "Grand Organist" to "Grand Musician"- PASSED

2012 Tabled #17A- regarding criminal background reports- POSTPONED UNTIL 2014

2013 #1- to allow only members of a Lodge to vote on petitions & advancement- FAILED

2013 #2- To preserve endowed membership installment plans- PASSED

2013 #3- to rescind existing Title V & restore it to as it existed in 2004- POSTPONED UNTIL 2014

2013 #4- to set a minimum price of $1000 for endowed memberships- FAILED

2013 #5- to reallocate the $1.25/member per capita from the Masonic Home & School to the Grand Lodge building fund- FAILED

2013 #6- to reallocate the $3.75/member per capita from the Texas Masonic Charities Foundation to the Grand Lodge building fund- FAILED

2013 #7- to clarify the requirements to become a "Fellow in Masonic Research"- PASSED

2013 #8- to eliminate Masonic District #101- PASSED

2013 #9- to allow Brethren to add to their endowed memberships in $100 increments- PASSED

2013 #10- to limit per capita to the amount of the return on endowed memberships- FAILED

2013 #11- to require the Grand Secretary to mail information to Lodges which do not have email- PASSED

2013 #12- to allow restored Lodges to amend their names- PASSED

2013 #13- to change the manner of voting in the Grand Lodge- TABLED

2013 #14- to allow grading of exemplified degrees- FAILED

2013 #15- AMENDED to prohibit possession of cipher work IN ANY FORM, including electronic/digital, on Lodge premises or in the presence of a candidate- PASSED

2013 #16- to allow "walking" MM Lectures- PASSED

2013 #17- to ban smoking anywhere on the Grand Lodge premises- WITHDRAWN

2013 #18- AMENDED to prohibit EAs & FCs from serving as SW or JW in any Lodge in which a ballot is taken (they may still serve as Wardens during degree conferrals)- PASSED

GM's RECOMMENDATION #1- to place a moratorium on the holding of "table Lodges" until a uniform procedure & ritual for such is established & approved by Grand Lodge- PASSED

GM's RECOMMENDATION #2- that the methods of preparation of candidates for the degrees and all paraphernalia used therein be only that approved by the Committee on Work and listed or provided for in the Monitor and/or the Grand Lodge Law (NO "Chambers of Reflection")- PASSED
 
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Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Thank you for the updated information Brother!!

I so wanted to be there this weekend, but the GAOTU had other plans for us Dallas folks!!
 

Kenneth Lottman

Registered User
Thank You Brother Bill for posting this sorry I could not find you this year maybe next year we can have a section were we can meet each other from here there!
 

ess1113

Premium Member
Great summary of the proceedings.
Just a reminder that one of the best ways to get to meet other brothers at Grand Lodge is to volunteer as an assistant tiler at one of the many doors, or to volunteer to work the registration desk.
They are always looking for volunteers and if you are just starting out after being raised then a great chance to meet the myriad of brothers.
Contact Grand Lodge in November to get a point of contact.
 

Benjamin Baxter

Moderator
Premium Member
I want to be there, but the dfw icepocolypse kept me at work and then at home. I was planning on meeting some of you at crickets, too.
 

jwhoff

Premium Member
Crickets! Brother Wild Bill ... did you grace the outdoor balcony this year?

That would have been hard core for sure.

But worthy of the Wild Man of Wharton!
 

JJones

Moderator
Some of those results are a bit disappointing for me but I think they were predictable. There was one or two pleasant surprises though.

I was hoping to attend this year as well but Bro Bennylee's Icepocalypse kept me holed up. :)
 

Bro. Michael

Registered User
On Saturday morning, I was hoping that the Fraternal Relations Committee would report on the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas and on the Grand Lodge in France, but apparently the Grand Master did not permit the Committee to make its Report, other than to vote on recognition for the Grand Lodge of Tahiti. The Grand Master then congratulated himself for finishing all the Resolutions and Committee Reports by 9:30 AM Saturday, and then turned our Grand Lodge session into a joke-telling marathon for the next 2 1/2 hours, with only the necessary breaks to ballot on Gr Jr Warden, Gr Treasurer, a Home & School Director and a Committee on Work position.

I have never heard of any issues with the GLofTX until recently. Is this kind of thing a common occurrence in TX? I have never been to a GL anywhere (though I am hoping to go to next years communication).
 

Billy Jones

Registered User
I am a Mississippi Mason so I have a couple of questions what is "walking" in the MM Degree and what are "table lodges"?
 

tomasball

Premium Member
Abbreviating the Fraternal Relations report seemed very strange. I privately inquired of a friend on that committee, and he says they haven't heard anything from the MWPHGLOT since they cancelled that previous meeting.
 

JJones

Moderator
I am a Mississippi Mason so I have a couple of questions what is "walking" in the MM Degree and what are "table lodges"?

A google search on table lodges brought up several results. I'd post links but I'll let you decide which source best answers your question.

As for 'walking' I think this refers to being able to use trestleboard 'mats' or something along those lines instead of slide shows at the appropriate place during degrees.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Thanks Brother Bill. Hope you are now home, safe.
Other than a bit of "Ice Road Trucking" between Rockdale & Altair, the trip home wasn't too bad. THP was busy, though- overturned car just south of La Grange & 4 cars wrecked on the bypass @ Columbus- all on SH 71.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Thank You Brother Bill for posting this sorry I could not find you this year maybe next year we can have a section were we can meet each other from here there!
I always sit right by the door in the (Masonically) NE corner of the lower deck, in the last row because I'm a good Baptist! :wink: Those who wish to speak regarding resolutions on the floor line up along that aisle, because it's closest to the podium, and that door is closest to the "smoking section" at the rear of the building. :wink:
 
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