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EXCELLENCE BY VIRTUE: Lead with our HEARTS; Think with our HEADS; Work with our HANDS

Through education and in consequence of our streamlined focus in pursuit of Masonic excellence, Masonic District #108 will work in harmony as a common mass to reinforce our District Lodges in support of the Grand Lodge of Texas.

• President's Message
• Special Ladies' Event
• Rosenberg Lodge Fantastic Teeth Delivery
• Morton Lodge E.A. Education Night - April 29, 2019
• Upcoming Degrees
• MWSA Strategic Plan
• Sugar Land Lodge Past Masters Evening - April 8, 2019
• MWSA Upcoming Educational Meetings
• Lodge Google Calendars
• MWSA April Business Meeting - April 23, 2019 - Pleasant Hill Lodge
• District Deputy Grand Master's Traveling Schedule
• Hempstead Lodge Raffle Sale
• Morton Lodge Raffle Sale
• Brookshire Lodge Fish Fry - April 13, 2019
• Upcoming Events
• Food for Thought
• Newsletter Archive
• Newsletter Material Submission
• Suggestion Box

Honorable Brethren of MWSA 108:

Greetings. The month of March was busy and positive for our District. Following is a list of District brags: EA Degree at Morton on March 3, Morton Graded EA Degree by R:.W:. Duane Anthony of the Committee on Work (March 7), MWSA 108 Called Education Meeting at Brookshire Lodge (covered Masonic Protocol, Decorum, and Etiquette, Balloting, Purging and a history lesson on Brother Lamar). Sugar Land, Rosenberg and Morton co-hosted a Special Ladies event at Sugar Land Lodge on March 23, and two Brothers were raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason at Morton Lodge March 21 and 28, respectively. Members of Rosenberg Lodge provided more than 200 dental packages to the Needville Elementary 2nd Graders on March 28 (the article will be presented in the Fort Bend Herald). Lastly, special recognition goes out to Katy Lodge for hosting an EA Education night on March 25.

During the month of March, the official visitations began. It was a real treat to visit with Morton, Pleasant Hill, Hempstead, Sugar Land and Rosenberg. I am thankful to those brothers and MWSA leaders who joined me. I am proud of this District, and I know each of you are too. A few additional masonic events during the month of March are as follows: I attended the Official Visit of R:.W:. Frank Smith to my dad’s home Lodge (Valley 175 in Burnet, Texas). I presented a plaque of appreciation to the Lodge for their support of my dad and my mother during my dad’s Masonic career, and more especially in his last days on this earth. On March 22, I and two others visited Edna Lodge to recognize the Lodge on their 125-year anniversary. Most Worshipful Terry W. Stogner was present. Many District brothers were also in attendance at the 30th MWSA GM Banquet at Reagan Lodge on March 27. It was great seeing so many of our District Brethren.

April will be another busy month for our District. My official visits will resume with Katy, Brookshire and Waller on April 2, 4 and 9, respectively. Sugar Land Lodge will host a Past Master’s Night on April 8 (all are invited). CF Spencer Lodge will host a Forum on April 13 and Brookshire Lodge will be conducting its Annual Scholarship Fish Fry on April 13. The MWSA Stated Business Meeting will be hosted by Pleasant Hill Lodge on April 23. Morton Lodge will conduct an EA Education program on April 29. Times will be made available later in the month.

The masonic year is coming to a close. Those aspiring leaders who desire advancement within your Lodge’s officer line, I encourage you to begin working on your proficiency and those other requirement as expressed in Grand Lodge Law. If I or the District Instructor can provide assistance, please call upon us. All should remember, the MWSA 108 will be providing for some educational opportunities in this regard soon. I encourage each of you to visit the educational meeting schedule.

I look forward to seeing all of you in the month of April! There are plenty of opportunities!

On Saturday, March 23, 2019, Morton Lodge #72, Rosenberg Lodge #881, and Sugar Land Lodge #1141 came together to honor the Widows and Special Ladies of our Brothers. This event was very well received and very special to those in attendance. Please see below for a write up by Brother Senior Warden Hinote of Sugar Land Lodge, as well as a copy of the speech given by R:.W:. Cody Cockroft and some pictures from the event.

We are very thankful for Brother Senior Deacon Sammy Larbi of Sugar Land Lodge and Past Master Albert Davis of Rosenberg Lodge for putting together this event.

Special Ladies Event – March 23, 2019

By: Everett Hinote

It was the pleasure of Morton Lodge No. 72, Rosenberg Lodge No. 881, and Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141 to hold a luncheon and presentation for the Masonic Widows and Special Ladies of these three lodges. They came together to provide a delicious meal catered by McAllister’s Deli that consisted of baked potatoes, soup, all the fixin’s, and dessert that everyone enjoyed. When the meal was finished, the ladies were led into the lodge room while a string quartet from William B. Travis High School provided music for their escort.

In attendance were Masons from the three lodges sitting in the officer positions with the Masters of Morton and Rosenberg, Chip Entz and Scott McElrath respectively, joining Brother Senior Warden Everett Hinote of Sugar Land in the East.

Brother Hinote called for a public opening of the lodge to begin the proceedings. Worshipful Master Entz led the opening invocation, and Worshipful Master McElrath led everyone in the pledges of the United States and Texas Flags. Following this were a few remarks from the Brethren in the East along with other introductions of those in attendance. Past Master Albert Davis of Rosenberg Lodge continued the program with a recitation of several poems dedicated to the Special Ladies.

Brother Senior Deacon Sammy Larbi of Sugar Land Lodge then presented a few remarks about the Masonic Widows Pin and the token’s significance according to the Grand Lodge of Washington State. Everett Davis, daughter of Albert Davis presented the special pins to the ladies. District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District No. 108 Cody Cockroft then provided a unique speech to the ladies titled, “Titles and Stations”. The message prepared specifically for this event focused on the important value that the Supreme Architect of the Universe places on our Widows. Subsequently, R:.W:. Cockroft educated the ladies on the Blue Slipper Lapel Pin and made a commitment to each lady that each would receive one, with a copy of the speech, by hand delivery from a Mason. Lastly, on behalf of the Grand Master Terry W. Stogner, each lady was presented a GM’s coin by Everett Davis and a few select words

on behalf of the Grand Master.

Further music was provided by the Travis High School String Quartet, including works from Beethoven, Mouret, Tim Rice, as well as a few others. These students were extremely talented and were thanked for sharing their music with us. The Worshipful Masters concluded the presentation with a few more remarks from each, and Past Master Randy Whitaker was asked to provide the Benediction. This event was a big hit with our District Lodges and especially our Special Ladies. We look forward to working together in the future to put on another joint event for our Special Ladies.

Titles and Stations

This following presentation was developed and provided exclusively for the Special Ladies’ Event held at Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141 on 23 March 2019. The hosting authorities were Morton Lodge No. 72, Rosenberg Lodge No. 881, and Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141.

Life is comprised of titles. In our society, like those before and likely well after ours, humans

have necessitated the need to be associated with titles. As our special guests assembled before us today, all of you have associated with titles in your honorable lives. Titles such as “WIFE”; “MOTHER”; “MANAGER OF THE HOUSEHOLD”; “CARETAKER”; “FRIEND”; and “A MASON’S WIFE” are just examples of titles that each of you held (and hold) in high esteem.

A station is much more profound than a title. A station is a social standing of society. One

could say it is a ranking. I cannot, nor would I attempt, to compare my interest or goal to be a

Mason with that of my masonic peers. I do suspect, however, that each of these fine men did

not obligate himself to be a mason for personal gain or societal recognition, but rather to better himself for his wife and children. Our station, as Masons, is in part an obligation that each one of us have made before God and the brotherhood of man - to tender our minds, hearts and hands for the Station of a Widow.

There are about 80 references to Widows in the Holy Bible expressed in the Old and New

Testaments. These references can be read in the works of Moses, the prophets, the Psalms and the Proverbs of Solomon, the Gospels, the Book of Acts, and the letters to the churches of the New Testament. One may ask, why is this? Because it is important. BECAUSE EACH OF YOU ARE IMPORTANT!

The Supreme Architect of the Universe commissioned the nation of Israel to be a defender of

the Widow and for the Church to imitate HIM. GOD is the Deity who keeps a careful eye on the

Widow and is profoundly concerned for her and her well being. Throughout the scriptures, GOD instructs us to not exclude our Special Ladies and not to take advantage of their vulnerabilities. In Acts, Chapter 6, the importance of taking care of the widow was so important that the twelve disciples hand selected seven men of good reputation, full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit to be responsible for the widow. In James 1:27, there is no mincing of words, and I quote, “Religion that is pure and undefined before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world”.

There are at least four (4) inspiring stories of courageous Widows in the Holy Bible:

Luke 21:1-4 – The widow who gave two coins (an example of gifting through poverty

and Jesus recognizing her as giving more than all the rest);

First Kings 17 – The widow at Zarepath (providing her and her son’s only food [very

little] to Elijah). She thought of this small amount of food being her and her son’s last as

they were starving to death.

Naomi and Ruth – each of which suffered tremendous misfortune and through courage

and ingenuity triumphed over their misfortunes. Ruth consequently became the great grandmother of Israel’s greatest king (King David); and

Luke 2 speaks of “Anna” and her dedication. Through her dedication to the Church and

obedience to God, God gifted her the reward of observing the Messiah.

As Masons, it is a requirement to have a good reputation. We earnestly strive for wisdom

throughout our Masonic journey. Therefore, I believe Masons are commissioned by God to

imitate Him and to hold each of you in high regard – one of the highest Stations in our society: that of the wife of a Brother Mason who has laid down his working tools and entered the Celestial Lodge above.

The Masonic slipper pin is a small lapel pin in the shape of a blue slipper. Many wives,

daughters and widows wear one of these slippers on a coat or dress when traveling alone. For many years this pin has served to identify loved ones of Masons to other members of the craft. The origin of this symbol comes from the book of Ruth and is as follows:

"Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning

changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor:

and this was a testimony in Israel. So, the kinsman drew off his shoe and gave it to Boaz.

Boaz held it up for all in the gate to see. He asked them to be witnesses that he became

Naomi's protector, Ruth's husband, and a redeemer of Elimelech's property."

Thank you for sharing your husbands with us. Thank you for holding your husband accountable to his Station as a Mason. Thank you for inspiring Freemasonry in Texas. Thank you for investing your precious time with us today at Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141. May God bless each of you every day for the rest of your beautiful lives.

In Your Service,

Cody Cockroft, PM

District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District #108

On March 28, 2019, members of Rosenberg Masonic Lodge No. 881 handed out over 200 dental packets containing toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, and timers to 2nd grade children of Needville Elementary School. The Grand Lodge of Texas and the Masonic Children & Family Services of Texas, with partnerships with medical professionals and educational facilities around the state conducts such programs for the betterment of society, especially to our State’s future leaders and those persons in need.

“This is a powerful example of why 70,000 masons in Texas continue to pursue the precepts of Freemasonry – to selflessly serve and better our communities”, said Cody Cockroft. When asked of the importance of dental hygiene, Needville youngsters unanimously responded with, “it promotes general overall good health”.

Rosenberg Masonic Lodge No. 881 thanks the Needville Elementary School leadership for allowing the opportunity to meet with these special students.

Rosenberg Masonic Lodge No. 881 members in attendance: Albert Davis, Phillip Wigginton, Charles Hand, Bob Duncan, and Cody Cockroft.

Morton Lodge #72 will hold an E.A. Education Night on Monday, April 29, 2019, at 6:30 PM. All E.A.'s are welcome and encouraged to attend and learn more about the E.A. work and the Degree itself. All F.C.'s and M.M.'s are welcome, as well!

If any Lodge has any upcoming degrees, we'll be happy to list them here so that we can get the word out and get more Brothers to the degrees. Just let us know!

Brothers, please see below for our current progress on our Strategic Plan. You may click on the picture below to enlarge it.

Past Masters of District #108,

We would love to see you at Sugar Land Lodge's Past Masters Evening on April 8, 2019. For information and to RSVP, please use the Google Form below. We look forward to seeing you there!

Below are the dates of the various Business and Called Meetings and their educational components. Times and locations of these meetings will be added as soon as they are confirmed.

• Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - Business Meeting - Officer Duty Manuals - Pleasant Hill Lodge - Meal @ 6:30 PM, Meeting @ 7:00 PM
  
• Friday, May 24, 2019 - Called Meeting - Future Officer Opening & Closing Forum - Katy Lodge - Meal @ 6:00 PM, Meeting @ 6:30 PM
• Wednesday, June 19, 2019 - Called Meeting - Mock Committee on Work Esoteric Forum - Brookshire Lodge - Meal @ 6:00 PM, Meeting @ 6:30 PM
• Tuesday, July 23, 2019 - Business Meeting - Duties of the Investigation Committee - Katy Lodge - Meal @ 6:30 PM, Meeting @ 7:00 PM
• Saturday, September 14, 2019 - Called Meeting - Mock Committee on Work Esoteric Exam - Brookshire Lodge - Meal @ 6:00 PM, Meeting @ 6:30 PM
• Saturday, October 5, 2019 - Committee on Work Forum & Exam - Brookshire Masonic Lodge #1066 - 10:00 AM
• Tuesday, October 22, 2019 - Business Meeting - Education TBD - Rosenberg Lodge - Meal @ 6:30 PM, Meeting @ 7:00 PM
• Date TBD - Called Meeting - Master Mason Degree Competition - Katy Lodge

Brothers,

Please work to keep your Lodge's Google Calendar that is linked to the District #108 Google Calendar up-to-date. With everyone's calendar up-to-date, Brothers from other Lodges will be able to plan to attend more events and meetings around our District. This will take some work on the part of whoever controls the individual Lodge's Google Calendar, but it will be well worth the time investment.

Thank you!

At the January MWSA meeting, we voted to go to a quarterly business meeting schedule with educational meetings scheduled between the business meetings.

The next business meeting of the District 108 MWSA will be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at Pleasent Hill Lodge #380 located at Schneider Road & FM 1488 in Field's Store, TX. We are working to put together a beneficial and educational agenda.

This section will be used to communicate Right Worshipful Cockroft's traveling schedule. Please note that this will not include various area and District Lodge degrees/events.

Hempstead Lodge is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win one of several firearms or a Louis Vuitton gift card. To purchase a raffle ticket for $10, see any member of Hempstead Lodge, or call WM Rodney Crosby at 281-831-4523.

Morton Lodge is holding a raffle benefiting their Scholarship Fund. The drawing will be held on April 9th. Ticket are only $1.00!

Brookshire Lodge will be holding their Fish Fry fundraiser on Saturday, April 13, 2019, from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Pattison Fire Station. They are currently seeking donated items for their silent auction. If any Lodges or Brothers wish to donate items to the auction, you may contact Brother Larry Rankin at lrankin5@comcast.net or the phone number listed at the bottom of the flyer below.

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.

Tuesday, April 2, 2019 - Katy Lodge Stated Meeting - Official Visit by R:.W:. Cody M. Cockroft

Thursday, April 4, 2019 - Brookshire Lodge Stated Meeting - Official Visit by R:.W:. Cody M. Cockroft

Monday, April 8, 2019 - Sugar Land Lodge Past Masters Evening

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 - Waller Lodge Stated Meeting - Official Visit by R:.W:. Cody M. Cockroft

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 - Morton Lodge Stated Meeting

Thursday, April 11, 2019 - Hempstead Lodge Stated Meeting

Saturday, April 13, 2019 - Brookshire Lodge Fish Fry - Pattison Fire Station - 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Monday, April 15, 2019 - Sugar Land Lodge Stated Meeting

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 - Rosenberg Lodge Stated Meeting

Saturday, April 20, 2019 - Pleasant Hill Lodge Stated Meeting

Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - MWSA #108 Business Meeting - Pleasant Hill Lodge

Monday, April 29, 2019 - Morton Lodge #72 E.A. Education Night - 6:30 PM

Saturday, May 4, 2019 - Katy Lodge Annual Fish Fry & Auction

Full calendars for events around District #108 may be found at the District #108 website by clicking the button below.

Famous composer and Brother Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was initiated at Beneficence Lodge on 14 December 1784, passed on 7 January 1785 and raised shortly thereafter. He composed many pieces for use during Lodge ceremonies, and he incorporated many Masonic principals and ideas into his music and in the operas that he helped to create.

Need to refer back to a past issue of the newsletter? Click below to go to the newsletter archive on our District website.

Brothers,

If you or any Brother of your Lodge wishes to submit an announcement, event, or other blurbs for our monthly newsletter, please submit those materials below.