MWSA District #108 News - Issue #16

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Lodge Leadership,

Please distribute this newsletter to the members of your Lodge so that all Masons of District 108 may keep up with the happenings of our great District.

Thank you!

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
• MWSA Trestle Board
• District #108 Forum and Exam
• R:.W:. Borst’s Official Visit Schedule
• Upcoming Graded Degree - Morton Lodge #72
• Grand Master's Visit to Morton Lodge - 14 July 2020
• District #108 Upcoming Events Google Form
• MWSA Business Meeting Rotation Schedule
• MWSA Strategic Plan 2020
• Committee on Work, Southeast Texas - Forum & Exam Schedule
• Lodge Fundraisers
• Morton Lodge History Book
• Masonic Education
• Other Upcoming Events
  
• Called from Labor
• Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay
• Upcoming Degrees
• Lodge Google Calendars
• Newsletter Archive

Brothers,

The MWSA leadership hopes that April finds you staying healthy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please remember that the MWSA is here as a support mechanism for all of the Lodges in our District. If you or your Lodge needs our assistance, please let us know! On 21 March 2020, M:.W:. Paul D. Under ordered that all Texas Lodges cease holding Stated and Called meetings until further notice due to the pandemic. This will include all scheduled MWSA meetings for our District. We will let you know when we will resume our meetings.

We all know that this virus is turning the world upside down. Let us continue to invoke the aid of Deity for our communities, state, country, and planet. Let us especially remember those who do not have the luxury of isolating themselves, such as first responders and medical personnel.

As of this writing, R:.W:. Borst’s official visits have been put on hold. Once they resume, we will let everyone know as quickly as possible.

Brothers, we do not know what the future holds, but we will make it through by working together.

May the Great Architect continue to dwell with and bless our Fraternity.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

David C. Berndt

MWSA President

Please see below for the MWSA ”year at a glance”. Special thanks to PM Sharbrough for putting it together! You may click on the photo to access a full size PDF version.

This year, the District #108 Forum and Exam by R:.W:. Kenneth Young of the Committee on Work will be held on Saturday 3 October 2020 at Morton Lodge #72. Even if you do not plan on sitting for an exam, it is still important to attend the event. Everyone will learn something through observing and taking part in the forum as well as observing the exam if you do not plan to sit for a certificate. District #108 should have a very strong showing at the event.

Morton Lodge is currently coordinating with R:.W:. Young of the Committee on Work to schedule a graded EA Degree as soon as possible. Details will be sent out once it is scheduled. Let's be sure to support our Lodges as they take on the excellent undertaking of graded degrees!

M:.W:. Underwood will be making a visit to Morton Lodge #72 at their July Stated Meeting. Morton Lodge will develop an RSVP method to assure that they do not exceed occupancy and that enough food is prepared. More details will be forthcoming.

Brothers,

Please use the Google Form below to let us know of any events that your Lodge has coming up. These may be entered as far in advance as you know them. Stated Meetings do not need to be entered.

Thank you for helping to keep all the Brethren of District #108 up to date on events!

Brothers,

See below for the rotation of business meetings for the next few years.

Brothers, the MWSA Leadership has been working hard on a strategic plan to continue moving our district forward. That plan is pictured below. Clicking on any of the pictures will take you to the entire document.

Brothers, please see below for the complete 2020 schedule of R:.W:. Ken Young, Committee on Work, for 2020. The dates of the forums and exams in the Greater Houston Area have also been added to the Other Upcoming Events section below.

Morton Lodge is holding a raffle for a beautiful handmade Masonic quilt. Tickets are $1.00 each. Please contact Brother John Bradley if you are interested.

Please see the below attachment from Pleasant Hill Lodge #380. Anyone interested, please contact Brother Carl. Contact information is listed on the flyer.

100% of the proceeds will go to Morton Masonic Lodge #72 Scholarship Fund

Raffle Tickets

$1.00 each

For tickets contact Brother John Bradley at 979.264.5384

or email JRLLB1717@GMAIL.COM

Drawing will be held during Morton Lodge’s Stated Meeting

on May 12, 2020.

You do not need to be present to win.

Thank you to Brother Mark Herzog of Grey Lodge

for donating this quilt back to raise additional funds

for Morton Lodge Scholarship Fund.

Morton Lodge is currently completing the third edition of the book on its history. It is currently under edits and formatting and will be made available once it is ready for purchase.

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.

ALL DATES/ACTIVITIES ARE TENTATIVE BASED ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

ALL OFFICIAL VISITS BY RW KEITH BORST HAVE BEEN CANCELLED THROUGHOUT DISTRICT 108 FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL

Wed, Apr 1, 2020- Matagorda Lodge #7 Stated Meeting - CANCELED

Thu, Apr 2, 2020- Brookshire Lodge #1066 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Mon, Apr 6, 2020- Houston Scottish Rite Degree Study Group - 6:00 PM - CANCELED

Mon, Apr 6, 2020- Park Place Commandery #106 Stated Conclave - 6:30 PM

Tue, Apr 7, 2020- Katy Lodge #1439 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Tue, Apr 7, 2020- Waller O.E.S. Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Wed, Apr 8, 2020- North Houston Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Thu, Apr 9, 2020- Richmond Chapter & Council Stated Meeting @ Morton Lodge - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Thu, Apr 9, 2020- Hempstead Lodge #749 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Fri, Apr 10, 2020- Ruthven Commandery #2 Stated Conclave @ Holland Lodge - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Sat, Apr 11, 2020- Melrose Commandery #109 Stated Conclave @ Melrose Lodge - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Mon, Apr 13, 2020- Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Sugar Land Lodge - 7:00 PM - CANCELED

Mon, Apr 13, 2020 - Rosenberg OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Tue, Apr 14, 2020- Morton Lodge #72 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Tue, Apr 14, 2020- Waller Lodge #808 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Tue, Apr 14, 2020- Sugar Land OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Thu, Apr 16, 2020- Katy OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Fri, Apr 17, 2020- Houston Commandery #95 Stated Conclave @ Conroe Lodge - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Sat, Apr 18, 2020- Pleasant Hill Lodge #380 STATED MEETING - 11:00 AM - CANCELED

Mon, Apr 20, 2020- Sugar Land Lodge #1141 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Tue, Apr 21, 2020- Rosenberg Lodge #881 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Thu, Apr 23, 2020- Houston Valley Scottish Rite Stated Meeting - 6:00 PM - CANCELED

Mon, Apr 27, 2020- Fort Bend Commandery #74 Stated Conclave @ Rosenberg Lodge - 6:30 PM - CANCELED

Tue, Apr 28, 2020- Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay Stated Meeting @ Sugar Land Lodge - 7:00 PM - CANCELED

Tue, Apr 28, 2020- MWSA Called Meeting - Brookshire Lodge -EA Forum, Degree Signs, MM Closing - Meal @ 6:30 PM, Meeting @ 7:00 PM - TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR A DIGITAL MEETING

• Past Grand Master Orville O'Neill

Brothers,

Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay was set to work on Saturday 31 August 2019. DeMolay is a wonderful organization for young men from 12-21 years of age. It strives to teach virtues and help young men grow into responsible and committed members of society.

You can learn more about DeMolay here: http://www.texasdemolay.com/what-is-demolay/#

If you know anyone who may be interested in membership at Imperial Chapter, please have them contact David Berndt, Chapter Advisor at chapteradvisor@imperialdemolay.com.

The following degrees have been scheduled in our District:

• None scheduled at this time.

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!

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