As our tradition at MoTx we as staff like to see open discussion on various resolutions that are being presented before Grand Lodge of Texas at their Annual Communication. You may choose to write for or against on each or you may like to go in detail. At minimum, BE RESPECTFUL. Just because you may not agree with a person doesn't mean a great discussion, possibly an education oppurtunity, could not be had.
Also, this should not be taken as a means of persuasion one way or the other but to allow discussion on topics. Many of us on here do not even have a GL vote so our opinion is practically useless anyway. But what a great way to get people thinking. Not to mention the fact these are just summaries of the resolutions and the committees of GL will offer more insight that we may not be able to disclose during the discussion.
Here they are. Hot off the press and I am pround to point out out of the 23 resolutions 3 were submitted by MoTx active members. (Bill Lins and Sirus) Great Job guys regardless of the outcome.
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
Also, this should not be taken as a means of persuasion one way or the other but to allow discussion on topics. Many of us on here do not even have a GL vote so our opinion is practically useless anyway. But what a great way to get people thinking. Not to mention the fact these are just summaries of the resolutions and the committees of GL will offer more insight that we may not be able to disclose during the discussion.
Here they are. Hot off the press and I am pround to point out out of the 23 resolutions 3 were submitted by MoTx active members. (Bill Lins and Sirus) Great Job guys regardless of the outcome.
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
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There is a ton of issues to deal with no doubt but we definitely need to stop hemorrhaging money. I would love to think the per-capita increase would make things better but I am almost fully convinced it would prolong practices that should be cut. Cannot wait for the debate on these resolutions though.
