www.grandlodgeoftexas.org Vol. XII, Issue 1 Most Worshipful M. Boyd Patterson, Jr. Grand Master of Masons in Texas OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF TEXAS, A.F. & A.M. Winter 2003 Vol. XII, Issue 1 The official publication of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons The Oldest Continuous Institution Chartered by the Republic of Texas A Special Personal Note eatures as we begin 2003 F 3Grand Master’s Message My sincere thanks are extended to the 4-5 2003 Grand Lodge Officers following: 6-7 167th Grand Lodge Session First, foremost and always - to the 8 2002 Award Recipients Brethren of Texas for permitting me the 8-9 Installation 2002 honor of serving you during this year. 10 2003 Emblem Description To the members of the 2003 Planning Between Friends Information Team - for three years of hard work to GM Directory Information prepare a program which Texas Lodges Grand Master’s Conferences and Texas Masons deserve 11 Grand Master’s Calendar To the Past Grand Masters, Grand Sam Houston Hall of Fame Lodge Officers, District Deputy Grand Masonic Youth Information Masters, Committee Members and all 12 Fiat Lux Conference those who have volunteered for positions Grand Master’s Banquet of responsibility - you will make it possible Masonic Home & School News for us to turn plans into reality. 13 2002 Legislative Update Texas Masonic Philanthropies Together we will Take Up The Challenge! 14 Grand Secretary’s Message Appendant Bodies Update Fraternally yours, 15 Jewelry Sales 16 Historical Observances Warden’s Retreats Anniversary Lodges The Texas Mason is an official publication of the Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M. Published quarterly for members of Texas Lodges and subscribers. Opinions expressed by the editor and individual writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Copyright 2003 by the Trustees of the Grand Lodge of Texas, all rights reserved. Publisher: Trustees of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Editor: Richard A. Page, Sr., P.M. Richardson Lodge No. 1214. E-mail:[email protected] The Texas Mason encourages submissions of items and photographs of general interest, reserving the right to edit and use only as needs and policies dictate. Computer documents must be in PC-compatible format. Materials should be sent to the editor, P.O. Box 607, Waco, TX 76703. All materials become the property of the magazine and cannot be returned. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $6.00 per year in U.S. and Canada, $15.00 for threes years; $10.00 per year in foreign countries, $25.00 for three years. PERMISSION TO REPRINT: Permission to reprint original articles appearing in the Texas Mason is granted all recognized Masonic publications with credit to the author and/or the Texas Mason magazine. Page 2 www.grandlodgeoftexas.org M. Boyd Patterson, Jr. 2003 Grand Master of Masons in Texas Take Up the Challenge - To Learn and Improve “What came you here to do?” “To learn ... and improve myself in Masonry.” Sound familiar? Of course it does! Think back to that first study night after your EA Degree. There you are - the newest Entered Apprentice in your Lodge - sitting down with another Brother to begin your Masonic education. How long did that first session last - one hour? ninety minutes? How far did you get - twelve questions and answers? more? less? Irrespective of those specifics, what has been a constant part of your Masonic experience - from that first night of study until today as you read the first issue of this magazine for the new Masonic year? The one constant has been our desire “To learn”, and that as we learn to “improve ourselves” and not just in Masonry but in all that we do in life. Think for a moment on what membership in Masonry has done for you: new friends, new opportunities for service to mankind, the chance to develop and exhibit leadership skills, to improve your vocabulary and public speaking ability, in short - to improve yourself through learning. Education, and specifically Masonic education, is the touchstone around which the 2003 term plan has been developed. Since 1836 Texas Masons have been unsurpassed in developing, perpetuating Portrait by Allen Tuell and passing to our new members the ritual which binds us together, which distinguishes Freemasonry as an institution. The members of the Committee on Work, hundreds of District Instructors and well. Become familiar with the programs we are continuing. Learn tens of thousands of Masons in every Lodge in the state have more about the new opportunities we have created: the Texas Masonic preserved the work and have used it as a unique method to not only Philanthropies initiative, new and informative Grand Master’s unite us but also to set each of us onto our own path toward Masonic Conferences, the Wardens’ Retreat Program, MWSA Development, education. the Fiat Lux Conference and others. Plan now to be a part of all of them. During this Grand Lodge year we will not turn aside from this essential element of Brotherhood. In fact, those of you already We can never learn too much. We dare not cease in our efforts to working toward earning the Vanguard Lodge Award have become improve ourselves and this great Fraternity. Take time to continue intimately familiar with the new requirements which have been added your Masonic education. It is the reason we became Brothers. It is the regarding ritualistic proficiency. Instead, it is my desire and it is our key which will insure a great tomorrow, building on a tradition of plan that we will continue this devotion to learning the work of which we can be proud. Freemasonry, and we will add more opportunities for all of the Brethren of Texas to improve themselves in Masonry by becoming Fraternally yours, as well versed in leadership, management, fiscal affairs, promotion of charity and service to our Brothers. We can do more. We will preserve our heritage and our unique identity. At the same time we will add opportunities to continue to learn. Please take time to read about the programs described elsewhere M. Boyd Patterson, Jr. in this magazine, and visit the Grand Lodge of Texas web site as Grand Master www.grandlodgeoftexas.org Page 3 2003 Grand Lodge Officers Reese L. Harrison, Jr. Elmer Murphey, III Deputy Grand Master Grand Senior Warden Grand Junior Warden Brian R. Dodson Brian R. Dodson was raised a Master Active in the Scottish Rite, Brother Mason in Bellaire Lodge No. 1336 in 1981, Dodson is a Past Wise Master of the Houston serving as Worshipful Master in 1987-88 and Valley Chapter Knight Rose Croix and the receiving the Golden Trowel in 1998. He is a current Sr. Warden of the Lodge of Perfection. member of Gray No. 329, Tranquility No. He received the KCCH 1987 and the 33rd 2000, Post Oak Island No. 181, and the Texas Degree in 1997. Lodge of Research. Brother Dodson is a member of the This most dedicated Mason has served Shrine, M.S.R.I.C.F., Allied Masonic Degrees, this Grand Lodge as District Education Officer Knight Masons, Red Cross of Constantine, in 1992, District Deputy Grand Master in the Royal Order of Scotland, Grotto, 1993, Grand Jr. Deacon in 1997, District Amaranth and the Order of the Eastern Star. Masonic Relations Officer 1998, Grand He has served as a DeMolay Advisory Council Orator and State Coordinator in 2000, and member, the Executive Officer’s Staff in 2001- Grand Pursuivant in 2002. 02, District Governor in 2002 and received the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor in He served as a Regional Conference 1998. Coordinator in 1995, member of the Memorials Committee in 1991, the Grand Civic and personal Associations include Officers Report Committee in 1995-99 and being a Life member of Houston Livestock was its Chairman in 1999. He also served on No. 95 and is a recipient of the KYCH. He Show and Rodeo, Past President of Alief the Masonic Education and Service served the Grand Chapter as Grand Sr. Jaycees, member of St. Catherine of Sienna Committee 2000-02 and Chaired the “Take Steward in 1995 and Grand Orator in 2001. Episcopal Church, a Dale Carnegie instructor Time to Read” program from 1999-2001. He was District Deputy Grand Master for the for 24 years, and is a Life Member of Theta Grand Council in 1995. He is a Past Governor Xi Fraternity. Brother Dodson is also active in the York of Gulf Coast York Rite College No. 106 and Rite where he has served as the presiding is serving as the Aid to the Deputy Grand Brother Dodson has two beautiful officer of Washington Chapter No. 2, Houston Master of the Grand Encampment, Knights daughters who are the joys of his life, Kimberly Council No. 1 and Houston Commandery Templar. and Mary Frances. Page 4 Arvol Willingham James D. Ward Grand Treasurer Grand Secretary Larry Blanchard Donny W. Broughton James F. Brumit Grand Chaplain Grand Orator Grand Marshal Todd W. Polk Gene Conley Richard A. Page, Sr. A. W. “Archie” Scott Grand Senior Deacon Grand Junior Deacon Grand Senior Steward Grand Junior Steward Bill W. Dormady James C. Yelvington Allen H. Tuell Tommy D. Guest Grand Pursuivant Grand Organist Grand Photographer Grand Tiler Page 5 2 1 1) 2002 District Deputy Grand Masters. 2) Martha Hansard 3 and Elizabeth Cantrill of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. 3) The children from the Masonic Home and School perform a musical program. 4) R:W: Reese Harrison, G.S.W., speaking on legislative items. 5) R:W: Buddy Baccus, P.G.M.