Grand Master s Proclamation: To: The Masters, Wardens, Officers, and Members of the Constituent Lodges of Texas, A.F. & A.M.

This Grand Secretary s electronic message is a copy of the letter posted on the server containing each Masonic Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Texas and is intended for Texas Masons only. Lodge maintenance is also posted and other items are mailed to the Lodge. I request that this message not be forwarded to non-masons or posted on Masonic web sites, Blogs, etc. GRAND SECRETARY S MONTHLY COMMUNICATION December 15, 2014 SECRETARIES PLEASE COMMUNICATE THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR MEMBERS, AS APPROPRIATE. I recommend that you print this communication, bring it to your Stated meeting for discussion, and file this letter for your Lodge records. This communication is automatically provided electronically to all Lodges with the capability to use the Texas Lodge Secretaries Database. Individual Master Masons of the Grand Lodge of Texas can sign up for electronic Grand Secretary s messages by contacting the Grand Lodge Web site, grandlodgeoftexas.org. COMMUNICATIONS Worshipful Masters, please read the Grand Master s Proclamation and the Grand Secretary s Announcement at the next Stated meeting. Grand Master s Proclamation: To: The Masters, Wardens, Officers, and Members of the Constituent Lodges of Texas, A.F. & A.M. It is the fundamental duty of Freemasonry to teach the meaning and mission of the symbolism, allegories, philosophy, morality, history, and traditions of Freemasonry to its members. Furthermore, it is incumbent upon each Freemason to engage in a life-long quest to improve his understanding of the nature and purpose of God and the Universe. I, THEREFORE, PROCLAIM AND DIRECT: In at least one Stated Meeting each month from December 2014 through November 2015, every Texas Lodge shall present a short Masonic education program from the multi-part series of Masonic Education Programs furnished by the 2015 Grand Master s Resource Team. For Lodges that meet less frequently than monthly, the Lodge should present a Masonic education program at each Stated Meeting selected from the current month s program or those for months either immediately prior to or following the current Stated Meeting. These brief Masonic education programs are only ten to fifteen minutes in length and should be presented by a Brother selected by the Worshipful Master and at a time deemed appropriate by the Worshipful Master during the Order of Business and the presentation recorded in the minutes of the Lodge. Specific permission is granted to the Worshipful Master to revise the Order of Business accordingly. This Proclamation shall be read at the first Stated Meeting of all Texas Lodges after December 6, 2014 and posted on Lodge bulletin boards. This Proclamation shall expire and be of no further force or effect at midnight, Friday, December 4, 2015. ATTEST Michael L. Wiggins Grand Master Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. &A.M. December 6, 2014 Tommy D. Guest Grand Secretary Grand Lodge of Texas

2015 Grand Master s January Conferences: Brethren, please encourage your members to attend a 2015 Grand Master Conference. On Saturday morning, January 10, the Longview Conference will be at Pine Tree Junior High, 2100 W. Loop 281, Longview, Texas 75604. Registration will be at 9:00 a. m. and Conference will begin at 9:00 a. m. Contact Bill Wyatt at 903-736-0522 or Jim Rumsey at 903-291-2811. On Saturday morning January 24, the Rio Grande Valley Conference will be at the Isla Grand Beach Resort, 500 Padre Blvd, South Padre Island, Texas78597. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the Conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. Contact David Gower at 956-459-5119. On Saturday, January 31, the Houston Conference will be at the Arabia Shrine Center, 10510 Harwin Drive, Houston 77036. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the Conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. Contact H. Bart Henderson at 713-859-0306. 2015 Grand Master January Banquet: Friday, January 23, 6:30 p.m., South Padre Island. Contact David Gower, 956-459-5119. 2015 GLT Cornerstone Leveling: For information, contact W. Mike Spears, Cornerstone Coordinator, (C) 832-248-8418, e-mail w.mike.spears@gmail.com or Jack Coffey, Asst. Coordinator, (C) 210-392-6907, email jdncoffey@gmail.com. Date Time Lodge Cornerstone Location Grand Master 16 Jan 10:00 am Anson Jones 1416 Anson Jones 1416 Tommy F. Chapman RESULTS OF THE 179 TH GRAND ANNUAL COMMUNICATION Resolutions: 2012 Tabled Resolution No. 17A Postponed until the Grand Communication in 2015. To create a criminal background check for a Petitioner. 2013 Tabled Resolution No. 3 Postponed until the Grand Communication in 2015. Amended Title V of the Laws of the Grand Lodge of Texas to rescind the current Title V and replace it with the Title V that was in effect prior to December 4, 2004. Resolution No. 1 Adopted as substituted. Requiring the appointment of a Committee to study the re-write of Title V. Resolution No. 2 Adopted as amended. Amends current Title V to make procedures more effective. Resolution No. 3 Not Adopted. Proposal that the GL assess $100 per Texas home Lodge member for 2015, 2016, and 2017 to renovate and operate the GL Building. Resolution No. 4A. Adopted as amended. States that we continue to have this Grand Lodge Building in Waco, and it be renovated, restored and/or repaired as needed. Resolution No. 4B. Not Adopted. Proposal that the GL Trustees establish a separate fundraiser to restore the GL Building. Resolution No. 5 Not Adopted. Proposal to amend Article 318a to permit endowed member to transfer his endowed membership. Resolution No. 6 Not Adopted. Proposal to Amend Article 318a to permit Trustees to authorize at least a $5 distribution each year (even if it dips into the corpus). Resolution No. 7 Adopted. Add Article 163e about the Ownership and Management of the EMF. Resolution No. 8 Adopted as amended*. Amends Art. II, Art. IV and Art. VII of the Constitution of the GLT to ensure that Masters and Wardens have full voting rights at all Grand Annual Communication and all contested elections of Grand Lodge Officers be conducted by written ballot of Lodges and Members.

Resolution No. 9 Withdrawn. Proposal to amend the Constitution and Article 118 to Masonic Graduates Advisory Committee duties. Resolution No. 10 Postponed until the Grand Communication in 2015. Amend various statutes of the GL Laws in Title I to update the GL Laws as to the Masonic Home and School after closing of the residential facility in Fort Worth in 2005. Resolution No. 11 Postponed until the Grand Communication in 2015. Amend Constitution Article IX to update the GL Constitution with the closing of the MHS residential facility in Fort Worth in 2005. Resolution No. 12 Adopted. Amend Article 393 to delete requirement that a felony automatically disqualifies a candidate. Resolution No. 13 Withdrawn. Proposal to amend Article 313 in processing the Uniform Receipt Card. Resolution No. 14 Not Adopted. Proposal to amend Article 226 and permit handguns in the Lodge room. Resolution No. 15 Adopted. Change the name of New Salem Lodge No. 87 to Alex Tully Masonic Lodge No. 87. Resolution No. 16 Not Adopted. Proposal to amend Article 405a and permit Lodges to e-mail names of candidates to its members. Resolution No. 17 Adopted. Amend Article 178, Laying of Cornerstones. Resolution No. 18 Postponed until the Grand Communication in 2015. Amend Article 126f, GL Committee on Mediation Nos. 1 and 2, to require the Grand Master to have the Mediation Committees mediate pending Masonic disciplinary charges. Resolution No. 19 Adopted as amended*. Amend Article IV, Section 7, of the Constitution to vote by either written or electronic ballot. Resolution No. 20 Adopted. Adds Article 224b, Portraits and Displays in Lodge Rooms. Resolution No. 21 Adopted as amended. Amend Article 340 to require the Civil Law Committee to act upon conveyance of property issues within a limited time frame. Resolution No. 22 Adopted. Amend Article 172, Paragraph 6, to ensure that all Resolutions are filed with the Grand Secretary by April 15 and Recommendations on or before June 15. Resolution No. 23 Not Adopted. Proposal to amend Monitor regarding closing EA & FC Lodges. Resolution No. 24 Adopted as amended. Require the Committee on Work to provide an accurate Texas code or cipher book by the 2015 Grand Annual Communication. Resolution No. 25 Postponed until the Grand Communication in 2015. Amended Title V of the Laws of the Grand Lodge of Texas to rescind the current Title V and replace it with an amended Title V that was in effect prior to December 4, 2004. Grand Master s Recommendations: 1. Recommendation No. 1 Not Adopted. Proposal to create a GL Strategic Planning Committee. 2. Recommendation No. 2 Adopted. Criminal Background Checks Proposes a centralized criminal background check system that would comply with federal law and be centralized in the Grand Secretary s office. Petitioners for the degrees would be required to obtain the background check with the report going only to the GS Office. The GS Office will notify the Lodge about the petitioner s qualifications. Effective July 1, 2015. 3. Recommendation No. 3 Not Adopted. Proposal to establish a uniform Table Lodge Procedure. 4. Recommendation No. 4 Adopted. Real Estate Transactions Proposes legislation to improve the procedure for Lodge real estate transactions. Election Results:

Grand Junior Warden Tommy Frank Chapman Grand Treasurer Tommy W. Ellison Committee on Work G. Duane Anthony Library and Museum Board Lyndon L. Olson, Jr. Director of Masonic Home and School John R. Clements * Since this resolution would amend the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Texas, it must be adopted at the 2015 Grand Communication before it is effective. Amended and Restate Compact Between Grand Lodge of Texas and Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas: After the presentation of the Fraternal Relations Report at the 179 th Grand Annual Communication, the Grand Lodge of Texas adopted the recommendation that the two Grand Lodges expand recognition and permit visitation and communication. Note: neither visitation nor communication can begin until the new compact is signed and procedures can be established. In addition, Lodges and members should follow traditional protocol and not contact the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge directly but only through the office of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Once the implementation system has been developed, updated procedures will be disseminated. Fraternal Recognition of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland: After the presentation of the Fraternal Relations Committee, the Grand Lodge of Texas accepted the Committee s recommendation to approve and grant recognition. This will become effective after the Grand Lodge of Texas corresponds with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland. SECRETARY INSTRUCTIONS: The following information is intended primarily for the Secretary but may be meaningful to many of your members. Grand Lodge Building Closed, Christmas Eve Through New Year s Day: The Grand Secretary s Staff and the Library & Museum Staff will have their traditional brunch on Tuesday, December 23, and close at noon for the holiday break. They will return to work on Monday, January 5, 8:30 a.m. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Reminder Guidance for 2015 Ad Valorem Tax Procedures: Please review the attached guidance very carefully. Contact the Grand Secretary s office if you have any questions. You cannot take actions until after the State Comptroller s Office contacts the Grand Lodge of Texas (January or February, 2015). 2015 Actions: The Grand Lodge will file another petition to the State Comptroller in 2015 asking for relief. Upon notification by the Comptroller, the Grand Secretary will provide the Grand Lodge Committee a list of all Lodges subordinate to the Grand Lodge of Texas and their federal identification numbers, which will be filed with the Comptroller s office. The Comptroller will then send a Property Tax Determination Letter to the Grand Lodge and its subordinate Lodges. Individual Lodges are prohibited from contacting the Comptroller s office directly. (Contact the Grand Secretary s office). For a Lodge to obtain an exemption, the Lodge must have the deed in the Lodge s name. Lodge Suspense System: Suspense Dates Lodge Secretaries should create a suspense system (a reminder system) to alert the Lodge that certain documents are due. This list is offered as a starter kit for your consideration:

a. January Worshipful Master should appoint a Committee on Members in Arrears (Article 319a). b. Apr 15 2015 Resolutions due GS Office. (Article 172). c. May 31 W.B. and Brandon Carrell Award Nominations may be submitted to the Grand Lodge Committee on Public Education for evaluation and recommendation to the Grand Lodge Trustees. (Art.14b). d. Mid-June Look for Annual Returns Format from GL. (Downloaded from the Texas Lodge Secretary s Database or sent to Lodges after June 24 th via e-mail. Notify GS staff if you need the returns mailed as a printout). e. June 23 Lodge elections must be completed at the last stated meeting prior to midnight of June 23 (Art. 292). Notify us of new Lodge Officers immediately so they can be printed in the Directory of Constituent Lodges (do not wait for installation). Submission will be available on the Texas Lodge Secretary s Database from May 24 through midnight June 23. f. June 23 Endowed Membership checks must be in the Office of the Grand Secretary by June 23 to start earning interest in order to receive returns by the next year (Art. 318a). Changes to the amount of endowments must be voted on at the same meeting as the Lodge elections, and notification to Grand Lodge must be before June 24 th. Endowed Membership applications received at the Grand Lodge on or after June 24 must be for the amount that the Lodge reported. g. July 31 Lodge installations must be performed from June 24 to prior to midnight July 31 (Art. 298). h. August 1 Statements of Availability for Elective Grand Lodge Offices are due to the GS Office no later than August 1 st (Art. 6a). i. August 15 Annual Returns Report due Grand Lodge NLT August 15 (Art. 493). j. August 15 & August 31 Vanguard Applications are due to the DDGM NLT August 15 and to the Grand Secretary NLT August 31 (refer to Vanguard Application Instructions). k. September 1 Lodge By-Laws that must be reviewed by the GL Committee on By-Laws due the GS Office NLT September 1 (Art. 219). l. September 15 Lodge Minimum Audit Report 71 are due to the GS Office NLT September 15 (Art. 284). m. Nov 15 Proxy Certificates are due the GS Office NLT November 15 (Art. 4). You should always appoint a Proxy (in case of an emergency) but he would not vote if any of the top three officers were available. n. Nov 15** Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-postcard), must be filed with the IRS by Lodges that have gross receipts of $50,000 or less, or do not meet the requirements for filing the IRS 990 or IRS 990EZ. Lodges must file the appropriate Form 990 no later than the 15 th day of the fifth month following the close of the organization s fiscal year. Library and Museum: In January 2015, the Library and Museum will be opened for tours. Please call the Library to ask for Bruce or Barbara at 254-753-7395. The Library and Museum staff is very pleased to announce a very successful glassware sale during the 179 th Annual Communication that was made possible by the generous donation of various types of glassware by PGM and Mrs. Vernon Burke. Thanks go to the Burkes and to those who purchased the pieces for their collections. Several members have asked about the possibility of updating their Lodge photo in the exhibit in the basement of Grand Lodge. Here is what you do. First - Please do not remove any of the old Lodge photos yourself. Submit an 8 x 10 black and white (or grayscale) photographic quality picture of your Lodge to Bruce and he will install the photo in the appropriate space. The old photo will be placed in the Lodge history file. If you would like a copy of the old photo, we will be happy to provide a scanned copy.

Grand Secretary Announcement: ANNOUNCEMENT OF GRAND SECRETARY TOMMY D. GUEST I want to announce to all of my Masonic brethren that I will not be a candidate for re-election as Grand Secretary at the Grand Annual Communion in 2015. First, I want to thank each of my Brethren for the honor and privilege to have served as Grand Secretary of The Grand Lodge of Texas since December 2003. My service as the Grand Secretary has been a labor of love for me and my family, and we will certainly miss the close contacts that we have made with Masons throughout the State of Texas. Our thoughts and prayers will always be with our Masonic brethren. As I turn 80 in February and my debilitating knees make it difficult to produce the energy necessary to present a good image for The Grand Lodge of Texas, I feel that now is the time for a younger, energetic, bright, intelligent and qualified member to assume the duties of Grand Secretary, which is a demanding 24-7 hour a day job. I also anticipate my family will demand a greater part of my time in the near future. Second, I do not have a preference for the Grand Secretary to be elected in 2015. Without being too presumptive; however, and based on my background and experience as your Grand Secretary for eleven years, I would like to give the brethren my thoughts about the qualification for a Grand Secretary. The Job: The Grand Secretary is a member of the Grand Lodge Trustees, the corporate directors of the Grand Lodge of Texas; The Grand Secretary is the administrator of the Grand Lodge of Texas and all of its employees, with the duties to advise the Grand Lodge Trustees, the Lodges, and members of their responsibilities and duties; The Grand Secretary is the Grand Librarian of the Grand Lodge Library and responsible for its employees and operations; The Grand Secretary is a member of the Grand Lodge Library & Museum and serves as Secretary-Treasurer for the body; The Grand Secretary, as Secretary-Treasurer of the Grand Lodge Library & Museum, has the administrative and oversight duties for the Grand Lodge Temple; The Grand Secretary receives, accounts for, and deposits all monies due the Grand Lodge and the Library & Museum.

The Grand Secretary arranges for all printing for the Grand Lodge and for the Library & Museum. The Grand Secretary is responsible for the archiving of Grand Lodge members records and for the Library & Museum artifacts. The Grand Secretary must have the capability to travel around the State and to various meetings in North America. He must be able to relate and communicate with people. The GS Office is the contact point of the Grand Lodge of Texas with Masonry throughout the world. In a sense, the GS must have the ability to run a 24-hour command post and react to worldwide communications from Masons, Masonic Lodges, and Grand Lodges. I point out these duties to insure that everyone knows the vast functions, duties and responsibilities of the Grand Secretary. Living Arrangements. The Grand Secretary has duties to our Brethren 24-7 and it is a full time job. I spend most week days at the Grand Lodge office and most weekends I am traveling to attend Masonic functions throughout the state and nation. It is mandatory that the Grand Secretary be in the Grand Lodge office on a daily basis to perform all of the Grand Secretaries duties. As Grand Librarian, he is in charge of the Grand Lodge Building and has to respond to alarms within the building on a twenty-four hour basis. Therefore, it is imperative that the Grand Secretary live in an area that will authorize him to work in the Grand Lodge office on a daily basis. Fraternal Qualifications: The Grand Secretary must have a deep love of Freemasonry in his heart. He must seek the job of Grand Secretary for the right reasons - to serve the Craft. He should have a strong knowledge of Masonry in Texas. He must have been a past Master and DDGM in Texas. I believe that he should have served on a Grand Lodge Committee, had an esoteric certificate, had strong experience in Lodge operations and degrees, and has a reasonable background in the affiliated Masonic organizations. Managerial Qualifications: The Grand Secretary must have managerial qualifications. He has the responsibility to supervise two staffs within the Grand Lodge Temple, maintain all of the Grand Lodge records and documents, maintain all of the computer

equipment and electronic data processing functions; communicate with all Masons and Lodges in Texas and throughout other Grand Jurisdictions; Business Qualifications: Ideally, the Grand Secretary would have experience or knowledge of non-profit corporations and be capable of being an effective board member serving on the Grand Lodge 501c-10 nonprofit corporation and the Secretary of the Grand Lodge Masonic Library & Museum 501c-3 nonprofit corporation. Caution About Changes In Duties Of Grand Secretary: I believe the Craft should be careful of members trying to change the duties of the Grand Secretary. Some Texas Masons have suggested that the Grand Secretary position be made a titular position and hire someone to perform the duties in order that a Mason could fill the job for personal reasons. I have observed other Grand Lodges during the past 11 years that have taken this approach, and most have reverted to the traditional GS position. Past Grand Masters: I also recommend that the replacement not be a Past Grand Master. I believe the stronger Grand Lodges in North America do not have a Grand Secretary that was a Past Grand Master. The Grand Secretary should be above the fray and fulfill his staff role without prejudice or preconceived solutions to problems facing the current Grand Master. And finally, I hope all of my Masonic brethren will always remember that your service in Masonry should be for the Craft, the Craft and the Craft. May the Supreme Architect of the Universe continue to bestow his grace on The Grand Lodge of Texas for ever and ever. Fraternally yours, Tommy D. Guest Grand Secretary