TEXAS ALLIED MASONIC DEGREES ASSOCIATION MINUTES ANNUAL MEETING OF JUNE 14, 2014 TEXAS ALLIED MASONIC DEGREES ASSOCIATION Texas Scottish Rite Foundation Waco, Texas In attendance were 101 brothers from 22 AMD councils. The Texas AMD councils represented were: San Antonio No. 261 Rio Grande No. 386 Ebenezer Bacon Nichols No. 269 Army No. 373 Robert Bruce Brannon No. 270 Waco No. 384 Holy Stone No. 274 G. C. Sanders No. 402 Sam Houston No. 275 Grand Arcanum No 447 John E. Musick, No. 284 Grand Bethlehemite No. 448 Holy Grail No. 287 Anson Jones No. 462 Star Chamber No. 298 Harry G. Cunningham No. 475 Texas No. 335 Charlie Goodnight No. 500 Worth s Hiram Abif No. 342 Coastal Bend No. 509 Col. William Barrett Travis No. 344 Loyd L. Chance No. 522 OPENING: An AMD Council was opened in due form at 9:06 a.m. by Col. William Barret Travis Council No. 344. Opening prayer and pledges to the flags of the United State and Texas were given. The meeting was then turned over to TAMDA President Dan Turner. 1
Introductions of MV Robert G. Davis, Grand Sovereign Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States, RW Michael L. Wiggins, Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Texas, RV John Elkington, Superintendent for South Texas; and Past Superintendent RV James Roy Elliott were given. Distinguished members from the various grand Masonic bodies were recognized. COURTESY RECEPTION AND OBLIGATION OF CANDIDATES: President Turner then obligated new candidates elected to the various AMD councils that were present. The candidates obligated were: Michael Reynolds, Grand Arcanum Council No. 447 Roger Carney, Anson Jones Council, No. 462 James Crysup, Charlie Goodnight Council No. 500 Oliver Stanley Kitzman Jr., Charlie Goodnight Council No. 500 Edward Peebles, Sam Houston Council, No. 275 Chad Gilmore, Grand Arcanum Council, No. 447 Alfredo B. Gonzalez, Rio Grande Council, No. 368 H. Nelson Dunn, Texas Council No. 335 Neal A. Watt, Charlie Goodnight Council No. 500 This being done, President Turner called upon Past President James Kirkpatrick, who gave an excellent explanation of the Allied Masonic Degrees to the new brothers. GUEST SPEAKER: After thanking RV Elkington, MV Robert G. Davis spoke to the members present on the topic: "Who Laid the Cornerstone of the Universe." MV Davis recognized the blessedness of the Fraternity from the gifts that it has been given. Start with Book of Job: Who laid the cornerstone. This provides us a lesson in perspective. We often assume that what is importance to us is important to everyone; that we are the center of universe. However, Masonry takes us out of ourselves. It helps us become interested in truly cosmic things, to reflect the glory of God. God s most priceless gift is to partake of His nature. No other creature is able to conceive and create in imitation of God. We can love as God loves. Freemasonry teaches this. It is an inestimable gift. Let us not, however, take ourselves too seriously in this regard. The GM, SGIG, etc., must remember that he is one with the EA and the FC. To put ourselves above others is not to reflect the glory of God. AMD exists to enjoy the fellowship of each other on an equal basis and to learn about the very nature of morality itself. In the process of our growing, let us remember that we were not there when God laid the cornerstone of the universe; that humility is always a part of our lives as Masons. Let us live lives of meaning. Let us lay well the cornerstones of our lives and for our families lives. SHORT BREAK 2
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES (Morning): 1. Grand Arcanum No. 447 conferred the Excellent Master Degree. Exemplar: Gary Rock 2. Holy Stone Council No. 274 conferred the Secret Monitor Degree. Exemplar: Ronnie Wise SHORT BREAK Those members who were not SMs or PSMs were asked to take a short break while Robert Bruce Brannon Council No. 270 conferred the Installed Sovereign Master degree on anyone present that was eligible but had not yet received the degree. Conferring Degree Team: Venerable Installing Master, James Kirkpatrick; Senior Warden, RV James Roy Elliott; Chaplain, Floyd Hall; Director of Ceremonies, Timothy LaVergne. Candidates: Jeff Haven (Exemplar), Todd M. Smith, Robert D. Perkins, Robert E. Black, Frank M. Gentsch Jr., Lawrence E. Hopkins, Jeffrey J. Miller, James Dean, Max F. Gilley. CONFERRAL OF DEGREES (Morning, cont'd): 3. Robert Bruce Brannon Council No. 270 conferred the Architects Degree. Exemplar: Gary Blair; Explanation, James Kirkpatrick LUNCH BREAK The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m. for lunch. An excellent BBQ meal was had by all. The meeting was reconvened at 1:15 p.m. CONFERRAL OF DEGREES (Afternoon): 4. Robert Bruce Brannon Council No. 270 conferred the Grand Architects Degree. Exemplar: Robert Brunk 5. San Antonio Council No. 261 conferred the Knights of Constantinople Degree. Exemplar: Joseph Avalos 6. Army Council No. 373 conferred the Grand Tiler of Solomon Degree. Exemplar: Chad Gilmore 7. Anson Jones Council No. 462 conferred the Superintendents Degree. Exemplar: Roger Carney 3
President Turner thanked each one of the councils for putting on the degrees for the benefit of the brothers assembled. BUSINESS MEETING: The business meeting opened at 3:10 p.m. Report of the Treasurer: Brother B. J. Young stated that all bills to date had been paid. Payment needs to be made for today s annual meeting; i.e., use of the building, lunch, and coffee and donuts. The Treasurer then made a motion to spend $750 to cover these expenses. The motion being seconded, it was adopted by a show of hands. The Treasurer reported that TAMDA began the current year with a balance of $3034.78 and as of the 2014 annual meeting had a balance of 3032.78 and had receipts for its 2014 meeting of $1,670.00. A motion was made and seconded to adopt the Treasurer s Report, which was approved by a show of hands. Meeting time for next year: RV James Roy Elliott stated that he wanted to move Texas AMD Day back to the 3rd Saturday in June. His main concern was that we should stop moving the date around. He proposed that we choose one date and stick to it. VP Cast made a motion to move the date permanently to the 3rd Saturday of June, which was seconded by David Raucher. Considerable discussion following. Some brothers wanted it left up to President. After discussion, the motion was withdrawn. VP Cast then made a motion to allow the current incoming President to decide for the next year and have a discussion at the beginning of the 2015 meeting regarding setting an unmovable date. Past President James Kirkpatrick made a motion to renew the TAMDA Internet domain name (URL) for ten years, which was seconded by RV James Roy Elliott. The motion was approved by a show of hands. Past President James Kirkpatrick announced that anyone wishing to run for office should let one of the officers know and so that it can be put on the Web site. Past President James Kirkpatrick made motion that the 2013 minutes be read as posted, which was seconded and approved by a show of hands. ELECTION: No more business coming before the Association, President Turner called for the election of new officers and asked RV James Roy Elliott to assume the east to conduct the election, all nominations to be seconded by the east. President Turner nominated First Vice President Jack Lester to serve as President of TAMDA for the ensuing year. No other nominations forthcoming, Brother Turner was elected by acclimation. 4
President-Elect Lester then nominated Second Vice President Matt Cast to serve as First Vice President of TAMDA for the ensuing year. No other nominations forthcoming, Brother Cast was elected by a show of hands. Two brothers were nominated for Second Vice President of TAMDA for the ensuing year: John Wilson, PSM of Grand Arcanum Council No. 447, and David Raucher, PSM of Grand Arcanum Council No. 447. An election by ballot was taken. Brother Wilson received 24 votes. Brother Raucher received 23 votes. Brother Wilson was therefore elected as Second Vice President of TAMDA for the ensuing year. Brother Richard Schlaudroff nominated Brother Buford J. Young as to succeed himself as Treasurer of TAMDA for the ensuing year. No other nominations forthcoming, Brother Young was elected by a show of hands. Brother Buford J. Young nominated Brother Richard Schlaudroff to succeed himself as Secretary of TAMDA for the ensuing year. No other nominations forthcoming, Brother Schlaudroff was elected by a show of hands. RV Elliott then declared the election closed. Brother David Raucher arose and congratulated Brother Wilson on his election. After invoking the aid of Deity, the newly-elected officers of TAMDA were duly installed by GSM Robert G. Davis and the installation was declared by Brother Buford J. Young as Installing Marshal. President Lester thanked the members for their confidence in him, with special thanks to MV Robert G. Davis and Past President Dan Turner, and announced that the next annual meeting of the TAMDA would be held at the Waco Scottish Rite on June 13, 2015, and suggested that the councils consider doing degrees next year which have not been done or have not been done in a while. Nothing further being brought before the Association, the officers of Col. William Barret Travis Council No. 344 resumed their stations and closed the council at 4:04 p.m. 5
MASONIC ORDER OF THE BATH A meeting of the Masonic Order of the Bath was opened in due form at 4:23 p.m. The degree was conferred by RH James Roy Elliott, assisted by James Kirkpatrick, B. J. Young, and Kenneth Cooley. An explanation of the MOB by RH Elliott was followed by conferral of the Order on those in attendance who had not yet been inducted but wished to become so. After the conferral, the meeting was closed in due form at 5:02 p.m. Attest: Richard E. Schlaudroff, Secretary 6