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Stated Meeting February 12th 2022

The Stated Meeting of Texas Lodge no.46 F&AM was held on the 12th of February.

The Lodge was opened on the first degree of Masonry, at 10:14am

The Officers…

Brother Charles Beylacq stood west of the alter, and lead the brethren in a battery of 3 times 3 and recited the poem “Invictus” by William Earnest Henley to memorialize brother Alan Schattenburg PM who has laid down his earthly working tools.

Alan became a Freemason in 1967 at Soquel Lodge no.746 where we held 7 offices, and made his way through the chairs. He then joined Confidence no.110 where he also held 7 offices over many years.

He affiliated with Texas Lodge in 2003, and eventually joined Sminoff Daylight Lodge no.850 in 2015. He continued to attend Texas Lodge often, and has been a great friend and brother to innumerable masons.

All the brethren who had the pleasure of sitting in lodge with him during his 54 years as a Freemason will miss him dearly. He was 96 years of age, being born in 1925.

Invictus by William Earnest Henley:

“Out of the night that covers me,
      Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
      For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
      I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
      My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
      Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
      Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
      How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
      I am the captain of my soul.”
The 2nd order of business, to read the meeting minutes of the preceding meeting, and any special meetings.
January Meeting Minutes:
The Secretary read the January minutes, followed by the Special Meeting minutes for the Installation of Officers, and the Double 1st Degree for Brothers William Headley and James Caldwell. All three were approved as read with no errors or emissions.
A vote was held by the Master and Brethren, to confer the 1st degree of Masonry upon Mr. Ever Jose Robles of Hollister, and Scott David Sorenson of Aptos. The vote was found to reflect the current status of the sky, and was thus approved. Their dual 1st degree will be held next Saturday the 19th at 10am, breakfast preceding at 9am.
New Business:
The Master has taken it under advisement that an audit committee is needed, and he will seek volunteers. The same goes for a membership retention committee.
The Secretary produced from the either of the ethernet, the Annual Membership report, on demand.  The Hall Association report was also presented and accepted by the Brethren in attendance of the February Stated Meting.
A motion was made to pay out Jeff Strouse PM his invoices for multiple months of food, and a new invoice for printing the Installation programs for $84. was presented. The brethren voted to pay these previously approved bills, and the new one. Warrants will be drawn and bills paid.
Communications:
The International Masonic conference is going to be held in Berkeley this year, having previously been conducted at UCLA. April 9th is the date if you are interested in attending.
Visiting Brethren from Soquel Lodge no.110. Brother Peter Cardilla & our recently affiliated brother WB John Sigismundi brought a first time visitor to the lodge. Brother Michael Baba was conducted west of the alter by our Sr. Deacon and introduced to the Brethren. Our Secretary met with Brother Baba, and offered him the customer gift of a Texas Lodge no.46 coffee cup to remember our fellowship and this historic lodge.
Additional Information:
Dues Cards. Since 2020 the Grand Lodge of California has been using a new system, whereby paper dues cards signed by the Lodge Secretary are no longer used to prove current membership status. Paper dues cards are not longer even used to gain entry into a lodge when traveling. Tilers in California and approximately 1/2 the United States are to use the imember app, to verify status of traveling brethren.
If you have not yet setup an account, please visit the website.
https://member.freemason.org/membership_registration

To signup you will need your member number, which is on any of your expired dues cards. If you do not have one, please reach out to the Secretary by email to: sanjuanbautistatxlodge46@gmail.com

There is an instruction video at the link above on how to setup an account.

There is an option to print out a paper dues card, if you prefer to carry one, but the Lodge Secretary will no longer be signing cards, or sending them via mail. The Grand Secretary has digitally signed them.

Fraternally,
Loren George McKechnie

Secretary of Texas Lodge no.46 F. & A.M. of California

Raymond E. Hill IV
Master of Texas Lodge no.46 F. & A.M. of California