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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Masons from across Texas are assembling at the State |
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Capitol to celebrate Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas Day on April 8, |
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2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the Texas Revolution, a group of |
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Freemasons gathered in Houston in December 1837 to found the Grand |
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Lodge of the Republic of Texas; since then, the Texas Grand Lodge |
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has remained a constant and enduring presence in the Lone Star |
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State, with a tradition of leadership and service that has been |
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continued by each new generation of members; and |
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WHEREAS, The organization benefits from the able guidance of |
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the 2015 grand master, Dr. Michael L. Wiggins, who earned his |
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bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and is |
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president of an international oil and gas consulting firm; since |
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becoming a Mason in 1978, he has served the Grand Lodge in many key |
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roles, and he received the honorary 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite |
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in 2005; and |
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WHEREAS, The other officers of the Texas lodge are Thomas W. |
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Ellison, Tommy D. Guest, James L. Kessler, Pierre G. Normand Jr., |
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Scott L. Mills, Lawrence E. Tucker, Don Paul Payton, Donald R. |
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Sudduth, Bradley S. Billings, Ronald E. Lawrence, Barry D. Brunk |
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Sr., Jeffrey K. Haven, and Kenneth C. Curry; notable Masons can also |
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be found in the Texas Legislature, including Representatives Drew |
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Darby, DeWayne Burns, John Raney, and Doug Miller and Senators Troy |
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Fraser and John Whitmire; and |
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WHEREAS, The Grand Lodge of Texas encompasses a number of |
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long-standing local lodges; among these, seven are celebrating |
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their centennial in 2015, namely the Army No. 1105, New Braunfels |
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1109, McAllen 1110, Fraternity 1111, Broaddus 1112, Southside 1114, |
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and Richards 1116; additionally, the Washington 1117, Texas City |
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1118, and Zanderson 1120 lodges are marking their 100th anniversary |
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in 2016; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout the organization's long and |
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distinguished history, the members of the Grand Lodge of Texas have |
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sought to banish ignorance, promote peace, and relieve distress, |
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and in so doing, they have made innumerable contributions to the |
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Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 8, 2015, as Masonic Grand Lodge |
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of Texas Day at the State Capitol and commend all those involved for |
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their civic engagement; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |