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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 443
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WHEREAS, Masons from across Texas are assembling at the |
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State Capitol to celebrate Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas Day on |
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April 8, 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 |
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Grand Lodge of the Republic of Texas; since then, the Texas Grand |
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Lodge has remained a constant and enduring presence in the Lone |
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Star State, with a tradition of leadership and service that has |
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been continued by each new generation of members; and |
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WHEREAS, The organization benefits from the able guidance |
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of 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 |
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key roles, and he received the honorary 33rd Degree of the |
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Scottish Rite in 2005; and |
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WHEREAS, The other officers of the Texas lodge are Thomas |
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W. Ellison, Tommy D. Guest, James L. Kessler, Pierre G. Normand |
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Jr., Scott L. Mills, Lawrence E. Tucker, Don Paul Payton, Donald |
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R. Sudduth, Bradley S. Billings, Ronald E. Lawrence, Barry D. |
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Brunk Sr., Jeffrey K. Haven, and Kenneth C. Curry; notable Masons |
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can also be found in the Texas Legislature, including |
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Representatives Drew Darby, DeWayne Burns, John Raney, and Doug |
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Miller and Senators Troy 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 |
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1114, and Richards 1116; additionally, the Washington 1117, |
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Texas City 1118, and Zanderson 1120 lodges are marking their |
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100th anniversary 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 |
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have sought to banish ignorance, promote peace, and relieve |
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distress, and in so doing, they have made innumerable |
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contributions to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize April 8, 2015, as Masonic Grand |
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Lodge of Texas Day at the State Capitol and commend all those |
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involved for 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 from the Texas Senate. |
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Fraser, Whitmire |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 30, 2015. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |