J. Weldon Clampitte, the Executive Officer for Texas DeMolay was installed as the 2011-2012 Grand Master for DeMolay International at a ceremony in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 18th, 2011.

J. Weldon Clampitte was born in Houston, Texas where has lived his entire life. He attended San Jacinto High School, Houston Community College, and the University of Houston. After a brief employment with the Bellaire Fire Department, he resigned to attend the Houston Police Academy in 1957 and was employed by the HPD for 27 years during which time he served three years in uniformed Patrol Division and Dispatchers Office. He then went into plain-clothes investigations where he spent 7 years in the Juvenile Division and 17 years as a Sergeant of Detectives in the Homicide Division. He retired from the Houston Police Department in 1983 and then became a Harris County District Attorney’s Office in where he worked as an Investigator in the Criminal District Courts, obtaining the rank of Senior Investigator at the time of retirement in February 2004.

The Master Wardens and Secretaries Association of the 31st District will host a forum at the Alvin Masonic Temple, 111 W. Blum St, Alvin, TX on Wednesday, August 10 from 7pm till 8:30pm. Topic: "Communication between the Grand Lodge and the Local Lodge -a member's perspective"

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Each year, Spring Lodge hosts our annual golf tournament. Set in the late summer and open to the public, it serves as the primary fund raiser for our community improvement fund. This fund provides both for our Gus Bayer College Scholarships, as well as the beautification and enhancement of Old Town Spring.

This year, the tournament is set for Friday, August 26th at the Heron Lakes Golf Course. Opportunities exist for individual players, teams, and sponsorships. The tournament is always alot of fun, and is a great way to not only indulge your passion for golf, but to do a little business networking -- all while contributing to the support of the community. Player cost is $100 each, and includes green fees, golf cart rental, catered lunch, and prize registration.

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Young County Masonic Lodge #485 in Graham, TX celebrated 30+ members in attendance at their stated meeting for the past 36 months on Tuesday July 5^th. The July stated meeting was opened by new Worshipful Master for 2011-12 by Brother James "Bear" Jones. Prior to opening Lodge, supper was enjoyed by over 45 Masons, Family members, and Friends.

Three years ago, Young County Masonic Lodge was troubled when a new Master Masons’ Wife made the comment, during a fund raising meeting, "I didn’t know I could even come in the building." Determined to make sure that everyone knew they could come into the Lodge building, Young County members set out to include and conduct more and more family events and make sure everyone knew they could come into the Lodge. Members started off by hosting Family Night, shortly after that, and less than a year later Members, Wives and their Family hosted then Grand Master David Counts for a cornerstone leveling. Wives prepared and served the meal to the Grand Officers present and area Masons. From there Masons, Family, and friends have come together the first Tuesday of each month for a wonderful meal, fellowship, and family time.

All members have worked at bringing Masons to the meetings. Junior Past Master, and 50+ year member, Jesse Eberhart gets on the phone Monday prior to the meeting and calls all the local members to remind them of the meeting and issues a special invitation to those that don’t attend on a regular basis. Another member sends out regular emails to members reminding them of the stated meeting as well as called meetings and special activities. Others are sure to extend personal invitations to all Masons when they pass them on the street. Members are encouraged to "Speak Masonry", on the streets of Graham. Each month one member also volunteers to provide the "main course" for the evening meal, and working with members’ Wives, serve up meals that routinely feed 45 to 50 Masons, Family, and friends. The sounds of family, especially the children at meal time, brings a smile to our Lodge Members; but, more importantly brings Members to the Lodge for meetings.

With just 114 total members Young County Masonic Lodge has opened it’s doors to Family and Friends, and in turn, has brought Masonry back to the community of Graham, TX.

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Masonic Night at the Astros Game, this will be the first night of its kind.

If 1000 tickets are sold then we can have the Grand Master throw out the first pitch!

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   Have you ever wondered if there was some lesson or meaning you missed when you took your first degree? Think about it for a minute I’m sure there were actually times when you did wonder if there was more you were supposed to learn. Have you ever heard the old definition of Masonry “We take good men and make them better” and wondered what the heck that really means? Most everyone just takes that phrase at face value. However, there are deeper meanings that are hidden in each Ritual that we are supposed to explore. If all you remember (for the most part) is what was said to you during your initiation, then there is a lot more to learn. If you were asked, what were the lessons of the first degree, would you be able to answer? Would you be able to remember what Masonic secrets were imparted during that first degree? Most Masons would have a real problem with that question. We know what some of the obvious meanings in the EA Ritual are, but what are some of the hidden meanings? We spend way too much time agonizing over getting new members into Lodge and not near enough time teaching the lessons of Masonry along with the spiritual and moral implications of them.  Learning the Ritual is all well and good, but they are only words without meaning if you don’t understand what they are trying to teach you.

The Eagle Lake Masonic Cemetery, Eagle Lake, Texas was awarded a Historical Marker from the Texas Historical Commission. The Cemetery is the final resting site of Master J.J. Mansfield (1861-1947) an early Mayor of Eagle Lake, Colorado County Judge, Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge of Texas and served as a U.S. Congressman from 1916-1947. We also had a Past Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge of Texas Brian Dodson in attendance during the Dedication.