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MINUTES
OF INITIAL ASSEMBLY OF TEXIAN Wednesday,
April 6, 1977 The initial
Assembly of Texian York Rite College No. 60 Under Dispensation was
convened at 8:30 P.M. in the Scottish Rite Cathedral in San Antonio,
Texas by Preeminent Governor Reese L. Harrison, Jr., with the following
Officers and Members being present:
Preeminent
Governor Reese L. Harrison, Jr. exhibited the Dispensation granted
by the York Rite Sovereign College of North America through its Grand
Governor General, John A. Downs, dated March 30, 1977. The Preeminent
Governor reviewed the reasons for requesting Dispensation for a York
Rite College which are contained within his letter of March 7, 1977
addressed to Clinton F. Barron, Grand Governor of Texas and in his
letter of even date to Henry A. Montague, Grand Secretary - General
of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, copies of which
are appended to these Minutes and designated as Attachment
"C" and Attachment "D", respectively. Preeminent
Governor Reese L. Harrison, Jr. then requested that the assembled
Officers and Companion Knights of York execute the Dispensation in
that the Regulations of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America
require that the Designation be physically executed by twenty-five
(25) Companion Knights of York. The Preeminent
Governor then advised the Officers and Companion Knights of York assembled
that a form set of ByLaws would be forthcoming from the York Rite
Sovereign College of North America to be used as a guide in adopting
By-Laws for Texian York Rite College No. 60 U.D. He announced that
in the interim it would be necessary to adopt a dues sum, an affiliation
fee, and a new member initiation fee. The Companion
Knights of York assembled unanimously voted to have dues of $12.00
per annum which is the same dues structure of Texas York Rite College
No. 14. The Companion
Knights of York assembled unanimously voted an affiliation fee of
$50.00 for any Companion Knight of York who wish to affiliate as a
Charter Member with Texian York Rite College No. 60. The Companion
Knights of York assembled unanimously voted for a new member initiation
fee of $100.00. The Preeminent
Governor then proposed the following named Companion Knights of York
to be extended the invitation to Charter Membership in Texian York
Rite College No. 60 U.D.:
The aforenamed
Companion Knights of York were unanimously elected to be extended
invitations to affiliate with Texian York Rite College No. 60 U.D.
as Charter Members. The following
named York Rite Masons were proposed for Charter Membership in Texian
York Rite College No. 60 as new Members and the Ballot being spread
and coming up clear were declared elected to membership in the York
Rite College and in Texian York Rite College No. 60 as Charter Members:
The Companion
Knights of York assembled unanimously agreed to authorize the Preeminent
Governor to set the date, time and place for the initiation of the
new candidates elected to membership in Texian York Rite College No.
60. The Preeminent Governor stated that he would tentatively set the
initiation for April 29, 1977 at 7:30 P.M., in a groundfloor Lodgeroom
of the Scottish Rite Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas. The Preeminent
Governor Reese L. Harrison, Jr. thanked the Companion Knights of York
assembled for having recommended him to the Grand Governor General
to be the Charter Preeminent Governor of Texian York Rite College
No. 60 and advised the Officers that they would serve until the Charter
had been granted and that they would then have to serve an additional
11 months after the granting of the Charter or until June, 1978. He
advised that an application for Charter would be submitted at the
annual Assembly of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America
in August of 1977 and that if the Charter was granted, the Officers
would then assume Office in the College by virtue of election and
would serve until June of 1978. No further
business appearing, Texian York Rite College No. 60 U.D., was closed
with peach and harmony prevailing. Respectfully
submitted, ATTEST: WACO, TEXAS March 14,
1977 Mr. Reese
L. Harrison, Jr. Dear Companion
Knight Harrison, In reply to
your letter of intent of March 7, 1977 on the request for dispensation
to establish and form a York Rite College in the city of San Antonia
and the South Texas area. It is my expressed
feeling that where the work is there also should be the labores and
not spend the time traveling that could be utilized for more valuable
use. In my opinion
your request is justified and I am well pleased with the action you
have taken in this request and if any way I can assist you in securing
this dispensation please feel free to call on me. The Sovereign
College of North America will be pleased with your request to form
a third York Rite College in the South Texas area. I therefore
approve your request and am pleased to concur with you in this action.
March 24,
1977 Honorable
John A. Downs Honorable
Henry A. Montague Re: Proposed
York Rite College for San Antonio, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley Dear Knights
of York: After due
consideration and much prayer on the proposed forming and instituting
of a new York Rite College in the San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley
areas, I am under the impression that this College will be a real
asset to our beloved Fraternity for York Rite Masonary. Therefore,
on this date of March 24 in the year of 1977, in the City of Tyler,
Texas, and as Grand Governor of the State of Texas and acting under
this authority, I do pray that this request for this dispensation
will be granted and approved by the Governor General Honorable John
A. Downs and the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. Fraternally
yours, cc: Honorable
Reese L. Harrison, Jr. March 7,
1977 Mr. Clinton
F. Barron Dear Companion
Knight Barron: Please find
enclosed a copy of a letter addressed to Henry A. Montague, Secretary
General of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. On behalf
of the Companion Knights of the York Rite College residing in the
vicinity of San Antonio, Texas, we are requesting a dispensation for
a York Rite College for San Antonio and the South Texas area which
comprises District Four (4) of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar
of Texas in terms of geographic area. The reasons
for requesting a dispensation for a York Rite College in the above
described area are assigned in the enclosed letter to Montague. I
have been requested to be the Spokesman for a number of the Companion
Knights who reside in San Antonio, Texas for the purpose of requesting
the dispensation. We feel strongly
that a York Rite College is the best vehicle with which to promote
and coordinate membership efforts as well as to promote and coordinate
York Rite Festivals which initiate new members. As you know,
there are two important functions in regard to the growth of York
Rite Masonry: one of those functions is the membership effort and
the second function is the actual initiation of members in the form
of a York Rite Festival. You cannot have the second effort without
the first effort and it is the first effort which needs particular
emphasis in the geographic area described in this letter. On Friday,
November 26, 1976, I discussed this matter with Ed Bloomquist, Past
Governor of Texas York Rite College No. 14, who after some thought
and consideration on that occasion stated that he had no objection
to the forming of a York Rite College in San Antonio and that it would
probably serve a good purpose as outlined in this letter. Subsequently, I discussed the matter by telephone with James M. Willson, Jr., again by letter, and finally this past weekend in person during the Grand Masters' Regional Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Deputy Grand Governor, James M. Wilson, Jr., gave his approval for the formation of a York Rite College to be headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. You should
be advised that a number of Knight Companions of the Order of the
Red Cross of Constantine who live in Corpus Christi, Texas and the
Rio Grande Valley are members of St. Anthony Conclave which is stationed
in San Antonio, Texas. In fact, the present Sovereign of St. Anthony
Conclave is D. D. Lancaster, who lives in the Rio Grande Valley. Over the years
a significant number of the Knight Companions of St. Anthony Conclave
have resided in Corpus Christi, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley and
Sovereigns of St. Anthony Conclave have come from that area. Until
1971, Alzafar Shrine Temple in San Antonio had territorial jurisdiction
in Corpus Christi, Texas which jurisdiction was assumed by Al Amin
Temple by dispensation in 1971. Prior to 1971, Alzafar Temple had
exclusive jurisdiction in the Rio Grande Valley which jurisdiction
became concurrent for 1971 - 1972 and then became exclusive in Al
Amin Temple subsequent to 1972. The San Antonio
Scottish Rite Bodies hold a one day reunion in April and October of
each year in Corpus Christi, Texas and approximately every other year
the San Antonio Scottish Rite Bodies hold a one day reunion in the
Rio Grande Valley in Harlingen, Texas. In fact, a one day reunion
will be held in the Rio Grande Valley this year and will be denominated
the Grand Masters' Class in honor of Herman Vinyard, who resides in
McAllen, Texas and is a member of the San Antonio Scottish Rite Bodies. As you can
see, San Antonio is tied very much to Corpus Christi and to all points
in between San Antonio and Brownsville where there are Commanderies
of Knights Templar stationed because of the fact that those Commanderies
are all within District Four (4) of the Grand Commandery of Knights
Templar of Texas. We have District Conclaves together each year. We would appreciate
very much your favorable consideration of our application for a dispensation
to institute a York Rite College in San Antonio, Texas for the benefit
of San Antonio, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley area. Should you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to call me collect at the telephone number listed on the Letterhead. Very truly
yours, Mr. James
M. Willson, Jr. March 7,
1977 Mr. Henry
A. Montague Re: Proposed
York Rite College for San Antonio, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley Dear Companion
Knight Montague: The purpose
of this letter is to request from you the appropriate forms within
which to petition for dispensation to institute a York Rite College
in San Antonio, Texas serving San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley
which is south of San Antonio and extends 300 miles to the Mexican
border. Brownsville, Texas, which is the southern most tip of the
State of Texas, is 300 miles from San Antonio, Texas and 480 miles
from Waco, Texas as San Antonio is 180 miles from Waco, Texas. At the present time there exists in the State of Texas, Texas York Rite College No. 14 which meets annually in Waco, Texas in June of each year, and in conjunction with the Grand Commandery Conclave, and in Waco in December of each year in conjunction with the Grand Royal Arch Chapter and the Grand Chapter of Royal and Select Masters. West Texas York College No. 36 meets in Lubbock, Texas but I do not know the frequency of the meetings or if it meets in any other place other than Lubbock, Texas. The annual
meeting of Texas York College No. 14 to which the 22 Companion Knights
of San Antonio belong, is always on the first Sunday in June, which
is in conflict with the annual meeting of the Texas Shrine Association
of 13 Shrine Temples. Many of the York Rite college members from San
Antonio attend the Texas Shrine Association for purposes of competing
in uniformed unit competition and are in no position to leave the
annual meeting of the Texas Shrine Association to drive to Waco, Texas
with a horse or motorized vehicle being hauled behind their car for
the purpose of attending the annual meeting of Texas York Rite College
No. 14. Additionally,
in order to coordinate York Rite membership efforts and York Rite
festivals, we believe the vehicle of a York Rite college to be best
suited for that purpose in the San Antonio vicinity. We have advised
Deputy Grand Governor, James M. Willson, Jr., of our intention to
take in members from that territory which comprises District 4 of
the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Texas, plus Victoria, Texas
which is a territory that is south of San Antonio and is composed
of ten Commanderies of Knights Templar. We note with
interest that the State of Illinois has three York Rite colleges,
(No. 15, No. 33 and No. 42) and that the State of Michigan has eight
York Rite colleges (No. 1, No. 3, No. 5, No. 8, No. 10, No. 16, No.
19 and No. 40) and both States have a smaller York Rite population
than does the State of Texas. Currently
there are 22 Companion Knights of the York Rite College No. 14 who
have York Rite membership in one or more of the San Antonio York Rite
Bodies. Additionally, approximately 8 other Companion Knights live
within the territorial jurisdiction aforedescribed not counting those
in Seguin, Texas. In reviewing
the Constitution of the York Rite college and the regulations for
the government of constituent colleges, we are not clear as to the
procedure involved but we think that the procedure is to apply to
the Grand Governor General for a dispensation for the formation of
a new York Rite college upon the petition of five eligible petitioners
accompanied by the sum of $100.00. It is our
understanding that twenty-five members are needed for the granting
of a Charter. We have available in San Antonio almost enough Companion
Knights for a Charter but would request the form for applying for
a dispensation so that at the annual meeting in August of 1977, we
could then request a Charter. We propose
that a new York Rite college be called Texian College which is a name
used to describe Texans who were for independence from Mexico and
who lived in the state of Coahuila in the Republic of Mexico prior
to 1836 when Texas declared its independence from Mexico. That territory
designated the State of Coahuila prior to independence in 1836 is
that territory that later became the Republic of Texas and which was
later reduced in size upon Annexation of the Republic of Texas to
the Union when the Republic became a State of the United States of
America. The territory within which the proposed Texian College would
operate is rich in Spanish and Mexican cultural heritage and the name
is appropriate and familiar to those who reside in San Antonio and
the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. If this request
for dispensation meets with the approval of the Grand Governor General
and that of the Grand Governor and Deputy Grand Governor of Texas,
please forward the petition form to the undersigned for completion
so that we can return the same to you with the required fee of $100.00. We would hope
that we could have the institution of the college during the annual
Fiesta San Jacinto in San Antonio, Texas which is a celebration of
the independence of Texas from the Republic of Mexico. Thanking you
for your consideration of the matters, contained herein, I remain Very truly
yours,
MINUTES
OF CALLED ASSEMBLY OF TEXIAN Monday,
April 25, 1977 Texian York
Rite College No. 60 Under Dispensation was convened in a called Assembly
at 7:30 P.M. in the Scottish Rite Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas
by Preeminent Governor Reese L. Harrison, Jr. with the following Officers
and Members being present:
Preeminent
Governor Reese L. Harrison, Jr. said the purpose of the meeting was
to approve and adopt By Laws in conformity with the form By Laws furnished
by the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. Proposed By Laws
for Texian York Rite College No. 60 Under Dispensation were distributed
to each officer and Member present and after consideration of the
same were unanimously approved and adopted and said By Laws are attached
to these Minutes and hereby incorporated by reference into the same
and are designated Attachment "A". The following named York Rite Masons were proposed for Charter Membership in Texian York Rite College No. 60 as new Members and the ballot being spread and coming up clear were declared elected to Membership in the York Rite College and in Texian York Rite College No. 60 as Charter Members: D. Frank Crain The Preeminent
Governor then announced that all necessary materials with which
to operate a York Rite College had been received from the York
Rite Sovereign College of North America at Detroit, Michigan. He
further announced that he had met with the Grand Governor General,
John A. Downs, while attending the International Supreme Council
of the Order of DeMolay as an Active Member and Grand Marshall
of the DeMolay Supreme Council. He stated that Grand Governor General
John A. Downs had been elected as an Honorary Member of the International
Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay. The Preeminent Governor
also announced that he had met with Gladys Jex, Secretary to the
Grand Secretary General of the York Rite Sovereign College of North
America and with Clifford Jex, Grand Governor of Michigan, and
both of them had been most helpful in advising the Preeminent Governor
in regard to the administration and operation of a constituent
York Rite College. No further
business appearing, Texian York Rite College No. 60, U.D. was closed
with peace and harmony prevailing. Respectfully submitted,
ATTEST:
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