|
 Grand
lodge history
Historical Sketch of M.W. Brighter Light
Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M.
Jurisdiction of Texas
On April 13,
1991, a group of Master Masons met in
Houston, Texas for the express purpose
of organizing and forming a Grand Lodge.
That purpose came to fruition at
approximately 7:30 p.m. that evening.
The M.W. Brighter Light Grand Lodge A.F.
&A.M was formed at 7440 Coffee Street,
Houston, Texas.
The Master
Masons present that night were Bennit E.
Hayes, Raymond Hill, Irving Scales,
Richard Dabney, Sylvester Armstrong,
Tyran Boudreaux, Lardis Seymour Sr.,
Alvel Patterson and Theophilis J.
Batiste, Sr.
The hymn
selection was “Jesus Keep Me Near The
Cross.” The scripture was taken from
Psalms 133. Following prayer, Sylvester
Armstrong made a motion to install
Bennit E. Hayes as the Grand Master of
M.W. Brighter Light Grand Lodge. The
motion was seconded by Irving Scales,
carried and unanimously passed.
Hayes’ first
act as Grand Master was to accept Lee
Davis as a member of the Grand Lodge.
Hayes made history when he made Davis,
who was over 80 years of age, a Mason On
Sight.
The purpose
of the Grand Lodge as stated by the
Grand Master was to organize a Grand
Lodge where people would be able to
enjoy the full freedom of Masonry, set a
pace that would be felt all over the
world, and bring Master Masons together
in true fellowship on a common level
with a pure love of God. The Grand
Master passed a mandate that a Grand
Lodge could not operate without a Grand
Master. The Grand Master specified that
lodge members could not operate without
each other. Moreover, the Grand Master
stated that the Lodge was about love…
and not money. The system of
checks and balances assured that no one
would possess absolute control. It was
then that Grand Master Hayes emphasized
that all meetings and endeavors would
include prayer.
Grand Master
Hayes proposed the name Grand Lodge, M.W.
Brighter Light Grand Lodge. The proposal
met with no objection. Raymond Hill made
the motion to accept the name, it was
seconded by Lardis Seymour. Thus, M. W.
Brighter Light Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M.
became the name of the lodge.
The next
order of business was the appointment of
the officers. The Grand Master asked for
a motion from the floor for Raymond Hill
to act as Grand Treasurer and Theophils
J. Batiste Sr. to act as Grand
Secretary. Both motions were received
and seconded. The following officers
were nominated by a unanimous vote.
Grand Senior Warden, Tyran Boudreaux;
Grand Junior Warden; Grand Treasurer,
Raymond Hill; Grand Secretary,
Theophilis J. Batiste; Grand Senior
Deacon, Lardis Seymour; Grand Junior
Deacon; Sylvester Armstrong, Grand
Chaplin, Irving Scales, Grand Senior
Steward; Grand Junior Steward, Richard
Dabney.
The
membership fee was set at $10 per year.
The first collection totaled $120.00,
which was turned over to the Grand
Treasurer.
The Grand
Master called the first meeting of The
M.W. Brighter Light Grand Lodge A.F.
&A.M. to order. All members were given
the names of the books and materials
that the Grand Lodge would use.
“Mackey’s Jurisprudence of Freemasonry”
and “Look to the East, Lester” were the
reference materials that would be used.
The dress code would include dress
aprons, work aprons, and gloves. Grand
Master Hayes stated that to function
properly the holy bible square, compass,
gavels, some furniture, etc. would be
needed. Additionally, all members were
to memorize the obligations and the four
cardinal principles of “Humanity,
Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance, and
Justice.” In addition to knowing the
rules, members were expected to study
during leisure time and become familiar
with Masonic knowledge.
Some of the
questions that the Grand Master
addressed were, “What is the difference
in a three letter and four letter
mason?” Why is there a discrepancy in
some of the literature used by masons?”
Members were also informed about certain
rules that must be followed whenever the
Grand Lodge was in session. One such
rule, that of paying .50 cent for
crossing ones legs, was instituted
because men were not allowed to cross
their legs in the Temple.
Every
session included a thirty-minute
instruction mandate. Per the Grand
Master, no meeting was to last more than
two hours. Each member was encouraged to
have plans for his life and masonry.
Finally, the
Grand Master provided information about
the different lodges. The Blue Lodge
represents friendship and it takes three
Blue Lodges to make a Grand Lodge.
Presently, the Blue Lodges and
Worshipful Masters are Eureka # 1—Bennit
Hayes, Port City; Giblum # 1—Tyran
Boudreaux; Nobel # 7—Lardis Seymour and
Enoch #1—Irving Scales.
These were
the first Blue lodges founded under M.W.
Brighter Light Grand Lodge. Some are
still in existence today. M.W. Brighter
Light Grand Lodge has had its fair share
of ups and downs, however, our founders
built on a strong foundation that can
last forever. Thanks to the Lord our
Savior, the members, and many prayers,
we are striving to become a premier
Grand Lodge in the State of Texas.
Grand Masters
Ill.
Bennit E. Hayes 33°
Founder 1991-1996
Ill. Tyran
Boudreaux 1996 –1998
Ill.
Bennit E. Hayes 33°
1998- 2000
Ill.
Bryan Barriere 33°
2000- Present |
