Companions,
I hope the start of this New Year finds you and your families in good health and high spirits. As we leave the season of anticipation behind and step into the work of 2026, I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on the state of our Council and the path we are currently treading.
Last month, we spoke of the Royal Master’s lesson on patience and preparation. This month, as we look toward our next convocation, I believe it is vital that we turn our hearts toward the character of a Select Master.
The Weight of Change
Over the past several months, we have undertaken significant “labors in the secret vault.” We have modernized our bylaws, adjusted our financial structure to ensure our future, and honored a giant of our history by renaming our Council to Vernon I. Bartlett Council No. 183.
Those changes, and the changing of the guard to a different dynamic has made it un-easy to adopt for some. We have seen a few stop showing and some leave all together.
It challenges our comfort and asks us to look at our beloved institution through a new lens. I am not blind to the fact that these shifts have caused a measure of contention and that some animosity still lingers within our ranks. However, we must remember that the “renovation” of any structure—whether a building or a Council—requires a period where the dust is unsettled.
Acting as Select Masters
The Degree of Select Master reminds us that those who worked in the Ninth Arch were chosen for their zeal and fidelity. They were men who could be trusted with the most precious secrets and the most difficult tasks because they possessed a specific quality: the ability to work in harmony.
To be “Select” is not just a title; it is a standard of conduct. When contention arises, a Select Master doesn’t feed the fire. Instead, he:
- Guards the Secret Vault: Not just from the outside world, but from the internal discord that threatens to crumble our arches.
- Exhibits Silence and Secrecy: Not as a means of hiding, but as a way to avoid idle gossip and the “unmasonic” conduct that fuels animosity.
- Prioritizes the Work: He understands that the mission of the Council is greater than any single opinion or personal grievance.
If we are to truly honor the name of Vernon L. Bartlett, and love our Council, we must do so by embodying the Masonry he lived. We must ensure that our “vault” is a place of peace and security, not a place of conflict.
Looking Ahead
We have five new members joining us in the coming months. What kind of Council will they find? Will they find a body of men divided by the growing pains of progress, or will they find a group of Select Masters who have successfully navigated the difficulties of change to build something stronger?
I choose to believe it is the latter. Change was needed to ensure we did not become a “Broken Column” in the history of Texas Masonry. Now that the foundation is set, let us focus on the beauty of our ritual and the strength of our fellowship.
Next Convocation: Thursday, January 22nd
I look forward to seeing each of you there. Let us meet on the level and part on the square, leaving any lingering frustrations at the door so that we may labor together in true Companionable love.
Fraternally,
James A. Clark
Thrice Illustrious Master
Vernon I. Bartlett Council No. 183