The Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas Committees

This committee assures that any changes made to the by-laws of our constituent Commanderies comply with the Statutes and Regulations of The Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas and the Constitution and Laws of The Grand Encampment Knights Templar of the USA.

The Committee on Credentials may meet the day preceding the Annual Conclave of this Grand Commandery to receive and examine such credentials as may be presented by the Sir Knights, and report thereon when called for by the Grand Commander. No officer of a Constituent Commandery shall be reported, or be entitled to a seat, unless the dues of his Commandery shall have been paid and the Returns filed in the Grand Recorders office.

The Committee on Dispensations and Charters shall examine, consider, and report on such matters as may be referred to it by this Grand Commandery, the Grand Commander, or the Committee on Reports of Grand Officers. It shall be its special duty to examine and report upon all petitions for charters for new Commanderies. It shall examine the records, work and returns of Commanderies Under Dispensation and report to this Grand Commandery the character and merits of same, with such recommendations as the work, records and returns may justify.

Organization and Powers.

The Educational Foundation Committee shall work with and under the plans of the Grand Encampment Educational Foundation. Said committee shall each year designate its own Chairman. The Secretary and Treasurer of this committee shall be the Grand Recorder and Grand Treasurer of the Grand Commandery respectively, and shall be responsible for all funds and receivables appertaining thereto.

All costs and expenses in connection with and incidental to the handling of the Educational Fund, including costs of printing, shall be paid out of and from said Educational Fund, as may be directed by the Educational Foundation Committee, including such expenses as may be necessary and incidental thereto, which may be paid without special direction of the said committee.

Duties.

The Educational Foundation Committee shall be subject to the Constitution and Statutes of the Grand Encampment, and the Statutes and Regulations of this Grand Commandery, and is authorized to make such rules and regulations it may deem advisable governing the making of loans, eligibility of applicants, collection of loans and the general administration of the funds entrusted to it, and shall make annual report of all its transactions to this Grand Commandery. Said committee, following the adjournment of each Stated Grand Conclave, shall,

(a) select and designate some bank or trust company doing business in this State as depository of and for the cash funds of the Educational Foundation, and which said depository shall be required to give good and sufficient bond for the repayment and return of such deposits, in terms, form and amount and with sureties as required and approved by said committee, or to deposit with said committee negotiable bonds, and/or other collateral of such character and in such amount as required by and acceptable to and approved by said committee; or

(b) said committee shall require such moneys to be deposited in banks or trust companies which are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and in such event the amount of deposit to be carried and maintained in any one such bank or trust company shall not exceed ten per cent over and above the amount covered and protected by such insurance; the foregoing requirements shall not apply to the Contingent Fund, or account which is carried to meet and out of which to pay current expenses, however, such account may not at any time exceed $2,000.00.

Under Supervision.

The Educational Foundation Committee shall work in harmony with, and be subject to, the general supervision of the Committee on the Educational Foundation of the Grand Encampment.

The Committee on Field Drill shall consist of a Chairman, appointed by the Grand Commander for a term of one year, and the Grand Commander shall appoint from each Constituent Commandery having a Field Drill Team entered in annual competition, one Sir Knight who is qualified in Field Drill, to serve for a term of one year.

It shall be the duty of said committee:

(1) To arrange for and have supervision of the Field Drill competition at the Annual Conclave under the direction of the Grand Officers.

(2) To arrange and print the schedule and appoint Judges qualified in Field Drill Regulations for the annual competition.

(3) To arrange for and conduct such meetings for the Captains with the committee as may be deemed necessary.

(4) To issue such rulings or interpretations pertaining to the Field Drill Regulations as may be requested by the Captains or Judges.

The Committee on Finance and Auditing shall audit the books of the Grand Treasurer, Grand Recorder or any other officer or committee entrusted with the duty of handling any of the funds of this Grand Commandery and shall make report thereof to this Grand Commandery. When authorized by the Grand Commander, employ a competent and well qualified certified Public accountant to audit the books. It shall be the duty of said committee to examine the Annual Reports of the Grand Treasurer and Grand Recorder and make report thereon. It shall examine the Returns of Commanderies in the hands of the Grand Recorder, and shall report on the correctness of same and shall report the names of all Commanderies failing to make its returns, or in default on the payment of its annual dues and fees, including the amount owing by each Said committee shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the Grand Commandery or the Grand Commander. The Fiscal Year of this Grand Commandery will be from January I through December 31 each calendar year.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence shall examine, consider and report on all mailers submitted to it by this Grand Commandery or by the Grand Commander; on all applications of other Grand Jurisdictions to establish Fraternal relations; on all charges against other Grand Jurisdictions for invasion of jurisdiction or for any violation of Templar Laws affecting this Grand Jurisdiction; to examine and review the proceedings of other Grand Jurisdictions with which this Grand Commandery is in fraternal relations and make report thereof. By action of the 134th Annual Conclave in Lubbock, Texas, in 1987, an expense allowance of $250.00 per year shall be available to this committee to help cover the cost of postage and other expenses associated with their duties.

The Committee on Grievances shall investigate all grievances submitted to it and report its conclusions and recommendations. Said committee shall examine, consider and report its findings and recommendations on all appeals taken to this Grand Commandery from Constituent Commanderies. If it determines that a trial is needed or in order, they will proceed by following the procedure and guidelines as used in the Grand Lodge of Texas.

A committee of five Sir Knights and their respective successors from year to year, shall be known as the Committee on Holy Land Pilgrimage. Its purpose is to implement procedures for selection of nominees, to adopt guidelines for fund-raising projects (subject to approval of the Grand Commander), and to publicize the program. The makeup of said committee shall be as given in Art. 30, paragraph 2, with the Grand Commander naming the chairman.

All resolutions proposing amendments to the Statutes of this Grand Commandery shall be first referred to the Committee on Templar Jurisprudence for examination, consideration and report thereon before same shall be acted upon. Provided, this regulation shall not apply to resolutions reported by a committee of this Grand Commandery on a subject regularly submitted to it by the Grand Commander or by this Grand Commandery. If such resolution is adopted the subject shall be referred to the Committee on Templar Jurisprudence for the sole purpose of framing the law in proper language and correct numbering of the article to be amended.

Said committee shall consider all decisions upon questions of Templar Laws and usage reported by the Grand Commander and such other matters as may be referred to it by this Grand Commandery or by the Grand Commander and its conclusions shall be reported to this Grand Commandery. Said committee, when requested by the Grand Commander, shall give opinions on the legislative, Judicial and executive powers and functions and duties of this Grand Commandery and its Constituent Commanderies and on the prerogatives, powers and duties of the officers and members thereof.

There shall be a committee appointed by the Grand Commander composed of one member from each Templar District and three additional members selected at large, one of these at-large members to serve as the Committee Chairman. The Chairman shall be responsible that each Constituent Commandery appoints active and dedicated Knights to serve on the two local Committees of Publicity and Processing Applicants, and Committee on Wills, Bequests, Contributions, Life Sponsorships and Patron Sponsorships.

The nine members from the various Templar Districts shall be titled District Chairmen and will work closely with each Constituent Commandery in his respective district. The District Chairman will work with both local committees in his district and cooperate with the Committee Chairman.

The Committee Chairman will serve as Liaison Officer between this committee and the Officers of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation Committee of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U. S. A.

It is the responsibility of this Sir Knight to work as a liasion between Grand Encampment and The Grand Commandery of Texas to see that the Sir Knights of Texas are informed. This information includes the dates set by Grand Encampment for the yearly Voluntary Campaign.

This Sir Knight is responsible for editing and submitting the Grand Commander's monthly message to the editor of the Knight Templar magazine. The Texas Supplement appears each month in the middle of your magazine.

The Committee on Membership shall be composed of ten members appointed by the Grand Commander to serve for a term of one year. One member shall be selected from each of the nine Districts, the tenth member to be selected at large to serve as chairman. It shall be the duty of said Committee:

(1) To act in an advisory and coordinating capacity in promoting a membership committee in each Constituent Commandery and to suggest and recommend that it functions and carries out the objectives of the committee.

(2) To see that the names and addresses of the members of these committees are sent to the committee chairman and the District member.

This is a new committee, and this will be the first year they have been put to work. Their responsibility is to assure that the histories of our Grand Commandery, Past Grand Commanders, and constituent Commanderies are properly preserved.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Necrology to prepare and submit to this Grand Commandery at each Annual Conclave, an appropriate eulogy upon the Masonic history and services of deceased members of this and other Grand Jurisdictions, and suitable resolutions concerning deceased members of Constituent Commanderies. Said committee shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by this Grand Commandery or by the Grand Commander.

Each Grand Commander shall appoint a committee of ten members, one member from each of the nine districts and one member at large to serve as Chairman, to be known as the Patriotic and Civic Activities Committee, whose duty it shall be to work in conjunction with and under the supervision of the Grand Encampment Committee on Patriotic and Civic Activities in fostering and supervising Patriotic and Good Citizenship Activities on the part of this Grand Commandery and each Constituent Commandery in this Grand Commandery, whether in Peace or in War, for the purpose of promoting the civic responsibility of Templary as an Organization, and collectively demonstrating the Patriotic Principles of Templary. Said Committee shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by this Grand Commandery or the Grand Commander.

It shall be the duty of the Committee on Place of Next Grand Conclave to examine, consider and report its recommendation on invitations presented to this Grand Commandery inviting it to hold its next Grand Conclave at any particular place. If no acceptable invitations are presented to this Grand Commandery, it shall be the duty of the said committee to recommend a suitable place of meeting.

The Committee on Printing, of which the Grand Recorder shall be Chairman, shall contract:

(a) For the printing of the Annual Proceedings.

(b) For the printing of all forms used by this Grand Commandery and its Constituent Commanderies.

(c) For the printing of the reports of the Grand Officers and the Committee on Educational Foundation.

(d) For the printing of all Bulletins and General Orders issued by the Grand Commander and the Grand Recorder.

Said committee shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by this Grand Commandery or by the Grand Commander.

The Committee on Purposes and Policies shall examine, consider and report on all matters submitted to it by this Grand Commandery or by the Grand Commander affecting the policies and general purposes of this Grand Commandery in relation to observance of holy days, public appearances of Commanderies, social activities, works of charity and benevolence and kindred subjects. It may make reports and recommendations on its own Initiative on subjects designated to promote the progress and efficiency of Constituent Commanderies and the general welfare of this Grand Commandery.

The Annual reports of the Grand Commander and other Grand Officers, except as otherwise provided by the Statutes of this Grand Commandery, shall be referred to the Committee on Reports of Grand Officers, which committee shall, with the approval of the Grand Commandery, refer such portions thereof to other appropriate committees for examination, consideration and report thereon. Said committee may retain such portions thereof for examination and report as it may deem desirable, except those subjects falling under the jurisdiction and powers of other committees of this Grand Commandery. Said committee shall examine, consider and report on any other matters referred to it by this Grand Commandery, or by the Grand Commander.

The Committee on Templar Instruction shall be composed of ten members to serve for a term of one year. One member shall be selected from each of the nine districts, the tenth member to be selected at large to serve as chairman. It shall be the duty of said committee:

(a) To arrange for and have supervision of competition in the Ritual and Asylum Ceremonies at the Annual Conclave under the direction of the Grand Officers.

(b) The chairman, with the approval of the committee, to appoint additional well qualified Sir Knights, if necessary, to assist in the competitions held at the Annual Conclaves of the Grand Commandery.

(c) To give instruction in the Ritualistic work and the Asylum Ceremonies to Constituent Commanderies in the district in which the member resides, when directed to do so by the Grand Commander.

(d) To make any changes in the manual of Asylum Ceremonies necessary to clarify and explain the movements contained therein.

The Committee on Triennial Conclave shall be composed of the anticipated Grand Commander at the time of Triennial Conclave, the Grand Treasurer and the Grand Recorder. They shall have charge of all necessary arrangements for the official headquarters of this Grand Commandery at each Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment, and to pay the expenses incident thereto from the Triennial Fund.

This committee shall recommend to this Grand Commandery for its consideration the amount to be allowed to each drill team for assistance to attend the Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment, for the purpose of participating in the Field Drill Competition, Parade and Divine Services.

In order to be eligible for assistance from the Grand Commandery, the drill teams assisted shall have participated in the Field Drill Competitions and Devotional Services at two of the three Grand Commandery Conclaves between the Triennial Conclaves.

Said committee upon request, shall make all necessary hotel reservations for the members of the Grand Encampment attending from this Grand Jurisdiction. When requested, it shall be the duty of said committee to assist the Grand Commander in providing for the reception and entertainment of the Grand Officers of the Grand Encampment, and distinguished visitors from other Grand Jurisdictions, when in attendance upon the Conclaves of this Grand Commandery.

Said committee shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by the Grand Commandery or by the Grand Commander.

This is an ad-hoc committee (appointed for one year by the Grand Commander). Their responsibilies include presenting ideas and setting goals to lead The Grand Commandery of Texas in a positive direction. This committee is charged to help grow future leaders and members.

This is an ad-hoc committee. It is their responsibility to encourage each Sir Knight to collect their loose change throughout the year, bring it to Grand Commandery, and present it to the Grand Recorder. The funds from this committee help defray the everyday working expenses of the Grand Recorder's office.

This is an ad-hoc committee. This committee has oversight of the newly established fund which will build the future of our Grand Commandery. It is the responsibility of this committee to report new members to the webmaster, and to report of the fund each year at Grand Commandery. They also work to solicit new members throughout the year.

This is an ad-hoc committee charged with presenting a final, updated and corrected Law Book to the delegates present at the 159th Grand Conclave in Houston. Upon approval, the Sir Knights of Texas will be able to obtain these Law Books for use in constituent commanderies.

This is an ad-hoc committee. It is the duty of this Sir Knight to keep the website updated with super-human speed and skill. Other than that, to be the computer go to guy for anyone who needs him.