Richland Springs Masonic Lodge No. 882 will have its stated meeting on Saturday evening, February 12th. Members are asked to bring a pot luck supper for a small meal at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will begin at 7:00. The main focus of the meeting will be the possible consolidation and merger with San Saba Lodge No. 612. Every Master Mason in good standing should be in attendance.

In conformance with Grand Lodge law, a formal petition is currently being circulated for the purpose. Those that believe it is in the best interest to merge and wish to sign the petition need to contact Thomas Alston. This needs to be done before or at the next stated meeting.

The purpose of consolidation is to protect the property and membership. Due to the lack of participation, age of the membership and waning attendance, the officers at this time feel that consolidation would be in the best interest of the Masonic fraternity and the lodge.

By merging, the lodge membership and property converts to San Saba Lodge, thereby allowing its assets to be saved. On the other hand, if the lodge does nothing and demises due to lack of interest, not enough members to hold meetings, etc., the Grand Lodge of Texas will seize control of the property, which will be disposed of at its discretion. The lodge will have no say in the matter.

Consolidation is not a new idea. Only recently did the Richland Springs Order of Eastern Star (OES) merge with the San Saba chapter on 18 January 2011. Last year in 2010, the Lometa OES Chapter merged with Goldthwaite and the Lampasas OES merged with Burnet.

Locker Lodge No. 846 was chartered in 6 December 1900 and merged with Richland Springs Lodge on 2 October 1957. Bend Lodge No. 1124 chartered in 11 December 1917 and merged with San Saba Lodge, 17 April 1951.

It is the desire of the majority of the officers at this time to proceed with the merger. It is imperative that if the majority of the membership agrees, then they should express their desires and sign the petition in order to start the process.

The next step is to have two more meetings in March and April and have the minutes reflect the intention to merge. At the April meeting, a formal ballot will be made. The action will become official if passed by 2/3 of the members present.

If the resolution is adopted, then Richland Springs Lodge shall transmit the petition and certified copy of its minutes together with an invoice of the complete inventory of its property to San Saba Lodge. Included will be a listing of the membership in good standing.

San Saba Lodge, after receiving such petition will read the petition in open lodge and hold the matter over until the next stated meeting. At that time a ballot will be taken and the proposition to consolidate will only be accepted by at least 2/3 of the membership present. After the vote, San Saba Lodge will then transmit certified copies to the Grand Master for his approval.