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Post Office Box 821413, Fort Worth, Texas 76182 USA
Lodge telephone number: 817.656.2311
Best time to contact the Lodge: Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 6 PM and 9
PM
September, 1998
I hope this news letter finds everyone well! We have a very busy month ahead of us! This past Saturday, we had breakfast and two EA degrees. We had such a great time that we are already planning ahead for Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees. Everyone is encouraged to come out and join in the fun!
You should soon be receiving an invitation from the Retirement Center for the Reunion on August 29. We plan to have a concession stand as a fund raiser for Smithfield Lodge. The August stated meeting was very eventful! The District Deputy Grand Master, Brother Brown, and his officers visited and each of them spoke great words of wisdom. The focus of the Grand Master is to live and talk Masonry. He wants us to be proud to be Masons and to demonstrate that to others rather than hiding it.
Our Lodge has agreed to participate in the Mall Greeters program this fall. We would like to ask everyone to work at least one night during the program, and we will need some to volunteer for additional nights. Talk and voting was delayed regarding Eugene Green DFW (Daylight) Lodge. Finally, we were pleased to have the elected officers from the Richland Hills Lodge as visitors. Their support is always appreciated. Brethren, I would like to invite everyone to attend our stated meetings. This invitation includes not only members of Smithfield, but neighboring lodges as well! We will be voting on various issues that will be of concern to all. In this connection, we would like to have as much participation and support as possible! Thanks again to all the Officers and Brethren for your hard work and dedication.
Daryle Hester
Brethren,
An eventful summer thus far. Hot and busy! I attended the Masters', Wardens' and Secretaries' Association with Brothers Campbell, Erwin, Townsend and Coates. Some interesting things were revealed. Only four of the 32 Lodges in Tarrant County perform their own funeral services. I'm proud that Smithfield has brethren like Brother Webb that enable us to take care of our own. The Shrine Circus is coming and they have offered to let the MWS Association set up the booth used at the stock show. The Circus chairman stated that those working in the booth would get free tickets for the circus for them and their family. They also offered a 20 percent commission to the Lodges on any Circus Program advertising they sell. I appreciate their support of the Blue Lodges. R:W: Brother Gower, DGM talked about his ideas for bringing EAs who failed to advanced back into the fraternity. I support his efforts. Read brother Campbell's article for more information.
My wife and I attended the Wardens' Retreat in Dallas. We had a great time but, the GL Committee on Education didn't give us much time to sit around and dawdle. We discussed the present and future of our Lodges. I found many Brethren fighting low attendance and poor participation. Smithfield Lodge isn't immune. We raised one Master Mason during the last Masonic year. I look through my journal and see that we talked about leadership, management skills, good ideas, bad ideas, grand lodge resources, handling adversity, participating in the community, better Masonic instruction, and training for Lodge officers. Things we didn't talk about were where to get the Brethren to perform all these wonderful activities and where to get the money to fund the projects. Brethren, please come and work in the quarries with us! Come help us at the Family Reunion fund raising booth!
David Terrell
Dear Brethren,
The Wardens' retreat was very interesting. During the three-day adventure, I met many Brothers from different Lodges. All the Brethren I've met talked about what needed improvement in their Lodge. For example, everyone needed more Brothers to attend their Lodges and more participation in their Degree work. We also talked about how we can have more participation in our Lodges and discussed contacting our Brethren by newsletter and phone to inform them of upcoming events. My wife, Darlene, had a great time learning about the Masons, and the work that we do, during the Ladies' Program. Thanks to David and Liz for a great time.
Rickey Levings
Brethren,
If you haven't noticed, Smithfield Lodge is on the move once again. The Officers have set their goals and have already started to work. However, as we all know, the sign of good leadership is the ability to delegate authority and supervise the progress performed by others. This takes a commitment by all of us to make the difference between a good year and a successful year. There are many ways we can all help. Of course the best way is for you to find a place or activity to help with is to come to Lodge. There is always stuff happening and something to do, from changing light bulbs to working through the Stations and Places. Another way to help, whether you come to Lodge on a regular basis or have other commitments that are keeping you busy elsewhere, is with monetary donations to a variety of funds and activities, such as the Smithfield Endowment Fund, the Trestleboard, the Charity Fund, the Stewards’ Fund, helping with the Building and Grounds or any other area you are interested in. Some of the above are budgeted activities that have limited funds to work with and some don't even exist without donations and support.
An example of this is the Trestleboard. Brother Terrell is doing an incredible job on what has proven to be one of the best forms of communication Masonry has experienced in many years. However, it also takes money to put this wonderful tool to work. The Trestleboard is one of those items that we do not budget Lodge money (money generated by dues and degree fees) to produce and mail out to all of you. It is completely funded by donations from our members and others who have enjoyed and benefited from it. The Trestleboard takes around $140 a month to copy and mail, and because of this, we have recommended that donations be in the ballpark of monthly support ($100 to $150). However, any form of donation is appreciated and we will recognize all who donate.
On a separate issue, the Smithfield Endowment Fund will have a plaque made in your name or a memorial to someone you choose once you have donated $100 or more. I will help the Trustees keep up with your donations until you accumulate at least $100. Charity is another fund that we also budget moneys to. However, that fund is limited. This year that fund is budgeted at approximately $500. Charity is a big part of what we are supposed to be about and yet we only have budgeted $500 for such. It should be much more, don't you think?
Well, I think you get the picture. Use your imagination and find your own special way of helping Masonry spread that “cement”. Everyone has a place in Masonry and without you, Smithfield Lodge and Masonry, as a whole, is missing out on your special talents. Be proud of your Masonry and hold your head high as you walk in the path of those who have walked this way before you. It is because of them that this wonderful opportunity exists for you.
David W. Myers, Treasurer
Brethren,
I was pleased to hear from another Lodge that our newsletter is widely distributed throughout that Lodge. We were congratulated for the content, as well as the fact that we are willing to include what is going on around the district. The kudos go to those who contribute to the makeup of the Trestle Board, and those who make its mailing possible.
I was attending the last meeting of the Masters', Wardens' and Secretaries' Association, held at Fort Worth Lodge #148, when Right Worshipful Mike Gower, Deputy Grand Master, made known his program for bring the Entered Apprentice Masons who have let their time lapse back in the Lodges. This program will be like one used in Oklahoma, where Entered Apprentices were given a chance to complete their Degree work in a one-day conference. This program reclaimed a group of men who might never have become Master Masons. The program requires the presence of the Grand Master at the one-day affair. The Entered Apprentice must be accompanied by a mentor, or sponsor, from the Lodge in which he was initiated. There will be a single Degree fee which will be shared between the Lodge and the Grand Lodge. Each Brother will be obligated on his own Bible, furnished by the Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Arizona has held similar one-day Raisings with good results.
This program will be one of the important items which will be presented at the Grand Lodge Communication in Waco this December. The Worshipful Master needs you to come to a Stated Meeting and voice your opinion on this important issue. As you consider this program, consider the fact that over 68,000 Entered Apprentices have let their time run out in the last ten years. Wouldn't it be nice to recover just half of these Brethren? Right Worshipful Brother Gower assured us that the program, if approved, will be optional and that Lodges will not have to participate. He also stated that these classes will be held in various sections of the state and reaffirmed that no class would be held unless the Grand Lodge offers were present. I think that he has an idea worth considering. If we continue losing Masons at the present rate, we will be extinct in a few years. Let's give someone with a bright new idea our support.
I hope this article has peaked your curiosity and that you will discuss these ideas with your Brethren. As you can guess, I have heard several opinions on this already.
B.R. Campbell, Secretary
September 3 -- Stated Meeting 7:30 PM
September 9 -- Masonic Service Bureau
Please give these Brethren a call and or visit.
The following brethren will observe their Masonic Birthdays. They were raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason during this month.
| F. B. Benton | 09-20-57 | F. W. Burton | 09-19-53 |
| S.E. Carney | 09-28-76 | E.M. Coates | 09-28-91 |
| E.L. Davis | 09-08-55 | T.G. Dobbins | 09-21-67 |
| F.C. Erwin | 09-18-84 | J.C. Graves | 09-18-69 |
| M.E. Hawkins Jr. | 09-27-87 | G.R. Hester | 09-21-93 |
| A.M. Hestilow Jr | 09-08-55 | T. G. Marshall | 09-28-89 |
| C.C. Minor | 09-26-63 | C.R. Moore | 09-19-57 |
| H.E. Parker Jr. | 09-28-72 | T.C. Powell | 09-28-72 |
| C. O. Spencer | 09-29-88 | A. R. Tomes | 09-24-63 |
Congratulations Brethren!
Freemasonry is the oldest, largest Fraternity in the world. Its members have included Kings, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Statesmen, Generals, Admirals, Supreme Court Chief Justices, corporate CEOs, opera stars, movie stars, and probably your next-door neighbor.
Masonry is always ready to welcome good men into the Fraternity. It's ready to welcome YOU, if in your heart you can answer “yes” to a few questions.
If you answered “yes” to the above questions, you should consider becoming a Mason. Freemasonry offers much to its members -- the opportunity to grow, the chance to make a difference, to build a better world for our children. It offers the chance to be with and work with men who have the same values and ideals -- men who have answered “YES” to these questions.
It's easy to find out more. Just find a Mason and ask him about Masonry. You probably know several Masons. Perhaps you've seen the Square and Compasses like the one at the end of this article or a pin or tie tack or bumper sticker. If you know where the Lodge is in your community, stop by or look up the number of your local Masonic Lodge in the phone book and ask for the secretary of the Lodge. He'll be happy to help you. Have you ever considered becoming a Mason? We'd like a chance to talk with you.
Edited from "Have You Ever Considered Becoming A Mason?" written by the Masonic Renewal Committee of North America
Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (smithfield455@hiram.net)
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