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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
February, 1999
Happy New Year to everyone! It's always good to have a fresh start on a new year.
Smithfield Lodge is on fire for Masonry. We are already planning a busy year. We just had our first stated meeting of the year, and it was very successful. There were many visitors including the District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Mike Elliott. The main topic of the meeting was the Trestle Board. Our primary concern was whether or not we should continue this program. After discussing the issue, we decided to continue publishing the Trestle Board. The brethren feel the Trestle Board is a vital link to the members of the lodge and the community. The Trestle Board is a self supporting program and can only be maintained with continued contributions from the membership of the lodge or various companies within the community. I know everyone gets tired of us asking for money, but this is the only way this particular program will work. Contributions from members or businesses in the community of at least one hundred dollars will gain a business card size spot on the back page of the Trestle Board. If we can get enough annual contributions, the Trestle Board will be a successful program.
Did I mention that Smithfield was on fire? This past Saturday we had a wonderful breakfast prepared by Brother J.B. Hutcherson and R.T. Koonce. We were able to discuss various issues we thought would improve our Lodge. After this meeting, it felt as if we were a brand new lodge! Brethren if you were wondering why Masonry isn't growing, come to Smithfield! Masonry is booming at Smithfield right now! We are either working on or finishing degrees. Take a look at our calendar, and you will note that Smithfield is NOT stagnant!
At the February stated meeting, I would like to discuss the trip we plan to take to Arizona in the spring. This is a time we are all looking forward to and would love to have as many participants as possible!
Daryle Hester, W:M:
Brethren,
I've done a fair amount of reading, studying and pondering, this past five years. As I move closer to the East, I search about with added intensity. I've tried to learn something about Masonry. I've tried to find its Landmarks and I've considered its Symbols long into many late nights. I've come to see that the underlying purpose of Masonry is to promote the brotherhood of Man; to instill in us the fact that the life of each man is intertwined with the lives of all.
We've a log way to go! Look around! The strife and conflict in this world results from non-Masonic ideals. In all the centuries of war and discord, the lessons of the Craft have made a difference, but only here or there. There have been disagreements and disputes within the Craft, even within Smithfield Lodge, where anger drove Brethren apart. Think of how much pain could have been avoided if only we had used the Trowel. It is to the task of banishing discord that Smithfield Lodge should dedicate itself. We've taught and preached enough. We've got to put our actions where our mouths are. In boot camp, I was taught that the four acceptable answers to a question were: "Yes, sir!", "No, sir!", "No excuse, sir!", and "I don't know, but I will find out sir!" It seems that in Masonry we're adding a fifth: "If you can't find anyone else to do it, come back and ask me again and I will." Horse pucky! I know a brush off when I hear it.
It isn't easy to be a true Master Mason. Even the best of us are but human and self-interest cools enthusiasm and clouds our vision. We will never realize true Brotherhood until we banish selfishness from our minds and make service our purpose. Come to Lodge for what you can contribute, not for what you might get. Be the man who can best work and best agree! Selfishness must give way to service. In all our dealings, we must be fair, just and equitable.
Masonry used to stand for something. Help make it shine again. In Masonry, character alone counts. Our task, should we stand to our obligations, is to live with Love and Care, upon the Level and by the Square.
David Terrell
Dear Brethren,
I hope that everybody is ready for this New Year to set achievements in their degree work. Also, Brethren, I have missed studying our degree work in the "round robin" form we used last year. For those unfamiliar with what I mean, the round robin method of study consists of men reciting the ritual in turn, each man taking the next part whenever a speaker changes. I'd like to encourage the newly raised Master Masons to continue coming to Lodge and learn to participate in the degrees. I like to see new Masons helping in the work of the Lodge. Thank you, Brother Terrell, for being there to have someone fill my station at the last stated meeting after my wife fell and hurt her tailbone. She is doing very good and she appreciates all the mason's concern for her well-being.
Rickey Levings
David was unable to provide an article for this Trestle Board. Editor.
Brethren,
I will start this month's report by appealing to those who have not submitted their annual dues as yet. This is the time that try secretaries souls, you know that the dues are due by the end of the year, yet some of you wait until you get that nasty gram from the secretary stating that you are in arrears. Then you finally come across with the dinero. Don't wait, send in your dues now. They are $50.00, and are past due, enough of this.
We had a very good Regional Conference, some 563 attended. The presenters did a very good job on their papers. We at Smithfield did not qualify for the attendance award. We had only five officers present. The next close conference is Feb. 13, 1999 in Dallas. I will drive, go with, or any otherwise get there with those who would like to attend. It is worth attending again.
I have had the privilege of serving as the President of the Masonic Service Bureau the past six months. if you have not taken the pleasure of attending this organization in a while let me issue an invitation to you to attend. The programs that have been presented are top quality. Rt. W. Orval Willingham, Grand Treasurer was the speaker at the last meeting held at the retirement center. This man is not only entertaining, but his wit makes one think, he brings thoughts to each of us as to where we are in life's journey, what we are here for, and sends us away thankful for hearing his wisdom. If you have a chance to listen to him, don't miss it. We will continue to have sound programs, a good meal, and fellowship. Be my guest at the next meeting.
I would like to say welcome to the newest Master Masons at Smithfield, Brothers John Frakes, and Gary Spraggins. You are a welcome addition to Smithfield Lodge.
We will receive a petition for the Degrees at the next stated meeting from a young man who heard of us through the Grand Master's radio messages. He called the phone number given in the message, stated his address, and we were given his number to contact. This is the first time we have benefited from this program. More on this later.
The comments about this epistle have been encouraging. Thanks to those who contacted us and voiced your opinion. We will continue the paper.
B.R. Campbell, Secretary
February 3 -- Stated Meeting 7:30 PM
March 19 -- Grand Master's Official Visit and Dinner (Brother Terrell has Tickets $10)
Forget the hasty, unkind word:
Forget the slander you have heard;
Forget the quarrel and the cause;
Forget the whole affair, because,
Forgetting is the only way.
Forget the storm of yesterday;
Forget the knocker, and the squeak;
Forget the bad day of the week.
Forget you're not a millionaire;
Forget the gray streaks in your hair;
Forget to even get the blues --
But don't forget to Pay Your Dues!
(Courtesy of Ionic Lodge #31, Wilmington, Delaware)
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.
W.G. Black 2-12-47
C.W. Bowman 2-04-97
Trace Brooks 2-04-97
V.W. Chambers 2-18-67
R.L. Cobb 2-10-66
L.N. Farris 2-25-93
M.J. Gaston 2-25-84
R.H. Giles 2-17-72
L.M. Hammond 2-20-69
L.D. Haun, PM 2-10-53
M.W. Hestilow 2-23-61
D.R. Holloway 2-29-92
C.T. Marler 2-04-82
K.W. Ritter 2-10-94
T.J. Stevenson 2-11-82
D.G. Terrell 2-21-95
M.B. Whatley 2-11-55
W.W. White, III 2-23-84
R.M. Whitt 2-15-62
M.S. York 2-19-76
Congratulations Brethren!
We've all seen it. Everyone is seated at the sound of the gavel to start the meeting, and by the first "Brother Junior Deacon", eyes are already starting to glaze. Some brothers even talk to one another through the opening ritual. Perhaps they view the opening as something those not directly involved must sit through in order to get to the "meat" of the meeting and the collation afterward. We hear over and over that our meetings need to be more "interesting" and "fun". For that matter, why do we even "open" the Lodge? What's different about what we do than a ham radio club or a homeowner's association? Treasurer's reports, new business, old business - ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz.
We all became Masons for different reasons. Even though we all knelt at the same Altar and took the same Obligations, we each found (and hopefully continue to find) different and deeply personal meanings in the words we spoke. It was impressed on each of us that Freemasonry is not a merely a "scotch & cigars" club or a social service organization. Masonry is a personal commitment to a set of ideals - standards and guidelines by which we try to live our lives. It is something that lives inside us, that helps us become better men by our dedication to the effort.
Why, then, do we "open" our Lodges to meet? Is it merely to get together and share the fellowship and company of our friends and brothers? No "merely" about it. Let's face it - much of human nature revolves around certain types of group behaviors. We all know about "peer pressure" - it is much easier to do something when everyone around you is doing the same thing. This is true for positive as well as negative aspects of life. If we are trying to reach a higher goal, why not surround ourselves with good men who have committed themselves to the same lofty purpose? When we falter, we know these Brothers will be there to steady us until we regain our stride, as will we for them.
Excellent reasons to gather and meet, but why the ritual? What is the ritual we use to "open"? Is it merely words in a book in which we must become proficient in order to move through the chairs? A Brother posed this question to me recently, and it gave me great pleasure to hear my answer to him repeated in a Grand Master's Town Meeting. My Brothers, the ritual we use to open our Lodges is (and should be) a continual rededication, of ourselves and our Lodges, to the ideals and tenets of our Fraternity. Listen to the duty of the Tiler - relate it to the way in which your conscience serves as the guardian of your own personal spiritual temple. In my Lodge, the Tiler is certainly not a man of imposing physical stature. He is, however, a man of unquestioned moral and ethical character and strength. Who better to guard our symbolic temple from the influence of those who might sully it or introduce disharmony? Who better to symbolize the guard set for our personal lives by our conscience, which sets the line over which we will not suffer our passions to transgress?
All of the words spoken when we open our Lodges hold similar, deeply personal meaning. Rather than go through it all, I ask you to consider the Tiler as an example. I issue each of you a personal challenge. The next time your Lodge opens, I urge you to listen, not just to coast through by rote, barely hearing the words. What induced each of us to become Master Masons? Pay attention to what the words say to your heart, and to the Mason you try every day to be. Strive to find new meaning and support for your personal life, and for your support of the Brothers on your left and right. Rededicate yourself to the obligations you took, and remind yourself anew of what it means to you to be a Mason.
Greg Becker, J.D., Ph.D.
mailto:na2n@ifam.com
J.W., Rondout Lodge #343 F&AM
Masonry is the ability to control your anger and settle differences without violence or destruction.
Masonry is patience, the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain.
Masonry is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of opposition and discouraging setbacks.
Masonry is unselfish -- responding to the needs of others, often at the expense of one's own wishes or desires.
Masonry is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse.
Masonry is the ability to make a decision and stand by it.
Masonry is humility. It is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And when right ...the Mason doesn't have to say, "I told you so."
The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities, then do nothing.
Masonry means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in a crisis.
The immature are masters of the alibi -- confused and disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions which never materialize.
Masonry is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change.
Fraternally,
NiceGuy aka Phil, Master Mason, Mantua Lodge #95 F&AM
Mantua, New Jersey USA
Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (smithfield455@fwst.net)
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