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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, 1999
The year rolls on. The August Stated meeting was well attended. If you didn't attend, you missed a great pot-luck dinner. Thanks to everyone who brought food and, knowing the rest of the story, a special thanks to all those who prepared the food as well. I really appreciate your support of the Lodge.
We're going to have several opportunities to show our masonry in the next few months. On September 18th, we'll be having another “Masonic Family Reunion”. This year, however, it will be held at the Home and School and celebrate the Home's 100th anniversary. Brother Butch and Daryl Hester have agreed to bring their Chuck Wagon and give the Lodge a chance to participate in the celebration and raise money for the Lodge by selling food. We're forming up the folks to help and will discuss this event at the upcoming breakfast. We had a great time last year. Please think about helping out the Lodge or at least attending the celebration and recognizing the Home and School. In November and December, we'll likely be participating in the Northeast Mall Greeter program. It's always fun!
We're beginning an effort to coordinate our annual scholarship program with those of Richland Hills and Haltom City Lodges. We have a new High School, Shannon HS, in the vicinity along with Richland Hills HS, Birdville HS, and Haltom HS. Representatives of the three Lodges are meeting to develop a plan which ensures that students at all of the schools will be recognized.
The new chairs for the dining area have arrived. They are beautiful. The furniture from Riverside Lodge has been customized by Brother Hestilow and installed in the Lodge room. It looks like it was made for the room. Our old chairs have gone to the Home and School for their DeMolay chapter. Our pillars went to Keller Lodge and Crowley Lodge is going to receive the old pedestals. My special thanks to Brothers Koonce, Spraggins, Musquiz, and Hestilow for their efforts.
Speaking of Brother Spraggins, please let Gary know how much you appreciate his efforts to keep the grounds looking good.
To all who have expressed their support and prayers in my behalf, my deepest thanks.
David Terrell, W:M:
It was nice to come and see all the new furniture that the Lodge had received. The chairs were especially nice and comfortable to sit on during our stated meeting. Brethren, I know that the old furniture will be taken care of by some very special people. Let's give a special thanks to all the Brothers involved in getting this new furniture for our Lodge. R.T.Koonce, Bo Hestilow, Billy Campbell, Jack Jeter and all the other Brothers that I might have forgotten to mention. Also Brethren, let's give a special thanks to Gary Spraggins for helping with some of the duties at Smithfield Lodge. It was greatly appreciated Gary. It was very nice that our Tiler, Richard Muzquiz gave the lodge a special made clock to hang above the S.W.: station. Thanks to all Brothers for making our lodge a better place!
Sincerely
Rickey Levings, S:W:
Brethren,
Our August stated meeting went well and was attended by 25 M.M.: W.M.: David Terrell performed his usual fine job. Bro. E. Richard Muzquiz presented a clock to be used in the Lodge room. Now all can see the "hour". Our last Sat. morning breakfast was well attended. The floor were buffed, the walls were wiped down and cleaned and other cleaning chores were completed. We have "new" furniture in our Lodge room. This came from Riverside Lodge. Thanks to all the Brothers that drove their vehicles and took part in the disassembly, transportation and reassembled the furniture in our lodge room. Bo Hestilow, R.T.Koonce, T.C.Powell and Richard Muzquiz were among those involved in setting up our "new" furniture. If I have missed anyone, my apologies. 90 new chairs were also bought and placed in the dining area, they have soft seats.
The 100th anniversary of the home and school was discussed at our meeting. Hester's Chuckwagon will be in attendance. Many attending Brothers agreed to be part of this event. More on this at our next stated meeting and I will give more information next month.
We have had several fine floor school sessions. They have been well attended and the P.M.: have been invaluable help. I personally want to thank each person that has supported me.
Some discussion has been made regarding endowment programs at both Smithfield ($100.00 suggested) and $500.00 for Grand Lodge. Brethren, at $500.00 for lifetime payment of your dues this is an excellent investment. It has been among those who track these matters that it may cost as much as $1,000.00 next year. Call your Lodge Secretary, Bro. Campbell for further information, or better still come to the Lodge. Someone is always there on Tuesday and Thursday evening at about 7 PM.
Brother Masons, I wonder if any of you attempted to bring up the Los Alamitos Army Aviation Support Facility, California National Guard Web page. Probably no one as I have not received any inquiries. The correct address is: http://www.calguard.ca.gov/AASF1/ . (Seems that the TB Editor didn't get it right last month. Sorry, Jim.) My son Maj. Carl Allen is a M.M.: (belongs to New England #4 Ohio F&AM) and would be interested in hearing from you, especially those of you who work for Bell Helicopter. Send him or any of his staff pertinent email about the "Huey".
There are about 220 M.M.: that belong to Smithfield 455. I know some of you must work and others have priorities but some of you can come to the Lodge. Please come on Tuesday or Thursday and participate in the floor school to learn more about Masonry. If you wish, come and attend some of the wild domino games. Maybe we could get some teams together?
A Gem for this month: A pessimist is a fellow who freezes all winter and then can hardly wait until he can roast all summer.
James Allen, J:W:
Brother Myers was unable to provide an article this month.
Brethren,
I would like to start off by saying a big thank you to Bro.'s A.M.Hestilow, Jr.,P.M., R.T.Koonce, Jr., P.M., Richard Muzquiz, T.C.Powell, P.M., and Morris Hestilow for helping get the station furniture from Riverside Lodge, setting it up, and cleaning up the Lodge room after all the hard work. The Lodge room looks beautiful with the new furniture. The old furniture will be dedicated to the new DeMolay chapter at the home and school. I hope you all make an effort to come by and see the new set-up, thank those who helped, and become active in your Lodge.
I will try to explain the manner in which you can acquire a permanently endowed membership in the Lodge. It appears that the cost of membership will increase at the next Grand Lodge meeting in December. You can take advantage of the current price until December. The present cost is $500.00, this sounds like quite a bit, until you consider that the yearly dues are $50.00. If you are a young man, this will mean only 10 years of dues, if they go no higher. You can pay the fee out in installments, just make arrangements with me, and we will assist you. Call me at home, or the Lodge. Remember, once you pay the fee, you will no longer have to pay dues. The Lodge continues to be paid moneys as long as there is a lodge. Congratulations to Bro.'s Spraggins, and Montoya, they are the latest endowed members.
The new dining room chairs are now in place, same brothers did the work, so what else is new? If you want to donate money to offset the price, we paid $10.00/chair. They do look nice.
Three Brethren have been automatically re-instated from non-payment of dues. I hope the others see fit to catch up, and do the same. I hate sending out notices of suspensions, one has so many reasons to remain in good standing, you know them so I will not list them.
Come see the new Lodge room, meet the new members, attend floor school, and become active.
Fraternally yours,
Bill Campbell
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.
GD Barnett 9-15-98
FB Benton 9-20-57
FW Burton 9-19-53
SE Carney 9-28-76
EM Coates 9-28-91
EL Davis
9-8-55
TG Dobbins 9-21-67
FC Erwin, APM 9-18-84
JC Graves 9-18-69
ME Hawkins Jr. 9-29-87
GR Hester 9-21-93
AM Hestilow Jr., PM 9-8-55
LD Littrell
9-17-60
TG Marshall 9-28-89
CC Minor
9-26-63
CR Moore 9-19-57
HE Parker Jr. 9-28-72
TC Powell, PM 9-28-72
CD Spencer 9-29-88
AR Tomes, PM
9-24-63
Congratulations Brethren!
On all sides it is asked, What is the matter with Masonry? The answer is, Nothing. It is not Masonry that is at fault; it is the same gracious, wise and benign spirit and art that it has always been. The matter is with Masons who slur their vows, hold their obligations lightly, and do not take the Craft seriously.
Often enough, to be sure, the question is asked by those who do not know what they want, and who do not know why they want it, or how they are going to get it. Usually they talk glibly of too much symbolism and not enough service, by which they seem to mean rushing Masonry into the service of some pet reform, or otherwise involving it in affairs in which it does not meddle.
Yet it has to be said that the spirit and truth of Masonry is not felt in our communities as it should be, remembering how strong the Craft is. But the same is said of Christianity, and with equal truth; it is far less fruitful than it should be, and would be if it had its way with men in the daily walks of life. Indeed, it is now the fad to snipe both the church and the lodge.
But neither Christianity nor Masonry can be administered like chloroform; each depends upon the seriousness and earnestness with which men take their teachings to heart, and put them to the service and test of life. The creed of the church, no less than the vow of the lodge, may be a matter of rote-nothing more. Or it may be marching orders, a challenge to adventure, a flag to follow.
To repeat, the matter is not with Masonry but with Masons, many of whom do not know what Masonry is, much less how to use it in the service of humanity. Until we can bestir our men to take Masonry seriously, study it, seeking to know its truth and obey its teaching in the everyday affairs of life, there will still be the wonder and regret that Masonry seems useless.
Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (smithfield455@fwst.net)
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