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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
January, 2000
Dear Brethren,
December has come and the year 1999 draws to a close. Our Stated meeting went quickly in spite of the amount of business before the lodge. We welcomed Brothers Steve Henderson and George Carnes to their first Stated Meeting. Brother Frakes received his Endowed Membership certificate and card. Thanks John! We accepted petitions for affiliation from two brothers. One of these, Brother Chancellor, received his 50-year service award last month and joins us from Granbury Lodge. The other, Brother Stark, joins us from Arlington Heights Lodge. Welcome to Smithfield Lodge! Brother Frank Levings donated the time and labor to repair the Lodge's lawn mower. Thanks Frank, we truly appreciate it. Speaking of Brother Levings, he paid for his Endowed Membership while he was at Lodge, following in the footsteps of his son, Rickey, our Senior Warden. Thank you twice, Frank! Brother Stegall, our representative in Arizona, became one of our first $100 Trestle Board Sponsors for 2000. Thanks Brother Jim!
During the month, we initiated two men into the fraternity. I hope everyone will “turn to” and help make these Brethren feel welcome. Also, we sponsored several children at the Masonic Home and School for Christmas. In the Texas Mason every fall, you'll find a “wish list” from the Home and School. If you can help make these wishes come true, I'm sure our kids will appreciate it. The Lodge is also sponsoring Miss Chelsea Braun into the Scottish Rite Dyslexia Program. As one who suffers from this condition, I applaud the Lodge and our fraternity for this program. It's one of the better things that Masons do!
The annual stock show is around the corner and our day to work the Masonic Information Booth will be Friday, January 21st. If you want to participate, come to the January Stated Meeting ready to sign up. Also, during the January Stated Meeting, we will receive the new District Deputy Grand Master, the Right Worshipful Bill Crews.
At Grand Lodge, the following changes were made to the Constitutions and Law: a Mason suspended for NPD longer than 3 years will have to submit a “Petition for Reinstatement” which the Lodge will investigate and must vote to approve with a 2/3 majority. We established a Forty-year Service Award. With the approval of the Worshipful Master, there is no need to examine, or vouch for, a visiting Texas Mason that produces a valid dues card and photographic identification. Sojourning Masons are still subject to examination. A resolution before Grand Lodge, once rejected, cannot be reconsidered for three years unless the Grand Lodge suspends the rules by a 2/3 vote. The Grand Lodge is directed to establish guidelines for the creation of tax-exempt non-profit organizations that can raise funds and acquire property. The basic Bylaws of a Lodge (“Form 23”) was reaffirmed as a set of guidelines Lodges can use to prepare and amend its by-laws. The “Tiler’s Oath” was added to the requirements for earning a Class “C” Certificate of Proficiency. Louis J. Brown Lodge #1426 changed its name to Sagemont Lodge #1426. We authorized a year-long study of whether Texas Lodges should be able to work in the EA and FC degree without first opening a MM degree; vote on EA or FC proficiency in their respective lodges; and, conduct business in the EA Lodge except where it specifically pertains to the FC and MM degree.
Back in 1969, Brother Buzz Aldrin of Houston claimed the Earth's Moon for the Grand Lodge of Texas. This year in Waco, a statewide Lodge similar to the Lodge of Research, Tranquility Lodge #2000, was established for the purpose of working for the good of humanity until such time as it can relocate to the Earth's Moon.
David Terrell, W:M:
Dear Brethren,
Brother Levings Trestle Board input was lost. My deepest apologies to Brother Rickey. -- David Terrell
Rickey Levings, S:W:
Dear Brethren,
Another month has passed. Thanksgiving has been celebrated and we are going into the Christmas holiday season. Nine Master Masons from Smithfield Lodge #455 attended the yearly Grand Lodge meeting in Waco on December 4, 1999. Twenty-three Resolutions and three Grand Master's Recommendations were acted upon. Brother Billy Campbell has the particulars of what changes were voted on and the results of these deliberations. Twenty-four Master Masons were in attendance for our December, 1999 Stated Meeting. The food was plentiful and delicious.
The yearly Christmas Party for students at the Texas Masonic Home and School was held Wednesday night, December 8. Smithfield hosted Cottage Number Two for the 8, 9 and 10 year-old boys. A great time was had and, as usual, there was plenty of good food. Two Master Masons gave their Master Mason's proficiency examination before the Lodge on Thursday, December 9, 1999. Their presentations were excellent.
The Lodge will be dark from December 17, 1999 to January 4, 2000. We will be ready to welcome the new year on Tuesday evening, January 4, 2000.
Degrees
A man's true Masonic value cannot be determined by the number of degrees he may obtain. Degrees are conferred on men, but unless Masonry is instilled in their hearts, no amount of degree work will produce Masons. The great principles of our ancient and honorable Craft may be summed up as a philosophy of life, designed to promote a greater feeling of brotherhood among men. A Lodge, after all, is but a School of Masonry; and whether our great Fraternity has fulfilled its lofty purposes and ideals depends largely upon the powers of assimilation and application of those who became members of the Craft. The lessons learned by the initiates must be put into use in their daily contacts with their fellow men. Then and only then will Masonry have achieved its purposes, and be entitled to continued existence.
To all members of Smithfield Lodge #455 A.F.&A.M., have a joyous Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
James Allen, J:W:
Brethren,
We had a good session at Grand Lodge this year. We invited the Grand Master and the Grand Secretary of Arizona to our 64th District breakfast again this year. It is always good to have these representatives. of Smithfield West. visiting.
It should be noted that our good brother Rt.W. Cantrell Autrey, P.M., has been appointed to the office of District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District #65, I was pleased to see him installed at the Grand Lodge installation. We will try to make his official visit to Kopperel Lodge on January 4, 2000. If you would like to make the trip down there with us please contact me at 262-1764, or R.T. Koonce, Jr. at 261-1460. We will meet at the Lodge and leave no later than 5:00 P.M.
I hope all of you had a very good Christmas, and that all of your wishes for the new year come true.
The DDGM, Rt.W. Bill Crews, will make his official visit to Smithfield on Jan. 7, 2000. Come on out and greet this good brother. He will be informing us of the Grand Master's program this year.
I want to thank the brethren, Rickey Levings, and Jim Allen especially for their help in the Christmas Party at the Home and School. Thank you notes have already been received from our boys in cottage #2, they are, as always, appreciative of the gifts. Darlene Levings did our shopping for us. She did an excellent Job in the selection of gifts. Thanks again to her.
Fraternally yours,
Bill Campbell PM
Brethren,
Well another year is about to end and a new millennium is about to begin. The year 1999 was a very refreshing year for me in Masonry. I got to meet a lot of new brethren at other Lodges, at the Hill Top Degree, at the Masonic Retirement Center, the Masonic Home and School, and made my first trip to Grand Lodge in Waco, plus meeting all the visiting brothers and dignitaries that came to our Lodge. It was also refreshing to get to work in all three degrees throughout the year and I am still showing up for floor school trying to learn more and to get proficient in my studies and Masonic work. I attended the certificate classes at Richland Hills #1348 where I earned my “C” Certificate of which I am very proud of.
For those of you who haven't been able to attend the Lodge meetings and activities this year, we have had quite of bit of new members join and worked extremely hard in their degree and proficiency work. It is really a hard thing to explain to a new Mason when they are told that we have over 200 members and they are asking the question, Then where is everyone? I can't give them an answer. I don't know about you brethren, but Masonry has really turned my life around and it is truly a gratifying refreshment. I work very hard in life and put in a lot of hours at my usual vocation, and I still seem to find time and work hard at my Lodge. So if at all possible, please come back to Lodge and see all the fine things you are missing out on. At least even if it is only once a month, make a showing and meet with the new brethren and let them know that Masonry is still alive at Smithfield Masonic Lodge #455 AF & AM. Remember that Masons enjoy each other's company and that Masonry does things “inside” the individual Mason.
Brother Gary L. Spraggins, Senior Steward
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.
J.D. Barrett 01-28-65
F.L. England 01-12-67
J.D. Frakes 01-19-99
R.P. Franklin, Jr. 01-15-98
L.M. Greeney 01-09-68
H.E. Hampton 01-17-50
D.R. Hawkins PM 01-28-55
J.A. Hobbs 01-11-75
J.B. Hutcherson PM 01-09-52
B.J. Lambert 01-30-64
K.R. Lindsay 01-10-53
J.F. Loudermilk 01-18-72
W.O. Mitchell 01-21-95
J.D. Montoya 01-11-96
M.W. Morrow 01-25-73
E.D. Patterson 01-23-97
J.P. Pineda 01-23-74
J.D. Reynolds 01-25-79
M.R. Shepherd, Jr. 01-24-77
G.L. Spraggins 01-19-99
B.J. Steele 01-22-55
H.L. Trammell, Jr. 01-25-72
B.R. Tyre 01-15-59
Congratulations Brethren!
I AM A MASTER MASON!
The name itself stands as a symbol of the wisdom of the ages. I am part of an
institution that has forever followed the Glorious Light in the East. I am part
of the hopes, the yearnings and the efforts of a world-wide group of men who are
meeting and working in the name of The Almighty One. I have a share in the
spreading of ideals of Justice, of Tolerance and of Kindness. To me is given the
opportunity for unveiling symbols which impart Golden Truths. I have the
opportunity to grow morally in an atmosphere of sacred silence. I am a member of
an institution which throughout the ages has taught and followed the ways of
peace, yet never for a moment has capitulated to the demand of dictatorship. I
am a member of an institution which has forever inspired men to engage
vigorously in the struggle for the preservation of God-given rights- Freedom of
Worship and Freedom of Thought. My Masonic membership offers the greatest
blessing that is given to man-the opportunity to be serviceable to my fellow
creatures. Great are my privileges. Great are my responsibilities. I am a Master
Mason.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT?
In the work of Masonry there are many fields of endeavor, all a part of our plan
"to improve ourselves in the way of life." One brother may outline inappropriate
words the duties that are ours as Masons. His words inspire us. Another brother
may not have the same ability to put his ideas into words, but he know with
equal certainty about his duties as a man and a Mason. If he learns of a brother
who is sick, or in distress, he understands, and it is more than an
understanding of duty, it is the understanding of the principles of Love and
Brotherhood, which quickens the desire into action, and sends him to the sick or
the distressed. One brother may be a good ritualist, another a student of
symbolism, and still another a good worker on any committee. Each brother doing
the special task for which he has the greatest ability results in the success of
the lodge and Masonry. There are no special degrees of importance. Doing what we
can in the work assigned to us is the important thing.
Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (smithfield455@fwst.net)
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