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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
August, 2001
In Sacred Memory of
Brother K. R. Lindsey
“he was a true and faithful Brother among us.”
Brethren,
As newly installed Master of Smithfield Lodge #455, I am overwhelmed by the enormity of the charges you, my Brethren, have entrusted me with for the next 12 months. The installation was a great evening with good food and wonderful friends in attendance. Our D.D.G.M. did a fine job presiding over the installation ceremony. I would like to thank all of the ladies who attended the installation. Masonry would not be, if it were not for the support of our ladies.
As stated by A.M. Hestilow, Jr., we expect to have a family watermelon night at the Lodge in August. I am anticipating including other family nights during my year as W.M.. These will include, but not limited to, The Wives and Widows Banquet, Golden Trowel Award, and 50 Year Masons Night. If you have any suggestions Brethren, for other fun family gatherings, call or write the Lodge.
Following is an excerpt from The HOLY BIBLE, The Great Light in Masonry, which I found to be most profound and meaningful for me at the beginning of the New Masonic Year:
A MASONIC CREED
As an expression of the simplest form of the faith of Masonry, not exhaustive, but incontrovertible and suggestive, the following is:
THE MASONIC BELIEF
There is one God, The Father of all men.
The Holy Bible is the Great Light in Masonry, and the Rule and Guide for faith and practice.
Man is immortal.
Character determines destiny.
Love of man is, next to love of God, man’s first duty.
Prayer, communion of man with God, is helpful.
Recognizing the impossibility of confining the teaching of Masonry to any fixed forms of expression, yet acknowledging the value of authoritative statements of fundamental principles, the following is proclaimed as:
THE MASONIC TEACHING
Masonry teaches man to practice charity and benevolence , to protect chastity, to respect the ties of blood and friendship, to adopt the principles and revere the ordinances of religion, to assist the feeble, guide the blind, raise up the downtrodden, shelter the orphan, guard the altar, support the government, inculcate morality, promote learning, love man, fear God, implore His mercy and hope for happiness.
Jim Allen, Worshipful Master
Brethren,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Brethren of Smithfield Lodge #455 for electing me into the Station of Senior Warden. I pledge my support to the Worshipful Master and too the Brethren for the Masonic Year 2001-2002. I will do my best to fulfill this responsibility and ask for your help and support. I was overwhelmed when asked to take this position in a time when the Lodge needed someone to fill in in a time of need. I know that I have a lot to learn, and I am counting on your help to support me and my fellow Officers. Once again, thank you.
The Lodge is planning several family events this year, and the Brethren and I would like to see all of you and your families in attendance when feasible. I am also hoping to see more of the Brethren return to Lodge this year to help out in the degree work and floor school. We still have several EA’s and FC’s in the wings and could use your help when the time arrives for their continuation in their Masonic learning's.
So please come on out to Lodge and show your support and help in keeping our Lodge active and strong. Remember that it takes all of us working together and learning together so that we can make it another 125 Years. This is your Lodge, and takes more than just sending in you dues to keep it active and strong. So show your support by attending and helping out when you can.
At our Stated Meeting on August 2, The D.D.G.M. Right Worshipful Brian Bass will make his official visit. I would like so see as many Brethren here as possible to help out. We will have our dinner at 6:30 PM with the Stating Meeting starting at 7:30 PM.
Also, do not forget about our garage sale coming up soon. Be sure and bring your unwanted goods and donate to the Lodge as it is for a good cause.
Morris Hestilow, Senior Warden
Brethren,
Going into my 4th year as a Mason, I am gradually increasing in Masonic knowledge and responsibilities of the Lodge. I thank you for electing me to the position of Junior Warden and I hope and pray that I can fill this Station as it should be filled. This is a very great responsibility with a lot of new knowledge for me to obtain in the time frame that I have. But I am confident, that through the help and support of my fellow Officers and the Brethren of the Lodge, that I will endure with pride and dignity and to the best of my ability. I thank you all.
I would like to take a few minutes and talk about the Trestle Board. Brethren, I need your help and support in getting this newsletter out in a timely fashion, so that the Lodge news is up to-date and our readers can find out what is going on and be able to attend functions of the Lodge on the date posted in the news letter and at Lodge. It requires more than you think, to get this paper out to our Brethren, Widows, Friends, and other Lodges.
I would like to ask those of you who want to submit articles for print, to have them to me by the following Thursday of the Stated Meeting each month. This way we can get the paper out much earlier in the month allowing our members and their families to get the news in a more timely fashion. This will help to let everyone try to adjust their schedule’s for attendance to Lodge and family functions. I would like to think that this is way to improve attendance and get Smithfield Lodge back to where it once was.
Brethren, it is time once again to start and continue with your donations in keeping the Trestle Board going. Putting the paper together with the articles submitted is done for free. However though, It cost to have the copies printed up, folded, and mailed out each month. We are always discussing how to trim costs on the news letter, and hope that someday we will be able to afford our own printer. That time is not here yet, so we depend on your support. Please give what you can. Thank you.
I would like to take this time to thank the Brethren who are keeping the yard mowed and trimmed. I have changed hours at my job and have not been helping out like I normally do, due to my busy schedule. When I have had to time to do my part, I get to the Lodge and find everything already done. This puts a really big smile on my face as it is usually in the heat of the day and I thank you for doing this for me and especially for the Lodge in general.
I would like to also pledge my support to the new Worshipful Master and Officers of the Lodge and its members for the 2001-2002 Masonic Year. Let’s all have a good year Brethren.
Gary L. Spraggins, Junior Warden
Brethren,
The new year is off to a good start. The new Officers have been installed. If you missed the installation of your Officers, you missed a good time. Congratulations to the newly installed group. Thanks to the Junior Past Master, good job Bro. Ricky.
On a personal note, I have been busy traveling with Rt. W. Brian Bass, DDGM 64A. He is making his official visit to the 64A Lodges. We will have him in our Lodge at the August Stated Meeting. His message from the Grand Master, M.W. David Debrill, is timely, and informative. Please attend if you can, as a good crowd is nice to have.
For some of you, this will be the last time you receive the newsletter, you have suspended yourself by not paying your dues. If you have gotten a notice for suspension, remember the amount due to the Lodge is in the notice. If you think I have made a mistake, please contact me as quickly as possible, and we will correct the error.
Thank you for allowing me to be the Secretary for another year. Remember we want to know of your accomplishments during the year. We will share them with your Brethren.
Bro. Carl Settle had a nerve wracking experience, made the T.V. News, and all. I am glad that the outcome was good.
Fraternally,
Billy R. Campbell, Secretary
“Family Watermelon Night On The Patio, Bring Your Family and Enjoy The Evening -Thursday - August 23rd - 7-9 PM
August 2 Stated Meeting Smithfield Masonic Lodge #455 7:30PM, Pot Luck Dinner at 6:30PM
Aug 10-12 2001 Warden’s Retreat & Trng Omni Hotel in Richardson All Day, See Your Secretary For Info
August 23 Family Watermelon Night Smithfield Masonic Lodge #455 7-9:00PM On The Patio, Bring Your Family and Enjoy The Evening
The following brethren will observe their Masonic Birthdays. They were raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason during this month.
E.E. Ambrose 8-17-82
K.L. Anger 8-18-92
R.J. Askey 8-29-95
P.S. Cass 8-24-95
J.W. Draeger 8-29-95
R.W. Dudley 8-20-64
R.D. Dupree 8-13-94
F.J. Fitch 8-23-62
L.L. Gardner 8-06-65
A.F. Graham 8-19-76
D.W. Hestilow 8-14-80
T.T. Isham 8-13-85
J.T. Mendenhall PM 8-20-87
W.C. Osman 8-28-79
C.J. Pace, Sr. 8-22-68
J.D. Pack, Jr. 8-17-67
B.J. Poland 8-23-62
L.C. Riley 8-26-76
J.L. Rumfield PM 8-27-48
O.K. White 8-25-81
F.D. Burke, Jr. 8-31-00
Congratulations Brethren!
Brethren,
From the Grand Lodge:
During construction of a highway in El Paso, Texas in June, 1998, workers from the Texas Department of Transportation, uncovered an unmarked grave. A Masonic Ring and remnants of a Masonic Apron were found with the body. Physician and Brother Gil King, a member of Washington Lodge No. 1117, was called to investigate the discovery. He determined that the body was of a male who was about 55 years of age at death. He also concluded that the man was probably buried in the 1850’s. Since no family members were known and rather than bury his remains in a pauper’s grave, the State of Texas graciously offered to grant responsibility for his burial to The Grand Lodge of Texas.
Grand Secretary R:. W:. James Ward accepted the body and contacted the Fort Worth Masonic Service Bureau. The Bureau consists of representatives from the thirty Lodges in and about the City of Fort Worth. It works to relieve distressed Brethren in situations which would tax the resources of a single Lodge. The Bureau voted to donated a gravesite. P.G.M. Joseph Regian is working on procuring a marker and will see to its engraving.
The Brother will be re-buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth on August 29th at 10:30 AM with full Masonic Honors. Many of the Grand Officers will be present for the graveside burial ceremonies. This will be a good time to show our support and that the Masons of Texas truly care for our Brethren.
David G. Terrell, PM
To The Brethren and Ladies of Smithfield Lodge #455,
Thank you to each and every one who helped prepare the wonderful dinner for all of us to enjoy prior to the Installation of Officers on July 7th. The installation itself was very emotional for my husband, and having so many Brethren and ladies present was so special for him. Jim has waited almost fifty (50) years for this honor, and he is humbled by the responsibilities and the station of the Worshipful Master, which, you his Brethren, have bestowed on him.
The absence of our friends, J.B. Hutcherson, PM and Carrie Wingate was our only sadness. Carrie had looked forward to baking one of her delicious cakes for the occasion. Of course, with J.B.’s hospitalization that was not to be. We surely appreciate the quick response to our SOS for baked goodies for the evening. Thank you ladies! As for J.B and Carrie, we know that you were with us in spirit. Carrie, we look forward to a cake real soon!!!
I want to take this opportunity to tell you all that I am willing to do whatever I can, within the dictates of a woman’s participation within the Lodge, to make this a good year for Jim, the other officers, and all members of Smithfield Masonic Lodge #455.
Thanks again for a WONDERFUL, memorable evening.
Linda Allen
Send your questions or comments to: Gary Spraggins (ggllss@msn.com)
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