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The Trestle Board

Smithfield Lodge #455 A.F. & A.M.

8013 Main Street, North Richland Hills, Texas

P. O. Box 821413, Fort Worth, Texas 76182

Lodge telephone number:   817.656.2311

Contact the Lodge on  Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 7 PM and 9 PM

                                      WEB ADDRESS: http://www.smithfieldlodge.com

August  2005

From the East

Brethren,                  

As we start a new Masonic year, there are many challenges yet exciting aspects to the upcoming Masonic year.  The lodge is always here to help you (and others) as needed.

Smithfield Lodge has a great floor school.  The participation is pretty good, and the floor instructor is very good.  If you've wanted to learn how to confer any of the three degrees in Masonry, open and close the lodge or need help with the questions and answers to any degree, please come on down to the lodge and we'll be more than happy to help you with your needs!

One of the best attributes of Freemasonry is service to the community and our fellow man.  Serving others is always a good thing to do.  The lodge provides many avenues to serve others.  Participation in this service builds our character and strengthens the community we all live in.  There are plenty of opportunities to serve others at the lodge.  If you're interested in serving others or have a good idea for service to the community, please share that idea with the lodge!

The installation of officers on July 9th was done by Right Worshipful Harold Webb and Brother Billy Campbell.  Many thanks to these brothers for a really good installation!

It is my most sincere desire as W.M. to serve the brethren and community. Let us therefore strengthen our service skills and seek to build up the brethren as needed.

In closing, Freemasonry is a great journey.  It has many surprises and challenges that strengthen our character and build our communities. Sometimes, that journey is what we make it to be.  We can influence our destinies as Masons.

Fraternally,

Michael Haygood

Worshipful Master

From the West

Brethren,

As we move into a new Masonic year, Smithfield Lodge #455 is doing well.  We have some wonderful events coming up.  I hope every one can come to Brother “Bo” Hestilow’s fiftieth Masonic Anniversary.  Very few Masons have served a lodge like he has served ours-and for fifty years!  He deserves the best we have to offer.

At our last stated meeting, Brother Billy Campbell read a few statistics on our membership.  We lost a lot of members last year.  Some have passed away, some have moved far off, and some have just quit coming.  I can’t imagine a reason for the latter.  I hope no one has been offended by something that we have said or done.  I’m a little bit thin skinned and a lot vulnerable, I’ve noticed some brothers can be a little abrasive.  But I have also noticed even the roughest brother has a soft spot on the inside.  They are like big brothers who challenge us to do better, with our good in mind.  My bible say’s “Iron sharpeth iron” and “all things work together for good”.  I chose not to be offended by a person or event or let a little bad over shadow so much good.

I would like to give a special thanks to everyone who worked to make our Installation Dinner so nice.  At the Installation, Rite Worshipful Harold Webb DDGM, and Brother B.R. Campbell did an excellent job.  Thanks Brethren!

Fraternally,

Herb Taylor

Senior Warden

From the South

Brethren,              

For those of you who could not come, we’ve now installed the newly elected officers for Smithfield Lodge.  As your new Junior Warden, I hope that I can fill this chair as well as it has been in the past.  My biggest wish for the upcoming Masonic year is that more of our members would come back to the Lodge and participate in our works.  It saddens my heart to know that we have approximately 200 members, but on any given training night, only 4 to 6 show up. Even worse, our Stated Meetings usually only bring out 15 – 20 members.  We have had several members go through initiation, and never come back, some that came for a short time and then stopped.  I have made it my goal, to try to contact these brethren to let them know that they can still come back and finish. I would also like to contact the brethren that recently went suspended for non-payment of dues.  I want to see if we can do more to make sure these brethren don’t need our help. If we, as officers don’t reach out, who will?

So, come out and see what we are doing on Tuesday’s and/or Thursday’s, around 7pm.  Brother Les Egger does a wonderful job of instruction.  We learn the work, but we also have a little fun doing it. (sometimes to the chagrin of Bro. Les) it is my opinion that Lodge officers set the tone for the entire Lodge. They set it by their conduct, their dress, their attendance, their enthusiasm, their proficiency in the ritual and their attitude. Each officer should convey the seriousness, the beauty and the honor of Masonry as well as its fun and fellowship.  I hope that this year’s officers of Smithfield Lodge will fulfill our obligation to you, our members.

Fraternally,

Rick Montey

Junior Warden/Editor

The Secretary’s Desk

Brethren,

The new officers for the Lodge have been installed, and have hit the ground running.  We are initiating new members, and seeing them grow in Masonry.  Come on out and meet the newest members of your Lodge.

It was sad for me to inform 10 members that they were now suspended for non-payment of dues.  As is always the case, they have been notified at least twice.  We try to make sure that they know, that if there are extenuating circumstances, we can work around any difficulty., except their not letting someone know of the problem.  It has been explained as to how to be reinstated.  I hope that no one has been suspended who does not know that it hurts the Lodge to lose good men.

The new law changes have been received from the Grand Lodge.  If you keep a law book, and need the changes, contact me.  They cost $3.50 and are available at the Lodge.

I want to congratulate the new officers, and pledge them full support.  We should have a fine

One last reminder, if you know of a brother who has been suspended for non-payment of dues, encourage them to set this aright.  We will help with the paperwork, and records keeping.  This pertains to our Lodge, or any other Lodge.    Have a good summer, and attend Lodge as often as possible.

Fraternally Yours,

BR Campbell

Secretary

Starting Ceremonies                                       W.M. Installed!                                          Senior Warden—Installed

Exchange of leadership                         Junior Warden –Installed                         Worshipful Master  2005

Here are your 2005 Officers!                                                          Stewards getting Installed

Remember the "Smithfield Masonic Lodge Permanent Endowment Fund"

Your support is a continuing need.  Any donation is welcome.  A donation of $100.00 or more puts your name, or the name of someone you wish to honor, on a plaque in the dining area of the Lodge building.  Please send your donation to Smithfield Masonic Lodge #455, A.F. & A.M., P.O. Box 821413 , Fort Worth, Texas 76182

Thanks to Our Trestle Board Sponsors

Masonic Birthdays for August, 2005

The following brethren will observe their Masonic Birthdays. They were raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason during this month.

Congratulations Brethren!

Calendar of Events

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