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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

December  2005

From the East

Brethren,

Greetings from the East!  As the holidays are now upon us, enjoy the time with your families!  It’s always good to be with our

families to spend quality time and enjoy the many tidings the holiday season brings.

The Lodge will go dark from December 15th through December 31st.  The Lodge will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd 2006.  

Our stated meeting be the first Thursday in January-January 5th, 2006.

Brethren, the Lodge will practice on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2006 for the reception of the new District Deputy Grand Master at  

our regularly stated meeting.  Traditionally, the new DDGM visits Smithfield Lodge in January.

It is with great honor to announce that Brother Secretary Billy Campbell has received and participated in the 33rd degree in the 

Scottish Rite.  This degree is given once every two years to those who have earned the right to receive this illustrious degree.  

It is very rare to have a brother nominated, voted into and received into the 33rd Degree of Sovereign Inspector General.  

Brother Campbell has taken a special journey into the temple of knowledge that reveals to him further mysteries and truths of the 

Order.  It is indeed a great honor for Smithfield Lodge to have a distinguished brother advanced to the 33rd Degree.

Brethren, many charitable organizations will be asking for food and donations this year.  As a result of the recent hurricanes, 

many people have donated clothing, food, supplies and other needed items  Now that Christmas is fast approaching, we need 

to remember those who also need our help during this time of year.  Let us cheerfully give to those who are in need.  Our 

greatest contributions come from our hearts.

One of the interesting aspects of being a Freemason is that we learn about moral principals which are good for mankind as

 a whole.  The many truths we are taught as Freemasons are simple, yet complex.  We see that in many parts of the world, 

people are suppressed by tyrants and know little of the freedoms we enjoy in this country and through Freemasonry.  I believe 

that each Lodge serves a purpose to the community, the Order, and to our fellow man.  As we go through the holiday season, 

let us remember those who need our help.  Even those who are suppressed need the knowledge and freedoms that we teach 

through each of the degrees.  As we spend time with our friends and family this holiday season, let us also remember to tell our 

friends and family just how much we love them and honor them.

Have a good holiday.  Let the spirit of the season fill your heart with comfort and joy.

Fraternally,

Michael Haygood

Worshipful Master

From the West

Brethren,

Back in the early nineties I was a lineman for the phone company. I had a partner who was big and tough. We called him Big Ed. I was taking a college class that met in North Dallas. It was hard for me to make it there on time and even harder for a dirty, smelly Tarrant county lineman to fit in at a snooty North Dallas classroom.

                 One afternoon I was posting prints and completing timesheets and I was in a hurry. Big Ed was sitting across the desk from me. He was either bored or trying to get my attention when he reached over and pulled a big plug of hair out of my arm. I scanned my area for something to retaliate with. I found a can of telephone booth cleaner – the kind that foams, and let him have a face full of foam. Ed took of his glasses and cleaned them. He then wiped his face off and put his glasses back on. This gave him time to think of what he wanted to do next. Then he grabbed a plastic bottle of orange hand cleaner. I knew he was going to let me have it, so I pleaded, “Don’t do it Ed. I have to go to class. I don’t have another shirt!!” Then Ed plastered a bulls eye on my upper torso with hand cleaner.

I’ll always be sorry for what happened next. Ed started to run. Without taking time to think I grabbed a giant can of telephone marking spray paint and chased him out the door. I supposed I that I was going to bust it on the ground and get some on him—not very smart thinking. Big Ed can run very fast. Soon he was too far ahead for me to execute my plan. I let him run past all the cars. Then with precision and accuracy that would have made even Roger Staubach jealous, I let the can fly and hit Big Ed right in the back of the head.

Somehow he managed to stay on his feet! He turned and gave me a look that said death was soon to follow. I said, “Sorry Ed, I didn’t mean to hit you. It was an accident.” Then I quickly went back inside. Big Ed was so mad he was shaking. He came in and stood beside the desk. I didn’t make eye contact. Everyone (there where several men in the yard as it was quitting time) looked through the bars from outside the office, expecting to see many things broken, mainly me. Then Big Ed just walked off. Several people came inside and wanted to know why he didn’t beat the crap out of me. I told them he won’t get even now because he is really mad and we are both Masons.

Big Ed never retaliated. He even apologized for starting the horseplay. The end result was several men asked to be masons after that. Not because of what they might stand to gain or because they are curious about the mysteries, but because they saw excellent character displayed. Character they wanted in themselves, character that could only have come from Freemasonry. People take notice when you truly act uprightly.

Fraternally,

Herb Taylor

Senior Warden

From the South

Brethren,

This has been a good, but sad year for Smithfield Lodge.  We have a line up of officers that really care about the lodge and it’s future more than filling their positions.  We have had several new members join the lodge and have been great at moving through the degrees and being active.  We also have lost several members this year to the Great Architect of the Universe, these brethren will be truly missed. We have had several members participate in the Committee on Works’ certification examination and received their certificates.  Our own Secretary, Brother Billy Campbell was bestowed with the honorable 33^rd degree from the Scottish Rite, and I might add, this was well deserved, congratulations B.R.!  Our web page is back and better than ever, thanks to one of our newest Master Mason’s, Brother Ernest Runyon.  Bro.’s Koonce and Hestilow have done an outstanding job of keeping the grounds and building in tip-top shape, and were able to replace the old worn out riding lawn mower with a brand spanking new one (which they guard with their life!).

This newsletter probably won’t get to you in time, but I hope there will be good turnout for the December Stated Meeting.  Our new District Deputy Grand Master will make his official visit then.  I hope also to see some of you this year at the Grand Lodge Communication on December 1^st – 3^rd, We will have our Annual 64^th district Breakfast at George’s Restaurant on the 3^rd, and I for one look forward to the fun and fellowship that is shared there.  I believe every Texas Mason should show up for Grand Lodge Communication at least once in their Masonic lifetime.

It has been a pleasure for me to serve you as your Junior Steward and look forward to more exciting things next year.  This has been a learning experience for me as far as Masonic Law is concerned.  Being in charge of the Law Book has presented several occasions in which I have had to answer questions about various procedures or protocols.  I am still in no way an expert on Masonic Law, but I now, better understand how to find the laws that might pertain to a subject.

Fraternally,

Rick Montey

Junior Warden/Editor

The Secretary’s Desk

Brethren, 

At last the dues cards are in from Grand Lodge. If you are a 50 year mason, an endowed member, or have paid your dues, the cards should be in your hands by the time you get this periodical. Thanks to those who have been so prompt. As you can see there has been a change in the card stock. Additionally, there is now an Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft Mason's card. This is markedly different from the Master Mason's card. Who says we never change.

The Grand Lodge session should be very interesting this year, attend if you can. We will have a grand time.

I hope you got to read the article on Brother David Myers in the Star Telegram the other day. I have placed it on the Lodge bulletin board if you missed it. It was a very interesting article. I'm glad he is one of ours.

I have sent the Grand Lodge all of the address changes that I have. If you do not get the Texas Mason magazine, please let me know, we can see that you get it.

I hope you can make it to the January stated meeting; we will have the new District Deputy Grand Master make his first official meeting. Come and see who it is.

Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Remember if you have not sent in your dues, they are due before December 31, 2005.

Fraternally Yours,

BR Campbell

Secretary

The following article was recently published in the Dallas Morning News Business section on 10/13/05 partially reads:

MASONIC TEMPLE IS UP FOR SALE -- Citing declining membership as the cause forcing the sale of Dallas' historic downtown Masonic Temple, a grand Art-Deco building built as our ancestral craftsmen would have had it -- 24" thick limestone walls and truly grand architecture is up for grabs.  Hopefully some organization will buy the building and included properties and retain their historic appearance.

Brethren, please don’t let this happen to your Temple or Lodge!  I know we have enough brethren to keep our Lodge’s going.  Please participate and give generously, we must preserve Masonry and Masonic buildings in Texas.

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.  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 December, 2005

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

Congratulations Brethren!

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