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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

Webmaster Note: Portions have been edited from the printed version in order to conform to standard webpage design practices and grammatical/spelling errors corrected.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & Happy New year

From your family at

Smithfield Lodge #455

From the East

Brethren,

In the Bible the children of Israel were not allowed to harvest the grain in the four corners of their fields. The grain in the four corners was left to the poor, the fatherless, the widows, and the strangers in the land. We have all experienced one of the corners from time to time. We have a Brother, Matthew Wingate, who is in all four corners at the same time. He is all alone in California, he has no money, and no family or woman to look after him. He is also fighting for his life. We have sent him a little money – just enough to help out. But what he really needs is our prayers and to know that we are concerned about him. I hope each of you will take the time to remember this Brother in your prayers. If you would like to send him a card his address is: 136 Mono Ave, Apt#3, Oroville, Ca 95966.

Last month I gave up a day of fishing to sit in the information booth at the Shrine Circus. I spent the whole afternoon sitting beside Jack Jeeter. Now if you are looking for a good example of a great man and a great Mason you need not look further. I will treasure that afternoon. I consider it as time well spent. Thanks Jack!

Brother Leonard Newman was our speaker last month. He did a wonderful job and reminded us we have a lot to be thankful for. I also had the pleasure of visiting him at his church, the Temple of Praise. He has been the Pastor there for twenty eight years. He made me feel welcome and comfortable. If you are looking for a small Bible church with a great Pastor it is located on Bedford Road, just north of 183. Services are 10:30 Sunday Morning. The phone number is 817-503-7652.

The Blood drive is back on. We are just changing Wal-Marts. Remember December the 9^th and save up some blood!

The Lodge will be dark over the holidays. We will not meet after December 19^th or before January 2^nd but we will meet on those days. I hope everyone has a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Don’t forget the reason for the season! May God bless you all!

Fraternally,
Herb Taylor
Worshipful Master

Well, here we are finishing out another exciting year!  I would say that since I have been a member, this has been one of the busiest years for Smithfield in a while.

I would like to take a moment to say how we miss our brethren that passed on this year.

I would also like to thank some of our elders for taking a risk and stepping aside so that some of the younger brethren could step up and learn to work around the lodge.  I know this must be extremely difficult to do, you have spent many years building the Lodge to where it is today.  But let me assure you, we want the Lodge to continue growing as well, and with you expertise and guidance, will do all we can to ensure it does.

I will be reporting progress on a situation that has come up.  My father-in-law  (DE Tillman) had started his journey into Masonry some 40 years ago, but due to his work moving him around quite a bit, wasn’t able to pursue his journey past the EA.  Last week, he asked me what he would have to do to get back in!  I was so thrilled!  He is a good man, with strong morals and whether he has been a Mason or not makes no difference to me, because he is everything a Mason should be.  I have passed the paperwork on to him and hope to take him to the Lodge in his area to introduce him.  What has stuck in my heart is that no matter where he decides to join, I know that he will be treated as though he had been a life-long member, and that he will fit in as though he were.   I also hope he allows to me to be a part of his degrees.  Way to go DE!  I didn’t think I could be any more proud to have you as my Father-in-law, but darn if you didn’t find a way!!

This reminds me of something I saw recently, about 8 reasons to join Masonry.

 Reasons to Join Masonry.

 #8  A friendly forum where you can develop confidence in public speaking.

 #7  Time to consider and evaluate one’s moral outlook and character.

 #6  Historical Interest: Masonic history can be fascinating life long study.

 #5  Trust: Frankly, you have to demonstrate this just to join.

 #4  Mental gymnastics: Yes, there is a bit of learning involved!

 #3  Enjoyment:  Masonry wouldn’t survive if it were serious all the time.

 #2  An opportunity to give money or time to charities that are well managed.

 AND THE #1 reason to join Masonry is:

Twelve, fun if not idiosyncratic, meetings with dinners a year, amongst friends.

Brethren, enjoy the holidays and don’t forget  our Brothers and widows that are shut-in for the season, and also don’t forget our soldiers overseas. May your God bless you and yours.

Fraternally,

Rick Montey

** Due to an illness in his family, Brother Busch will resume his article in the January edition **

Our prayers are with you Walt

Fraternally,

Walter Busch

'Tis the season. Merry Christmas to all that this article comes to. We indeed have a lot to be happy about.

   By the time you have received this periodical the Grand Lodge Communication will have come and gone. We will have a lot of important things to deal with this year. I hope each of you took the time to read the proposed resolutions that were in the latest Texas Mason magazine.  I will report the results of the proceedings in the next Trestle Board.

   We had the good fortune to attend the annual combined meeting of the 14th and 64th districts Masters, Wardens. and Secretaries Associations. This was held at the retirement center in Arlington. We had PGM Elmer Murphy, III as our speaker. He is the chairman of the committee responsible for completing the dismantling of the Masonic Home and School.  We are fortunate to have such an outstanding man in this critical  position. He is very well versed in law as to the disposition of this property. He will present a power point explanation at the Grand Lodge meeting. Let me say once again how I admire this outstanding Mason.

   Brothers Jack Jeter, APM, Herbert Taylor, W.M., K.K. Krantz, J.D., and myself had the opportunity to work the Masonic Information Booth on the first day of the Shrine Circus  at Will Rogers. We talked to several young men, and their wives, about our gentle fraternity. We took names, and will send them to Lodges near their homes. Masonry is still alive and well in Texas, be proud of your Masonry.

   If  tradition holds true we will be the first official visiting site of the new District Deputy Grand Master of district 64A at our stated meeting in January. Make plans now to come out and see who will fill this honored place for the next year.

   Once again let me tell you how proud I am of being your secretary. I take this as one of the highest honors you can accord me. If I can be of service to you please feel free to contact me.

Fraternally Yours,

BR Campbell

We will be honored to host the new DDGM for his first official visit to District 64A  We will be having a fine meal before the meeting, so Come one, Come all!!

Brother Muzquiz’s son, Richard Jr. was recently assigned to the Navy Sea Bees!  Richard Jr. had already served his country with a hitch in the Navy aboard the sub USS Ulysses S. Grant.  After being a civilian for a while, felt the calling to re-join and was given a position in the Sea Bees. Way to go Rick, we are all proud of you!!