Post Office Box 821413, Fort Worth, Texas 76182 USA
November, 1997
This will mark another month that has slipped by. Our dog dip was held Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Lodge. We were somewhat surprised at the outcome. I guess my title of "Dippity Dog" was not known as well as we thought. I would guess the total number of dogs and cats vaccinated would be about 7, the number of dogs dipped was 2. I know this because they were both my dogs. And no, I didn't get bit!
Our garage sale was a huge success, and I was very happy about the outcome of this function. So many people had so much to do with this fund raiser. As always, the wives ended up doing most of the work. Thanks, gals!! I could go on and on about who and what, but I wouldn't have enough room in the Trestle Board to do so. Thanks, to the Brothers who gave their time and effort. Thank you, to the many people who donated so many wonderful things for our sale.
The craft is busy waiting for time to elapse so we may do several E.A. Degrees. We mourn the passing of Brother Hamp Scruggs. His funeral was held Tuesday Oct. 14, with our Lodge performing a Masonic Funeral at the request of the family.
Fraternally and Sincerely,
Steve Bachman
(Daryle was unable to provide input for this month's issue. Editor)
Fall is arriving but, my roses are still blooming. The seasons may change and regardless, the wonderful scent of flowers can make an entire day seem friendlier and brighter. The Great Architect had a great idea when he designed the garden! September also brought changes in the climate of the lodge but, the outpouring of brotherly love made the month worthwhile. The Great Architect had a great idea when he designed the Lodge!
The resolution that raised the dues and degree fees passed unanimously. I'm not so concerned about the condition our soil will be in a few years down the road. The Garage Sale planning continued to flourish and by the time you read this, will have brought forth fruit. Did you help tend this tender tree? We still have automobile license plate frames to help you identify yourself to the world. Will placing one on your car draw potential members to the Lodge by your example? or would perhaps the opposite....
Are you planting seeds of Masonry in those good men around you? When someone asks, "How's it going?" can you reply "Great! I had a wonderful time with some of my Lodge Brothers last night!"? I will almost guarantee that their next question would concern the Lodge. (In court, it's called "leading the witness.") We had the quarterly "Gripe at the Officers" meeting. We must be tending the garden well, as only two Brethren showed up in addition to the officers. The lodge leadership will improve because of the points and observations made during the meeting but, we missed hearing from too many of you. Come, tend your garden.
However, it's not as grim as it seems. There's always another set of buds in them thar flowers. It just needs a shot of "Miracle Grow" to make 'em happen. At the October Stated meeting, we did just that. We had a wonderful visit from Brother Gordon Townsend from Brickland Lodge #8707 (yes, that's eight thousand seven hundred seven), located north of Cambridge, England. His brilliant spirit was contagious. We added a new member by affiliation, Brother Fred Erwin PM. We balloted favorably on one gentleman to receive the degrees and we received three more Petitions! The Building and Grounds committee continues to enhance the beauty of our building and several Brothers started a special fund to provide a underground sprinkler system for our lawn. We also contributed money to help make the Christmas and Hanukkah season nicer for our orphans and retired Masonic relatives.
We also have some free tickets available for the Shrine Circus. They are free to those who need them. If you have knowledge of a child that needs a free smile, contact Brother Campbell. Did I mention that they're free? Bloom where you're planted and "Be a rose!". A Mason by any other name would be as sweet. ( with apologies to Brother Shakespeare!)
May you be written down for a good year!
David Terrell
The garage sale was a huge success. Thanks to those who did so much in preparation for the sale. The ladies who make it a success each year are to be commended. Once again so few did so much of the work. They did so willingly, but each of us owe them a big THANK YOU.
We have many things coming up at lodge; degrees, study, and events at Grand Lodge, surely something catches your fancy. Come on out and enjoy Masonry with us.
While at the garage sale a young man approached Brother Les Egger and me with questions concerning the Degrees in Masonry. It seems he received his E.A. Degree in Mississippi. Never progressing, he now wishes to continue his Masonic travel. Brother Egger assured him that this could be done with a minimum of effort. We will contact his lodge in Mississippi, request a waiver of jurisdiction and complete his Degrees in Texas. I mention this only to remind each of you to be ready to answer those who have a problem as to how to continue their travels. Talk to the secretary, any officer, or any regularly attending Mason. If you know of a man who needs special help, we are available.
We had a Mason Visiting from England who attended our Stated meeting in October. What a good time we had with this visitor. He enjoyed the meeting and invited us to visit him in England.
How good it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity.
B.R. Campbell
November 4 -- Election Day
November 6 -- Stated Meeting, Pot Luck Meal
November 11 -- Veteran's Day
November 15 -- Shrine Circus, Tickets Available
November 22 -- Breakfast and Lodge Cleanup 8 A.M. Shrine Circus, Tickets Available
November 27 -- Thanksgiving
12 August 1997 - (Excerpts from Jerusalem Qol Yisra'el International Service, translated from Persian) A few days after Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammed Khatami assumed the presidency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the first political execution of his regime was carried out. It was announced today that Doctor Mohammed Asadi, the aged Iranian Jurist, was executed on 9 August in Teheran. The Islamic regime had leveled the following accusations against Dr. Asadi: supporting the Nowzhe rebels, being a Freemason and a member of Lions International, and visiting Israel as a tourist before the revolution. Dr. Asadi, who was almost 70 years old, was extremely sick in prison during the last three years. The Islamic regime had confiscated the property of his family, which was considered relatively rich. His body has not yet been returned to his family.
"Friendliness and brotherliness should be stressed to the limit in Freemasonry. The practice of these relationships generate more power in fraternal life than about all the other things combined. In fact without a feeling of close kinship among Freemasons, little may be expected from other phases. Every Freemason is truly a brother to every other Freemason, and it is well to keep this thought in mind." (from the Ohio Mason)
Brother Jack Lyons, who is having surgery
Brother Jack Jeter, whose Sister is ill
Brother Jim Allen, whose Brother is ill
The family of our departed Brother, Jim Fuller
The family of our departed Brother, Hamp Scruggs
Shrine Circus tickets are on sale. Tickets for performances on November 15 and November 22 are available free of charge for our little ones.
It was with great excitement that I listened to my husband as he explained the Lodge meeting that had taken place. Finally, a clean air project was discussed that would make it enjoyable to attend functions at #455. There was talk of hiring a company to clean walls and air ducts and a proposal to ban smoking from the building. My feelings of extreme excitement were short lived as he told me the proposal was shot down because, "We might offend a smoker." Pardon me but saving his/her life or preventing others from inhaling second hand smoke is much more important than offending the smoker. He/she can, of course excuse himself/herself and go outside for a smoke. On the other hand , if smoking is permitted inside, those of us who do not smoke are forced to breathe the bad air.
This is not a matter of personal persecution. It is simply one way the lodge might increase participation in functions in the building. An increasing number of people, men and women, would prefer a clean environment in which to enjoy each others' company.
Let's rethink the clean air proposal.
Linda Allen
Tucked away in the Glossary of the Monitor of the Lodge is "HELE (HALE) - to cover; conceal; hide." In this word the Candidate may think he meets for the first time a very unusual word. As a matter of fact, it is a delightfully simple word, and the Candidate has often met it in related forms. Its origin is the Anglo-Saxon helan, meaning 'to cover and conceal,' The use of the word in Masonic ritual prepares the Candidate for the Master's injunction to avoid all occasions which may inadvertently lead him to disclose any of those Masonic secrets which have been entrusted to his keeping. In early centuries, 'hele' rhymed with 'mail' or 'male,' and for this reason, I suppose, some printed rituals include an instruction to pronounce the word in that way. But when the editors of the early eighteenth century English ritual brought together these three words, 'hele,' 'conceal,' and 'reveal,' it seems obvious that they meant them to form a sequence known as a rhyming assonance, and that the words ought still to rhyme. A practical purpose was intended -- that of making a special mark on the hearer's mind, and fixing the three words in his memory. Formerly, not only 'hele,' but also 'conceal' and 'reveal' commonly rhymed with 'mail' or 'male,' and of this we have frequent proof in the writings of the period, where sometimes the words are spelt as they were then pronounced.
Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (David.G.Terrell@juno.com)