Post Office Box 821413, Fort Worth, Texas 76182 USA
July, 1998
If you are a member of Smithfield Lodge #455 and have a current dues card to that effect, no examination is required of you before you sit in your Lodge. So don't worry. Even if you've forgotten much of the work and don't recognize a soul, there's no need to be afraid that you won't pass an examination. Come back and see us!
Dear Brethren,
At our last stated meeting, we held the Election of officers at which I was very pleased to see the large turn out of Members. Brother Daryle Hester was nominated and elected as Worshipful Master for the ensuing Masonic year. As were Brother David Terrell as Senior Warden, Brother Rickey Levings as Junior Warden, Brother David Myers as Treasurer, Brother Billy Campbell as Secretary and Myself as Tiler. The appointed Officers were announced as follows: Brother Jim Allen as Senior Deacon, Brother Mike Haygood as Junior Deacon, Brother Trace Brooks as Senior Steward, and Brother Harold Webb PM as Junior Steward.
The newly installed Worshipful Master will announce the committees very soon.
Now as this year is at a close for me, I thank everyone for the tremendous amount of help and the Past Masters and their guidance. To the Officers: D.L Hester, D.G. Terrell, Bill Campbell, D.W. Myers, J.T. Mendenhall, J.W. Allen, and Allen Cole, thanks for the support and Brotherly Love freely given and without question.
I also appreciate the support of Smithfield West, Past Right Worshipful D.D.G.M. Bob Hogan, Brother Chris Bowman, Brother Don LaPlante and a thousand other Brothers who made 1997-98 a year of pride for me. Now it's time to get behind these new Officers and support them in their travels. Thank you, one and all!
In closing , I use the words that Brother Charlie Groves said so many times:
"BRETHREN, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO SIT IN LODGE WITH YOU !"
STEVE BACHMAN
Brethren,
The June stated meeting has just passed during which we elected officers.
It is an honor to have been elected Worshipful Master for this upcoming Masonic year. I will do my best to follow the outstanding path of Masonry that Brother Steve and other Masters before him have pursued. I would like to take this opportunity to commend Brother Steve for his hard work and devotion to the Lodge. Masonry is a vital part of many of our lives, and I hope to continue the ongoing strength and support of Masonry this year to keep our fraternity alive and growing.
I believe we have a fantastic lineup for this Masonic year, and with everyone's help it will be successful! I hope everyone can attend our open installation of officers Saturday night June 27, at 6:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend, and please come hungry as there will be plenty of food!!
Daryle Hester
Dear Brethren,
First, a special, heartfelt thanks to all the wives who sent home-cooked food to the stated meeting with their husbands. I'm still working those 56-hour weeks; which makes for long and sometimes dreary days. It was so nice to arrive at the Lodge and be greeted by my Brothers and the wonderful food you provided. Thank you very much!
During the meeting, we had several momentary power outages due to the big thunderstorm that passed through the area. I hope that everyone came through without damage. I had a little pride damaged in that I left my car's window slightly open during the meeting and got home with a wet rear-end that night. During the meeting we discussed the following items: 1) the Grand Master's regional conference was attended by over 380 people. 2) A special fund was established for the in-ground sprinkler system approved at the last meeting. A motion to use the money, received from the last Lodge dining room rental, for the sprinkler was approved. Additional donations are requested from the Brethren. 3) The money donated during the last year for the production of the Trestle Board is running low. It costs about $100 per month for copying and postage. I suspect that we will publish the Trestle Board regardless but, having some additional financial support would be a blessing. 4) The Lodge approved a Petition for Affiliation from Brother Richard Gant, our New Jersey Brother. Welcome to Smithfield Lodge, Brother Gant! 5) The Lodge voted to pay the registration fees of the incoming Senior and Junior Wardens, and their wives, for the Grand Lodge Warden's Retreat. 6) Brother Mike Haygood presented a short lecture pertaining to the stonework inherent in the pyramids on the Giza plateau, in Egypt and the conjecture that the Great Pyramid may be the "stone pillar" set up before the Flood to preserve the archives of Masonry. 7) Sadly, we ended the Masonic year with twenty-five Brethren in arrears on their dues. Near the end of the month, these Brethren will be subject to Suspension for Non-Payment of Dues.
We also held a general election of officers for the ensuing Masonic year. The line of officers were regularly advanced by the Lodge. Brother Bachman was elected Tyler (Does this mean he's headed west? Far west!). Brother Hester announced that the installation of officers would occur on Saturday, June 27, 1998 at 6:30 P.M. Thank you for your confidence and trust. I still have much to learn but, with everyone's forbearance and cheerful advice, I advance to the work I have been assigned. I offer Daryle my full support for the next year.
Steve, you have set very high standards for us to follow. Your example will be hard to live up to. For what it's worth, you did damn fine!
David Terrell
Brethren,
As I mentioned previously, it is a great honor and privilege to be part of such a great fraternity and even more so, part of this wonderful lodge. As you all know, our finances are good and getting better. However, there is more to a strong lodge and Masonry than just finances. I am talking about BROTHERLY LOVE AND AFFECTION. Masonry teaches us to protect, honor and respect a brother Master Mason and his family whether fallen or in despair. But it goes further including his ideas and feelings. In spite of being Masons, we are also human and being human we know that it takes less effort to speak without thinking as opposed to thinking before we speak. Ideas and criticism are not only encouraged, they are necessary. However, we are taught to set our goals (desires) and keep our passions within those bounds. This should be reflected in the way we treat others, as well as, one another. Masonry is not only an honor, it is an obligation to society and we should:
“PRACTICE WHAT WE TEACH, BRETHREN”.
On another note, it is time, once again, to set the ensuing year in gear. One requirement is that a budget for the new Master and his Officers be prepared. There has been a lot a discussion the past several years about the amount of spending the Lodge has had in certain areas. One way to help control these concerns is a budget. However, we have made sincere efforts to prepare a budget in the past, but didn't know what to do with it once prepared. If the Master and his Officers will make an effort to seat down and take a serious look at the past years spending and prepare a budget based on such, I will keep track of all spending, apply them to the budget and make a report of such at each stated meeting in an attempt to monitor our funds better. This will also provide the Brethren a better feel for the spending of the lodge and enable us to be better informed on availability of funds before voting to spend them.
Be proud of your Masonry and hold your head high as you walk in the path of those who have walked this way before you. It is because of them that this wonderful opportunity exists for you.
David W. Myers, Treasurer
Brethren,
What an exciting time of the Masonic year this is! The newly elected officers are being installed; committee assignments are being made; and the Lodge is being readied for another set of officers to take over. I am personally pleased at the incoming line-up. It is great to see young officers take up the responsibility of leadership. I believe them to be imminently qualified. Brother Daryle has attended the leadership retreat at Dallas, as did Brother Steve before him. This gives them a leg up on their programs for the new year.
I do not know how many of you have thought of the democratic process that the Lodges go through. At a time when world leaders were trying to strengthen their grip on the masses, the Masonic Lodge was practicing that due process of selecting their leaders by a popular vote. How unique! Therefore, we, of all people, should revere or responsibility of selecting our leadership in the realm of politics. Voter apathy among Masons should be nonexistent. We should stand ready to go to the polls and express our choice for leadership. This is our Masonic tradition.
Once again, it has been the Secretary's duty to send notices to those who, for whatever reason, have decided not to pay their dues in the timely manner, as prescribed by Masonic Law. If you receive one of these notices, and decide to be reinstated, please contact me. We can reinstate you upon receipt of your back dues. If you know of someone who has been suspended for more than a year, just tell them that they can be reinstated by completing a form, available from the Secretary, and paying the dues for two years; the last year before suspension and the current year's dues, in advance. I will be happy to help with the procedure.
B.R. Campbell, Secretary
Dear Brethren,
Thanks for electing me to be Junior Warden for the next Masonic year. I would like to say that it's going to be one exciting year. We are going to try to have more participation in our Floor School. Also Brethren, we will probably be the only officers that are so young to hold any Masonic business.
Congratulations to all the brethren elected as officers for this Masonic year. Thanks again for electing me as Junior Warden. I will do my job to the best of my ability. I think that we are going to have one fantastic year.
Sincerely,
Rickey Levings
July 2 -- Stated Meeting 7:30 PM
July 8 -- Masonic Service Bureau
Other Items of Interest
The following brethren will observe their Masonic Birthdays in July. They were raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason during this month.
E.J. Gaston Jr. P.M. 07-08-1965
E.L. Gotcher P.M. 07-17-1951
F.D. Levings P.M. 07-12-1979
L.C. Lowrie (50 Year) 07-20-1942
H.O. McRobie 07-17-1952
T.L. Pelham 07-23-1968
J.T. Small 07-09-1987
J.D. Smith 07-17-1973
C.R. Templin 07-13-1970
M.D. Thompson 07-15-1975
J.E. Thompson 07-09-1987
P.S. Wallace 07-01-1986
T.S. White 07-14-1983
L.W. Young 07-25-1991
Congratulations Brethren!
On behalf of Smithfield Lodge #455, I offer sincere congratulations to Lance LaPlante. He is a fine young man, the son of Brother Don LaPlante, and a Keller High School senior. Lance was one of two young people in the six-county Dallas - Fort Worth metropolitan area to be presented with a J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award. Lance was the first student, four years ago, to volunteer his help for the Keller Independent School District Special Olympics. He continues to serve Special Olympics by serving as an assistant coach in the track and field events. Lance received a $500 scholarship as part of the award and is eligible to receive a National Golden Rule Award later this year.
Brother James Cash Penney, founder of the J.C. Penney Company, left a legacy of community responsibility, hard work and moral principle which Lance exemplifies through his actions. We are proud of Lance, very pleased for Don, and grateful for the example Lance sets for all of us. People often say that "We never hear any good news about our youth." Well, now you have. Tell the world!
Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (smithfield455@fwst.net)