Post Office Box 821413, Fort Worth, Texas 76182
USA
Lodge telephone number: 817.656.2311
Best time to contact the Lodge: Tuesday and Thursday evenings between
6 PM and 9 PM
August, 1999
Things seem to get most hectic at the most inopportune times. I missed the opportunity to write my last article as SW due to the needs of my family. So in this, my first as WM, I'll try to cover all the bases. Daryle's last stated meeting as WM went very well. Smithfield probably has the youngest Past Master in the state. I enjoyed serving with him and after he's done with his education, I'm sure we'll see more of him about the lodge.
I appreciate the outpouring of support shown at the installation of officers. It was a quiet affair and was very intimate. The Brotherly Love and affection was evident and the ties of brotherhood were strengthened.
Thanks for putting up with my poetry.
The July stated meeting was brightened by the presence of the DDGM, R:W: Michael Elliot and members of his team. Among them was Brother Billy Ray Fischer who, when he gets weary and sits down to rest, can leave quite a mark on a man's chest. I know! The DDGM brought a message of encouragement from the Grand Master. He exhorted us to continue working to make Masonry a relevant force in our community and to bring our new Masons into the Lodge family as quickly as possible in order to make them feel more welcome. To that end, the Grand Master is recommending that the Grand Lodge of Texas return to the pre-Civil War practice of conducting Lodge business in the Entered Apprentice degree.
Expect some information about the 100th anniversary of the Home and School. It'll be a big, outdoor affair and I'm planning to have Butch and Daryle bring out the chuck wagon. If they ask for help, please say yes. We got our buffer and Brother Spraggins has made the floor shine. Many thanks! We've had a couple of times where the fans and/or air conditioning have been inadvertently left on. If, you're the last one out of the building, please take a moment to shut everything down.
Over the next couple of months, I want the Lodge to spend the effort to really brush up on conferring the master's degree. We've let ourselves get a little rusty. A bit of work now will ensure that we give our Brothers a good degree. I also ask everyone to consider learning the lectures to the degrees as well. We've come to rely on a couple of individuals for the lectures and I'd like to make sure they don't get burned out. Let me know if you're interested and I'll set up some time for instruction. Don't be bashful. Don't give me this "if nobody else will, I will" stuff. Your Lodge needs willing workers. Please, pick a part in a degree and work on it. When that is mastered, learn another. When the JW says "Who would like to be the ... whatever?" say "I will!" I promise, no one will be offended.
OK! That's enough "good and wholesome instruction" for this month. Y'all come out to Lodge. I don't care if you've forgotten every single cotton-picking thing about the ritual. If you have a current Smithfield Lodge dues card, you WILL get into your Lodge! You will be welcome and I truly believe that you will enjoy yourself.
Fraternal regards,
David Terrell W:M:
Dear Brethren,
We had a real good turn out for the installation of our new officers for the next Masonic year. Congratulations, Daryle Hester for doing a good job in the East. To David Terrell, congratulations in being chose to serve in the East. I know David Terrell will do a very good job in serving as W.M.:.
The Warden's retreat is a special event held once a year for the S.W.: and J.W.:. This event helps the Wardens get ready for serving in their stations. Brethren, this event helps you solve problems that might occur. Brethren, this Wardens retreat is worth everything that they put in this retreat. You meet many different people and what Lodges they are from. It's a special event that I think we need to do every year for our new S.W.: and J.W.:
Thanks,
Rickey Levings S.W.:
Brethren,
Thank you for your trust in elevating me to the South as your J.W.:, where I will humbly serve.
I was treated to a party to celebrate my Seventy-fifth birthday on July 4th. Of note, my son Carl (and wife), who lives in California and is a member of the New England Lodge #4 of the Grand Lodge of Ohio F&AM was in attendance as was my son James Jr. (and family). Many friends and neighbors as well as our own Billy Campbell P.M.: attended. My sons surprised me by their visit.
A very fine WEB page which will be of interest to those of you who have currently worked for Bell Helicopter is at http://www.calgaurd.ca.gov/aasf1/. This brings up the many uses of the fine aircraft you Brethren have been involved with. Carl is Operations Manager of the Los Alomitos Army Airfield in Los Alomitos, California.
Spreading the Cement. In all the beautiful and expressive phraseology of the Masonic ritual, none is of greater significance than that which is descriptive of the Trowel, one of the working tools of a M.M:. This useful instrument refers both to the Operative as well as the Speculative Mason.
As a Craftsman, the Mason spreads the cement which unites the building into one common mass and furnishes the element by which the individual members are welded into the whole.
In Speculative masonry we are taught to make use of the Trowel "for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection - that cement which unites us into one sacred band or society of brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist, but that noble contention or rather emulation of who best can work and best agree". This is the essence of Freemasonry in a few well chosen words.
It teaches us that there is no place in masonry for petty spite, hatred, envy or jealousy. These must be overcome if the individual is to attain that high level to which the lessons of the Craft endeavor to lead. If he is to attain the pinnacle symbolized by the lambskin he must discipline himself and learn to love his neighbor as himself. He must judge mercifully, overlooking the faults of others, ever careful that he is not better than his brother but better than himself. The Great Light of Masonry teaches us that love is the greatest of all virtues. This is the message of Masonry. By permission - Exchange
Brethren, as J.W.: my responsibility is to be the "lawyer" of the Lodge, therefore I quote the following from the law book. In part, from "of the management of the Craft in working" pages 59-60. "When a fellow craftsman is chosen Warden of the work under the Master, he shall be true to both Master and Fellows, shall carefully oversee the work in the Masters absence to the lords profits; and his Brethren shall obey him".
The new Masonic year has started for the newly elected officers and we started with a floor school on Tuesday night July 6th and Thursday night July 8th. The floor school was guided by myself, I acted as the Master with the able assistance of the past Masters and members present. Bro. Jeff Austin was elevated to the second degree in Masonry on Tuesday night, July 13th. A big Thank You to all those who assisted in bringing further light to Bro. Austin
Till next month,
James W. Allen Sr. J.W.:
David was unable to provide an article.
Billy was unable to provide an article.
Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (smithfield455@fwst.net)