December, 1999
In Memory of
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They were true and faithful brothers among us. |
The following Brethren have earned Masonic Service Awards for their years of membership. Please contact the Master or Secretary to make arrangements for presentation.
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The November Stated Meeting was filled with business, a bit of sadness, and a couple pounds of joy. We noted, with sorrow, the deaths of Brothers Vince Chambers and R. S. Lewis and draped the Lodge's charter in their memory.
Smithfield Lodge then presented Brother Bernard Chancellor with his Fifty Year Service Award. Brother Chancellor, a member of Granbury Lodge #392, lives near us now. I'm glad we could help Granbury Lodge honor this wonderful Brother. We also accepted Brother Ed Stark, a Past Master of Hemphill Heights Lodge, as a dual member. Welcome, Brother Stark! Brother Gosdin purchased an Endowed Membership, permanently relieving him of paying dues. Thank you, Brother Gosdin! Thank you, Evelyn Jeter, for the wonderful Cherry Pie! It'll be hard to keep the 40 pounds off if you keep sending those to Stated meeting. Rickey Levings, SW and T.C. Powell, PM received their Endowed membership cards. Good Show Brothers!
The Lodge purchased several personalized bricks for the area around the flagpole at the new Birdville High School. The bricks cost $25 and will have the Lodge's name and the Square and Compasses on them. Those wishing to have bricks of their own placed at the flagpole can contact me or Brother Myers for details. We will have a sign made and placed on the front of the building that displays the Lodge's meeting times. We will be joining with Richland Hills and Haltom City Lodges to coordinate the presentation of scholarships at the three High Schools in our local district. We've voted to use donated money for these scholarships so we will be looking for opportunities to collect and or earn money for this worthy cause. We balloted favorably on two petitions for the degrees, so y'all come to Lodge this next month. We elected Brother Campbell to be the Lodge's Proxy to the Grand Lodge Communication on the 3,4 and 5th of December in Waco. There's a great deal of business before the Grand Lodge.
It's also a new calendar year and therefore time to renew sponsorship of this publication. It costs 40 cents to prepare, print and mail each copy of the Trestle Board. That's just shy of $5 a year per recipient. If you're so inclined, we would appreciate help in paying for the Trestle Board. If you have a business or know of one who could use a tax deduction and would like their business card sent to over 200 persons associated with this Lodge and to the other 30 Lodges in Tarrant county, we specially recognize those who sponsor the Trestle Board with gifts of over $100 on page four each month. I promise to work hard to make this newsletter worthy of your sponsorship.
I took a moment to have those present, who served in the Armed Forces, to stand and introduce themselves and their military affiliation. Over one-half of those in the room stood! As each spoke, a noticeable silence settled in the room. A special spirit of respect, pride, sacrifice, and sorrow arose as thoughts of times and friends past resurfaced. The bonds of fraternal love were redoubled by the tie of shared patriotism and duty. May God keep safe our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and veterans and may He hold those already fallen safe in His arms. God bless America and those who place themselves between her and any danger.
David Terrell, W:M:
The attendance at the last Stated Meeting was really good. It would be nice if everyone could come to Lodge and see what activities are coming up for the next month. You would get a chance to see some Brethren you may not have seen in a long time.
The number of endowed members is growing. Let us keep up the trend, especially those of you who are newer Master Masons. I would love to see an endowed membership certificate and card presented to someone each month.
Please, let's keep Brother Jack Lyons in our thoughts. He is very ill and I hope and pray that everything turns out for the best. Brother Lyons, you are in my prayers.
Rickey Levings, S:W:
The Trestle Board is in need of financial support or it will be discontinued. It was started with the understanding by the Lodge members that no Lodge moneys would be used to produce and distribute the Trestle Board. We received a few $100.00 donations this year and recognized these sponsors during the year with a card-sized space on page 4. We will continue this program in 2000. It would help if the Brethren who would like to continue receiving the Trestle Board would send a donation. Thanks, from your Junior Warden. Here is something I'd like to share:
| A Freemason's Prayer
Oh thou who has called us out of darkness to be bearers of Light, we beseech Thee to make us helpers in the world. Take away from us the love of ease and fear of men. Show us the simple things that we can do to help our neighbors to be good. Brighten the daily round of tasks that we have undertaken and are tempted to neglect. Make us faithful to the trust that life has put upon us; hold us to the humblest duty. Prepare our hearts in sympathy to be partners in suffering with the weak; partners in service with the strong. Reveal to us the wavering ranks of those that are struggling upward that we may cheer and support our comrades unknown. Remove from us the love of glory and the thirst of praise. Give us in weakness, refreshment; and in strength, peace, but when we are idle send shame, and when we are false, send fear, to bring us back to Thee. By thy love restrain our censorious speech and teach us to commend. By Thy wisdom, enlighten our plans and direct our endeavors for the common good. And give to us the vision of that bright City of God upon earth where all shall the best they have, in thought and deed, and none shall harm or make afraid. And establish Thou the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it. |
James Allen, J:W:
This has been a busy month for us at Smithfield. We have staffed the Masonic Information booth at the Shrine Circus, conducted Degrees at the Lodge, and made visits to some of the area Lodges. Even as this is composed a trip to Mexia, and the Grand Lodge annual communication loom in the future. This busy schedule is not looked on with disdain, but points up the fact that one can put in as much time in Masonry as he wants to, or that his significant other will allow (tongue in cheek). I want to thank the brethren for electing me as a proxy at the Grand Lodge meeting. Important things are to be considered at this meeting.
The meeting at Mexia will be a gathering of secretaries. We will try to become a better secretaries for our Lodges. If the meeting is all that it is purported to be, we will try to have a similar meeting in April or May for the 64th Masonic District.
I have given a list of the people who are eligible for 25-year service awards to the Master. He will probably request that you attend the Lodge so that we may honor you. Please try to make this meeting. After all, we may not see you for another 25 years ( tongue in cheek again).
Be in prayer for our sick. We know that Jack Lyons, J.D. is ailing, and that there are others in distress, one way or another. We promised to remember them when we took the Master Mason's obligation, remember?
Thanks, again to Panther City Lodge for having me speak at their stated meeting in November. I had a very good time, and was well received.
The dues notices have been sent out, and returns are going well. A brief explanation might be in order. The date paid on the notice is the date you paid your 1999 dues. This date has confused some, if there are no objections, I will leave it off in the future.
Fraternally yours,
Bill Campbell PM
Congratulations Brethren!James W. Allen 12-10-57 Richard A. Coates APM 12-13-57 Dan R. Davis 12-19-72 Donald S. Giles 12-04-81 Donald E. Russell 12-11-70 Malcolm R. Shepard III 12-20-80 Wiley S. Stark 12-18-56
As we are referring to a public ceremony, I permitted myself to answer, presuming that the answer may be of interest to other brethren:After the burial ceremony is completed, whether Jewish, Christian, Muslim, military, civil or any other, the brethren present make a circle around the closed tomb, holding hands without gloves. The Master of Ceremonies (who might be appointed for the purpose) lets go the hand of the brother at his left and opens the Chain. The brother to the left of the MC calls the first name of the brother to his left ( for example: 'Brother Sam') who answers 'present' and then, in turn, calls the first name of the Brother to his left. This 'call of the roll of workmen' continues from one brother to another until the name of the MC is called by the Brother immediately to his right and the MC also answers "present". Than the MC calls the first name of the Brother that was just buried and, of course, there is no reply. The MC repeats the brother's name a total of three times then he says: 'Brethren, Let us close our Universal Chain as Brother So & So has left us and has taken his place in the Eternal Orient. His memory will always be kept and cherished among us.' The MC then retakes the hand of the adjacent brother. After a moment, the brethren dissolve the chain, ending the ceremony.
Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (smithfield455@hiram.net)