The Trestle Board

of Smithfield Lodge #455, A.F.&A.M.

February, 2000

From the East

The first Stated Meeting of the New Year was well attended. We enjoyed the company of our DDGM, the R:W: Bill Crews and the members of his District Team: Brothers Billy Ray Fischer (DI), Jim fester (DEO) and Bob Hogan (DMRO).Also visiting were the R:W: “Billy” James Hotopp, DDGM of District 64B and the R:W: Billy Davis, DDGM of District 64D. We were very, very pleased to see Brothers Jack Lyons and Dick Coates, who have been experiencing health problems over the holidays. In business, Brother Hestilow reported that a gas valve was replaced and the drinking fountain was repaired during the previous month. The Golden Trowel Committee recommended a Brother for this award and the Lodge approved their recommendation. Watch for more information.

Thanks to Brother Jeff Draeger for becoming an Endowed Member of the Lodge. He joins a growing group of Brethren who are helping ensure the future existence and prosperity of Smithfield Lodge. Thanks to the Brothers Gaston, Frakes and Whatley; the Huggins’, Koonces, and Stegalls; and Brother Hutcherson and Ms. Wingate for their generous sponsorship of the Trestle Board.

We will be representing the Fraternity on Friday, January 21, 2000 by manning the Masonic booth at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. We already have some volunteers but need some more. I’ll be calling upon some of you but if you care to help out, give me a call.

We will be having a Lodge breakfast on Saturday, January 29, 2000 at 8AM. We split the cost among the attendees. It’s a great chance to get together and discuss Masonry.

The DDGM delivered the GM’s greetings and stressed that “Positive Thoughts” translate into “Positive Actions” and “Pride in Masonry” can be expressed through our actions. He encouraged us to make a careful investigation into each case of a Brother being in arrears with respect to his dues before taking the step of Suspension. He cautioned us to be frugal and keep a careful eye on the state of our finances. He spoke on the value of Open Meetings and reiterated that Masonic Regalia should be worn in these meetings. He also emphasized the value of awarding the Lamar Medal and scholarships in improving the public’s opinion of the Fraternity. He announced the dates for the Grand Master’s Conferences for this year. The Dallas conference will be February 5 at the Scottish Rite Temple. The Fort Worth conference will be May 6 at the Masonic Temple. He closed his remarks by reemphasizing the role of the Master Mason’s obligation in our lives and led us all in repeating it, rededicating us to the principles of the Order.

You will notice a slightly different look to the Trestle Board this month. I have purchased Microsoft Publisher for use with my wife’s business and have learned to use it. Not Bad!

From the West

We had a real good turn out for our stated meeting. The District Deputy visit was very interesting because he brought different District Deputies with him.

The Stewards did a very good job of having the food prepared for our visiting Brethren.

Brother Jeff Draeger is now an Endowed member at Smithfield Lodge. There have been a good number of Brethren become Endowed Members over the past few months. Thanks to all of you.

Thanks also to all the Brethren who gave money to keep the Trestle Board going for the next 3 to 4 months. The Trestle Board lets Brothers know what happened at the Lodge each month. Brethren, let’s try to keep the newsletter going.

From the South

The Christmas season has come and gone and the New Year, 2000, has arrived. The lodge opened the new year with a trip to Kopperel, Texas Masonic lodge. Our own R:W: W.C. (Cantrell) Autrey District Deputy Grand Master, District 68, was inspecting officer that night, Tuesday, Jan. 4. Nine members of Smithfield Lodge made the journey to Kopperel for the inspection. We had a great country style buffet. Many Masonic lessons and traditions were learned that night.

Smithfield Lodge 455 had their official visit by the Right Worshipful Bill Crews, District Deputy Grand Master, District 64A, on Thursday night, January 6. There were 40 Masons present at the inspection/monthly stated meeting. As usual, we had a bountiful covered dish supper. Brethren, everyone is welcome! Please plan to attend our meetings on Thursday nights.

On another note! We are in jeopardy of having to cease publication of our monthly newsletter, The Trestle Board. As I have previously stated, the funds for The Trestle Board do not, AND CANNOT, come from the general fund. The cost of financing The Trestle Board is paid for through DONATION ONLY. If each member was to contribute, the cost to said member would be a mere $4.50 per year. The alternative is to raise the yearly dues OR cease publication of The Trestle Board. MEMBERS - YOUR INPUT WILL DICTATE THE DECISION - CONTINUE THE TRESTLE BOARD OR CEASE PUBLICATION. We can also accept donations from businesses and individual. Contributors are listed in The Trestle Board.

We have a Fellowcraft Degree scheduled for Thursday, January 13. Remember, the lodge is open every Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 pm. It is your lodge. Come and see what is happening.

In "Canadian" Lodges there is an admonition to be careful to perform your allotted task while it is yet day. To me this seems extremely well put and a little though on the matter might not be amiss. We are engaged in the building of a spiritual temple, a symbolic edifice of purity and all perfection. The material need for this house not made with hands is the responsibility of every one of us, and your task and my task is the crude and shapeless blocks of granite brought up from the quarry.

The work must be measured and laid out with the gauge, the common gavel used to chip away the edges and there must be constant checking with the square. Slovenly, careless work will not do. Nothing less than perfection can be accepted. One imperfect ashlar will throw the whole structure out of line.

It is exacting work, and must be done "while it is yet day," that is while we can still see, while we still are in full possession of our faculties, and have strength and energy, and the skill to apply ourselves.

In "American" Lodges we are admonished that "in youth we ought to industriously occupy our minds in the attainment of useful knowledge; in manhood we should apply our knowledge to the discharge of our respective duties to God, our neighbors and ourselves, so that in age we may enjoy the happy reflection consequent on a well spent life, and die in the hope of a glorious immortality."

Time flits by so quickly that we are in danger of coming to the end of it without having completed the task assigned. We still have much to do and my time to do and my time is as short as yours.

From the Secretary

The meeting at Kopperel Lodge with Rt. W. Cantrell Autrey was enjoyed by some 10 members. It was a joy to see the DDGM do such a good job in his own Lodge. If you see Cantrell soon congratulate him.

I wish to thank several of you who donated money, in lieu of flowers, at the passing of my brother Jack. This money will go to our endowment fund. He had been ill for several years, and was not comfortable for that time, he was bed ridden, so his passing took him out of that condition. I will miss him terribly. Thanks for remembering him in this loving way, even in passing, he continues to give to others.

We had a good meeting with our own DDGM in January, we were complemented in our esoteric work, encouraged to continue doing Masonry in NE Tarrant County, carry out the Grand Master's programs, and be leaders in the future.

If you have not taken care of your 2000 dues, $50.00 if you have forgotten, you now stand in arrears, please take care of this promptly, sending the dues to the Lodge P.O. Box, I will send your dues card right back to you If you are not able to pay the dues, please contact the W.M., or myself, we can help…

Other Items of Interest

In Our Thoughts and Prayers ...

• Brother Winston White, who is recovering from surgery.
• Brother Ed Stark, who is recovering from surgery.
• Brother Dick Coates, who is recovering from an illness.
• Brother Jack Lyons, who is recovering from an illness.
• Brother John Frakes, who is fighting the flu.
• Brother Billy Campbell, who is recovering from an illness.
• Brother Fred Kuhlman, of White Settlement Lodge, upon the passing of his wife.

Masonic Birthdays for February, 2000

Congratulations Brethren!

For Your Consideration ...

All this confusion (about Freemasonry being a religion) results from a misunderstanding of what religion is. Religions are many; religion is one - perhaps we may say one thing, but that one thing includes everything - the life of God in the soul of man, which finds expression in all the forms which life and love and duty take. The church has no monopoly on religion. The soul of man is greater than all dogmas and more enduring than all institutions. Masonry seeks to free men from a limiting conception of religion, and thus remove one of the chief causes of sectarianism. It is itself one of the forms of beauty wrought by the human soul under the inspiration of the Eternal Beauty, and as such is religious. Many fine minds have been estranged from the Church, not because they were irreligious, but because they were required to believe what it was impossible for them to believe; and, rather than sacrifice their integrity of soul, they have turned away from the last place from which a man should ever turn away. No part of the ministry of Masonry is more beautiful and wise in its appeal, not for tolerance, but for fraternity; mot for uniformity, but for unity of spirit amidst variety of outlook and opinion. Instead of criticizing Masonry, let us thank God for one altar where no man is asked to surrender his liberty of thought and become an indistinguishable atom in the mass of sectarian agglomeration. What a witness to the worth of the Order that it brings together men of all creeds on behalf of those truths which are greater than all sects, deeper than all doctrines - the glory and the hope of man!

Masonry does not divide men, it unites them, leaving every man free to think his own thought and fashion his own system of ultimate truth. All its emphasis rests upon two extremely simple and profound principles - love of God and love of man. Therefore all through the ages it has been, and is today, a meeting place of differing minds, and a prophecy of the final union of all reverent and devout souls.

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Send your questions or comments to: David G. Terrell (smithfield455@hiram.net)