Dispensation Granted Monday, January 31, 1820
Chartered Tuesday, December 12, 1820
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MEDINA LODGE NO. 58, F. & A. M.
Dispensation Granted Monday, January 31, 1820
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ELECTED OFFICERS Master Lloyd G. Egbert (330) 225-5883 Sr. Warden William Carl Thompson (330) 723-7310 Jr. Warden Roger A. Thomas (330) 722-7169 Treasurer Dennis L. Lawson (330) 225-2868 Secretary Vaughn H. Cover (419) 853-0048 Sr. Deacon Theodore E. Thomas (330) 225-6643 Jr. Deacon Fred H. Justice 330-722-6005 Tyler Bob J. Askew (330) 225-8444 Trustees Edgar L. Harris David S. Kurtz Larry B. Donovan
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TRESTLEBOARD
April 2002
News From the East
Brethren:
Spring has sprung, Easter is behind us (or soon will be) and we only have seven Inspections to go. Let’s make a valiant effort to show what Medina is made of. For those of you who have traveled with me this year, thank you. It is because of your dedication and hard work that we have retained the Traveling Gavel. Let’s keep up the good work !! Now it’s down to business.
Brethren, we have reached our goal for the Grand Masters’ One-Day Class to be held on April 27, 2002. We have sent nine petitions to the Grand Lodge with eight more pending. With this goal being met, it’s time to concentrate on petitions for Medina Lodge. For those of you who may not be aware, we are required to perform each degree twice and it would be fantastic to have real candidates. Let’s work on bringing in a few petitions for ourselves.
Once again a great big thank you to our chef, Bob Askew, his helpers and Kathy Miller of the Medina Board of MR/DD for working so hard to make our Special Olympics Spaghetti Dinner a great success. Also, we would like to thank PDDGM, Robert Staight, and his wife for an excellent presentation on their trip to Alaska. It sure looked like fun..
Please check the bulletin for upcoming Inspections. As always, if someone would like to join us, please call me.
In closing, I would like to extend my gratitude to all who have showed their support to our Lodge so far this year.
See you in lodge,
Lloyd.
News from the Southeast Corner
AMNESTY!
Grand Master Thomas Reynolds has offered a form of "amnesty" for members suspended for non-payment of dues. Beginning now, until July 31, 2002, any Ohio member who has been suspended for non-payment of dues can be reinstated by paying only the current dues, the Grand Master has decreed. All other procedures will remain unchanged.
Did you know?
For the past seven issues of the Trestleboard the upcoming Saints John's Day has been listed under "Calendar of Events" as Saint Johns' Day. The editor wishes he could honestly say he was testing the Trestleboard readers. But he can't. A tip of the hat to Brother Lawrence K Schaefer for noticing the error and for being concerned enough to point it out!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SPAGHETTI DINNER TO BENEFIT OHIO SPECIAL OLYMPICS
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 23rd.
All-You-Care-to-Eat. Adult - $5.00. Children under 12 - $3.00
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall
Entertainment provided by RWB Robert Staight to follow at 7:30 p.m. in Lodge Room
2002 INSPECTION SCHEDULE
Apr. 3 - HANOVER #115, Loudenville - E. A. Degree - Calland/Debo - Dinner/Refreshments
Apr. 12 - SHILOH #544, Shiloh - M. M. Degree - Calland/Himmelright - Dinner
Apr. 17 - HARRISVILLE #137, Lodi - F. C. Degree - Calland/Debo - Dinner
Apr. 19 - BELLVILLE #376, Bellville - M. M. Degree - Calland/Debo - Dinner
Apr. 24 - LITCHFIELD #381, Medina - M. M. Degree - Moore/Himmelright - Dinner
Apr. 26 - SPARTAN #126, Millersburg - M. M. Degree - Moore/Debo - Dinner
Apr. 30 - SULLIVAN #313, Sullivan - F. C. Degree - Moore/Himmelright - Dinner
STATED MEETINGS
Thursday, April 11th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 25th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 9th, 7:30 p.m..
Thursday, May 23rd, 7:30 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
Lodge Finances/Dues/Budget Report & MM Degree Floor Work Practice
Thursday, April 4, 2002 at 7:00 p.m.
PAST MASTERS' NIGHT
Fellow Craft Degree
Thursday, May 16, 2002
Dinner at 6:30 p.m. - PM's open Lodge & confer degree at 7:30 p.m.
LADIES' NIGHT
Thursday, June 20th, 2002
Dinner at 6:30 p.m. - Entertainment at 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY MORNING BREAKFASTS
Saturday, April 27th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m
Saturday, May 25th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall
SAINTS JOHN'S DAY OBSERVANCE
Sunday, June 23rd, 11:00 A.M.
First Christian Church, The Rev. Michael Cassady, Pastor
3611 Center Road (SR 303), Brunswick
STARS/BLUE LODGE PICNIC
Unscheduled as of Press Time
A GUIDE TO FUNERAL PLANNING FOR FREEMASONS
Bro. Baton is editor of The Missouri Freemason the official publication of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. (Editor)
So live that when thy summons comes to join the innumerable caravan that moves to that mysterious realm where each shall take his chamber in the silent halls of death...
We have all listened to these ageless words spoken in honor of departed Brethren. The question I am asking is; When it is you these words are spoken over, have you made the preparations necessary to satisfy the laws of the land and to ease the burden of your passing on your family? It is something we should all consider in a timely manner and especially while we are of sound mind and body and can make proper decisions regarding our possessions and last wishes.
Approaching this task from the stand point of membership in the fraternity, we must deal with the long-standing tradition not to discuss, in detail, the business and customs of the fraternity with family members. Therefore, many widows and children have no idea who in the lodge needs to be notified of our passing. Let us make a few suggestions that will ease the burden on your family and, at the same time, ease the burden on the lodge secretary and the Master.
Include with your important papers, envelopes addressed to the lodge secretary and the secretaries of all the appendant bodies in which you have membership. Put a sheet of paper in each envelope with your Masonic history (if you have been a member of more than one lodge, be sure your list reflects the correct names and locations of all lodges in which you have held membership in case you have transferred your membership) and a place for your survivor to write the date of your passing and such other information that might be of interest to the lodge and/or appendant bodies. Attach to the envelopes a sheet of paper with detailed instructions that explain to your next of kin the importance of notifying each Masonic body of your passing. If you are uncertain what the correct address is, look at the return address on your latest dues notice. Also, include with these important papers a sheet of paper with instructions on whom to contact to request a Masonic funeral service. The Master of your lodge is always an appropriate person to contact when requesting a service.
It would be a good idea to write a draft of your obituary so that those things that were important to you, in your life, will be known to others. It also insures your Masonic memberships, titles, and honors are spelled accurately. Include the full name of each body as well as the complete title of each office you have held. Be sure to also include specific instructions on the disposal of your Masonic ritual books, pins, aprons, and related items.
If you have been a collector of Masonic books, pamphlets and other such items, be sure to suggest proper disposition of these articles. This may be to a Masonic relative who is interested, to the lodge for their library, or a brother who you know will keep and treasure your books as you did. Alternatively, you may want to donate your books to the lodge with instructions to sell them and use the money earned for upkeep of the lodge hall or for a lodge charity. Whatever your personal wishes, make timely plans and leave clear instructions. It is sad to go to a flea market or yard sale and see someone's Masonic book collection lying in a neglected heap on a dusty table.
Now for a look at the worldly side of the issue of death. As in disposition of your Masonic belongings, it should be a priority with every brother to make final plans. You should contact a funeral director and ask him or her for assistance in pre-planning your funeral and burial. Your funeral director can assist you in developing a pre-need plan. This plan can be purchased and paid for at any time. The funeral director will help you select your casket, service, vault, grave plot, and grave marker or guide you if your wish is cremation. Also, they will make suggestions on the type of service and what will be included in the service, such as visitation times, minister/spiritual leader, songs, casket bearers, Masonic emblem on the service folder. The funeral director should be instructed to remind the family that it is customary for the apron to remain in the casket.
The funeral director will counsel you on the financial aspects of your service and will help you to select a casket, burial site, etc., that is within your financial range. He will suggest options for paying for your pre-need, which can include CD's, insurance policies, etc. An advantage of prepaying is that the cost can be frozen to protect against inflation and save your family members these expenses when the service is needed.
The funeral director can give you a book that guides you in providing the information needed. You should complete this book carefully and completely. Be sure to include a copy of your obituary and a copy of the list of Masonic bodies you belong to as was suggested earlier in this pamphlet. If you are a veteran be sure to include pertinent information about your service record. This should include branch of service, rank held, medals awarded, date of entry, date of discharge, service serial number and a copy of your discharge papers.
You should visit your attorney and have him draw up a last will and testament. This will insure your wishes are legal and binding and will leave no doubt as to the disposition of your property. Such arrangements will raise a big burden from the shoulders of your survivors at a very traumatic time in their lives.
Therefore, Brethren, do it now, for as the Masonic funeral service says we, none of us, knows when that time will come. Be prepared and be considerate of your loved ones and your brothers and, most of all, be prepared yourself, first in your heart and secondly in your affairs.
The author would like to thank Bro. Jeff Doss, Greensburg Lodge No. 414, Greensburg, Missouri who is a licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director for his contribution to this Short Talk.
MASONIC FUNERAL
Other Lodges, some veterans' organizations, and various societies, as well as Freemasonry, have funeral services, but this letter is primarily concerned with those of the Masonic Institution. To start, it may be well to point out that Freemasonry is not a religion, although it is religious. That is, the Fraternity does not believe itself to be an instrument of God for the purpose of reconciling men to Himself, but teaches that men do need such reconciliation and should seek it through loyal involvement with the religious faith of their preference. The lodge has no "plan of salvation" or way of atonement to offer its members. Rather, it teaches the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. The participation of the Masonic Institution in a funeral service is an expression of its fraternal affection for the deceased and for his family rather than the exercise of a priestly ministry representing God.
No one is ever obligated to have a Masonic Funeral. It is not a requirement of the Fraternity that a member have his funeral service conducted, either in whole or in part, by the Masonic order. Any member who was in good standing at the time of his death may have a Masonic funeral if he requested it or if his family so requests. Any participation in the service, other than the attendance of individual Lodge members as a part of the general congregation, is always by request to the Fraternity.
(Source: Letter concerning Masonic Funeral published by the Masonic Service Association.)
