Trestleboard - May 2003

News From the East

Well My Brethren,

I would like to thank all the Brethren that came to our Inspection on the third of April. It was nice to see all the Brethren in attendance. I would like to thank all the Brethren for showing me the greatest courtesy by not talking while I was doing my work. I was one nervous wreck, as you could tell.

I am glad that all of you enjoyed the meal that Bob Askew and the ladies of the Eastern Stars served. A special thanks to WB Darrell Garris for doing the lecture, as well to Roger Thomas for the Charge. All my line officers did an outstanding job in their work and I would like to thank them too. To Tim Moore I wish to thank you for the help.

We will be having a dinner Saturday, May 17^th from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. It will be baked fish and cost $8.00 per plate.

The weather is getting nice and with it comes all the work of Spring. Just remember in your very busy schedule, see if you can find time to come to lodge. We had 76 people at the inspection. It was nice to see that many in the lodge while I sat in the East.

As all Masters have said, that once you are done with Inspection you can relax. Well, my Brethren, that is far from the truth. For there is a bad decision that I have to make and that is how do we fix up the Lodge. One way might be to see if we can get a loan which means that ways to raise the money would be to raise all rents by so much a year. It may be by 8 per cent per year. Or we could go the other way and that we may have to sell and move to some place else. This problem will not go away. So think about what we can do my Brethren.

Respectfully,

William C. Thompson

News from the Southeast Corner

Fellow Craft Degree Conferred at April 3^rd Inspection

Brother Giovanni Smith was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft by WM William C. Thompson. The lecture was given by WB Darrell Garris. The charge was given by Brother Roger Thomas. Brother Smith received his Master Mason degree at the Grand Master's One-Day Class in Mansfield the previous Saturday but never-the-less desired to continue his Masonic journey the "old fashioned" way. Thank you, Brother Smith!

Missing Member

If you know the current mailing address of Brother Otho Holcomb, Lagrange, Ohio please notify the Secretary. Brother Holcomb's mail is being returned by the Postal Service marked undeliverable and without a forwarding address.

Calendar of Events

Stated Meetings

Thursday, May 8^th, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 22^nd, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 12^th, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 26^th, 7:30 p.m.

Special Meetings

Thursday, May 1^st 6:00 p.m., Ladies' Night

Dinner at 6:30 with Entertainment to follow

Thursday May 29th, 6:00 p.m., Past Masters' Night

Dinner at 6:30 p.m. with Entered Apprentice Degree to follow

Special Events

Saturday Morning Breakfasts

Saturday, May 24^th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, June 28^th, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall

Baked Fish Dinner

I received this communication from Rodney W. Skinner, LSW Director of the Masonic Senior Services, Past Master, Cedarville Lodge #622, Cedarville, Ohio.

The Western Reserve Home in Medina has been thinking that, at times, its residents will need help with shopping for clothing, groceries, and personal items. Do you think some of the brethren might be interested in helping out and doing this?

The name of the contact person at Western Reserve is Ms. Jane Rinto. (Her telephone number is 330-721-3378).

My belief is, and was that, as in the lecture on the first Tracing Board, our lodges are supported by three great pillars, Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. Wisdom I put down to our ritual and ceremonial. Strength, to our Book of Constitution, our by-laws and the general structure of the Craft. Beauty is in the inner meanings and interpretations of our ritual, allegory, symbolism and Volume of the Sacred Law. The first two, Wisdom and Strength, are before us all the time, but the third, Beauty, is scarcely mentioned. Like any three legged stool, if you take one leg away it will fall. I believe what is lacking in our Craft is that third leg or pillar, Beauty, and that is why our Craft is falling.

In the 18th Century the ritual of making a man a mason was brief. It was of lesser importance than what he absorbed after he was a brother. Today the ritual is everything, but what he absorbs after it is unknown. It is never sought after, never questioned. The modem brother is never put in a position where he has to think about the ceremony, its meaning or its teachings. One hears of European Masonry where this does happen. There the Craft is reportedly smaller but stronger.

(From United Master Lodge No. 167 - Lodge of Masonic Research, August 2002, remarks by Bro. Kershaw on the article "Discussion on the paper Think!'" by Bro. R. H. Weeks, P.G.D., E.G.)

The young Mason who desires to study the working of the various degrees should bear in mind the following facts:

3. Clear utterance is desirable at all times. The beautiful phraseology of a charge is frequently marred by indistinctness and a mumbling form of speech.

5. Cultivate deliberation in speech. There is no need to hurry. Have confidence in yourself and you will impress the person you are addressing.

6. Begin with a small part and make yourself master of it. Then proceed to a larger part, frequently revising as you progress. Only in this way will ease and proficiency be attained.

7. Tell the Master you would like to be permitted to have a share in the working of a Degree. If the Master knows his business, he will grant your request and encourage you to continue to be interested.

8. Be ready at all times to assist the Master. The most successful Lodges are those in which every member is ready and willing to take a share in the work.

9. Be punctual in your attendance. Recognize that the success of the Lodge is in your hands, and that it is your duty to give your Master your best service.

10. Be ready to take the place of an office bearer who may be absent. He is a happy Worshipful Master who knows he may call upon any brother to assist at any time.

A man is walking through the recreation ground of his local park when he notices a huge fight in full fury on the football field.

The other replies "It's a match between the Masons and the Knights of Columbus."


	MEDINA LODGE NO. 58, F. & A. M. Dispensation Granted Monday, January 31, 1820 Chartered Tuesday, December 12, 1820