Trestleboard - June 2003

News From the East

Well My Brethren,

At the Stated meeting of April 24, 2003 we talked about setting up a Foundation for the maintenance and repair of the Temple Building. Contributions to the foundation would be tax deductible. I mentioned that I could come to each of you and ask for tax deductible contributions to the foundation. In this way if each of our 330 members were to contribute $10.00 per month, that would be $120.00 a year for each member, a total of $39,600.00 a year for building repair and maintenance.

I know that sounds like a lot of money. But, my Brethren, it will take six or seven years just to get started. You might say that "they don't need my $10.00 a month." Well, let me ask you, who pays to keep your house repaired? Your neighbor? Or do you just think it fixes itself?

The Temple Building and theater have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This allows the formation of a foundation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the foundation are tax deductible. We are now looking for an attorney to set up the foundation. Contributions to the foundation may be used for building repair and maintenance only. We are just now starting to move forward. For the rest of my year I will be pushing this home.

I have told my line officers that they must continue what we have started. I am not done with this "money to save the Temple building" issue. I will be on it until it is done. But if you are concerned and cannot wait for the formation of the foundation, you can send money now. Make your check payable to The Medina Masonic Temple Company and attach a note stating how you want it used. Send it to The Medina Masonic Temple Company, 120 North Elmwood Avenue, Medina, Ohio 44256-1827.

Moving on ..... Bob Askew reported to the Lodge that we had an impressive turnout at the April 26th breakfast. He was happy to see so many people show up considering that the Scottish Rite was doing a one day 32nd degree that same day.

So, in closing, think over what we are doing to save our Temple building. Think of things we are not doing but should be doing. Share your ideas with us. If you want meaningful feedback, show up at lodge and discuss it with us.

Respectfully,

William C. Thompson

Please welcome our newest Master Masons Jack Anello, Ryan R. Gilbert, Robert J. Cheshure, Gary A. Wagner, Giovanni Smith, Roger A Mollohan, Dennis P. Croyle, Lawrence W. Gresh, Sr., James K. Long, W. David Koch, James N. Borger, and Daniel D. Ankney.

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

The following three motions were introduced at the May 8, 2003 Stated meeting and held over to the Stated meeting of June 12, 2003 for discussion and voting.

1. It was regularly moved and seconded that the annual rent charged to the Masonic bodies occupying the Temple building be increased from $15,000.00 to $22,000.00 effective January 1, 2004. Motion was tabled until the June 12, 2003 Stated meeting.

2. It was regularly moved and seconded that the formula for allocating the annual rent among the adult Masonic bodies occupying the Temple building be changed. The new formula would allocate rent proportionally based on use of the building as follows: Rent = b/a*t where b = the adult Masonic body's annual number of meetings and functions held within the building, a = the total number of meetings and functions held within the building by all adult Masonic bodies occupying the Temple building, and t = the total rent to be divided among the Masonic bodies. Motion was tabled until the June 12, 2003 Stated meeting.

3. It was regularly moved and seconded that, effective November 1, 2003, annual dues be raised to $55.00 from $50.00. Motion was tabled until the June 12, 2003 Stated meeting.

Members are invited to attend the June 12th meeting to join in the discussion of these motions and vote their preference.

STATED Meetings
Thursday, June 12^th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 26^th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 11^th, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 25^th, 7:30 p.m.

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

Roast Beef Dinner with all the Trimmings
$8.00 per plate
Saturday, June 14^th, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Medina Masonic Temple Dining Hall

Personal Assistants Needed

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).

Car Show July 5^th

From Beth Wilkison (330-721-3000). The WRMC is sponsoring a car show on Saturday, July 5, 2003. They are asking for volunteers to assist in parking cars and with food service and more.

In The Farmers Almanac for 1823 published at Andover, Mass., the following was printed under the heading, "Character of a Freemason"

"The real Freemason is distinguished from the rest of Mankind by the uniform unrestrained rectitude of his conduct. Other men are honest in fear of punishment which the law might inflect; they are religious in expectation of being rewarded, or in dread of the devil, in the next world. A Freemason would be just if there were no laws, human or divine except those written in his heart by the finger of his Creator.

In every climate, under every system of religion, he is the same. He kneels before the Universal Throne of God in gratitude for the blessings he has received and humble solicitation for his future protection. He venerates the good men of all religions. He disturbs not the religion of others. He restrains his passions, because they cannot be indulged without injuring his neighbor or himself. He gives no offense, because he does not choose to be offended. He contracts no debts which he is certain he cannot discharge, because he is honest upon principal."

Making the Craft Visible
Bro. D. P. H. Miller, WJW, Lodge Conception, No. 1679, GLS
Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, Canada

The topic of Masonic renewal is currently of interest in Lodges in Newfoundland, most of which are experiencing declining enrollment. A consensus seems to be developing that the Craft has been "hiding its light under a bushel" for too long; that the only secrets are the modes of recognition, and that we will have to make the public more aware of the basic beliefs and activities of the Craft if we are to attract new members. To gain a more public image, Newfoundland Lodges, all of which hold of either the GL of Scotland or the UGL of England, support a Masonic Charities Foundation to solicit funds from both Lodges and individual Masons to contribute to local charities with suitable publicity.

Two local Lodges recently held a "Bring a Friend Night" when non-masons sat in the Lodge room and had the non-secret aspects of the Craft explained to them. This led to much favorable comment and several requests for applications. Actions such as these will be necessary in the future if we are to remain a viable institution.

It's important we ask ourselves this question as membership in most lodges declines. Our brothers outside the lodge door have apparently asked themselves this question and not found a compelling answer. Otherwise they would join us. They may ask themselves, "If I can worship my God in church, fellowship with my neighbor, and serve my community in a service club, why should I become a Mason?"

The answer is that Freemasonry is a stimulating blend of reverence to God, fellowship, and service. It allows men from all faiths to join together in an atmosphere of brotherly love and harmony to perform acts pleasing to their God. The blend of friendship, morality, and brotherly love in equal parts is where the power and attraction in Masonry come from. When the lodge or individual focuses on only one or two of these attributes, our fraternity fails to live up to its potential and becomes just another group of men. If we expect Masonry to have the presence in our communities that it should, it must retain its vitality. If we expect to gain new members and retain our old ones, it must retain its appeal. We can only do this by maintaining the centuries-old balance between friendship, morality, and brotherly love that have served so well for so long.

Shortly before Lodge is about to open an old man totters up to the Tyler and says, "I'm here to receive my 2nd degree." Well, they all look at this guy, who really is older than dirt, and they ask him to explain. "I took the 1st degree on July 4, 1922. Now I'm ready for my 2nd degree." So they go rifling through the records, and sure enough, there was his name, entered on July 4, 1922. "Where have you been all these years? What took you so long to be ready for your 2nd degree?" they ask. He replies, "My passions! I was learning to subdue my passions!"


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