Trestle Board

Brothers, I hope this new year is treating everyone well.  I would like to congratulate all or our incoming newly elected and appointed officers, I think this year will be very productive.  We are focusing on building improvements and appearance, as well a new candidates.  We are looking for help in painting our building, labor, paint, moral support, etc.
WM:. Keith A. Crews

From the West

I stumbled across this one recently, thought I would share it.  I have no idea who wrote it, but I liked it.

Code Of Ethics Of Masonry

*Adore the Great Architect of the Universe.

*Love your neighbor

*Do good, sympathize with the weak, shun the malevolent, but do not hate anybody

*Talk with respect to superior, with prudence to peers, with sincerity to friends, and with tenderness to the poor.

*Always listen to the voice of your conscience.

*Avoid disputes and shun insults; on such occasions utilize your reason.

*Respect women. Never abuse them and die before dishonoring them.

*If the Grand Architect of the Universe gives you a son, that Him but tremble for the deposit He has entrusted to you in the future, you will be for that child the image of the deity. Make sure he fears you until age 10, loves you until age 20, and respects you until death. Until 10 be his teacher, until 20 his father, and until death his friend.

*Teach your children sound principles before fine manners. See that they owe you a clarified doctrine before a frivolous elegance, and that they prefer to be honorable men rather than able men.

*Read and make the most of your reading. Observe and imitate. Reflect and work. See that everything redounds to the benefit of mankind rather than your own benefit.

*Be always content for everything, with everything, and of everything.

*Never rashly judge the actions of men by either pardoning or condemning them.

God is the only one who can pass judgment on their works.

SW:. David Turner

From the South

My brothers, another year has arrived and with it new brothers, new officers and new responsibilities.  As the Junior Warden, the duty of keeping our brothers fed falls to me.  But these meals are about more than just sustenance.  Traditionally, the meals served before or after a Masonic communications are called an Agápe (pronounced ah-gah-pey).  This Greek word means both the love of God for man and for unselfish, charitable, brotherly love.  The word also refers to the Agape Feast (or Love Feast) as practiced in ancient time by Christians and in the present day by our Fraternity.  The Agape is one of the cornerstones of fellowship and brotherly love in any Lodge and ours is no different.  We meet with our brothers to enjoy one another’s company, share our lives and families, discuss issues in our fraternity and offer assistance to those that are poor or distressed.  Remember that when a candidate is prepared for any degree he is symbolically completely destitute, but he carries with him the food and brotherly love offered preceding the degree and is instructed to remember that great lesson of charity in his future walks through life.  I hope that many of our brothers that I have not met or those that have not been with us recently will return to us to share in these agápe meals and join in the fellowship once more.  I leave you with this toast and hope it finds you well:

“To all poor and distressed brethren, Wheresoever they may be, On the land, the sea or in the air.
A speedy relief from their suffering, And a safe return to their native land, If they so desire.
(Response) To all poor and distressed brethren.”

JW:. Wayne P. Middleton

From the Secretaries Desk

My Brothers, we have a new year ahead of us, I would like to make this a year when some of you Brothers who have not been active in Lodge become active again and help move the Lodge forward.  We have several Brothers who will be raised this year and several to be passed.  We could use your help in putting on these degrees.  Please don’t think that if you have been inactive for a while all is forgotten, it only takes on practice to freshen your memory.

I urge you to come to Lodge to meet your new officers for 2012, they are the ones that keep the Lodge functioning.

I want to again thank all of you Brothers who have paid your 2012 dues, your response is appreciated.

We have experienced some problems in getting this trestleboard out in a timely and informative manner, we hope to do a better job this year, if you have ome input please do not hesitate to let us know, this is your report on the Lodge business.

PM:. Matthew K. Jones