Home | What's New | Officers | Trestle Board | Masonic Light | Lodge History | Location | Poetry

The Trestle Board

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

8013 Main Street, North Richland Hills, Texas

P. O. Box 821413, Fort Worth, Texas 76182

Lodge telephone number:   817.656.2311

Contact the Lodge on  Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 7 PM and 9 PM

WEB ADDRESS: http://www.smithfieldlodge.com

February  2002

From the East

Brethren,

The New Year of 2002 has begun. On Thursday, Jan. 3, we welcomed our D.D.G.M., Rt. W. Rick Jernigan to his newly appointed post with best wishes from Smithfield Lodge #455. There were 36 sideliners and 10 Officers present. A Called Meeting was held on Jan. 8 for the questions and answers in proficiency for the E.A. Degree. There were 7 sideliners and 6 Officers present. Our E.A. Brother was examined by Bro. Al Hestilow, PM.

The Masonic Service Bureau held their January meeting here at Smithfield Lodge on Wednesday, Jan. 9th. A meal of delicious vegetable soup and cornbread was served. Lemon cake prepared by our own Gary Spraggins J. W., was served for desert with coffee and iced tea. There was 88 Masons in attendance.

Saturday, Jan 19,2002 is the date for the Grand Masters Regional Conference to be held at the Fort Worth Masonic Temple.

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo starts on Jan. 12th and runs thru Feb. 3rd. The Masonic Information Booth will be manned by members in the 64th Masonic District. Smithfield Lodge #455 will man the booth on Sunday, Jan. 13th from 9AM to 9PM.

Brother J.B. "Hutch" Hutcherson PM is in North Hills Hospital. He will be undergoing major surgery related to diabetes. At present time he is in room 310. A visit, card, or telephone call would be appreciated by Bro. Hutch and Carrie Wingate.

We are continuing our regular Tuesday and Thursday night floor school. We are now preparing for an E.A. Degree on Saturday morning, Jan. 26, 2002 at 8:00AM. The Brothers Daryl and Butch Hester are going to Senior Deacon and confer the Degree respectively. Breakfast will be at 8:00AM with 9:00AM being the Degree starting time. Let us have a great turn out.

The Masters, Wardens and Secretaries Association next meeting will be on Jan 28th at Ridglea Lodge #1341. I would like to request that our Officers attend this meeting.

The Church and The Bible From the Bible in Masonry-Masonic Edition p. 23:

The repeated references to the "Book" in these old manuscripts almost certainly mean the Bible. And as far as recognition of the Bible by early Masons concerned, this is quiet as much as could be expected in an age before printing had been invented, when every book in the world had to be laboriously copied by hand, and when the Bible, more over, was written only in Latin. Few people could read the Bible, and fewer still could own a copy. It was a book to be ueneraled but not read. The religious instruction and inspiration which the Bible supplies nowadays was then derived from three sources: (1) ecclesiastical symbol ism and ceremony; (2) mystery plays or Biblical entertainments; and (3) architecture. Masons may have participated in the second; they were primary importance in the third.

When people could not read books, the lessons of religion had to be taught in other ways. They were also taught by sermons of the Priests and by the ritual of the sacraments. They were also taught dramatically through mystery plays, performed often by the craft guilds. The Masons may possibly have used a mystery play whose story survives in the third Degree.

Above all, the lessons of religion were taught during the middle ages through architecture and sculpture. Every village Church was a message from God, and the Cathedral was the entire Bible. The general plan of the Church, the choir, the carved figures of the Saints, the painted windows, -all told the story of God's fatherhood as clearly to the people of that day as our Bible tells it to us.

The Masons part in telling this story was a most important one, and this as well as other circumstances set the Masons apart from other crafts.

In Our Thoughts and Prayers, Brother J.B. "Hutch" Hutcherson who is recovering from major surgery. He is currently in North Hills Hospital room 310. His home phone # is (817) 282-0052
Please give this brother a call and or visit

Fraternally,

J. W. "Jim" Allen Worshipful Master

From the West

Brethren,

I would also like to thank Bro. Billy Ray Fisher, D.I for showing the Lodge how to open in an E.A. Degree. It was a very informative meeting for Smithfield Lodge.

On the 9th of January, we were proud to host the Masonic Service Bureau 1st meeting of 2002 with an outstanding dinner before the meeting. Thanks to the following Brethren for their hard labor and support to make this happen: Bro. Al "Bo" Hestilow Jr. PM; Bro. R. T. "Bunk" Koonce Jr. Tiler, PM; Bro. Tony McLendon Senior Steward; and Bro. Gary Spraggins Junior Warden. Also to Bro. John Frakes Senior Deacon and Bro. Harold Webb PM for helping to serve the dinner.

On Saturday morning, January 26th, we will be having a breakfast and an E.A. Degree for Bro. D.L. Hester PM father-in-law. Lets have a good turn out.

As most of you know, the Lodge had to post phone Bro. J.B. "Hutch" Hutcherson 50 Year Award and Dinner on January 12. Bro. Hutch is back in the Hospital having major surgery. The presentation will be rescheduled at a later date. Bro. Hutch is in North Hills Hospital. Please give him a visit or call and keep him in your prayers and thoughts.

Morris Hestilow Senior Warden
 

From the South

Brethren,

Thanks to all the Brethren who attended the January Stated Meeting and helped to support the Lodge during the 1st official visit of our newest D.D.G.M. of M.D. 64A R.W. Richard Jernigan as he spread the message of the new Grand Master.
Received from the Masters, Wardens & Secretaries Association and as read at our January Stated Meeting:

As you may or may not know, the State Comptroller's Office has granted The Grand Lodge of Texas a determination letter which permits Masonic Lodges of Texas to apply with the local Tax Appraisal District for exemption from Ad Valorem Taxation.

There are two very important tasks that each Lodge must take before you can file with the Tax Appraisal District. If you fail to perform these tasks, your Lodge will NOT be granted exemption. These tasks are:

1. Your Lodge must change its Bylaws to provide for "Charitable Work or Public Service". Legislation was enacted during the 2001 Grand Lodge Session to permit Lodges to add this feature Bylaws WITHOUT Grand Lodge approval. However, you must submit the change at a Stated Meeting and adopt the change at a subsequent Stated Meeting. We hope you have started this action. If you haven't, YOU MUST ACT QUICKLY. The time element is critical.

2. You must immediately contact members of the various taxing entities in your area to obtain support and request they encourage the Tax Appraisal District to grant your exemption.

Experts who have long experience in dealing with taxing authorities suggest that we would likely improve our chances of obtaining tax relief if we present a united front and a coordinated presentation. All four of the 64th District Deputy Grand Masters agree that this important subject should be approached on a "United We Stand" type approach.

To coordinate the effort of the Lodges in the 64th District, a special meeting has been scheduled to discuss the possibility of a District 64 "Joint Effort" toward Ad Valorem Tax Relief meeting will be held January 19 at the Masonic Temple. The meeting will start approximately 1:30PM; right after the Grand Masters Regional Conference and subsequent lunch. Each Master, Warden. & Secretary", should make every effort to attend.

This information was discussed at our Stated Meeting and will be finalized at our February Stated Meeting. It also means that the Lodge is to keep a record of all of its Charitable activities.
So if you are doing any type of Charitable activities, such as helping one of our Widows, work for the church, reading for the kids, or just helping one of our distressed worthy Brethren, please let your Secretary and/or a Lodge Officer know. Please keep track of your hours, your mileage, and what exactly you did. Remember Brethren, this is your Lodge, so please work with us in this great endeavor. If we do not do this right, it could cost the Lodge over $2,000.00 a year in taxes. Please come on out on February 7, 2002 at the Stated Meeting and voice your opinion or just to let us know what you have done to help out. Thank you for your support.

Gary L. Spraggins Junior Warden Editor

The Secretary’s Desk

Brethren,

Elsewhere in this periodical, there is an explanation of the required change in our by-laws to specify charitable contributions. These may be in the doing of chores for a Widow, the transportation of a Brother to an appointment, contributions to the Masonic Home and School, assisting a child into the Scottish Rite Hospital, learning to read program, helping out in the community, or other similar items. We are requested to keep an account of these things, and report them to the Grand Lodge each month. I would request that you give me an accounting of your charitable deeds, this can be in the order of a note or a phone call. Thanks, again for your help and support in this matter.

We have had the District Deputy, Rt. W. Rick Jernigan, make his official visit in January at the Stated Meeting. He complimented the Lodge in it's programs. He is doing a good job in representing the Grand Master in this District, congratulate him the next time you see him.

We also had the Masonic Service Bureau at Lodge in January, some 88 attended the meeting. Brothers Tony, Gary, Bo, and Bunk served a fine stew and cornbread supper to the guests. Thank you Brethren for your willingness to serve.

Mark you calendars for The Annual Smithfield Masonic Lodge Fish Fry which will be served at our March Stated Meeting. We will need some help in cooking, serving, and cleaning up. Please help if you can, it makes a better meeting. Bro. Johnnie Wright, Director of The Masonic Home and School will be our guest speaker, as we observe Texas Public Schools Week. See you there.

Fraternally,
B.R. Campbell Secretary
 

From the North

Brethren,

One of the true joys of being a Mason is when you meet a Brother you did not know for the first time, even more especially, when he is someone you have known, or met previously. I have had this happen to me several times in different ways. Twice they were Brothers of this Lodge, which brings me to my topic, those who contribute to and make the Trestle Board happen.

Both of the Brothers I met unexpectedly, were through, and because of the Trestle Board, and told me, that the Trestle Board meant a great deal to them because it was their only way of staying in touch with the Lodge.

These and other Brethren of Smithfield Lodge are with us in heart, but cannot go to Lodge because of circumstances beyond their control.

I would like to say thanks to everyone who writes articles, edits, contributes time, and or contributes money to make the Trestle Board happen.

Last but not least, I would like to thank the editor for the large bribe to write this article.

Fraternally, John Frakes
Senior Deacon

Please remember that on March 7, 2002 will be our Annual Fish Fry and Stated  Meeting, which is to help kick off the Texas Public Schools Week.

The Brethren are saddened by the loss of Brother Wayne Wright last year, and the daily happenings during the preparation of this event will not be the same. Everyone will surely miss his home grown green onions, his smile, and more especially, his tractor stories while helping the other Brethren out during the day.

I truly miss Bro. Wayne's visits to the Lodge to talk to me while I'm working on the grounds or just doing some errands around the Lodge.

Also, keep in your hearts and prayers, Brother J.B. "Hutch" Hutcherson, whom we hope will be well enough to attend the Fish Fry this year.

I would also like to personally apologize to those who did not get a phone call from the Lodge on the postponed  50 Year Presentation and Dinner for Bro. Hutch. This will be rescheduled when it becomes appropriate for Bro. Hutch to attend.

Respectfully,

Gary Spraggins

Smithfield Lodge #455 Officers

Worshipful Master James W Allen (home) 817-514-7656 7636 Parkway Dr. N. Richland Hills, TX 76180

Senior Warden  Morris W Hestilow (home) 817-285-6366 (cell) 214-232-2527 701 Ponderosa Hurst, TX 76053

Junior Warden (Editor) Gary L. Spraggins (home) 817-232-4683 (cell) 817-456-2947 4117 Huckleberry Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76137 (email) ggllsS@msn.com

Treasurer David W. Myers, PM (home) 817-656-2130 PO Box 48637, Watauga, TX 76148-0637

Secretary Billy R Campbell, PM (home) 817-282-1764 225 Baker Drive, Hurst, TX 76054

Chaplain Claude W Davison

Senior Deacon John D Frakes

Junior Deacon Carl E Settle

Senior Steward Tony A McLendon

Junior Steward Don W Hestilow

Tiler  R.T. Koonce, Jr., PM

Remember the "Permanent Endowment Fund?"

Your support is a continuing need.  Any donation is welcome.  A donation of $100.00 or more puts your name, or the name of someone you wish to honor, on a plaque in the dining area of the Lodge.  Please send your donation to Smithfield Masonic Lodge #455, A.F. & A.M., P.O. Box 821413, Fort Worth, Texas 76182

Thanks to our Trestle Board Sponsors

Masonic Birthdays for July, 2006

The following brethren will observe their Masonic Birthdays. They were raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason during this month.

Congratulations Brethren!

Calendar of Events

Home | What's New | Officers | Trestle Board | Masonic Light | Lodge History | Location | Poetry