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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

Annual officer Elections 

Thursday,  June 1st

7:00pm 

Smithfield Lodge #455

 From the East

Brethren,

Due to the Worshipful Master being out of  town for work, he will not have an article this month.  I’m sure he will have his final article for July.

Your  Editor

Fraternally,

Michael Haygood

Worshipful Master

From the West

Brethren,

All along the way through our mysteries, ceremonies, and degrees there are hidden nuggets of wisdom. The more we are exposed to them the more apparent and real they become in our lives. Things like taking the Bible as our rule and guide, or walking uprightly before God and man, or squaring our actions using virtue, or treating all men fair and equal become natural to us with years of exposure to our emblems, symbols and works. In time our souls begin to prosper and we become better men. Also we have the friendship of many other good men to help us as we go.

It’s a shame that more men aren’t Freemasons and more Freemasons aren’t active. In today’s world men are too busy for Freemasonry. There are too many distractions. It was Freemasonry that influenced the forming of this nation and also has kept it strong. What will happen if we continue to decline?

Last month we honored our Past Masters. Many of them have worked very hard and unselfishly at our Lodge. They could have pursued other desires. What they have done is to deliver Freemasonry to the present, intact just as they received it. What are we going to do with it? May God help us! So, Brothers, think about what you can do to keep Freemasonry strong in you and in our Lodge - and do it. We need all the help we can get.

On June 10^th Rite Worshipful Elmer Murphy III Past Grand Master is coming to our Lodge. On July 15^th Most Worshipful Brian Dodson Grand Master will be here. I’m asking all you to show up if you can. Come out and meet these fine Masons. I promise you will not be disappointed. You may even be inspired and we need that.

Check out our web sight if you can. Brother Ernie Runyon has done an outstanding job! He has spent many, many hours working on it. Thank you Brother Ernie.

Our Junior Warden and editor will be out of commission for a little while. He has had a bad fall and broken his right heel and hand. Like a real trooper he will keep publishing left handed. He too has worked many hours lately. Thank you also Brother Rick.

I hope to see you all at the next stated meeting. Come and shake my hand.

Fraternally,

Herb Taylor

Senior Warden

From the South

Brethren,

I have noticed that with the soon to be released “The Da Vinci Code”, there have been some shows on TV, trying to make Freemasonry look bad as well.  It’s amazing to me what some will do to make a buck off people’s fears and suspicions.  What I find particularly odd, is how they seem to think that there is a secret group within Masonry, that is set to take over the world.  I would think that if we were going to do that, it would have already been tried!  If you are a believer of the Bible, then you know the only one that will take over the world, will be the Anti–Christ.  And I doubt that he would even want to be a Freemason, and hopefully he wouldn’t be admitted.  I just hope people see these things as what they are, FICTION!

Enough on that!  We had a really good garage sale and we owe a big thanks to Brother Herb Taylor for taking this on.  Brother Ernest Runyon has added the ability to request this Trestle Board be emailed to you, from our web site.  If you haven’t been there yet, SHAME on YOU! It’s www.smithfieldlodge.com

We will be voting on new officers at the June stated meeting, please be there to support your choice for 2006-2007 officers.

I want to apologize to everyone, I changed positions at work a few weeks ago and due to having to work a lot of overtime, I have not been able to be around as much as I like.  Then a little over a week ago, I had an accident at work and broke my right heel and hand, causing me to be away more!  I’m having a plate put in my heel this week, so I should be on the way to recovery soon.  Thank you Bro. Les for your patience and understanding.

Fraternally,

Rick Montey

Junior Warden/Editor

The Secretary’s Desk

Brethren,

I have been contacted by several who have had friends wanting to get back in good standing with their Lodge. These are men who have gotten suspended for non-payment of dues. The procedure is pretty easy. If one has been out for less than three years, payment of the year suspended, and the current years dues takes care of the re-entry. If one is out for more than three years he must fill out a request for re-instatement. This requires an investigating committee (3), their reports, and a vote of the Lodge. Lost time cannot be bought back. These procedures are taken care of by the secretary, forms furnished, etc. I hope this brief explanation will encourage you to talk to those who have been suspended into coming back into the Lodge. We need each of them back.

Several of our older brethren have been reported ill. If you cannot visit them, a card of encouragement is certainly appreciated. Let's keep up with our members.

New officers will soon take their place in the Lodge. Elections will be held at the June stated meeting, installation to follow soon. Keep up with who will lead us in the future. Thanks to W.M. G.M. Haygood, what a pleasure to have served with him as the Master of the :Lodge this year. We look forward to helping the new Master this year.

If you want to contribute to this publication contact Bro. Montey. He can always use the articles.

Fraternally Yours,

BR Campbell

Secretary

Cardinal  Virtues

If you had three wishes what would you wish for? Most people would wish to;

1. Live forever.

2. Win the lottery.

3. Have peace on earth.

Living forever, although it seems immortal, is one of the most mortal parts of mankind abilities. We all live forever, for as long as you live that is forever. When your body expires your spirit lives on and people who know you will remember you, and that remembrance will keep you living forever.

Winning the lottery is much more difficult. First you have to play to win and then be one out of twenty million. But, all of this does not matter because we have enough for ourselves and our families. We have enough to live on, and to survive, we may not have it as easy as others but we have enough.

Peace on earth is a matter of cooperation and understanding. The more we understand each other the less difficult it will be to cooperate and achieve peace.

We can be sure that some have other wants or needs, noble and selfish, but what about an alternative. How about ABILITY, STRENGTH, and WISDOM.

With ability, TEMPERANCE would be easy. If you have the ability to accomplish what you wish, temperance would be the first accomplishment. To be able to control ones desires is the goal of every good man. This would make it easy for you to help others through your example and your knowledge.

With strength, FORTITUDE is a part. To be strong of character you must have fortitude. Fortitude is the driving force in strength of character. This would give you the skill to deal with those who would subvert the good you are trying to do.

With wisdom, PRUDENCE would be found and JUSTICE could be served. Prudence is a part of wisdom. To be wise is to be prudent. Justice is known to a wise person. Thus, to be wise is to have the know-how to administer justice. Having the knowledge to use prudence and dispense justice can only come from wisdom. Thus, we would be able to tell who is in need and who is causing the pain of need.

So if given three wishes, maybe we should wish for:

The ability to help those in need.

The strength to forgive those who cause pain.

The wisdom to know the difference.

If we all did this we would still live forever, we would all be richer and peace on earth would last for an eternity.

From: Five Minute Masonic Short Talks By:  William “Ray” Fisher

In Memory Of:

Brother C.C. Minor

5-11-2006

“A true and faithful Brother..”

Remember the "Smithfield Masonic Lodge 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 June, 2006

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

Congratulations Brethren!

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