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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

Webmaster Note: Portions have been edited from the printed version in order to conform to standard webpage design practices and grammatical/spelling errors corrected.

      Wives & Widows Banquet    

October 14, 2006, 6 PM

Presentation of the 2006

Community Builders Award

From the East

Brethren,

I am hoping to get as many members as possible involved in Freemasonry. If you look at our current line of officers its hard not to be enthusiastic about the future of Smithfield Lodge. We are doing everything we can to better the Lodge and ourselves in Freemasonry. New, true and lasting friendships are being made. Many men are stepping up to the plate to learn degrees, lectures, and refresh their memory work. We are going places together and having barrels of fun doing it!

I would like to thank everyone for their participation and willingness to help out or just show up when needed. Some have worked extra hard lately – Ernie Runyon, Ricky Montey, Billy Campbell, Les Egger, Kerry (Triple K) Krantz, Wayne Massie, and Jim Mendenhall just to name a few.

Several of us are attending the certificate examinations. This is fun and good practice and you get a certificate from the Grand Lodge. We are going to hang them all on the wall. I want to encourage everyone to do this. I would like to see some of our old timers who have not done this in some time do it again.

The traveling gavel “TG64” came and went. It was a blast, let’s do it again! Both of our Charters have now been restored and sealed in a proper frame. We have made and are still making some minor improvements to the Lodge and Lodge room. We now have all of our 50, 40, and 25 year pins and are in the process of getting them out.

On October 14^th at 6pm we will have our wives and widows banquet. We also will be giving out the Community Builders Award. You can always check the web sight for current events or call us to see what we’re up to. There is always room for one more. Come and join the fun and fellowship.

It’s been 10 years since Smithfield has had a blood drive. We will be having a big one on December 9^th at the Wal-Mart on North Tarrant in North Richland Hills. The proceeds with benefit the Scottish Rite Hospital and us. We are going for 40 pints.

Our friend and Brother, Matt Wingate is in trouble. He has an inoperable tumor in the back of his brain and its growing. He is in bad shape. He needs your prayers and support at this time. This is an opportunity to help a worthy Brother. Thanks to those who have already been so kind.

Please come out to our next stated meeting. I have shaken the hand of several members for the first time lately and it feels good. I’m making a list and checking it twice.

p.s. Don’t forget to pray for Bro. Matt

Fraternally,

Herb Taylor

Worshipful Master

From the West

Brethren,

We gather together brothers, as just and upright Masons, with strict charges that we should ever walk and act as such.  Prior to this and all of our fraternal undertakings we ask for divine guidance. All Masons must believe in God. Yet, we are not a religion. What we are, is a brotherhood of men who enjoy each other’s company, armed with symbolic teachings that are meant to help us become better men.

This great country that we are privileged to live in, was founded by good God fearing men. But, our country in its efforts to be tolerant toward non-believers has let God be banned from the classroom and indeed often seems poised to ban all governmental references to deity. Now three decades after Time Magazine proclaimed, "God Is Dead" on its cover, it becomes more important than ever for each of us to embrace our respective religions.

Only the truly blind can deny that God exists. This moment was meant to encourage you to embrace your faith because by so doing, we will each be better able to live up to the tenets of our fraternity. By being good and Godly Masons we will shine as examples for others. Never doubt, my friends that what you do with your life influences others. As men, Masons, and Americans we should live the words, "In God We Trust".

From “Masonic Moment”, Jacques DeMolay #1390

Fraternally,

Rick Montey

Senior Warden

From the South

Brethren,

If you missed the last stated meeting you missed a very momentous one. The seats that line the lodge room walls were full! We had brethren visiting from our local lodges. Richland Hills showed up with 11 of their members. It was a great feeling to have so many brothers at the lodge. The Traveling Gavel was passed on to Richland lodge. It was sad to see it passed on but much more enjoyable to see brethren from other lodges at Smithfield. I know the Worshipful Master would like to recapture the gavel.

Visiting other lodges is a great experience. How long has it been since you visited another lodge? Well that’s too long brother. Please join with us as we travel to our neighboring lodges for fellowship and brotherly love.

I’d like to remind you a few upcoming events:

September 23 at 7 AM we have scheduled a workday at Smithfield lodge. We will have a hearty breakfast to start the day off and then spend a little time beautifying our lodge.

Our annual Wives & Widows Banquet will be October 14^th at 6PM. Don’t forget to mark your calendar!

Untempered Mortar

(From the Grand Lodge of Texas Website)

Frequently we are reminded that ours is a sacred band of Brothers, united by Brotherly Love and Affection, striving for peace and harmony. Surrounded by symbols, we wear the square and compasses proudly, along with the white apron, which proclaims us to be Freemasons.

One important lesson can be found in the earliest degree in reference to "untempered mortar" and the cement uniting our Fraternity. The ancient Craftsmen were operative stonemasons who worked to create great cathedrals and other buildings. The cement, which they used, was critical in their constructions. When properly mixed, this cement would unite the stones, and would insure a stable, beautiful, and lasting edifice, but if mixed improperly, would doom a structure to cracks, decay, and ruin. Thus, "untempered mortar," or improperly mixed mortar, was never to be tampered with or used. This mixing and preparation required knowledge, care, and understanding, which the new apprentice had to acquire before progressing to be a master of his craft.

To the speculative Mason, not tampering with untempered mortar carries a most significant charge for new apprentices, and Freemasons. We must constantly prepare ourselves carefully, weighing our thoughts, actions, and deeds so as to create a spiritual temple that is stable, beautiful, and lasting. Each choice made in life is a part of that mixture, adding strength or weakness, as the case may be, to the character and reputation we have. Due attention must be paid to gaining and applying knowledge, acting wisely, and reflecting upon our spiritual journey as Masons.

As the apron protects our clothes from soiling, it is a reminder throughout the degrees, and evermore, that the purpose of the Craft is to achieve unity, peace, and happiness. Spotless conduct and character are goals, and the preparation and application of the mortar of Brotherly Love and Affection are what unite our Fraternity, now and forever.

Fraternally,

Walter Busch

Junior Warden/Editor

The Secretary’s Desk

Brethren,

I was pleased to learn Mr. Marvin Smith, builder/developer across the street welcomed the idea of our giving the Community   Builder Award to him. He fits the qualifications to a tee. He not only supports the Lodge but he has gotten with the cemetery people and will improve the bridge into their place. This will also improve our property. Good for them and us.

The Worshipful Master has called for the annual Wives, and Widows banquet on Saturday October 14, 2006.  We are looking forward to honoring these ladies.

It is sad to have to report that Brother Matthew Wingate is very ill at this time, pray for his recovery. The Masonic Service Bureau, Scottish Rite, and Smithfield Lodge has helped him out of a difficult situation recently. How impressed we were when these august groups jumped in to help Matt.  Makes one proud to be a Mason.

The dues notices will be mailed soon. They are $65.00 per year, payable in advance.  Be prompt this year, so I do not have to send second notices, Thanks for your doing this.

Hope to see a good group at the banquet, honor our ladies.

Fraternally Yours,

BR Campbell

Secretary

Masonic Image

Author Unknown

His name is John. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He was the top of his class. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Mason recently while attending college. After moving to his new town, he found that down the street from his new apartment is a well-dressed, very conservative Lodge.

One day John decides to go there after work.. He walks in with shoes, jeans, his work shirt and long hair. The Lodge has already started and so John starts looking for a seat.

The Lodge is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now the Brethren are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. John gets closer and closer to the East and, when he realizes there are no seats, he squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship; but trust me, this had never happened in this Lodge before!) By now the Brethren are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the Secretary realizes that from way at the back of the Lodge, a Past Master is slowly making his way toward John.

 Now the Past Master is in his 80s, has silver-gray hair and a three-piece suit. A good man, very elegant, very dignified, and very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid in the Lodge? It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.

The Lodge is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The Secretary can't even continue with the "Minutes" until the Past Master does what he has to do. And now the Lodge watches as this elderly man drops his cane on the floor.  With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to John and welcomes him so he won't be alone.

When the Secretary gains control, he says, "What I'm about to say, you will never remember.  What you have just seen, you will never forget."

"Be careful how you live. You may be the only Mason some people will ever meet."

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 October, 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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