Trestleboard May 2016

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1 Chartered: February 12, 1958 Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of Virginia Springfield Lodge # 217, A.F. & A.M. Message from the East - The Cornucopia of Spring - May 2016 Calendar An Iron Sharpens Another Iron - Daubing with Un-tempered Mortar - Masonic Thoughts Mark your Calendar Spring Photos A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials. - Unknown Author - Trestleboard May 2016 MW Michael Jungel PGM, Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Michigan

2 2016 OFFICERS Christian B. Alfonzo, WM Walter F. Thomas, SW JW Samuel A. Flores, JW Charles A. Kimmey, Treasurer WB Peter E. Terrill, Secretary Fabio V. Crisostomo, SD Clyde D. Ashley, JD WB Jonathan B. Stevens, Chaplain Michael P. McGrath, SS George F. Meckley, JS Kristopher J. Bough, Marshall RWB William A. Shortt, Tyler TRUSTEES RWB Ronald E. Heald WB Ernesto C. Apaga WB Robert L. Carson, Sr. COUNCIL of PAST MASTERS RWB Ronald Ron Heald RWB William Bill Shortt WB Ernesto Ernie Apaga RWB Ralph Woodrow WB Barry Allan Mensh WB Jay Zayas WB Peter E. Terril HONORARY MEMBERS MWB George H. Chapin RWB James BH Lefever RW John P. McIntyre RW William A. Shortt WB Robert S. Somers WB Palmer G. Tunstall RW George H. Wade WB Barry a. Mensh Message from the East: The Cornucopia of Spring: Symbol of Abundance, New Life and of Hope My Brethren, Greetings! The month of darkness, the cold snow of winter, passed by and a new life filled with grace, blessings and bounty is here. Spring, the symbol of new life and of hope for the future is here with us once again. For the last month, we have been enjoying the good weather of spring. An extraordinary order, harmony and beauty arise amongst the creation. Animals multiply. Bouquet of green leaves sprouts. Blossoms around. The vigilant and hardworking bees travel miles afar gathering nectars. Pollinations occur and the vast surroundings bring forth the color of abundance and plenty, green. An abundance of life, a Cornucopia by itself that reminds us that nature perpetually provides us with everything we need to sustain and nourish our body and spirit. It is the inexhaustible bounties made available to all of us to enjoy. The Cornucopia, a symbol of endless supply of food for the thought, it is a buffet of life full of choices in mental and spiritual enlightenment free for all who wishes to partake. It is our choices of rich ideas, opportunities and spiritual guidance from the GAOTU. There is a reason why the Stewards of the Lodge bear the Cornucopia as a symbol. Behind the west gate, the Stewards prepare the candidates. Giving them the instructions, guidance and understanding of the upcoming experience. The Stewards are the one s to start the process of filling their Cornucopia with brotherly love and affection. Helping the candidates to become duly and truly prepared. As the west gate opens by a three distinct knocks from without, as the candidates progress through the degrees, they should gain advancement of knowledge and virtue by the assistance of the brethren. Like the sun in the south at meridian, sowing the beauty and glory of the day, we have the responsibility to help our brothers, more especially a brother standing in the northeast corner, in preparing and making their Cornucopia an endless supply of enlightenment and an inexhaustible bounty of mental and spiritual advancement that they can utilize while traveling through the winding stairs. Let us help, aide and assist each other in turning our Cornucopias into a reservoir of knowledge that can illuminate our minds. Like the spring that generates an inexhaustible abundance to be used and consumed when the month of darkness, the winter of sins, comes. Let us waste no time. Trials of our probationary state are swiftly drawing to a close. But fear no danger, with our Cornucopias full of good gifts and graces blessed by the Glorious Lord God, we may be admitted into the Temple not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. What s in your Cornucopia my brother? S&F, Bro. Chris, wm

3 May 2016 Calendar : Date Event Time 3 - Tuesday Stated Communication Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia is here Guest Speaker : RW Carpenter Arpa IV Grand Sword Bearer, PM Herndon Lodge Topic : Fellowship 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:30 pm 5 - Thursday Ritual School in the lodge with the LIW 6:30 pm 10 - Tuesday Springfield Lodge Education Workshop (SLEW) - Ritual and Catechism Instructions Fellowship & 6:00 pm 12 - Thursday Ritual School in the lodge with the LIW 6:30pm 14 - Saturday William Hiram Wood Regional Ritual School 8:00am 17 - Tusday So Mote It Be (SMIB) - Springfield Lodge Masons Interested In Betterment Masonic Education & Fellowship hosted by the LEO 6:30pm 19 - Thursday Ritual School in the lodge with the LIW 6:30pm 24 - Tuesday Springfield Lodge Education Workshop (SLEW) - Ritual and Catechism Instructions Fellowship & 6:00 pm 26 - Tuesday Ritual School in the lodge with the LIW Fellowship & 6:00 pm 31 - Thursday Degree Work - TBD 6:30pm Masonic District 1B Stated Meeting Schedule: Springfield Lodge # 217 Meets 1 st Tuesday of the 7:30 pm Occoquan Lodge 310 Meets 2 nd Monday of the 7:30 pm Fort Hunt-Skidmore Daytime Lodge # 353 Meets 2 nd Wednesday of the 7:30 pm Elmer Timberman Lodge # 54 Meets 3 rd Monday of the 7:30 pm John A. Lejeune Lodge # 350 Meets 3 rd Monday of the 7:30 pm Dale City Lodge # 319 Meets 3 rd Friday of the 7:30 pm Mt. Vernon Lodge # 219 Meets 4 th Monday of the 7:30 pm Affiliated Bodies: Fort Hunt-Skidmore # 353 Meets 2 nd 11:00 am WB John Pearson Nellie Custis Chapter 169, OES Meets 3 rd 7:30 pm WM Belinda Fortin-Weiss Woodlawn Chapetr of DeMolay Meets 1 st & 3 rd 4:00 pm RWB Matt Szramoski Springfield Rainbow Assembly Meets 2nd & 4 th pm MA Fe Suaco Steward s Menu of the Month Pork and Chicken Tacos - Donation Requested -

4 Springfield Masons Interested in Betterment (SMIB) The Springfield Lodge Masonic University An Iron Sharpen Another Iron: Daubing with Untempered Mortar: Reflecting on Secrets in the Ritual By Jonathan B. Stevens, PM, Chaplain, Springfield Lodge #217 In the Entered Apprentice degree, the Senior Warden instructs the new Mason to wear his apron with the flap turned up, Masonically, to prevent daubing with untempered mortar. Huh, say again? This is one of many phrases that we find throughout Masonic ritual that are not repeated, clarified or explained, and serve only to baffle and confuse us. I call them Hidden Secrets of Masonry. If you look up daubing with untempered mortar, as I have, you find that it is a reference to Ezekiel 13:10-16, in which Ezekiel rails against false prophets and predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. We learn that un-tempered mortar is mere whitewash, and will not stand the test of time. So its placement early in the ritual, just as the brand-new Entered Apprentice is learning to wear his apron for the first time, can be taken as a warning, not to assume that you re all set, and you cannot yet stand on your own. Masonic Ritual is full of such little secrets, hidden in full view, waiting to be discovered and contemplated. They are there to reward the Traveler who pauses to uncover them. You probably have your own favorites. Funny, how coincidences can be revealing. As I was driving to Lodge last week, for the conferring of the First Degree on two new Brothers, I heard on the radio a discussion of a new book, The Path, by Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh. The authors discuss the value of ritual in everyday life, as prescribed by ancient Chinese masters. Rather than seeking to find our true selves, the authors say, we should realize that we human beings are messy, multidimensional creatures, a jumble of conflicting emotions and capabilities. We are constantly in flux, living in a messy, ever-changing world. The authors go on: instead of struggling for self-discovery or to find our true identity, Confucius proposed another approach: as-if rituals, that is, rituals meant to break us out of our own reality for a moment. This is how we learn, and improve ourselves. We behave as if we are someone else, our better self. It turns out that being insincere, being untrue to ourselves, helps us to grow. Hmm. So an insincere, artificial ritual can actually help us to grow and change for the better? But why come to Lodge anyway? I have heard from many Brothers that they are fed up with bad ritual, poor memorization, and halting speech in Lodge, and so they won t come to Lodge any more. It s just too painful to bear. It s the same old artificial ritual, they say, so why should they come back? The same old same old. Well, I m as lousy at memorization as the next guy, and plead guilty as charged. But I would suggest another approach. I suggest a Treasure Hunt. We are looking for other Hidden Secrets of Masonry in the ritual. They are hidden in there, and we have to catch hold of them or they will fly by and be lost. I m not talking about the majors, like the Four Cardinal Virtues, The Seven Orders of Architecture, -- these are well detailed. But it s the throw-away line, the swallowed phrase, the garbled sentence. Sometimes in old English, just to make it worse. Bring me your favorites, or the line that has you stumped, and let s review them together. There is much to learn. Springfield Lodge # 217, A. F. & A. M. May 2016 Trestleboard -Issue # 5

5 Masonic Thoughts : Support our Masonic Youth Sick and Distress: Please pray for the health, wellbeing and continued recovery of our brethren, their wives and widows who are sick and/or in distress. We should always remember that in all our devotions to Deity, we should ever remember a brother s welfare as our own. Hasppy Mother s Day to our loving mothers and wives In memoriam Rest in Peace RWB John McIntyre Mark your Calendar : Springfield Lodge #217 Night of Magic and Dinner Ledo Pizza and Pasta 8324 A Old Keene Mill Road Springfield, Virginia (703) When : June 11, 2016 Brethren, Time : Where : Purpose : 4:00 pm Springfield Lodge 7001 Backlick Rd. Springfield, Va Host all Masonic Youth, OES and Brethren The Springfield Lodge Masonic Angel Fund has teamed up with Ledo s Pizza to provide a fundraiser for our Program. Ledo s will donate 20% of sales from all dine-in customers. Unlike some other restaurants who only donate 5-15% of the actual school/organization supporters, they donate 20% of ALL dine-in sales whether they are associated with the school or not, and 20% of sales from carryout customers who associate themselves with the school. The event runs from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday June 5, 2016 at: Thank You! WB Jay Zayas, R.A., LEED AP BD+C Associate Project Manager Cell: jzayas@markonsolutions.com

6 Spring Photos :