THE TRESTLE BOARD. Kenya South Africa A Destination. February A Publication of the Chillicothe Masonic Bodies. Volume 10, Issue 1.

Transcription

1 THE TRESTLE BOARD A Publication of the Masonic Bodies Volume 10, Issue 1 February 2012 Kenya South Africa A Destination I was born and raised in. I like to think of myself as both an urbanite who is accustomed to the city and someone who is adept at living in an agrarian area as well. If I go to Columbus or father north I am typically cast as a country bumpkin whereas if I journey just outside the city limits of itself, I have been referred to in an almost derisive sense as a city boy. I suppose it depends on your frame of reference! I graduated from Ohio University with a B.S. in Physiology in addition to [the] commissioning as a United States Army officer in Upon graduation from Ohio University I received a profound calling to pursue Army Chaplainry as my vocation. I matriculated into Asbury Theological Seminary that same year and underwent theological instruction, earning a Master of Divinity (M Div) this past spring Since graduating from Asbury I have relocated back to where I am currently serving part-time at First Wesleyan Church on Mulberry Street. I will be ordain in July and thereafter accession as an Army Chaplain. In addition to my service at the church, I like to devote myself to studying Scripture in my leisure time along with reading and visiting family and friends. Furthermore, I enjoy engaging in community outreach and philanthropic endeavors such as Love Inc. a non-profit nationally renowned organization that focuses on assisting those who are impoverished and steeped in addiction. This upcoming March I will be going on a missionary trip sponsored by First Wesleyan Church to the horn of Africa Nairobi, Kenya to serve. I and a few others will make the long flight to Kenya where we will work closely with national leaders in educating local school children on AIDS prevention as well as equipping local clergy to effectively shepherd their respective flocks. We are tentatively scheduled to depart on either the 26 th or 27 th of March and we will be in country until April 5 th. God is doing some miraculous and phenomenal things on the African continent. Please join me in praying for Kenya and its people. Brother Sheets was Initiated an Entered Apprentice December 20, Pursuing his degree and his military involvement, furthering is degree work was delayed. On January 6, 2012 he was Passed to the degree of Fellow Craft and is slated to receive his Master Mason on February 7, Scioto Lodge contributed to Brother Sheets expenses for his trip to Africa. Other Brethren made individual contributions (see article on page 7). Anyone wishing to assist with his expenses may contact the Office of the Secretary at Inside this issue: Clinton R. Sheets Destination Kenya Shrine Installation of Officers Calendar 2 Scioto Lodge Report Good and Welfare Illnesses Robert Thomas Starr Deputy Division Commander 4th Division s SNPD 5 Lunch at the Lodge Monday Fellow Craft Team 5 Passages 5 Harmony Through Communication Note From the desk of Clinton R. Sheets II Vitamin F 7 God s Wife and More

2 February 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Logan Elm Lodge #624 F.C.º Scioto Lodge Stated Mtg. M.M. º Craft Team Needed Orient Lodge #321 M.Mº the Lodge 1:00 pm Euchre 1:30 pm 14 Chapter 15 Chapter #419 Order of Eastern Star 16 Scioto Lodge Stated Mtg Nauvoo Lodge #769 EAº Council Ross County Shrine Club Stated Mtg. 7:00 pm 24 Aurora Lodge #48 E.A.º 25 Bainbridge Lodge #196 M.M.º the Lodge 1:00 pm Euchre 1:30 pm 28 Commandery Stated Mtg. 29 Chapter #419 Order of Eastern Star March 1 March 2 March 3 Peebles Lodge #561 Page 2 Volume 10, Issue 1

3 Scioto Lodge Report by R.W.B Robert S. Jones It was my good fortune to inspect Scioto Lodge #6 F. & A. M. on Friday, January 6, 2012; the home Lodge of Joe D. Curtis, Worshipful Master. This lodge has a solid foundation upon which to build. While it still enjoys the fine ritual work of its senior members, now would be an ideal time to involve some of the other members in learning and delivering the Lectures and Charges of our Degrees. All that is needed to learn either a Lecture or Charge is the courage to start and the perseverance to finish. The Officers of Scioto Lodge gave a fine portrayal of the Fellow Craft Degree; all parts were done from memory. I love the scene at the Altar during the Obligation, the effect of the flames of the three Lesser Lights upon the Candidate and Brethren just cannot be equaled. The use of props during the G Lecture by Worshipful Master Joe D. Curtis helps to convey a sense of antiquity to your Candidate. Your Senior Deacon Brother Neil A. Zizelman exuded an air of confidence when dealing with your Candidate, He did a good job assisting the Candidate by speaking with him and giving him instruction. Your Chaplain, Worshipful Brother Alvin E. DePugh has a tremendous speaking voice, and it was nice to see him take the Candidate by the arm and walk with him around the Lodge as he delivered the prayer. All these little things help to convey the feeling that we are speaking to the Candidate, Brother Clinton R. Sheets II throughout the Degree presentation. This Lodge was on display for several of the Officers of the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Ohio and you acquitted yourselves well. You had 44 members of your own Lodge with 55 visitors for a total attendance of 99 Brethren. This was less than your average of 115 Brethren over the past 4 years. The Brethren of Scioto Lodge have been actively engage in promoting Freemasonry in their community over the past several years; and this year has been no different. While each Lodge in the Historic Seventh Masonic District is proud of the work they undertake; Scioto Lodge has one of the most ambitious outreach programs of any. The records of Worshipful Brother William Bennett, Secretary and Worshipful Brother William E. Landrum, Treasurer are both well maintained and current. The Grand Secretary s notice of Legislative changes approved at the last Grand Lodge session have been spread across the minute book. The report from last year was also presented in open Lodge, as well as the Certificate of Election for the Worshipful Master Junior Past. This Lodge carried more than enough insurance to cover the items listed on their 2010 inventory. Each of the Degrees were exemplified over the past year a minimum of two times. The Brethren of Scioto Lodge contributed $1, over the most recent reporting period to our Ohio Masonic Home with an accumulative total of $88, This total does not take into account the contribution of this Lodge and its members each year through it annual assessment from the Grand Lodge, which is another $1, The Brethren of Scioto Lodge also contributed to the efforts of the Garden Club, [whose efforts to beautify the landscape area west of the Gazette building was realized]. This is an excerpt from the official Report the full report is on file in the Office of the Secretary. Brother Kenny L. Graves remains at the home of his daughter and son-inlaw, Kenya and Terry Deal. He would welcome phone calls and visit from his friend at the Masonic Bodies. You may call him at He enjoys sitting on the porch when the weather is pleasant (like it has been this month). At other time he reads hunting magazines or watches a lot of TV. If you lose your place in the episodes of The Young and the Restless give him a call for updates. Actually he watches a lot of programming on the History and Discovery Channels. Brother Graves has now upgraded to a more portable oxygen device. He is really eager to return to attending meeting of the Masonic Bodies. Brother John E. Stevison has been battling esophageal cancer and underwent 6 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. He reported that at an appointment on January 25th the doctor was unable to find any tumor in the esophagus or in the lymph nodes. That is terrific news!! He indicated that despite no trace cancer at this time he has an appointment February 3rd but is not sure of surgery potential at this time. John is in good spirits and tries to remain someone isolated so at not to expose himself to large crowds because his immune system is depressed and the risks of infection is not something he wants to happen. Worshipful Brother John J. Vanek remains on our prayer list. Brother David M. Consolver still is taking a different type of Chemotherapy in which he take injections to keep it in check and visits his physician every three months. Brother Ralph A. White was in Mt, Carmel East where he received a new defibrillator on January 9th, it was a replacement. His stay was about 2.5 hours and his son from Cincinnati took him to the hospital and returned him home. Worshipful Brother John W. Peters had knee replacement on his right knee in which he had already had a replacement. He is getting around pretty good with some assistance using a cane. Know of someone who would like a call from the Masonic Bodies? The Trestle board Page 3

4 Commandery Travels Robert Thomas Starr, Deputy Division Commander Editors Note: Sir Knight Tom Sibbalds and his Lady Laura were traveling to to attend the annual inspection of Commandery #8 K.T. They were traveling on State Route 104 just south toward when they had an accident. From Robert Thomas Starr, Deputy Division Commander Tom and Laura are recovering after their auto accident on Saturday on the way to 's Commandery. Tom has some lacerations and bruises; Laura has a separated shoulder but her replaced knee is OK! If one didn't believe in the protecting care of our Lord and Savior after seeing them, I don't know what it would take. Laura sent this "Here are a few pictures of the remains of our car. As you can see God was with us and we were truly blessed. I can't believe that we are alive to talk about it. My right shoulder is separated, but according to the Doctor this morning I do not need surgery, it will heal on its own. It is just a little strange to be able to only use one arm. I also have some stitches in my right leg, but the new knee is ok, just a little tight. The Doctor said he would take tight, as long as it wasn't injured. Feel free to share the pictures. We appreciate all of the 4th division and their prayers. Hopefully we will see you at Marietta." If you'd like to send a card, Tom and Laura Sibbalds their address is 7353 Coonpath Rd NW, Carroll, OH Fourth Division Grand Commandery Knight Templar s for February 82nd East Coast Easter Observance 2012 The following February inspections in the Fourth Division will open at 2:00 pm. Marietta Commandery #50 Feb. 4th Jackson Commandery #53 Feb. 11th Athens Commandery #15 Feb. 18th Ironton Commandery #45 Feb. 25th The Easter Sunrise Service sponsored by the Grand Encampment of Knight Templar will be held on the steps of the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. The service will be held Sunday April 8, 2012 and will begin at 8:00 am. Headquarters hotel will be the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center located at 5000 Seminary Road in Alexandria Delegations from Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana and Ohio, will travel to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, honoring their members who have fallen in combat. The Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Ohio will have a delegation performing this ceremony at 11:15 am. Registration forms and other pertinent information is available in the Office of the Recorder and must be in the hands of the Grand Encampment by March 10, A schedule of events for activities from April 5 to April 8, 2012 is also available. Page 4 Volume 10, Issue 1

5 Suspension for Non-Payment of Dues Scioto Lodge #6 F. & A. M. Mailings will be processed to all Brethren of Scioto Lodge #6 F. & A. M. and the York Rite Bodies to those members whose due remain unpaid. Dues statements for 2012 were sent in May for all members of Chapter #4, Council #4 and Commandery #8 and were payable on or before June Dues notices for Brethren of Scioto Lodge were sent out a bit late. All Brethren should have received their dues notice the first week of November. Currently there are 52 Companions (Chapter & Council) and Sir Knights (Commandery) whose 2012 dues have not been paid. Of those 19 still owe dues for A report will be submitted to Grand Chapter with those nineteen listed as being suspended for nonpayment of dues. A report will be submitted to Grand Council and Grand Commandery reporting those same 19 as suspended for non-affiliation. Lunch at the Lodge for Monday January 9th attracted 11 Brethren. Vegetable soup, pork loin w/sauerkraut were the menu items. Cheese cubes, a cheese ball and grapes were served as appetizers. Lunch at the Lodge Monday January 23rd hosted for 7 Brethren and one nonmasonic guest. Featured was Chili prepared by Worshipful Brother William Bennett. Masonic Ladies are invited to attend. Euchre players enjoyed several games after lunch. The whole idea is to encourage a social atmosphere to become better acquainted outside the stated meeting. No Reservations are required. Found Gold lapel pin with a single initial. Call the Office of the Secretary and make identification to claim To receive updates and notices from the Office of the Secretary / Recorder of the Masonic Bodies send an to: sciotolodge6@horizonveiw.net Fellow Craft Team Worshipful Brother Dan M. Riddle, Chairman of the Fellow Craft Team is seeking participants to work on the Craft Team which works the second section of the Master Mason Degree. Three speaking parts (characters #7, #8 and #9) along with nine non-speaking cast members and three speaking parts playing the ruffians are integral to the portrayal of the loss of our Grand Master Hiram Abiff during the drama placed at the time of the building of King Solomon s Temple. The frequency of work is contingent on the conferral of the Master Mason Degree and due to the illnesses, injuries and the untimely passing of Brethren who dedicated much time has left the team in a rebuilding mode. Please contact Worshipful Brother Riddle at if you can attend and participate in this section of degree work. Rehearsal of floor work to accommodate new members of the team is held the evening of the degree conferral in the Red Room. A call list for the Fellow Craft team in on the Phone Tree to alert team members of upcoming Master Mason Degrees The Trestle board Page 5

6 Page 6 January Issue of the Trestle Board Brethren of Scioto Lodge whose dues are in arrears for more than on year received The Trestle Board for January with a sticker just above the mailing label. The information was a request for you to make contact with the Office of the Secretary regarding your member dues status. Scioto Lodge will not carry a brother for more than one year without dues payment. Those Brethren receiving this notification will be suspended for nonpayment of dues as of December 31, The Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Ohio has been notified of the potential for Suspension for Non-Payment of Dues. The Grand Master has a program for intervention in which he sends a correspondence to Brethren subject to suspension in an attempt to encourage membership retention. Per Capita for each member is $12.50 and must be paid by the lodge regardless of member status. If you are receiving calls from the phone tree from the Masonic Bodies and wish to have your name removed, call the Office of the Secretary/Recorder of the York Rite Bodies at Ross County Shrine Club Notes: Nobel David Duckworth assumed the helm of the Ross County Shrine Club at the installation of officers January 26, Joining him will be Nobles Dan M. Riddle as Vice President, Bobby Anderson as Secretary and Rob Coolidge as Treasurer. These Nobles are Brethren of Scioto Lodge and hearty congratulations are extended to them as they pursue the endeavors in which our Ross County Shrine Club are involved. Outgoing President Jay Morgan, also a member of Scioto Lodge, was commended for the extreme amount of hard work which he put into his year as presiding officer. It is a wonderful thing that Masons find their niche in the fraternity and various appendant bodies. Notes To the Officers and Members of all Masons: We appreciate dinners and the nice cards you send to us widows. It is nice to be remembered. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas to all. Betty Alexander Wife of William E. Alexander Past Eminent Commander Passages Mary I. Willis, 81, of, died 10:30 p.m. Thursday, December 22, She married Dwight Willis On November 17, Brother Willis who died March 8, 1992 was a member of Scioto Lodge #6 F. & A. M. God's Wife A four-year-old child, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old Gentleman's' yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry.' The Masonic Temple Benevolent Fund received a contribution in honor of Brother Michael C. Porter. Brother Porter is battling melanoma which is the most serious type of skin cancer. When people spend time in the sunlight, the melanocytes make more melanin and cause the skin to tan. If the skin receives too much ultraviolet light, the melanocytes may begin to grow abnormally and become cancerous. This condition is called melanoma. The first sign of melanoma is often a change in the size, shape, or color of a mole. But melanoma can also appear on the body as a new mole. Please protect yourself. Euchre enthusiasts are invited to participate in euchre games at the Masonic Temple on the 2nd and 4th Monday in the lounge on the fourth floor. Lunch will be served at 1:00 pm. Games get underway after lunch. Brother Dean Rinehart is coordinator of the event. Ladies are invited to attend as well as invited guests. Brother Rinehart may be contacted at His address is dkriney@roadrunner.com if you want further details. You may also call the Office of the Secretary/Recorder of the Masonic Bodies at Volume 10, Issue 1

7 Grand Commander s Program Harmony Through Communication Communication is a very important facet of our lives. It is essential in our day to day living. We need to communicate with God, Members of our Fraternity both new and long time, Family and Friends. It is important to convey to others the reasons we joined Commandery and to make our Commanderies more visible by such activities as participating in local parades, posting colors at local sports events and standing honor guard during memorial services. When we communicate our plans and schedules with other organizations, we may be able to avoid conflicts of times, ideas, and goals. This communication with other Masonic bodies is essential to the welfare of all our organizations. For years Ohio has been able to state that we have been the largest Grand Commandery in the Grand Encampment. This is no longer true! We are now the second largest Grand Commandery. We want to make every effort to return to the Number One position. My experience with a program of this type has been very positive. The Grand Officers, Division Commanders, and Deputy Division Commanders are ready and willing to provide assistance with these sessions. Increasing membership is a continuing effort. We must seek quality and not merely quantity. If we knight a number of men, but they do not attend meetings and participate in the activities of our fraternity, we have gained nothing save numbers. A mentor program will encourage new members to get involved, take office, and enjoy the benefits of membership in commandery. If you have a mentoring program in place, keep it working. If you have not yet established a program, now is the time to start. During s this year, the Commander may opt to have the ladies present for the Full Form Opening. This could eliminate introductions at the meal, have ladies more involved in the s, and leave time for fellowship. My goal for the Templar year is for every Commandery in Ohio to sponsor a York Rite Education/Orientation Session during this year. These sessions will be conducted by the leadership of Grand Chapter, Grand Council, and Grand Commandery, and are designed to enlighten prospective members as to the attributes of York Rite Masonry. My Fellow Brethren of Scioto Lodge No. 6. I would like to thank you for your generosity in supporting my [missionary] trip to Kenya [South Africa]. Your willingness to contribute by marshalling your resources and giving to me is both a blessing and a source of pride for me too! Your thoughtfulness and action in supporting a Brother will go a long way in facilitating my travels to Kenya. Once there, it is my hope to alleviate suffering where possible and to love those whom I encounter. Please join me in praying for Kenya and its people. Respectfully, Brother Clint Sheets Editor s Note: Brother Sheets is a 1st Lieutenant in Special Services in the United States Army Reserve. He is a member of Headquarter Division, 748th Transportation Battalion located in Columbus, Ohio. He is a Chaplain Candidate. Scioto Lodge contributed $ Other Brethren made personal contributions. If you would like to assist in this endeavor contact the Office of the Secretary. Arrangements have been made for the Grand Commandery of Ohio to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, It would be great to have a large number of Knights in uniform for that event! Note: This article is excerpted from the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Ohio Website. Vitamin F I loved this and want to share it with you... Why do I have a variety of friends who are all so different in character? How can I get along with them all? I think that each one helps to bring out a "different" part of me. With one of them I am polite. I joke with another friend. I sit down and talk about serious matters with one. With another I laugh a lot. I listen to one friend's problems. Then I listen to another one's advice for me. My friends are all like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When completed, they form a treasure box. A treasure of friends! They are my friends who understand me better than myself, who support me through good days and bad days. We all pray together and for each other. Real Age doctors tell us that friends are good for our health. Dr. Oz calls them Vitamins F (for Friends) and counts the benefits of friends as essential to our well being. Research shows that people in strong social circles have less risk of depression and terminal strokes. If you enjoy Vitamins F constantly you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship stops stress and even in your most intense moments it decreases the chance of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50%. I'm so happy that I have a stock of Vitamins F! In summary, we should value our friends and contact them often. We should try to see the funny side of things and laugh together, and pray for each other in the tough moments. Thank you for being one of my Vitamins! The Trestle board Page 7

8 A Publication of the Masonic Bodies 57 East Main Street, Ohio Phone: Fax: U.S. Postage PAID PRSTD STD, OH Permit #47 Address Service Requested To be 1 - Ask 1 God s Wife and More An eye witness account from New York City, on a cold day in December, some years ago a little boy, about 10- years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the young boy and said, 'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!' 'I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,' was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks, placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, 'No doubt, you will be more comfortable now..' As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her: 'Are you God's wife?' Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted. A little girl said, 'I know all about Adoption, I was adopted..' 'What does it mean to be adopted?', asked another child. 'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!' On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was 'We're behind 14 to nothing,' he answered with a smile. 'Really,' I said. 'I have to say you don't look very discouraged.' 'Discouraged?', the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face...'why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet.'