Indian Wells Valley No. 684, F. & A.M. Master's Trestleboard

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1 Indian Wells Valley No. 684, F. & A.M. Master's Trestleboard Ridgecrest Masonic Center 625 N. Norma St., Ridgecrest, CA (760) IWV #684 Master: Arthur Austin, PM Senior Warden: Junior Warden: Peter Eiserloh, PM Treasurer: Will Lusk Secretary: Robert L. Ludy Jr. PM Chaplain: Dave Truesdale Senior Deacon: Coleman Ellsworth Junior Deacon: Bennie Wegener, Jr. PM Marshal: Steve Goad, PM Senior Steward: Bennie Wegener, III Junior Steward: FROM THE EAST Brothers and Friends, Have you ever wondered about the significance of the number 3? Why is it that things occur in triads so often? Of course we all know that the number 3 is important in Masonry. There are the Three Degrees of Masonry, the Three Principal Officers of the Lodge, the Three Principal Tenants of Masonry, the Three Steps, the Three Great Lights of Masonry and on and on. But it isn t only in Masonry where we find things happening in sets of three. I remember as a child my mother telling or reading the stories of The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Three Billy Goats Gruff and others. I am going to challenge each of you to go through your cipher and make a list of things that occur in sets of three and bring them to Lodge at the May Stated Meeting or send them to me by or regular mail by May 7th. You can start with the list above and add others. For instance, on page 47 of the Cipher, three things are listed that we are able to undergo by the virtue of Fortitude. As a reward for your effort, I will donate $10.00 to the Scholarship Fund in your name if you can come up with a list of at least 27 items. I have asked the Junior Warden to research the significance of the number three and give a Masonic Talk on it at the May Stated Meeting. Be here for an interesting and informative talk. Dick Nickles Speaking of the Scholarship Fund, the Scholarship Committee presented a preliminary report at the last Stated Meeting. They have made progress in getting a scholarship resolution to present to the Lodge soon. Peter Eiserloh is the chairman of the committee and he would like go hear any suggestions you may have on the topic. 1 - Steve Goad, PM 2 - Bob Francis, PM 3 - John Dollman We ran out of time to discuss Stated Meeting Dinners at the March meeting, therefore, it is on the agenda for the April Meeting. Refer to the March Trestle Board and be ready to discuss this issue on April 2. Bob Schwaiger Tiler: Trustees: AMBA President: Vice President: James Wilhorn Treasurer: Will Lusk Secretary: Steve Goad, PM Art Austin, PM Bob Ludy, PM Dave Truesdale Mary Frost (Assoc.) Alex Topar (Advisor) We conferred the First Degree of Masonry on Brother Daniel Lilly on March 19th. Welcome Brother Lilly. We are pleased to have you as our newest Mason. Sincerely and Fraternally, Art Austin, Worshipful Master Master of the Lodge: Art Austin (760) (aaustin@iwvisp.com) Secretary: Bob Ludy (760) ) e mail : ( bobludyjr@gmail.com) Brethren, if you know someone who is under the weather, be sure to call our Jr. Warden Peter Eiserloh (760) or if failing to reach him, Master of the Lodge Art Austin (760) Trestleboard Deadline is the 15th of the month. After the 15th of the month, items are included as space and time permit. Trestleboard Editor: Betty Austin, (760) <baustin@iwvisp.com> Where do you want to serve your Lodge?

2 Indian Wells Valley Masonic Lodge #684 AMBA The AMBA presented several items for approval at its last meeting, and prioritized the repairs and/or improvements for the Lodge building. These included necessary repairs to the roof to prevent further deterioration, and more costly repairs later maintenance on the coolers, as Summer is approaching repairs to the seats in the lodge room so as not to launch unsuspecting brethren the purchase of a ladder (paid directly by the AMBA board at no cost to the Lodge) a flood light for the back of the building the upgrade to a 100 watt, low electric usage, from SCE, which was at no cost to the Lodge, thanks to Brother Lusk, and the purchase and installation of an "air curtain" for the kitchen. The proposed and adopted expenses were presented to the Lodge and a vote was taken approving the release of funds which had been approved in the Lodge budget to release said funds for the specific repairs. We will have an update on the progress of these at the next stated meeting. Senior Warden ****************** COMFORT STATION Well, we finally had a meeting and I was there but we only had three stay, but we did get a lot done. Thanks to a new person that came, Rylee Blakely. She helped a lot but didn't get to stay for the lunch. We're hoping she will be a regular. So enough of the chit chat. Next meeting will be April 9th 9:30 to 12 and pot luck to follow. Thanks to all that came. We had fun. Happy Easter if I don't see you before then. ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR is busy. April 5th is our friendship day with Bishop we are going to Bishop along with Independence and will fill their stations. It starts with a luncheon at 11AM. We are asked to bring an item to help them fill their Ethan and Teyler totes so bring something from that list. April 12th is where we are having a Ridgecrest wide fund raising event for child's cancer family support. Oodles of Noodles is our fundraiser for the Ethan & Teyler Totes. The items will benefit the families who have a child being treated through UC Davis Children s Hospital, UCSF s Intensive Care Nursery and UCSF s Benioff Children s Hospital. Often families leave home so quickly that they do not have time to even grab the bare essentials. These totes are filled with the necessary items to get the families through the first days and weeks so that they do not need to leave their child s bedside. Some items that are needed for EACH TOTE include: Shampoo, Conditioner, Lip Balm, Tooth Paste, Tooth Brushes, Dental Floss, Lotion, Soap,Tissues, Shaving Gel, Disposable Razors, Deodorant, Gum, Hard Candy, $5.00 Starbucks cards, & $5.00 Gas cards. Items should be FULL SIZE. If you prefer to send a donation to help purchase these items, please make your check out to: Desert Holly Joshua Tree Chapter #547 and mark in the memo: Ethan and Teyler Totes. For our Oodles of Noodles event, we will be having spaghetti, homemade baked macaroni and cheese, fettucini, rainbow spiral pasta salad, green salad, homemade rolls, ice cream. $8, from 4 7PM on Saturday April 12th. Mary Frost, WM Benny Wegener, Jr., WP WHITE SHRINE Marilyn Brendel, Chairman maribob3@aol.com ****************** SH! IT S A SURPRISE You are all invited to a Birthday party for Tiff. It will be held Saturday, April 5 between 2 5 p.m. at the Lodge. All are encouraged to stop by and celebrate with him between 2 5pm. It s his 90th Birthday. Refreshments will be served. **************** Now that our year is coming to an end Diana and I would like to thank all of our members for their hard work this year we had a great time in the East. Don t forget the practice at 1 pm on Friday April 25th for the Installation of Officers. Next meeting will be at 11:00 am on April 26th with a soup lunch and Installation at 2:00 pm and Dinner after. Our election of officers is complete. Congratulations to Molly Erskine (WHP elect) and Bennie Wegener, Jr. (WOS elect) and all the newly elected officers. Congratulations to Charlotte and Maurice Hamm for receiving the Continuing service award from Supreme Shrine. The first week of May is Supreme Shrine and we will have 8 members attending. We will miss Crisi and Coleman Ellsworth as they moved this week. Hope to see everyone at our last meeting in the East. Valerie McLaughlin, WHP Diana Reyes, WOS Menu: Stated Meeting Dinner Sponsored by: White Shrine pre tax dinner, (we're so poor we have to eat beans) Ham, Fried potatoes, 2 kinds of beans, Corn bread, Salad, Build your own ice cream sundaes, tea and coffee. Donation: $10.00 Page 2 Time: 5:30 pm Next Month Sponsored by: ROYA S&F, P

3 Ridgecrest Masonic Center Sunday Monday Tuesday 1 2 April Fools Day 7 6 Wednesday :30 Easter Meeting Friendship Day 11:00 Lunch (Bishop) Palm Sunday Royal Arch Flex Good Friday 7:30 apron night White Shrine 11:00 am WS Installation 2:00 pm AMBA Flex 29 Oodles of Noodles 4 7 pm AMD Practice (Kernville) Dinner 7:00pm F&AM 1st Degree practice Easter 28 Birthday Celebration for Tiffany 2 5 pm at the Lodge 5:30 pm 17 White Shrine's Navajo Taco Sale 6am 2pm Saturday Friday Chapter/Council (Bakersfield) F&AM 1st Degree practice 14 Thursday 5:30 Stated Dinner F&AM Stated Meeting 9:30 12:00 Comfort Station 13

4 Indian Wells Valley Masonic Lodge #684 April Attention: Tables for Sale. is selling new round tables to replace some of our older heavy ones. These would be easy to roll in to place. The idea, if approved by the AMBA, is for a member to buy a table ($115) and we'd have a plaque engraved and put on it, much like on the old theater seats in the lodge and entry way. This would be a nice way to remember loved ones. If you are interested, please contact Gerald Flagg , or Mary Frost Pause for Claws: We are starting a new program to collect used towels and blankets for the pound save animals in the shelter. So bring your towels and blankets by our Cancer Comfort Station door and drop them off! Contact: Marilyn Brendel, Digging for Gold: White Shrine is having a gold party with Mr T's which does refining gold, silver, coins, gold teeth. Bring your scrap gold to the stated meeting dinner April 5 he pays the highest amount for your scrap! 2014 Officers: Left to right: March 19, 2014 Front row:, Worshipful Art Austin, Peter Eiserloh,PM, Worshipful Art Austin congratulating Dan Lilly on his initiation Dave Truesdale, Dick Nickles as an Entered Apprentice Back row: Bob Ludy, PM, Coleman Ellsworth, Will Lusk, Steve Goad, PM Not Pictured: Bennie Weggener, III, Bennie Wegener, Jr., PM, Robert Schwaiger

5 Indian Wells Valley Masonic Lodge #684 April FROM THE WEST (Continued from the March Trestleboard) When approaching any subject, it is often important, if not crucial to address definitions of terms. One of these is "in good standing." The CMC defines "in good standing" as a condition in which dues are "current or have been remitted at any time within the preceding 12 months, even though the dues accruing since remission have not been paid." Section When visiting another Lodge, or when determining if a Brother should be admitted as a visitor in our Lodge, a statement is made that the Brother is "in good standing." This is a requirement, and we should look to the intent as well as the letter of the CMC for guidance. The intent is never to impose too great a hardship on any sojourner, but instead to treat all brothers as equals. The intent seems clear: that the Brother be able to honestly declare being in good standing. The brethren do have an obligation to support the Lodge, both financially and with their time, as may be required or requested. Each of us has taken such an obligation, and it is a matter of a serious nature. We have dealt with remitting of dues, but what we have not touched yet is the results of not availing oneself of the CMC, and at the same time simply ignoring the payment of dues. That would be Suspension. Section deals directly with this situation, and is clear as to the requirements imposed upon the Lodge itself. There is not precatory language involved, that is, it is not "optional." "If a Mason has not paid his dues during a period of 12 months, the Secretary shall notify him that he will be suspended for non payment of dues unless at the Lodge's next Stated Meeting either his dues have been paid or sickness or inability to pay is shown as the cause for the failure to pay. If all dues due and payable have not been paid by the time of the Lodge's next Stated Meeting, he shall be declared suspended by the Master, unless for special reasons shown, the Lodge shall remit his dues or grant him further time for payment." However, the CMC also says, in the same section, that "No worthy brother who is unable to pay his dues shall be suspended for non payment of dues." The key is simply this: To maintain your membership, you must either pay the dues, or qualify for a remission or other exemption. And, you must take the initiative. If you just remain silent, then you can only be believed to want to take your leave from the Lodge. Action is required, and actual showing of need is fundamental to such relief from the duties imposed upon all of us. Even if your dues cannot be paid, and you end up suspended, the door remains open "a crack", and those who knock can have it opened fully again. The CMC Section provides that A Mason suspended for non payment of dues: A. Shall be automatically restored if, within two years, he pays any arrearage due at the time of his suspension, together with such further dues as would have accrued against him had he not been suspended, to the date of his payment, unless such arrearage and dues have been remitted by his Lodge and B. May make a request to his Lodge for restoration if he has not paid them or had them remitted by his Lodge for the period of two years. The Mason shall not be restored except by a two thirds vote by ballot of all the members present at the next Stated Meeting after the request for restoration is presented. Wisely, the CMC has made it possible for the Brother to seek admission, and not be blocked merely by the inability to pay dues. Most importantly, the CMC says, "A Mason shall not be expelled from Masonry for non payment of dues." This final statement is clear and simple. No otherwise worthy Mason shall ever be expelled due to circumstance or finance. The purpose of exploring these various parts of the CMC is to try to remove any question of what is required of the Lodge, and of the member. There is always available Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, by which we can reconcile any problems which may arise. Senior Warden doctorquinlan@yahoo.com

6 Indian Wells Valley Lodge No. 684 F. & A. M. 625 N. Norma St. Ridgecrest, CA Phone (760) Non-Profit Org US Postage PAID Ridgecrest, CA Permit No. 18 Return Service Requested Stated Meetings at 7 PM on the 1st Wednesday of every month, Dinner at 5:30 PM (except July and August) Master's Trestleboard 2B1 Ask 1