Free and Accepted Masons Dover, N. H. April 2017 Organized Under Dispensation December 20, 1889 Chartered May 21, 1890

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1 MOSES PAUL LODGE #96 DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE Free and Accepted Masons Dover, N. H. April 2017 Organized Under Dispensation December 20, 1889 Chartered May 21, 1890

2 April Calendar Event: Square and Compass Date and Time: Thursday March 6th Dinner at 6:30 Dress Code: Casual Cost: Usually less than $10.00 Description: Social Hour and Monthly fellowship dinner and program. Who can attend: EAs and above Event: Dine Around Club at the Thirsty Moose, Washington Street, Dover NH. Date and Time: Tuesday April, 18 th starting at 6:30 pm. If you plan to attend please contact the Senior Warden at or call so we can let the restaurant know how many to plan for! Dress Code: Casual Cost: Order from Menu: Description: A great informal time to enjoy fellowship with your brothers outside of regular Lodge meetings. This is a good chance to introduce a friend to our great fraternity. Who can attend: All Masons and guests Event: Stated Meeting Date and Time: Thursday April 20 th Lodge opens at 7:30 Dress Code: Officers and Brothers Jacket and tie Cost: Donation Basket for collation Description: Monthly business meeting and program, balloting, and lots of brotherly love! Who can attend: EA s and above

3 District 5 Calendar Event: District 1 and District 5 Combined Masters Classes Dates and Times: Saturday 15 th 9-11 AM, and Tuesday April 25 th 6:30-9:00 pm Moses Paul Lodge #96 located 32 Pearl Street, Dover, NH. Attend either or both! Dress Code: Casual Cost: Donation for Collation Description: A Combined Masters Class with District 1, RW Bill Sawyer, and Worshipful Dennis Tuttle will be presenters. Who can attend: All Master Masons encouraged to attend Event: Winnipesaukee Lodge Breakfast Buffet Date and Time: Sunday April 16 th, 7:30 am-11:00 am at Winnipesaukee Lodge in Alton NH Dress Code: Casual Cost: $10.00 Description: Famous Breakfast Buffet Who can attend: Public event All are welcome! How Good and How Pleasant By Giles Fonda Yates Behold, how pleasant and how good For brothers such as we In this united Brotherhood To dwell in unity. Tis like the oil on Aaron s head Which to his feet distills Like Hermon s dew so richly shed On Zion s sacred hills. For there the Lord of light and love A blessing sent with power, O, may we all this blessing prove, Even life for evermore. On friendship s altar, rising here, Our hands now plighted be, To live in love, with hearts sincere, In peace and unity.

4 Moses Paul Lodge #96, Dover, NH Officers & Appointments for 2017 Worshipful Master: David Akridge Senior Warden: John T. Pond, Jr Junior Warden: Wor. Robert Corsetti Treasurer: Deputy Treasurer: Secretary: David Martinelli Deputy Secretary: Representative to Grand Lodge: Richard Lapointe Chaplain Wor. Kristopher G. Furtney Asst. Chaplain Senior Deacon: James E. Lewis Junior Deacon: John T Pond, III Marshall: Wor. Donald Meserve Senior Steward: Junior Steward: Tyler: Richard Lapointe Organist: Lodge Ambassador: Historian: Wor. David Akridge Finance Committee: Jean L. LaBrack Trustees of Charity Fund Wor. James S. Miller 2017 John T. Pond, Jr. 2017, & 2018 Widow s Program Chairman: Vincent R. Puleo John T. Pond, Jr Gates: #1-, Richard Lapointe #2-, #3-Wor. Donald Meserve Representative to Evergreen Place: Kevin M. Schultz Building Assoc. Representatives: Richard Lapointe Adam M. Hughes Robert P. Johnson Wor. Robert Corsetti Public Affairs Officer: Wor. Kristopher G. Furtney Lodge Care Taker: Richard Lapointe Web Master : John T Pond, III

5 MASTER S MESSAGE Normally, when I write my message From the East, I am looking forward. This month, I choose to look backward. The week of March 13 th will be a memorable one for me as it was a good week for our Lodge. We started the week, with me, John Pond Jr. and Don Meserve attending the Grand Masters Town Hall meeting in Northwood. There has been some frustration with the quality of the Masters Class in District 5. This was in large part due to rules not for lack of trying. When brought to the Grand Masters attention, he is allowing our DEO Denis Tuttle Jr. to organize. Worshipful Tuttle is off to the races and we will hold a joint Masters Class with District 1 in April. This event will be hosted by Moses Paul Lodge as we are kind of in the middle of both Districts. Stay tuned for dates. It would be nice to have a big turnout by Moses Paul Lodge in that we will be the host Lodge. On March, 16 th, our Stated Meeting was Semi-Public for the purpose of having our Annual Veterans Night. What a night it was. We had an outstanding meal prepared by Brother Senior Warden, John Pond Jr. We had to set more tables and were within a half a chicken breast of running out of food.

6 We then moved upstairs to for the Program. With Most Worshipful John F. Gordon and about 80 attendees, the Lodge was packed. Presenting of the Flag and the Empty Table ceremony (POW/MIA) were accomplished by PFC s Justin and Jonathan Stacy, USMC. Worshipful Kris Furtney presented our Military Veterans Program. Following honoring of our Military Veterans we moved to Masonic Veterans. Attending as a 25 year honoree was Worshipful Bob Stewart and his family followed by 40 year veteran, Brother Ernie Clark. Some of you reading this may remember Worshipful Robert Whitehall Stevens. The Presiding Masters Jewel was presented to the Lodge by the Stevens Family. Worshipful Stevens, daughter, Berry McGeary was able to attend and we were able to thank as well as share the history of the Presiding Masters Jewel that has occurred with every new Worshipful Master since Often when these donations are made, the passage of years results in many not knowing where these donations came from. It was nice to be able say to Mrs. McGeary that her family s gift is still appreciated and her Father s memory is not forgotten. As Berry Mc Geary is Brother Ernie Clark s 1 st cousin, it was touching to be able to see her pin his 40 year pin on his lapel. Finally, Most Worshipful John F. Gordon was able to present our 50 and 60 year recipients. Coming in at 60 years and in attendance was Brother Robert LaPointe. He had his daughter and other family in attendance. Brother Lapointe was able to reflect on his 60 year Masonic journey. Finally, Most Worshipful John F. Gordon was able to present Worshipful Donald Meserve, flanked by his wife June and all three of his children, with his 50 year medal and pin. Anyone that has ever been involved with Moses Paul Lodge in the last 50 years knows Worshipful Meserve. He served as Master in Since he was raised he has been in the chairs and a District Officer. It is noteworthy that for 50 years, Worshipful Meserve has been an active and steady leader of Moses Paul Lodge #96. As if this event were not enough, on Saturday March 18 th, we held our Annual DARE Breakfast. As many of you know, Brother Wayne Rockey moved out of the area. The Moses Paul DARE

7 coordinator this year was Brother Kevin Schultz. Also in his first year was Dover Police Departments, Chris Pieniazek. Both of these guys did a great job. We had a record number of patrons with our count being 135 breakfasts served. Coupled with a separate donation basket, we raised $947 for DARE. With the Grand Lodge match anticipated to be $300, we expect our Annual Donation to DARE to be $1,250. What a great week for Moses Paul Lodge #96. As we look ahead for April, we have a new member to be voted on which should lead to some degree work. In closing, for those of you who were integral in making our Veteran s program and DARE breakfast a success, thank you! To those who may not have been in Lodge for a while, we hope to see you soon. If you were not able to join us you missed a great week of activities in March. Fraternally David Akridge Worshipful Master DAkridgeoh@aol.com A Masonic Thought Grant us brotherhood, not only for this day but for all the years a brother not of words but of acts and deeds. Stephen Vincent Benet

8 Secretary s Desk Thank you to all who have paid their dues on time! There are still many that have not paid to date! Please make every effort to pay these quickly as the Lodge depends on this money to be able maintain our building and pay the bills. If you can t afford your dues or have other issues preventing you from paying them please contact me or any officer, we may be able to work out a solution. To all members, if you didn t receive a bill for 2017 dues then please contact the Lodge immediately. Please note that there has been an increase in the Grand Lodge Assessment of $2.00 which will bring our Dues and Assessment to $ per member for this year. When was the last time you came to a meeting? We as your officers know that your time is valuable and should not be wasted! The meetings are fun and informative. Can t remember the signs or you don t feel you know anyone, don t worry, we are all brothers and will greet you with open arms. This month s education article is What is Freemasonry and don t miss the Trowel Article If All Men Were Masons Please visit our website for upcoming events. The District 5 Calendar at: %40gmail.com NH Grand Lodge Web site at: Webmaster: dovermasons@nhfreemasons.org Facebook: NOT RECEIVING THE TRESTLE BOARD BY ??? If you would like to get it as soon as it comes out and save the Lodge a stamp send your address to bears123@comcast.net

9 Moses Paul Lodge No. 96 F. & A. M. Military Veteran and Masonic Veteran Program March 16, Hours/7:00 PM

10 POW-MIA Remembrance Ceremony PFC Jonathan Stacy, USMC, PFC Justin Stacy, USMC and family with Uncle Brother Robert Johnson, Worshipful Dave Akridge, and MWGM John Gordon. PFC Jonathan Stacy, USMC, PFC Justin Stacy, USMC and Uncle Brother Robert Johnson, and MWGM John Gordon.

11 Worshipful Dave Akridge is presented the Presiding Master s Jewel by Ms. Berry McGeary, who is the daughter of Worshipful Robert Whitehall Stevens Brother Robert Lapointe is presented his 60 year pin and certificate by MWGM John Gordon as Brother Lapointe wife Beverly looks on!

12 Worshipful Donald Meserve is presented his 50 year medal by MWGM John Gordon. Worshipful Meserve has served Moses Paul Lodge and the 1 st Masonic district as a officer and mentor every year of his 50 years! Worshipful Meserve and his wife June with their children along with MWGM John Gordon, and Worshipful Dave Akridge

13 Brother Ernest Clark II receives the Grand Masters pin and his 40 Year veterans pin. Worshipful Robert Stewart recives his 25 year veterans pin from his wife Rebecca as MWGM John Gordon and Worshipful Dave Akridge looks on!

14 Masonic Education WHAT IS FREEMASONRY? The first question that is usually asked by a non-mason is "What is freemasonry?" There are many definitions of the word, but none are complete since the organization embraces a wide scope of activity. Freemasonry is a fraternal organization, religious in character, based on the principle of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man which does charitable work in the community through its members. In addition, its teachings and ceremonies seek to make good men better and thereby make the world a better place in winch to live. Freemasonry is a "voluntary" society in that no one is invited to become a member. Unlike college fraternities and other organizations, Freemasonry never solicits anyone to become a member. As a matter of fact, it is a violation of Masonic law for a member to invite anyone to join. A prospective member must truly come of his own free will and accord. Freemasonry is not a religion. Sometimes outsiders claim that Freemasonry is a religion. Most Freemasons do belong to an established Church. Freemasonry is religious in that one cannot become a Freemason unless he believes in God, but there is no religious test applied to the prospective member, nor is he required or asked to subscribe to any religious tenet or dogma. It is forbidden to discuss religion or politics in the Lodge. Freemasonry is not a secret society. A secret society is one that keeps its existence in secret, and whose members do not make known their affiliation with the group. Freemasonry is not a secret society because it does not hide its existence, and members do not hide their membership. On the contrary, the organization meets in buildings located in public, announces its meetings in newspapers and magazines, engraves the words "Masonic Temple" on many of its buildings, publishes periodicals, and has homes for orphans and the aged.

15 The degrees of Freemasonry consist of ceremonies of a strictly serious nature, which teach basic moral truths in an impressive and solemn manner. When the degrees are completed, the new member is provided a ritual that contains a philosophy of rite that provides the new member with something on which to build a hope that is eternal. Freemasons are proud to proclaim to the world that we are a serious organization of mature men. An organization that instills a love of God, teaches charity in its broadest sense, and shows each member how to live a better life. Non-Masons sometimes wonder at the close bond that exists between Freemasons. There is a simple explanation: Masons are bound together by the deep and abiding knowledge that each of them, during the ceremonies of the degrees, has accepted certain high ethical standards of conduct. These standards ensure a bond of faith and confidence.

16 The Trowel IF ALL MEN WERE MASONS We hear it many times. And, many times it is our own wish unexpressed. Actually we are not thinking in terms of that utopia in which all men are members of the Masonic Institution. We are thinking in terms of understanding, tolerance, brotherly love, unselfishness, and honesty. We are thinking of a condition that would be the direct result of all men doing the things that would make of Earth a Heaven. We are also thinking: "If all Masons were Masons-." And, we are not being unjust or over-critical. We bring it down to a very personal search" "If I were as good a Mason as I ought to be-." But with it all, we use the words Masons and Masonry as standards of right living, as standards of an ideal that is worth the struggle, of a condition that will mean the only real "social security." Let us be hopeful. Let us continue to work and to achieve. The thoughts that we are thinking, the critical inquiry that we are making of ourselves, and the thoughts and critical inquiries of other Masons are constructive thinking and making. The long march of Masonry through the centuries delineates the Upward Path.

17 The Old Past Master Speaks IN MY HEART "Why really does a man become a Mason?" asked the Very New Brother of the Old Past Master. "I know the prescribed answer to the question, of course. And doubtless every man who makes it, thinks he tells the truth. But I think he often lies!" "Oh, no!" cried the Old Past Master. "He doesn't lie. Masonry doesn't make liars of men! But a man can tell something that isn't true without prevaricating about it, you know. You don't know? Oh, well, you are young. "You worked pretty hard today, didn't you? Of course. You always do, don't you? I thought I saw you over at the City Club this noon. Yes, I know that gang of chaps; fine fellows gather there every day for a couple of hours. Then you went up to the gymnasium, didn't you, and exercised for an hour? And you read the paper this morning before you went at your desk? That accounts for about four hours out of eight, but you'd swear you 'worked very hard'! You don't mean to lie; you just forget, or disremember, or are so used to calling that a hard day's work you don't realize what an easy time you have!

18 "'Tis the same way with the man who tells where he first became convinced he was to be a Mason! He means it, but he doesn't know or realize the facts. "Now, I've been a Mason for many, many years. I have seen men come and go and hope to, some more. And I'll tell you that most men do not seek Masonry 'because they have conceived a regard for the institution' or 'because they wish to benefit their fellowmen.' Most men become Masons because other men whom they know, are Masons, or because their fathers were Masons, or because they believe that Masonry means a certain patent of worth, or because they are curious, or even because they believe a Masonic membership will help them succeed. "But those are not worthy motives," cried the Very New Mason. "Perhaps not!" smiled the Old Past Master. "But we all do things from motives which are not worthy. You bought your wife a pair of theater tickets tonight and patted yourself on the back for being generous. Yet you know if you send her off to the theater with a friend she won't have a word to say about your coming home late from lodge! Do you call that a worthy motive? I call it a natural one, but St. Peter hasn't made a very large mark against your generosity score for the act! "Now it would be glorious if all men wanted to be Masons because of the wonderful reputation which Masonry has among men. But if they did, Masonry wouldn't have nearly so much to do. And many men who become Masons for unworthy motives, remain to be taught to become very good Masons, indeed. I remember when I was twenty-one years old- bank clerk, I was- my boss said to me, 'Charlie, wasn't your father a Mason?' I said 'yes.' "Your father rose very rapidly in this business,' said the boss. That's all. So I applied for the Degrees. I didn't know it wasn't a worthy motive! I knew it as soon as became a Mason. And all my life I have wished I had had a better motive. But I didn't let my ignorance stop me from trying to be a good Mason. "Many very good Masons take certain parts of Masonry more seriously than they are intended to be taken. They are the chaps who think a misplaced word in the ritual is an anathema and the forgetter a criminal! They will tell you that any man who applies for Masonry for any other reason than a reverent awe for the Order and a humble belief in its wonder also commits a crime and should

19 be excluded. It would be fine if it were so, but we'd have about one candidate a year if we held to any such interpretation of the law. "If I find a young fellow who wants to be a Mason because his father was, I say, 'Come on in and welcome home!' That's supposing he is otherwise all right of course. If I find a young fellow who says very frankly, 'I believe it will help me in business,' I don't condemn him to be a profane forever. I try to find out what he means. If he wants to use Masonry to bring customers to his store, I tell him to go and think it over and come back in a year. But if he says, 'Why, all the Masons are clean-cut, honest men and I need to know such men and a lot of them, that I, too, can be clean-cut and honest, and it must help any man to succeed to be associated with clean-cut and honest men, and I want to succeed so I can bring up my boys to be good men too,' I can't see but that he is first class material, supposing he's all right otherwise, of course. "Look for the heart, boy, look for the heart! It's what's in the heart that counts, not what's on the lips. And that in my opinion, is what that question really means. "Where were you prepared to be a Mason?' means, what sort of feeling have you in your heart? If it's a good feeling, I don't care how you analyze it; he who has it is welcome. If it's a bad feeling, then I don't care what fine words he mouths, it's enough to keep him away. I have known more than one man who joined through curiosity and yet became an ardent Mason. I have known more than one man who slipped in to aid him in business, became Master of his lodge and be a good one, too! Usually that man is the most insistent that all candidates have what he calls 'a clean mind' about becoming a Mason! The man who has had a change of heart after he gets in is always the most insistent on the statutory answer to the question as to where the candidate is first prepared to be a Mason! To me it is both funny and a little pathetic. "My young brother, human nature is pretty much the same everywhere. Men are men in country and city, hamlet and metropolis. Most men make good Masons. A few make fine ones. Still fewer make poor Masons. Most men have quite human, ordinary, everyday reasons for wanting to be Masons. A few have fine reasons, a few have bad reasons. If the majority of men have just ordinary motives for becoming Masons, and yet the majority

20 of men make good Masons, it's proof, isn't it, that Masonry is stronger than the motive, and it can change a man to her standards? I've lived a long time and the longer I live the more sure I am of the fertility of the soil in almost all good men's hearts, to the Masonic seed, and so I don't care nearly so much now, as I did forty years or so ago, why they want to be of us or where they were first prepared! "Toleration, my brother, is a Masonic virtue. You'll feel that way too, when you've worn the apron as long as I have, and found, every year, as it grows closer to your heart, its strings of ritual and law and custom need bind less tightly." A Piece of Masonic Trivia THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AND FREEMASONRY The famous Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor was designed by a Frenchman, Frederick A. Bartholdi, a Freemason. The Grand Lodge of New York laid the cornerstone with Masonic ceremonies on August 5, 1885.

21 BURDENS I am inclined to think that Masons do too much for each other," announced the New Brother. "Who has been doing too much for you?" asked the Old Tiler. '' Why, no one, that I know of." ''Well, who have you been doing too much for?" "Well, er--i wouldn't say I had been doing too much. But we all do too much. It gets to be a burden sometimes. " "What do you mean, burden?" countered the Old Tiler. "A burden is something heavy which you carry, isn't it?" asked the New Brother. "You think what we do for our brethren is a burden?" "Sometimes it seems that way. Too many calls on our time. Too many calls on our sympathy. Too many calls on our charity. Yes, I think it's a burden." "Last week I walked to work" answered the Old Tiler. "I don't usually because my rheumatism says walking is too hard a job. My legs,'' his eyes twinkled, ''are a burden to me! But that day it was so bright that the old legs forgot to growl, so I walked. I saw a little lad of about ten looking after a small child of about two, who toppled on his nose and yelled. Ten years old picked up the squalling baby and soothed him, then put him across his shoulder and staggered up the sidewalk with him. ''I asked him, 'Sonny, isn't that child too heavy for you?' 'Heavy?' he answered me, 'Heavy? Why, sir, he's my brother.'

22 "Little brother would have been too heavy for me -- maybe because of my old legs and perhaps because he wasn't my brother! The facts are that one weighed 60 pounds and the other 30 pounds. The stagger and the straining arms were facts. The cheek flushed with effort was a fact. But two years old was brother to ten, and that made him 'not too heavy.' "A burden is, after all, what we think it. You would look desperately at the task of carrying a 200-pound sack on your back. But if it were 200 pounds of gold, and it was to be yours after a mile, you wouldn't find it 'too heavy.' "Years ago a brother of this lodge went to Alaska in the gold rush days. He and his partner had to tramp five miles through a blinding snowstorm and heavy drifts to get food to a starving camp. On the way this brother played out, or thought he did. He told his partner he was all in and they'd better abandon the load and try to get back before they died. "'Oh, no,' said the partner. 'I'll pull it!' Which he proceeded to do. Whereupon the man who was 'all in' became so ashamed and angry at himself that he stepped back into the sled harness and pulled, too, and together they got the load to camp. It was 'too heavy' only while he thought it was. "Masonry my son, is a state of mind. You can't put it on the scales or measure it with a scoop. Because it has no material existence it cannot carry a child of two, or a sack of flour. Its burdens are burdens of the heart. "Minds and hearts have unlimited strength, if we but know how to call it up. The tired business man who can barely get up the steps at night and falls in bed as soon as dinner is over, forgets the physical weariness if his child is sick. He sits up all night nor thinks it a burden. "I rather like you, my son; you say what you think and while you very seldom do think, you think you think. But I cannot agree that Masonry does too much for her brethren or that anything Masonry or a Lodge or an individual brother may do in the name of Masonry is a burden." "Not all brethren are real Masons, any more than all that looks the part is real gold. Lots of men wear the pin and know the words and give the signs who are but shadow Masons; they are all show on the outside and as full of meat as a balloon. To these, doubtless,

23 there are Masonic burdens. But to the real Mason, any weight which must be carried is not heavy because it s my brother! " "I will not be called a Masonic balloon!" objected the New Brother. "As I cannot quarrel with what you have said I will fill that balloon with a new attitude of mind. I will never think a Masonic duty is a burden again." "It is your Masonic duty, my son," smiled the Old Tiler, "to give me a cigar if you have it." ''And here is a match and I'll light it for you, too!" agreed the New Brother. APRIL BIRTHDAYS HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHERS Herbert A. Bischoff John A. David Casey Bova Daniel Hanson Harold J. Oulton, Sr. Wayne M. Rockey Richard B. Weeks Elie Khoury

24 Moses Paul Lodge #96 Living Past Masters Gerald E. Brown Ronald C. Bartlett Donald S. Meserve Raymond E. Allen William H. Carswell, II 1976, 77, 78 David R. Spiller..1984, 85 Edwin F. Mitchell, Jr Anthony Zizos. 1989, 90 James S. Miller , 98, 01, 02, 03, 04 John F. Torr.1993, 94, 99, 00 Stephen E Wawrzkiewicz Robert H. Stewart Jay A. Edgerly 1997 William C. Hill, HPM.2003 Michael J. Mawson George M. McGee III Christopher Piehler 2007, 2008 Robert D. Berry Kristopher G. Furtney 2010, 2011 Vincent R. Puleo , 2013 Robert J. Corsetti , 2015

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