THE TRESTLEBOARD BRANDON MASONIC LODGE #114 FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS

Transcription

1 THE TRESTLEBOARD BRANDON MASONIC LODGE #114 FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS CHARTERED ON THE 22ND DAY OF JANUARY 1890 January 2017 Striving to make good men better Volume 16, Issue 1 STATED COMMUNICATIONS HELD ON THE 2ND & 4TH THURSDAYS AT 7:30 PM Vol 16, Issue 1 Page Brandon Lodge #114 OFFICERS Wade Patterson Worshipful Master Kathryn Bbf114@gmail.com Lucky Wade Senior Warden Lorrie luckyw@me.com Travis Brumbaugh Junior Warden Anna brumbaughtravis@gmail.com Scott McCormick Treasurer Penny scottm5573@verizon.net Donald Cowart Secretary Dell secretary@brandonlodge.org Roscoe Love Senior Deacon Linda roscoe-love@hotmail.com Rick Farr Junior Deacon Deborah rickfarr3@gmail.com Chad Char Senior Steward Melissa chad.a.char@gmail.com Donald Spencer Junior Steward donaldspencer@gmail.com Steve Landers, Jr. Tyler spike01@tampabay.rr.com Barry Butler, Sr. Marshal Laura barrybenbutler@gmail.com Charles Gurey Chaplain Maria cgurey@verizon.net William Martin Musician Christine william.cm.martin@verizon.net Cliff Webb Degree Instructor Jeanne Pete Williams, PM Mentor Sherry LODGE HAPPENINGS Brandon Lodge Officer Installation will be held on Thursday, December 29th at 6:30pm. The Lodge Officers are a vital part of our organization, as they provide leadership and guidance for all our Brothers throughout the year. Please come and support your lodge and the New Officers as they begin another great year at Brandon Lodge! Dinner will be served following the installation. Kindly notify the lodge secretary if you are planning to attend. Thank you. (secretary@brandonlodge.org) BRANDON MASONIC LODGE #114 F.&A.M. (813) N. Moon Avenue P.O. Box 816 Brandon, Florida Brandon, FL

2 Vol 16, Issue 1 Page 3 Vol 16, Issue 1 Page 4 Greetings to All! THE EAST I want to thank the brothers of Brandon Lodge for placing their trust in our elected officers this year. We look forward to serving the craft with the dedication and loyalty that the brothers of Brandon Lodge have come to expect. One of our key initiatives for the upcoming year is to focus on increasing our membership. To do so we need to get our name out in front of our local communities, i.e. basically advertise who we are and what we do in the Blue Lodge. We hope to achieve this by participating in local public celebrations and fundraisers. One such event is the Brandon Founders Day parade on the 4th of July. This is the largest and best attended Independence Day parade in Florida and we have it right here in our own backyard! What a great opportunity for all Masons from all the lodges in our area to join as one and show our neighbors, as well as potential Masons, who we are and what we are all about. If you would like to participate in the planning, walk with us or donate to the event please contact me at bbf114@gmail.com or on my cell at Another goal this year is to revive some of our past traditions. One such tradition is Thanksgiving Dinner at the lodge. I remember this being an opportunity for us to come together to give thanks while giving something back to our community. This event will be open to all Masons, their friends and families, but is primarily geared toward our first responders who are on duty that day. All emergency personnel and their families are invited to join us at the lodge for a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. Food will be will be served for 4-5 hours. We will also deliver meals to our local fire personnel and anyone else who cannot leave their respective stations or brothers who cannot leave their homes. To be successful in these endeavors, we will need to work more closely with our appendant bodies, especially our OES and Rainbow Girl chapters. I see this as being key to maintaining our status as one of the best lodges in our state. We have initiatives planned over the upcoming year to nurture our relationships and create an indissoluble chain between us as we move into the future together. My Brothers, THE WEST First and foremost, I would like to thank you for electing me to the office of Senior Warden. I will strive to do the best I can for Brandon Lodge and the Craft. I would also like to extend congratulations to our new Worshipful Master, Wade Patterson, and my fellow officers. I am sure that the Worshipful Master has great plans for the upcoming year to keep our Lodge growing and improving in Masonry. One of the many issues affecting Masonic Lodges these days is declining membership. This is a serious concern for all Masons. We at Brandon Lodge are fortunate indeed for having a better than average membership count. Yet, even we are shrinking in number. So I challenge every brother to keep this fact always in your mind, so that we will be ever vigilant as we go through our day-to-day lives to be on the lookout for good men that may be interested in joining our Lodge. But let us always guard the West gate. Quality, not quantity should be our mindset. Remember; we ourselves, by our actions and demeanor, are the best representatives of Freemasonry. In that light, I present to you; A Good Story, published in the January 1977 New Mexico Freemason: A young man passed a pawnbrokers shop. The money lender was standing in front of his shop, and the young man noted that he was wearing a large and beautiful Masonic emblem. After going on a whole block, apparently lost in thought, the young man turned back, stepped up to the pawnbroker, and addressed him: I see you re wearing a Masonic (Cont d on Next Page) We also have plans for the lodge itself, with some being more noticeable than others. The largest of these is the replacement of the roof. We hope to have this accomplished by the end of March and ask (Cont d on Page 7)

3 Vol 16, Issue 1 Page 6 emblem. I m a Freemason too. It happens that I m desperately in need of $25 just now. I shall be able to repay it within ten days. You don t know me; but I wonder whether the fact that you are a Freemason and that I am a Freemason is sufficient to induce you to lend me the money on my personal note. The pawnbroker mentally appraised the young man, who was clean-cut, neat and well-dressed. After a moment s thought, he agreed to make the loan on the strength of the young man being a Freemason. Within a few days the young man repaid the loan as agreed and that ended the transaction. About four months later the young man was in a Lodge receiving the Entered Apprentice Degree; he had not really been a Mason when he borrowed the $25. After he had been admitted for the second section of the degree, the young man looked across the Lodge room and saw the pawnbroker from whom he had borrowed the $25. His face turned crimson and he became nervous and jittery. He wondered whether he had been recognized by the pawnbroker. Apparently not, so he planned at the first opportunity to leave the Lodge room and avoid his benefactor. As soon as the Lodge was closed he moved quickly for the door, but the pawnbroker had recognized the young man, headed him off and, to the young man s astonishment, approached him and greeted him with a smile and outstretched hand. Well, I see you weren t a Freemason after all when you borrowed that $25, the pawnbroker commented. The blood rushed to the young man s face as he stammered, No, I wasn t, but I wish you d let me explain. I had always heard that Freemasons were charitable and ready to aid a Brother in distress. When I passed your shop that day I didn t need that $25. I had plenty of money in my wallet, but when I saw the Masonic emblem you were wearing, I decided to find out whether the things I d heard about Freemasonry were true. (Cont d on Page 8) Happy New Year Brothers! I would first like to thank each of you for the opportunity to serve as Junior Warden. I am truly honored and assure you that I will perform the duties required to the best of my ability. Please contact me if you have any comments, questions or concerns. Ideas and suggestions are always welcome. I hope that you will come out and enjoy the fellowship that Brandon Lodge has to offer. I would also like to promote the Brandon Masonic Book Club which is held every 2 nd Tuesday of the month. If you are interested to know what book we are reading, please contact me. All Master Masons are welcome. May success come to every Mason who stands plumb to his principles and on the level with his Brethren. Thank you again Brothers and have a great month! Fraternally, Bro. Travis C. Brumbaugh Junior Warden THE SOUTH

4 Vol 16, Issue 1 Page 7 for your patience during the work. The company assures us that they will interrupt the normal lodge activities as little as possible. Brandon Lodge is moving in the right direction and we hope to maintain the course in the years ahead. We have been very fortunate to have had very skilled leadership in the past. With a few minor tweaks and a little oil here and there Brandon Lodge should stay on the course to becoming a shining star in Masonry. With that said, it looks to be a very exciting year ahead! May God Bless Us All, Wade Patterson Worshipful Master My Brothers, THE SECRETARY S DESK I want to thank you for having enough confidence in me to elect me as your Secretary for the upcoming 2017 Masonic year was a challenging year, with the introduction of the new software program, Circumscribe. But with a few bumps in the road we are moving forward. I believe this new program will be fine when all the issues are worked out. All the plastic cards that you have received are your permanent dues cards, and you will not receive another one.. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me Donations 1319 Pounds! 35 Pints Collected in Pints Fraternally, R\W\ Don Cowart DDGM, Secretary You let me have the money on the strength of my being a Freemason, so I concluded that what I had heard about Masons was true, that they are charitable, that they do aid Brethren in distress. That made such a deep impression on me that I presented my petition to this Lodge and here I am. I trust that with this explanation you will forgive me for having lied to you. The pawnbroker responded; don t let that worry you too much. I wasn t a Freemason when I let you have the money. I had no business wearing the Masonic emblem you saw. Another man had just borrowed some money on it, and it was so pretty that I put it on my lapel for a few minutes. I took it off the moment you left. I didn t want anyone else borrowing money on the strength of my being a Freemason. When you asked for that $25, I remembered what I had heard about Masons, that they were honest, upright, and cared for their obligations promptly. It seemed to me that $25 wouldn t be too much to lose to learn if what I d heard was really true, so I lent you the money and you repaid it exactly as you said you would. That convinced me that what I d heard about Masons was true so I presented my petition to this Lodge. I was the candidate just ahead of you. Fraternally, Lucky Wade Senior Warden

5 P.O. Box 816 Brandon FL RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid PERMIT No Tampa, FL BRANDON LODGE ODGE #114 F&AM PASTP AST MASTERS W.C. Moore 1891 J.M. Duffie 1892 W.C. Moore 1893 C.H. Spencer 1894 J.P. Hill 1895 C.H. Spencer R.G. Brooker J.H. Wendell 1903 D.E. Hazen 1904 R.G. Brooker 1905 J.A. Johnson T.F. Parramore J.H. Wedell D.E. Hazen 1912 J.A. Johnson C.W. Haas J.R. Brooker C.W. Haas 1919 W.P. Pemberton 1920 W.E. Touchstone 1921 L. Wetherington L.A. Hogan J.M. Morgan R.A. McIntoch 1928 A. Rothwell 1929 J. Morgan 1930 D.M. Robison 1931 E.L. Robison 1932 G.O. Dunlap 1933 R.S. Sumerall 1934 L.B. Selden 1935 F.B. Akard 1936 W.K. Lewis 1937 W.A. Ledford 1938 M.B. Whitfield 1939 L.W. Blaisdell 1940 L.E. Tourtellotte 1941 B.L. Lanford 1942 P.O. Marcum 1943 J.H. Stevenson 1944 T.M. Blackshear 1945 C.A. Garner 1946 P.N. Chancey 1947 J.O. Tottle 1948 H.H. King 1949 R.E. Hiller 1950 C.R. Hampton 1951 W.A. Brodie 1952 J.O. Crozier 1953 W. leitner 1954 J.R. Edwards 1955 H.H. Rushing 1956 W.B. Westbrook 1957 L.W. Roberts 1958 C. White 1959 E.R. Lastinger 1960 H.T. Barron 1961 W.S. Richards 1962 T.C. Casey 1963 H.R. Moody 1964 A.O. Miller 1965 C.B. Reynolds 1966 D.C. Moses 1967 W. Seber 1968 L. Stanberry 1969 H. F. Turner 1970 T.C. Casey 1971 L.R. Chambliss 1972 S.W. Rich 1973 A.M. Schrader 1974 C.B. Hamlin 1975 W. Seber 1976 C.E. Wysong 1977 LL. Griffin 1978 R.L. Dykes 1979 E.R. Poling 1980 E.B. McAuley 1981 R.L. Prekop 1982 J. Leitner 1983 R.H. Riveiro 1984 T.R. Shaffer 1985 L. Carnley 1986 C. Chancey 1987 D.H. Bridge 1988 G. Alfonso 1989 K.A. Thornton 1990 W.J. Kalbas 1991 H. Allen 1992 D.W. Morgan, Sr 1993 G.W. Reese, III 1994 R.K. Murrhee 1995 H.H. Whisenant 1996 R.E. Age 1997 M.R. Cary 1998 W.C. Mitchell 1999 D.R. Hutchinson 2000 H.A. Kuczwara 2001 Daniel Heston 2002 Ronald Brimner 2003 Benjamin P. Piatt 2004 Ron Green 2005 Ed Kellner 2006 Gene Hagan 2007 Peter Williams 2008 Chas Reichert, Sr Richard Boettger 2010 Merritt Drouilliard 2011 Justin Aldrich 2012 Jeffrey Shreaves 2013 Donald Cowart 2014 Barry B. Butler 2015 David Wenzel 2016 Jack Hampton Your Support Makes a Difference!!! 2017 Trestleboard Boosters Marty Willis John Noriega Albert Noriega Martin Andersen Dwight Shingledecker, PM David Jones Herb Whisenant, PM David H. Forrest Bob Ledoux, PM Don Cowart Erik Sampson, PM Marcus Dumond Dell Fennell Brother, Become a Trestleboard Booster and YOUR name can appear here. Call Don Cowart BRANDON MASONIC LODGE #114 F.&A.M. Wade Patterson - Worshipful Master

6 Brandon Lodge No. 114 F. & A.M. Activities Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Rainbow Girls 7:00 pm OES Stated Meeting 7:00pm Dinner 6:30pm Entered Apprentice Degree 7:30pm BMLSC at Fishhawk Sporting Clays - Every Sunday at 9 am Brandon Shrine Club Plummer s Restaurant 11:30 am Egypt Shrine Stated Meeting 7:30 pm Dinner 6:30pm Stated Communication 7:30pm Egypt Shrine Annual Meeting 9-11 am 15 Masonic Home Board Meeting - 11 am Chapel Service - 10 am 16 Rainbow Girls 7:00 pm District School 7 Tampa Masonic Education or Called Degree Shriners East-West 3:00 pm th Anniversary Brandon Shrine Club Meeting 6:30 pm Dinner 6:30pm Stated Communication 7:30pm Masters & Wardens John Darling #154 Zone School of Instruction / Open Books 9-11 am 29 BMLSC at Fishhawk Sporting Clays - Every Sunday at 9 am