Ashlar Lodge # 29 Quarterly Trestle Board Spring 2014 Words From the Worshipful Master in the East: Bruce Wethered: Worshipful Master 208-854-9800 Secretary: Joe Kowalczyk 208-870-3099 Meetings: Our Stated meetings are at 7:30 pm on the First Wednesday of every month. This meeting will usually open on the 3 rd Degree. The called meeting (third Wednesday of each month) will be used to prepare for degree work or education, and will open on the lowest degree necessary for the planned work that evening. Practices: held on the Saturday s following the stated and called meetings if needed. We start with breakfast at La Baron s Café at 8:00 AM, then up to the Lodge for degree work, usually by 9:15 AM. All are welcome for breakfast, practice or both! ** 2014 Lodge Officers ** WM Bruce Wethered SW Dee McAlister JW Howie Bloom TR Bob Bouy SEC Joe Kowalczyk SD Phil Hoesing JD Roger Gamble ML Bud Wethered SS Bob Nelson JS John Ransdell CH Bill Hopper TL Lee Harris I was honored to be elected Worshipful Master for 2014. I am very pleased with the level of energy, enthusiasm and involvement in our lodge. We have had great leadership the last few years with Chris Wethered and Bob Bouy serving as Worshipful Master of the Lodge.. We started the year with a Kindle for Books pilot program that has generated a lot of interest and support within the Lodge. We had an excellent turn out for our Washington s Birthday Banquet with a tri-tip dinner prepared by brother Bob Nelson. Brother Dee McAllister was presented his 50 year mason award. We may have three first degrees lined up for the coming month. Planned events: March 18 8 th District Meeting, Meridian, 6:30 dinner, 7:30 pm meeting March 29 Open House 10:00 am to 2:00 pm April 5 8 th District Masonic Youth Continuing Education Award Dinner. Also, to honor 50 yr Masons and Past Masters. Social Hour at 5:00 pm and dinner at 6:00 pm. April Three first degrees, date and time to be determined. May 21 Past Master s night, Table Lodge May 24 Open House 10:00 am to 2:00 pm July 12 Silver City 13; MM degree July/ Aug Picnic or camping trip. Maybe schedule a group spot at SISCRA Let s talk August 9 Lodge on the Lake at Cascade August 23 Open House 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Sept 18-20 Grand Lodge October 6 Fall District meeting; Ashlar No. 29 will host. Date and time TBD. By Worshipful Master Bruce Wethered
And From The West Busy times are ahead for Ashlar Lodge #29. The Lodge has received three petitions for ballot at the next stated meeting and a candidate for the first degree of Freemasonry. There will be plenty of practice work and Degree work in the near future. Ashlar Lodge has initiated a program called Kindles for Kids. The Lodge will donate two Kindle electronic books to The New Horizons Public School in Nampa as a reward for two students who have read the required number of pages and met the criteria set by the school. The school will elect the two winners. The presentation of the Kindles to the two students will be made by members of Ashlar Lodge #29. Next year, we the Lodge, are optimistic about expanding this program to include more schools. By Senior Warden Dee McAlister What is the Royal Arch? The Royal Arch has long been considered a necessary part of Freemasonry. The Freemasonry of the now United States began in 1730 under the Premier Grand Lodge of England (Moderns) giving the first official Masonic recognition of the English colonies. Whatever Masonic meetings may have been held before 1730 were not recorded or the records have been lost, and activity after 1730 rapidly increased and is documented. The other Grand Lodge of England (Ancients) and the Grand Lodge of Scotland also chartered Lodges in America, and before the union of the two Grand Lodges of England in 1813, the Royal Arch Degree was conferred in this Country by the Military Lodges connected with the Irish Regiments stationed in the Colonies. The first recorded mention of the Royal Arch dates from 1743 in Ireland, telling of a Masonic procession where the Master was preceded by the Royal Arch carried by two Excellent Masters. The Royal Arch has been practiced since at least 1738 in England and at least 1753 in America. The present day Royal Arch Chapter is one of the most enjoyable of all the Masonic Degree Conferring Bodies. I should perhaps mention a declaration of interest. Only one year after being raised a Master Mason, I was exalted into the Royal Arch nearly 30 years ago. That is something I have never regretted. There is much more to the journey through Masonry that we cannot find just through the three degrees alone. I personally discovered this when I was exalted. It is difficult to understand why more brethren do not seek membership in a Royal Arch Chapter. No Rite of Freemasonry covers the world so much as does Royal Arch Masonry. The Sublime Degree of Master Mason is often thought of as the ultimate degree of Freemasonry. However, many Masonic scholars agree that the narrative of the Craft, as illustrated in the three degrees, is not the whole story. The Degrees of York Rite Masonry complete the story and provide answers to many questions that a Master Mason or even a Past Master may have. How many times have we all heard it said, in one way or another, All The Masonry that there is, is contained in the Symbolic, Craft of Blue Lodge? How sad to be so shortsighted! Royal Arch Masonry actually is part of Ancient Craft Masonry, and without the degrees of the Chapter and including the Council Degrees, the Master Mason is incomplete indeed. From the Freemason's Monitor of 1864 we read: "This degree is indescribably more august, sublime and important than all which precede it, and is the summit and perfection of ancient Masonry. It impresses on our minds a belief of the being and existence of a Supreme Deity, without beginning of days or end of years, and reminds us of the reverence due to His Holy Name. It also brings to light many essentials of the Craft, which were, for the space of four hundred and seventy years, buried in darkness, and with- out a knowledge of which the Masonic character cannot be complete."
The Master Mason is left with a cliff-hanger in the Lodge. A truth that has been lost, and a history that is unresolved. The temple stands uncompleted, and is left without the guardians that it so preciously needs and deserves. This is where York Rite Masonry comes in, and most especially the Royal Arch Chapter. The interpretation of the symbolism of the Royal Arch is left to the individual interpretation of the Royal Arch Mason. The rich history of York Rite Masonry is undeniable. The York Rite is historically the oldest and purest of the appendant Rites. Every Master Mason should be fascinated by the lessons and mysteries of Freemasonry provided by the Blue Lodge. Hopefully, all Master Masons and Past Masters will consider those lessons and mysteries available in the York Rite of Freemasonry in order to complete their Masonic knowledge and the teachings that are mentioned as landmarks of the Master Mason. All brother Masons should be advised to continue their historical and educational view of Masonry. Every Master Mason should be a member of the Royal Arch, and then if so desired every Christian Mason should consider to be a Knights Templar. Upcoming Events *** March 29 Lodge "Open House". Breakfast at 8:30 AM, open house from 10-2 PM Congratulations: *** Brothers Roger finished his proficiency for Master Mason by mid January. *** SW Dee received his 50 year pin and is working for his Master's Certificate! *** Brother Sean has earned his Warden's Certificate, which was presented to him at the District Meeting on March 18th. 8th District Deputy s Message The 8th District Update according to Deputy Dog (Steve Zimmerman, DDGM#8) DDGM Steve had the honor of presenting a Past Master apron to Brother Bob and a case to Brother Bruce from Ashlar Lodge in appreciation of the work done in the preceding years. *** April 2 Stated communication; ballots to be cast and discussion of by-law changes; should we go dark in the summer? Be sure to attend. *** April 5 Dinner to honor 50 year members, Past Masters, and award a scholarship. Held at Mt. Moriah, 5 PM. Dinner is free, donations will be accepted towards scholarships. *** April 26 International Lodge in Bonner's Ferry Idaho and Creston BC. *** May 31 District "bean feed" at Brother Sherm's home. Silver City won the honors and will host. Social hour starts at 4-5 PM, Brother Bob's delicious tri-tip at 6 PM.
is married with a new baby and with college expenses and the baby, she has a definite financial need. Melissa was a Jobie and her Grandfather was a Mason until his death. Her father and three uncles are masons in good standing. That's all for now. Remember, get out there and Live Masonry! Fraternally yours, Steve Zimmerman, Dist Deputy Grand Master 8 th Masonic District Masons of ID Brothers, your attendance is requested at the 8th District Masonic Heritage Night. This is an event for all Masons, Wives, Eastern Star, Jobies, Rainbow, DeMolay and any others of our Masonic Family. * 2nd Annual 8th District Masonic Heritage Night honoring 50 Year Masons and Past Masters, Saturday April 5th at Mt Moriah Lodge #39, 820 Blaine, Caldwell Idaho. * Social hour begins at 5:00pm * Salisbury Steak Dinner served at 6:00pm. * Recognition of 50 Year Masons and Past Masters to follow. * Program by Rick Holloway, Worshipful Master, Silver City #13: His world tour as Supreme Associate Guardian. (Come see Rick's wonderful slide show of incredible places, and look inside some of the finest Masonic temples in the world.) The dinner is free, however donations will be gratefully accepted. 100% of everything received will go to our Masonic Youth Continuing Education Fund. Melissa Lieske, sponsored by Ashlar #29, was selected to receive this year's Award. About Melissa: 20 years old, attending Boise State University with a double major in Chemistry & Biology. Last semester she earned a 3.7 GPA. She And finally, the South! While listening to the Grand Lecturer Brother Thomas Gough last night at the 8th Masonic District Spring Communication in Meridian, Bro. Gough brought up the Movable and Immovable Jewels. While we all know what these Jewels are, I was wondering why Movable and Immovable. Every Lodge is furnished with six jewels, three of which are movable and three immovable. Mackey's Encyclopedia explains it as this: They are termed jewels, says because they have a moral tendency which renders them jewels of inestimable value. The movable jewels, so called because they are not confined to any particular part of the Lodge, are the Rough.Ashlar, the Perfect Ashlar, and the Trestle- Board. The Immovable Jewels are the Square, the Level, and the Plumb. They are termed Immovable, because they are appropriated to particular parts of the Lodge, where alone they should be found, namely, the Square to the East, the Level to the West, and the Plumb to the South. In the English system the division is the reverse of this. There, the Square, Level, and Plumb are called Movable Jewels, because they pass from the three officers who wear them to their successors. I bring this up because I am sure many Brothers, especially our newer Brethren, while listening to a Lecture or
another Brother talk, hear words or phrases that they don't understand and wonder what they mean. Where am I going with this? While in keeping with our Worshipful Masters "Back to the Basics" theme and Lodge Education, I'm asking you that if you have something you're not sure what it means or if you know something that might be of some value to the Lodge, let me know. I can research it and present it to the lodge as an educational topic. By Junior Warden Howie Bloom From our Secretary, Brother Joe Spring Time! One of the nicest times of year, especially in the Treasure Valley; time to get out, clean the flower garden and plant this year's beautiful flowers. In order to enjoy the Summer and Fall flowers, you need to get started soon, as well as get out there and get your lawn, trees and shrubs prepared for the long hot Summer that is going to follow. Spring is also the time of year to think about your obligation and make sure your enjoying family, friends and life in general. Before it gets really nice and all the outdoor activities begin, take a few minutes to read and review you Idaho Monitor, there is lots of good reading to enjoy; or take a look at the Idaho Code and Digest, there is even more information about our fraternity for you to explore and discuss with other brothers or potential candidates. Get out, show you re a Mason, not just by your ring or symbol on your clothes, but in your actions, dust off the cob webs and live Masonry!. Spring is also a good time to plant the seed of Freemasonry, I m sure every Mason was asked at one time or another one of these simple questions: What is a Freemason and what do they do? Do you know how you would answer these simple questions? The wrong answer, or a pause, could stop and further questions, discussion, even end the curiosity and conversation. I have heard a Mason say Do you know what the Shiners Children Hospital is? Then the Mason states, well they are Freemasons. Another answer is to say we take a good man and make him better That could start a very good and long conversation around how do the Mason s make a man better, think about all the possibilities you can discuss. Always remember, anyone asking these questions has a curiosity about our great fraternity. I personally usually answer It s the World's largest and oldest Fraternity and the conversation really opens up from there. In the last year, I have been all over the valley and Idaho attending and participating in various degree work, sometimes just sitting on the sidelines and showing support. In my opinion, showing support is such a simple gesture and truly means so much to the Candidate or Brother going through the degree. We all need show up for at least one degree every month or two, at a lodge other then Ashlar #29. So, I ask each and every brother to get out, visit, follow your obligation by helping a brother in need by volunteering for a part; do whatever you can in helping out with a degree within our District or State. Remember, you may have been a Mason for many, many years, and maybe you don t think you have the time. I assure you, if you check your Cable Tow, you will find you have more than enough time and will probably enjoy the endeavor more then you can possibly image. You may not think it means so much, until you see a BIG smile on the Candidates face or the brother going through the degree that day. Especially seeing all the support, this is when we need to make the most positive impact on our newest members and brothers. You can do it, just think about what is important in life, and follow your heart and obligation, it s what makes you a better man and Freemason. Words you might hear in Lodge: Approbation: Act of approving; approving, commendation. Clefts: (not cliffs) openings, narrow passages, fissures. As Brother John would say: All good things must come to an end, so we bid you Do Svidaniya