RISING STAR #47 NEWMARKET, NEW HAMPSHIRE Location - 84 Main Street, Newmarket Mailing - PO Box 309, Newfields Free and Accepted Masons Newmarket, N. H. November 2013 Chartered 1826 Meeting 2 nd Wednesday April June, September - December
Message from the East Hello Brethren Brotherly love, relief and truth. It s the title of the picture on the cover. It s also one of our primary guiding principles. We are a small lodge with an even smaller active membership. And yet, every time I meet one of my lodge brothers, they demonstrate to me their dedication to these principles. No matter what the challenges are, our brothers rise to those challenges and show their mettle. I can name dozens of acts of brotherly love where my brothers have selflessly given of themselves for the benefit of others. Recently, we had a need to raise funds for a charity project. Despite the economy, despite the difficult times faced by many, our brothers stepped up to the plate and provided relief to someone who needed it I have been a member of this lodge for about 23 years, and yet some of the checks received were from brothers who moved away before I became a member. Relief has a long memory here. Truth. It is my duty to be truthful with all of you. Our small group of 7 active members is as dedicated to Masonic principals as the largest lodge you can imagine. We may be small, but we are mighty in our dedication to our principles. Yet, brothers, there can be no doubt that we are on the downslope. Our membership continues to shrink, our financial burdens continue to grow, and each meeting we take one step closer to the end of Rising Star Lodge. What do we need? You. We need you to come to lodge and be a part in some small way. Our annual meeting is in December. Why not visit and help us with ideas on how to maintain our Masonic heritage in Newmarket? WM J Peter Masterson Jpmasterson@comcast.net Secretary Gene Spaide g.spaide@myfairpoint.net
At our November meeting, we hope to be reading two new petitions for our lodge. We hope to continue to move in a positive direction. Remember that we cannot solicit membership, but there is nothing wrong with asking a friend if he has ever thought of becoming a member of our fraternity. Why not share this part of your life with other men who mean something to you? Our visitation with the DDGM is on 11/26. It is his last visitation of the season. Please show your dedication to your own lodge, and your respect for the tireless efforts of our top district officer, and come down to make it a great night with the sidelines full. We will be having a catered dinner, served by the Exeter Rainbow girls, who will also hold a fundraising auction. Bring some cash, and be prepared to have fun, and bring some nice gifts home. Our December meeting is our annual, when we will be electing officers for the next year, voting on some upcoming business, and discussing the future of the lodge. Please don t let your officers be the only men at this meeting. Come to visit and vote! Remember that we will be dark in January, February and March, per our new bylaws, unless we have degree work to do, which it looks like we may have. Our installation of officers will be held on the night of the stated meeting, at an offsite location to be announced. The plan is for this to be an accessible family event. Please keep the evening open! Please let the WM know if you can receive your TB by email. jpmasterson@comcast.net Calendar of Events 11/16 Grand Lodge Semi Annual 11/26 DDGM visitation to Rising Star 12/11 Rising Star Annual Meeting and election of officers 1/8/14 Officer installation
Masonic Trivia The town of Keystone South Dakota, was named by a gold prospector in 1877 for his York Rite watch charm. The earliest known appearance of the letter "G" inside the square and compasses is an etching in "Freemasonry A Journey Through Ritual and Symbol". The date shown on the etching is "5776" which we know to be 1776 in standard dating form. Another appearance is on a cast bronze plate by Paul Revere in 1796. By 1800 the combined symbol had appeared in England on aprons and upon a Master's Tracing Board. In the some languages, the letter "G" does not stand for either "God" or "Geometry" so is not a part of their basic symbol of Freemasonry. The Holy Book must be opened upon the altar before a Masonic Lodge may be opened. Freemasonry is not concerned with doctrine, dogma, sect or denomination, but only with "that natural religion in which all men agree." Therefore, the Holy Book is called the Volume of Sacred Law or the Book of the Law. If the members of a Lodge are Christian, Moslem, Jewish or Buddhist, the V.S.L. of their particular belief is opened upon their altar. The V.S.L. is a symbol of the will and teachings of the Great Architect of the Universe - a name under which any Freemason can worship that Deity in Whom he puts his faith and trust. Sept 11 in history 1918 World War I ends 1978 The General Lee jumps into history 1921 Dedication of the Tomb of the Unknowns 1942 Draft age is lowered to 18
Rising Star #47, Newmarket, NH Officers & Appointments for 2012 Worshipful Master: RW J Peter Masterson Senior Warden: W Peter Vatistas Junior Warden: W John Shaver Treasurer: W Les Blanchard Asst Treasurer: RW Richard A Gilbert Sr Secretary: Gene Spaide Asst Secretary: RW Robert Sutherland Secretary pro-tem Gene Spaide Representative to Grand Lodge: W John Shaver Chaplain: RW Richard A Gilbert Sr Senior Deacon: RW Michael V Pettengill Junior Deacon: W Mark Thompson Marshall: Kenny Flynn Senior Steward: RW Haven Hayes Junior Steward: W Richard Dewing Tyler: Jud Porter Historian: W Richard Dewing Kingman Masonic Building Corp. Officers Peter Vatistas...President Mark Thompson... Clerk Richard A. Gilbert, Sr, PM, PGC... Treasurer All Lodge Members... Invited!
Lodges in the First Masonic District. St. John s Lodge No. 1 351 Middle St. Portsmouth 1 st Wednesday, 7:00 P.M. Major General John Sullivan Lodge No. 2 6 Pleasant St. Epping 1 st Thursday, 7:30 P.M. Stafford Lodge No. 29 610 Sixth St. Dover 2 nd Wednesday 7:00 P.M. Rising Star Lodge No. 47 84 Main Street, Newmarket 2 nd Wednesday, 7:30 P.M. St. Andrew s Lodge No. 56 351 Middle St., Portsmouth 2 nd Monday, 7:00 P.M. Star in the East Lodge No. 59 63 Water St., Exeter 2 nd Thursday, 7:30 P.M. Gideon Lodge No. 84 Church St., Kingston 1 st Monday 7 P.M. (Tuesday after 1 st Monday in September) Moses Paul Lodge No. 96 32 Pearl St., Dover 3 rd Thursday, 7:30 P.M. Tucker Lodge No. 99 Off Main St., Raymond 4 th Tuesday, 7:30 P.M. Saint James No. 102 77 Tide Mill Road, Hampton 3 rd Thursday, 7:30 P.M. Triple 8 Travelers Lodge No. 32 (Prince Hall) Maplewood Ave, Portsmouth 4 th Thursday, 7:30 P.M.