Fredericksburg Lodge 4, A.F. & A.M. The Trestleboard April 2017 IllustriousBrotherGeorgeWashington's Mother Lodge Michael T. Moses Master 803 Princes Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Phone: 540-842-7376 E-Mail: mtmoses1@yahoo.com First Extant Recorded Meeting, September 1, 1752 First Recorded Conferral of the Royal Arch Degree in America, December 22, 1753 Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland July21, 1758 Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Virginia, January 30, 1787 "Lest We Forget"
From the East Brethren, as I think about the month March and to what so far has been accomplished I cannot say Thank You enough to all for making this possible. As you all know, our month started out by Raising Brother James Smith to Master Mason following a weekend full of activities starting with all of the Line Officers making it to Richmond for the DLC followed by a great lunch at Base Pro Shop. In attendance was Bro. Dan Goodwin, Bro. Jamie Snyder, Bro. Stan Kennedy, Bro. Kevin Valentine, Bro. Chris Tripp, Bro. Bob Melvin, Wor. Dick Klehm, RW Bob Brammer, RW Bro Steve Sanford and WB Shelby Chandler. The Lodge hosted several visitations starting with the Pancake Breakfast headed by our Senior Steward Bro. Ed Witalec with assistance Bro. Paul Dooley and two Entered Apprentice s Bro. Piazza and Wagnon. There was also two visitations starting with the Official Visit of the Grand Commander followed by the JOB s Daughters Grand Visitation of the Grand Guardian. Sad news struck the Lodge by the announcement of Brother James Howard (Jim) Self who laid down his working tools on March 6th, 2017 at the age of 85. Brother James was Initiated November 8th, 1972, Passed on January 17th, 1973 and Raised on March 14th, 1973. There was held a Masonic Memorial Service on March 9th, 2017 led by RW Brother Freeman Shupe and I would like to Thank all that was there for this service. A Memorial Page for Brother Self was read, along with the Minutes of his service at our Stated Communication. Table Lodge Fredericksburg Lodge No 4. Table Lodge will be June 10th, 2017 celebrating the Holy Saints John. The Table Lodge will be from 6:30 to 7:30 and is open to all Masons. Please go to our website at www.masoniclodge4.org for reservations. I would like to Thank the Job s Daughters for such a great an filling dinner of Corn Beef and Cabbage prior to our Stated Communication. In addition, the lodge voted on and elected two candidates to receive the degrees in Freemasonry, they will be initiate on the 29th of March. I would also like to welcome Brother William Henry Griffin from California who has just affiliated with our Lodge. We were unable to vote on the DDGM during the Stated however, we have received the nominations from Ashland Lodge No. 168 and I am glad to report that they nominated Worshipful Brother Donald Michael Boor for 8th Masonic District DDGM for the year 2019 and Michael Patrick Coyle as the alternate nominee. We will be voting on these nominations at our April Stated Communication. A request for the George Washington Bible by Henry Lodge #57 was read and approved to travel on May 9th for the Official Visit Blood Drive Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 Blood Drives are Located at the Spotsylvania Towne Center. Location is near the food Court. Contact our Lodge Blood Coordinator Brother Jeff Mikulas at (Jeff_Mikulas@bmc.com) to volunteer or to Donate. by the Grand Master Most Worshipful Vernon Stuart Cook. If there are any Past Master that would like to support this request please contact Bro. Jamie Snyder or myself. Over the weekend following our Stated Communication Brother Jeff Mikulas and Brother George Brookman had another successful weekend supporting the Blood Drive that was at the Spotsylvania Towne Center. I and the Brothers would also like to congratulate Lady Jessica Ford (Worthy Matron), Worshipful Brother Danaus (Dan) Ford (Worthy Patron) and all the newly installed Officers of Fredericksburg Chapter #29 Order of the Eastern Star and wish them a successful upcoming year. I would also like to congratulate Brother Joseph Gilkerson on him being passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on the 15th of March and to Brother John Saunders for him being Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on the 22nd of March. Our April will be begin with our Stated Communication on the 14th where the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #29 will be preparing a true Masonic Dinner of Pot Roast, Green Beans and Carrots, Mash Potatoes with Au Jus Gravy and Rolls followed by a desert of Banana Cream Pie. The following day 15th April we will be bringing our Widow s Easter Lilly s, all that would like to assist we will meet at the Lodge at 11:00am. Please get with either myself or our Junior Deacon Brother Kevin Valentine to let us know if you can support the Lodge in delivering the flowers to our Widow s. On April 13th I will be visiting AW-22 Stated Communication and partaking in the Festive Board afterwards the guest speaker will be WB Patrick Craddock who will talk about the history of Masonic regalia, if anyone would like to join me please let me know. In addition on April 17th I will be traveling to Potomac Lodge No. 5 in Washington DC where they will be doing an Entered Apprentice Degree, if anyone would like to join me please let me know. I can see that these visits will be both fun and interesting. Masonic Quote "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Brother Winston Churchill
From the Lodge Instructor of Work I would like to Thank all that have been supporting the Lodge in all its degree work. The experience that the candidates receive are a direct reflection of the Lodge as a whole. Upcoming degree dates for April are as Follows: March 29: EA Degree and Return April 5: FC Degree April 12: Work Night/Practice April 19: EA Degree April 26: Open. For all Brethren that are interested in getting involved with degrees and coaching please join us Wednesday nights. We will be doing ritual practice/work prior to the Degrees starting at 5:30 PM and finishing up around 6:30 PM. In addition, following the Wednesday Degree with the exception on nights that a Master Mason Degree is conferred there will be class covering the Master Mason Catechism. From the Stewards Brethren, looking at our Pancake Breakfast on the 1st of April the crew has decided that we will be introducing a new item to the menu, not knowing what it might be but it could consist of egg, cheese and some short of bacon on a muffin. As stated by the Worshipful dinner will be provided by the OES consisting of Pot Roast, Green Beans, Carrots, Mash Potatoes with Au Jus Gravy and roll. Please contact me at philly.wits@verizon so I know the total number of Brothers that will be participating. I will also be selling the June's Table Lodge Tickets. From the FMMA
IN MEMORIAM ------------------------------ THIS PAGE WILL BE SPREAD UPON THE MINUTES of FREDERICKSBURG LODGE No. 4, A.F. & A.M. and is DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF BRO JAMES HOWARD SELF WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE March 7, 2017 at Age 85 BORN June 21, 1924 INITIATED November 8, 1972 PASSED January 14, 1973 RAISED March 14, 1973 Virtus Junxit-Mors non Separabit Whom virtue has united, Death will not separate
March Activities March 1st Raising of Brother James Smith March 10th Stated Communication Olde Lodge Room March 11th Fredericksburg Chapter #29 OES Installation March 4th Grand Visitation of the Grand Gaurdian Job's Daughters Blood Drive Brother Stan and Lady Nancy Kennedy Blood Drive Brother George Brookman March 15th Passing of Brother Gilkerson March 22nd Passing of Brother Saunders
Officers' of Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 ANNO LUCIS 6017 Senior Warden Junior Warden Treasurer Secretary Senior Deacon Junior Deacon Chaplin Senior Steward Junior Steward Marshal Tyler Daniel Goodwin Jamie Snyder WB Charles Cooper WB Daniel Thompson Stanley Kennedy Kevin Valentine Mark Gilday Edmund Witalec David Palacios Trevor Taylor David Washburn dan@goodwinsmith.com jamie-snyder@usa.net ccooper627@cox.net lodge4sr@verizon.net stankennedy@verizon.net vak242@yahoo.com m.w.gilday@gmail.com philly.wits@verizon.ne palaciosdavid344@gmail.com trevorbtaylor@gmail.com thewashburns4@verizon.net Trustees Christopher Decker PM 2017 Dennis David 2018 Jeff St.Onge PDDGM 2019 Charles Cooper PM 2020 Dennis Berry PM 2021 Living Past Masters Carter G. Wells 1963 J. Travis Walker 2000 Ferris M. Belman 1972 Daniel W. Thompson 2001 Rudolph E. Griffith 1974 W. Robert Brammer DDGM 2002 Henry W. Baker 1975 Sheridan G. Harrod 2003 Edward L. Donalson 1983 Jene G. Parrotte 2004 Carlton D. Beach 1985 Steven W. Sanford PDDGM 2005 Dennis W. Berry 1986 Richard D. Dey 2006 Thomas C. Shelton 1988 Anthony L. Rudder 2007 William J. White 1989 Jeffrey D. St.Onge PDDGM 2009 Allen J. Richey PDDGM 1990 Shelton S. Mackey 2010 James R. Adams 1992 Shelby L. Chandler 2011 Robert W. Benish 1993 Christopher J. Decker 2012 Michael J. McCray 1995 Christopher R. Wilson 2013 Steven M. Gallahan 1996 Jeffery L. Mitchell 2014 James J. Fox PDDGM 1997 Jeffery P. VanCuren 2015 Charles B. Pasto 1998 James L. Ragsdale 2016
April's Events Officers Meeting the 1st Lodge Clean UP the 12th Pancake Breakfast the 1st District School the 24th Stated Communication the 14th
Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 A.F.&A.M. P.O. Box 702 Fredericksburg VA.22404 www.masoniclodge4.org