Ashlar Lodge No. 98 Free and Accepted Masons St. Augustine, FL Chartered January 18, A.D. 1888, A.L. 5888 904-826-4086 July 2017 STATED COMMUNICATIONS Masonic Temple 105 King Street St. Augustine, FL 1 ST & 3 RD Thursdays Meal 6:30 p.m. Stated Communication 7:20 p.m. DEGREE WORK AND PRACTICE 2 nd & 4 th Thursdays CHARITY OF THE QUARTER FROM THE EAST The 188th Annual Grand Communication of the Grand Lodge of Florida was held in Orlando on May 29 31, 2017. M W Richard G. Hoover was elected and installed as Grand Master for 2017-18. A number of legislative actions were taken by our Grand Lodge. They are detailed later in this Trestleboard. Three actions have particular importance: (1) every Brother elected to the office of Junior Warden must complete Master Masson I, II, and III prior to installation; (2) non-masons who meet all qualifications may be admitted to the Masonic Home of Florida under the Private Pay plan; (3) nominations for Lodge Officers must be submitted to the Secretary in writing prior to the first Stated Communication in November. Ashlar Lodge is now part of the 11th Masonic District. During the Grand Lodge Session in 2016, redistricting and rezoning was approved. There are now seven (7) Zones in Florida and 28 Districts. District 11 includes the eight Lodges from the former District 13 and Bunnell Lodge No. 200. Our new DDGM is R W Greg Jasmin, Past Master of Cabul Lodge No. 116. His Official Visit to Ashlar Lodge No. 98 will be on Thursday, August 5, 2017. The Grand Master s Official Visit to District 11 will be on Friday, August 25, 2017. The visit will begin at the Putnam County Shrine Club in Palatka with registration at 5:00 pm. The Tyled Communication will be held at Palatka Lodge No. 34. All officers from Ashlar Lodge No. 98 should attend as should as many of the Brethren as possible. This is an excellent opportunity to meet our Grand Master and others in the Grand Line as well as to enjoy fellowship with Brothers from the nine Lodges in our District and visitors from other Districts. We are having a busy year at Ashlar No. 98 and will continue to do so. On June 15th we recognized five St. Johns County Teachers as part of the Adopt-A-Teacher program. Each received a Grand Lodge Certificate and a check for $500 to assist with classroom activities. On June 1, Bro. Thomas Marschall gave an outstanding Master Mason Proficiency and received his Lambskin Apron. Our visit to Ribault Lodge in Jacksonville Beach was on June 13th. Five Ashlar Brothers attended and we reclaimed our Traveling Ashlar. On June 15, Bros. Chris Strickland and William Kenneth Smith Jr. did their Entered Apprentice Proficiency in preparation for the Fellow Craft Degree on June 22. June 22nd was St. Johns Night celebrated this year as we Wound the Clock and Passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft Bros. Strickland and Smith. Thanks to all Past Masters who participated in this degree. In July we will learn about the role Freemasons played in the founding of our Great Nation and we will go dark on August 17 for our annual pilgrimage to Pineland. At our first Stated Communication in August, we will honor our oldest members. Mark your calendars and be with us on each 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Oscar Patterson III Worshipful Master
July 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 OES 4 4th of July Lot rental 5 RAINBOW 9 10 11 12 DI Ashlar 6 STATED COMM 6:30 PM 7 8 13 14 15 16 17 OES 18 York Rite Chapter/ Council 6:30 19 RAINBOW 20 STATED COMM 6:30 PM 21 22 23/30 24/31 25 York Rite Commandery 6:30 pm 26 District Assn. Bunnell 27 LODGE INSTRUC- TION 28 29 From the West First of all I would like to extend a heartfelt "thank you" for the understanding and leniency you have extended to me over the past month as Stephanie and I readjust to having a newborn in the house. James is doing well as is Stephanie, if a little tired!!! It is hard to believe we are in the second half of 2017 already. I am sure that the remainder of the year will be as productive, instructive, and fun as the first 6 months. With that being said, the subject of this months From the West centers around Lodge Property. I was once given an awareness test, the point of which was to show the viewers how blind they could be toward things within there own realms of influence. The scene depicts a group of basketball players and the viewer is asked to simply count the number of passes one of the teams make. This task is easily accomplished, but the viewer is informed that while they have focused on this simple exercise they have completely missed some rather funny happenings in the background. This might seem light or frivolous, if not absolutely unmeaning, but does it resound, upon reflection, with our dealings at Ashlar. At times the Officer line and the Building Committee can become blind to the small needs for repair on the property because we often spend too much time there and are focused on other tasks and duties. Therefore Brothers, I ask you when you go into the Lodge please take it upon yourselves to look and bring to my, or one of the other Officers, attention anything that needs repair, refurbishment, cleaning, etc. We want to know about these items even if we cannot make a plan to rectify them immediately. As a fun exercise, here is the link to the awareness test. Either type this into your web browser or copy and paste. TAKE THE TEST!!! Its about 3 minutes long and IT WILL BE GOOD FOR YOU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahg6qcgoay4 S. & F. Bro. Bo
August 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 7 OES 1 2 RAINBOW DI Middleburg 13 14 15 16 RAINBOW 3 STATED COMM 6:30 PM 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 MM I, II, III Ashlar No. 98 8:30 am 17 DARK Visit Pineland Lodge 18 19 20 21 OES 22 York Rite Chapter/ Council 23 DISTRICT ASSOCIA- TION PALATKA 27 28 29 30 31 24 Lodge Instruction 25 GM VISIT 11TH DIS- TRICT 26 Parking Lot Rental We will rent parking spaces in our lot on Tuesday, July 4th, Monday, September 4th (Labor Day), and Saturday, November 18th (Nigh of Lights). Spaces are $10.00 for the day for EVERYONE, EVEN BROTHERS. This is a fundraiser for our Charity account. We will man the lot from 9:00 am until about 7:00 or 7:30 pm on each day. Volunteers willing to work 4 or 5 hour shifts on the days indicated are needed. It is best to have 4 or 5 Brothers in attendance. A sheet will be posted in the Lodge dining area for you to designate the shift or shifts) you will work. Joins us for doughnuts, Masonic Fellowship, and to augment our Lodge s ability to support worthy causes.
188TH ANNUAL GRAND COMMUNICATION At the 188th Annual Grand Communication of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Florida the following Grand Lodge Officers were Elected and Installed: M.W. Richard G. Hoover, Grand Master R.W. John E. Karroum, Deputy Grand Master R.W John W. Westerman III, Senior Grand Warden R.W. Thomas L. Turlington, Jr., Junior Grand Warden R.W. Rudin J. Boatright, Grand Treasurer M.W. Richard E. Lynn, P.G.M., Grand Secretary Nine (9) Resolutions were adopted which will amend various Constitutional Provisions and/or Regulations. 1. Resolution as to Eligibility of Junior Warden of Particular Lodges. The adoption of this Resolution requires that every Brother who is in nomination and elected to the office of Junior Warden of any Particular Lodge shall have completed Master Mason Exams I, II, and III before he is installed to said office. 2. Resolution Regarding Committee on Work Members. The adoption of this Resolution allows the number of members of the Committee on Work not to exceed 18 members instead of 15 members in addition to the State Chairman and the Vice Chairman. Note: This Resolution passed by a simple majority vote; therefore, in accordance with Article XI, Section 1, of the Constitution it will not be effective until presented again at the next Grand Communication for final vote which must be passed by 2/3 written vote of the Craft. 3. Resolution to Amend Chapter 48 Masonic Home Trustees of Masonic Home and Emergency Relief Admission of Non-Masons to the Masonic Home of Florida under the Private Pay Plan. The adoption of this Resolution allows non-masons qualified as defined in Masonic Home Regulation 6.02 to be admitted to the Masonic Home under the Private Pay Plan. 4. Resolution to change the Election of Lodge Officers. The adoption of this Resolution changes the time line of requirements for nominations for Elected Lodge Officers. 5. Resolution on Dual Members Qualifying for a Lodge U.D. The adoption of this Resolution clarifies that Dual Members are eligible to sign a Petition for a Lodge U.D. inasmuch as dual members are afforded all the rights and privileges of regular members. 6. Resolution on Requirements of Amending Lodge By-Laws. The adoption of this Resolution changes the requirement of submitting 1 original and 3 copies of a proposed By- Law change to requiring only 1 original of a proposed By-Law change to be submitted to the Grand Secretary s Office.
LEGISLATION (CONTINUED) 7. Resolution on Emeritus Status of Masonic Home Residents. The adoption of this Resolution clarifies that only members admitted to the Masonic Home under the Life Care Plan are to be automatically placed on the Emeritus List of his Lodge. 8. Resolution on Dues Cards. The adoption of this Resolution allows for a printed signature of the Grand Secretary and a printed or graphic Seal in place of a written signature and raised Seal in order to comply with the issuance of new permanent plastic dues cards. 9. Resolution for Lodge Co-Ownership of Property. The adoption of this Resolution allows for a Particular Lodge to own property in such name as set out in its Masonic Charter or in the name of a Masonic Center Association with pre-approval by the Grand Master. LEGISLATION WITHDRAWN 1. The Worshipful Master may permit any proficient Brother Mason, including Entered Apprentices and Fellow Crafts, to confer the Degree or otherwise participate in such Degree Work and that the term Degree Team shall be defined as any organized traveling team for the purpose of conferring Degrees. 2. That digital copy of the Forms and Ceremonies will be prepared by the Committee on Works. LEGISLATION WHICH FAILED TO PASS 1. That Masonic Associations be formed consisting of two or more Lodges for the purpose of co-ownership of property. 2. That each candidate for election to the Grand Line sign a statement that he does not object to having his background check information distributed to the Craft.
LODGE INITIATIVE A major initiative over the next several years within the Grand Lodge of Florida is Membership Development under the direction of the current Junior Grand Warden, R.W. John Westerman. This initiatives focuses on: improving the membership experience; enhancing Lodge attendance; and diligently investigating the quality of those who petition for membership. On Wednesday, March 8th, there will be a Town Hall Meeting with R. W. Westerman at Pineland Lodge No. 86 in Palatka. Note this date on your calendar and plan to attend. At Ashlar Lodge No. 98, we are working to do exactly the same thing by having sound Masonic Education at each Stated Communication; good fellowship; and increasing our attendance through the Ask an Absent Brother. Look about you at Lodge and think about those who were in your EA, FC, and MM class. Are they attending regularly? If not, give them a call; let them know that they are missed; and invite them to meet you at the next Stated Communication. You might even offer them a ride to and from Lodge. Regular Lodge attendance like regular church attendance and so much else in life is a good habit. But one broken, it may be difficult to reestablish. And when at Lodge, let us always keep in mind that we are there for fellowship. Talk with all Brothers. Congeniality goes a long way in encouraging Brothers to return. All Freemasons are Brothers who meet on the same level, regardless of their social or economic status outside the lodge. Princes, presidents, and captains of business are no better or more important than bus drivers, plumbers, and paper boys when they sit in the lodge together. Masonry does not detract from a man s accomplishments, nor does it exalt him above his Brothers because of his position outside the lodge. We meet upon the level, act by the plumb, and part upon the square.
RAINBOW ASSEMBLY NO. 42 INSTALLS OFFICERS St. Augustine Rainbow Assembly No. 42 installed officers on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at the Masonic Temple located at the intersection of King Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. The officers installed were: Ms. Hayley Mastoridis, Worthy Advisor; Ms. Traci Durre, Worth Associate Advisor; Ms. Apryl Wright, Charity; Ms. Zipporah Gardner, Charity, M. Myla DeFord, Faith; and Ms. Hannah Duncan, Drill Leader. The Installing Officer was Ms. Sarah Jane Todd, Mother Advisor assisted by Ms. Megan Richards, Installing Marshall, and Ms. Kathleen Richards, Installing Chaplain. Garret Wolfe, Past Master of Ashlar Lodge No. 98 was the musician and Robert Gagnon, Past Master of Ashlar Lodge No. 98 gave the invocation and benediction. The installation s theme was Home of the Free because of the Brave represented by the colors red, white, and blue as well as several U.S. flags. Ms. Mastoridis selected as her service project the Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans Nursing Home in St. Augustine. Rainbow Assembly No. 42 meets on the 1 st and 3 rd Wednesday of each month. The International Order of Rainbow Girls is open to all young women ages 11 21. L to R: Megan Richards, Apryl Wright, Zipporah Gardner, Hayley Mastoridis, Sarah Jane Todd, Kathleen Richards, Jess Durre, Myla DeFord.
RETURN TO RIBAULT LODGE Brothers from Ashlar Lodge No. 98 returned to Ribault Lodge No. 272 in Jacksonville Beach on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, and reclaimed our Traveling Ashlar. On a previous visit, we brought Ribault s Traveling Gavel to Ashlar which they recently took back to Jacksonville Beach. Members of Ashlar who made the trip included W. Oscar Patterson, W. George Maultsby, Bro. Jim Carrick, Bro. Robert Wilson, and Bro. Mark William. Returning the Ashlar was W. Robert Sapitan of Ribault No. 272. Ashlar Lodge No. 98 will visit Pineland Lodge on Thursday, August 17. Fraternal exchanges are a great part of our Fraternity. Not only do we get to see other Lodes at Labor,
ADOPT-A-TEACHER Five public school teachers from the St. Johns County School System were recently recognized as Outstanding Educators and presented with monetary awards to support classroom needs. The recognition was made by Ashlar Lodge No. 98 F. & A.M. Each teacher was presented with a certificate signed by the Grand Master of Masons of Florida noting their Adoption by the Lodge. They also received a personal certificate recognizing them as an Outstanding Education and a check for $500 to support classroom needs. The presentations were made at the Lodge located at the corner of King Street and Martin Luther King Avenue on Thursday, June 15. Making the presentations was Oscar Patterson III, Worshipful Master of the Lodge. Teachers recognized included: Jeanne Siragusa, 4 th grade teacher at Otis A. Mason Elementary School; Stephanie Bozard, 4 th grade teacher at Palencia Elementary School; Sarah Jane Todd, Pre-Kindergarten teacher at Millcreek Elementary School; Ashley Zapata, AVID teacher at Gamble Rogers Middle School; and Jeremy Price, band director and music teacher at Liberty Pines Academy. The teachers were nominated for the award by members of the Lodge and a Lodge committee finalized the selections. The Adopt-A-Teacher activity is part of the Grand Lodge of Florida s Public Education and Citizenship Committee Program which endeavors to recognize and assist outstanding pub-
The real Freemason is distinguished from the rest of Mankind by the uniform unrestrained rectitude of his conduct. Other men are honest in fear of punishment which the law might inflict; they are religious in expectation of being rewarded, or in dread of the devil, in the next world. A Freemason would be just if there were no laws, human or divine except those written in his heart by the finger of his Creator. In every climate, under every system of religion, he is the same. He kneels before the Universal Throne of God in gratitude for the blessings he has received and humble solicitation for his future protection. He venerates the good men of all religions. He disturbs not the religion of others. He restrains his passions, because they cannot be indulged without injuring his neighbor or himself. He gives no offense, because he does not choose to be offended. He contracts no debts which he is certain he cannot discharge, because he is honest upon principal. A Farmer s Almanac, 1823 Freemasonry has always existed... They allow good men and youths whom they consider worthy of their company to divine and guess at their deeds, to see them, in so far as they can be seen. These others find them to their liking, and perform similar deeds... And what exactly do they boast about? Only such things as one expects of every good person and every good citizen... and deeds speak for themselves... Their true deeds are their secrets. The true deeds of Freemasons are aimed at making all that are commonly described as good deeds for the most part superfluous. Gotthold Lessing in Ernst and Faulk: Dialogues of Freemasons.
Interpreting Masonic Ritual by Oscar Patterson III, Worshipful Master of Ashlar Lodge No. 98 is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and McCoy Masonic Supply. All royalties go to the Masonic Home of Florida. If you purchase a copy, bring it to Lodge to be autographed.