Henry Lodge #57 A.F. & A.M.

eTrestleboard and Calendar

February 2002

From The East

Brethren:

Here at Henry: Let me take a moment to applaud you for securing the Hillman award and the Levy Blood Award for the year 2001 under the guidance of our most recent Past Master, Bob Williams.  As in any great undertaking, it was the harmony and support of our collective brethren that made it possible.

Degrees:  At 7:00 on the 6^th of Feb.  Three Fellowcrafts to be Passed.  On the 19^th and 26^th at 7:30 PM (regular time) one E/A each to be initiated.  Come out and help greet these fine young men as they progress in Masonry.

“Harmony, being the strength and support of all institutions” should remind you that the pot luck dinner at this month’s Stated meeting (Feb 12) will set the stage for us to enjoy the dulcet tones of Barbershop harmony as presented by the quartet INFERNO.  The meal to commence at 6:00 PM with family and friends, the music at 6:30 PM.  Lodge will open at 7:30 PM

Under the guidance of Bro. Bill Cullen, the kitchen range hood is in the process of being installed.  In meeting what appears to be the ever changing demands of the City, I believe Bro. Bill has a new appreciation of Frank Baum’s epic “The Wizard of Oz”.  The same applies to your Worshipful Master and Officers as we have been in negotiation with a paving company to restore our thirty year old parking lot.  Remind me to let the brethren in the hinterlands in on the full story at a later date.

Enclosed, you will find a resolution, which is self explanatory, for amending the Henry Lodge No. 57 A.F.& A.M. By-laws.  This resolution will be voted on during our stated meeting on the 12^th of February.  You are encouraged to attend and cast your ballot.

In Another Quarry - our own talented and busy Senior Deacon, Bro. Dallas Brumbach, Jr., is also helping to carry light down ‘shadowy lanes and along strange streams’ as Grand Master-Second Veil, Loudoun Royal Arch Chapter # 55.  Dallas, keep up the good work.

The planning calendar for the remainder of the year is also included as an enclosure with a couple of add-ons.  Of particular interest is Mt. Wor. James Dean Cole, Past Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, as our guest speaker for the October Stated.  Remember, this calendar will change as we move through the year.

As a theme, I believe the title Dormant Seed applies to each of us. It was my original intention to send each of you a cocklebur.  Fearing that I would run afoul of the USPS, EPA, USDA and heavens only knows what else, I now ask you look up some information on this interesting piece of the Grand Architect’s handiwork.  Xanthium strumarium and X. spinosum are the Latin names for what we find growing in the U.S.  Each pod that sticks like glue to cow’s and dog’s tails, and your pants cuffs contains two seeds. As a survival tool, they usually they don’t both germinate at the same time.  Think of this application as it pertains to Masonry.  As the years roll by  some of us sprouted immediately to work in the Quarry, others at various times as the demands of life permitted, sometimes as much as twenty or thirty years passed before a brother “sprouted” and became active somewhere in the fraternity.  It is never too late. And remember, this burr provided the inspiration for the invention of VELCRO!   How about a burr under your Masonic saddle?

A recent piece of scientific trivia says that the key to happiness is having good friends.  Dr. Ed Diener a professor at the University of Illinois and Dr. Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania used the scientific method to figure out the factors associated with joy.  In their study, those who were the happiest were those who had strong social relationships.  My Brethren, if you will again take up your travels as a Mason, I can assure you of a special sense of calm, joy and peace found in great proportion within our Fraternity.  At least once a month I recommend that you work tokens and grips rather than the remote!

Fraternally,

Ralph W. Smith, Jr.

W:.M:.

P.S. – How many of you touched the piece of cabletow that was enclosed in last months Trestleboard?  Think about it!

 

Memorandum for the Secretary January 8, 2002   Proposed Resolution   Change of By-Laws of Henry Lodge No. 57 A.F. & A.M.   The Grand Lodge of Virginia having revised the standing dates for Grand Annual Communication has, by default, removed the conflict that caused Henry Lodge to meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month of that communication.   Therefore, in accordance with Sec. 2.85 of The Methodical Digest and Article VIII of the Henry Lodge No. 57 A.F. & A.M. By-Laws last amended and approved on November 5, 1997, the following amendment is proposed: That the stated communications of this Lodge shall be held at the Masonic Temple 10503 Oak Place, Fairfax, Virginia on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. o’clock. Delete that portion which reads: ”except during the month of the Grand Annual Communication, then the fourth Tuesday.” I order this proposed resolution to lay over for the statutory period of one month with notification of the membership by the usual means that a vote will be taken at the next Stated communication on 12 February, 2002. If passed and approved by the Grand Master, the change to the By-laws will become effective 1 May 2002.   Ralph W. Smith, Jr. Worshipful Master