Trestle
Board
Yelm Lodge 244
Trestle
Board
March 2008 - Stated Communications from
the East
Greetings My Brothers:
Our Lodge continues to grow. At the stated meeting on March 4th
we elected two fine young men for membership. Mr. Robert Miller
and Mr. Joshua Stevens. I was pleased to see the fraternity still
attracts young men of their caliber. I am positive they will both
be an asset to our Lodge and Masonry in general.
My Brothers I know you will all join me in welcoming these young
gentlemen and their families into our Masonic family. We will be
holding a 1st Degree for both of these new Brothers on Tuesday,
March 11th at 8 P.M. Please try to attend if possible. W.B. Jon
Anderson will give the lecture.
Other news, we now have 24 "Life Members". The Past
Masters picture committee chaired by Bro. Joe Chiappino and
Co-Chaired by W.B. Ernie Kell is making great progress, but it
has proved to be a big undertaking. The sign committee chaired by
Bro. Richard Birkland is moving right a long as information and
cooperation with other agencies is explored.
Also at the March 4th meeting a 55 year service pin and
certificate was awarded to Bro. Alf M. Birkland. It was presented
at the alter by his son Bro. Richard Birkland, our Senior Warden.
Fraternally yours,
W.M. Tony Ward
February 2008 – Stated
Communications
Greetings My Brothers:
As the second month of this year as Master has come and gone, let
us all look to what we hope to accomplish and achieve. The idea
before the Brethern this month is to look into the "Books
for Bikes" program that Bro. Larry Warner had stated he
wanted to Chair. We will touch on this more at the March stated
meeting, as well as the increase in community involvement by
participating in the Prairie Days Prade on June 28th, 2008 at 6PM
involving a five person float, hopefully having the five officers
of the Lodge attending would be great. "Kick" this
around. We will need to vote and reserve the slot for the float
at the next meeting.
The Lodge would like to thank Bro. Larry Byrd for the nice plaque he has donated to the Lodge. This next month we will have two new petitions to vote on. The Lodge is growing. YEAH! Membership growth is a must. Another fifty year pin was presented at the Lodge for W.B. Wardith Dixon French by W.B. Ernie Kell. Thank you for a job well done.
In the meantime, may the God of love and peace delight to dwell with you and bless you.
Fraternally yours,
W.M. Tony Ward
January 2008 – Stated Communications
Greetings My Brothers:
As this year is ahead of me and I set many goals for both my self
and the Lodge, I look forward to your help and support to
accomplish what we start. If it will be anything like the warm
welcoming at my installation, I know this year will be the
Lodge’s best yet. Even though our Stated Meeting was on
“NewYears Day”, January 1st most members were present.
You all received a small pocket planning calendar and pen. Use
this my Brethern at every meeting to write down announcements,
dates and committees for which you have volunteered. Bring this
pocket calendar and pen to every meeting this year for our year
will be filled with exciting and challenging tasks and
accomplishments. I would like to thank both of the Brothers who
already stepped up to chair a committee, Bro. Dick Birkland and
Bro. Joe Chiappino are helping out with the plaques and old
photos. Brothers, if either one of these Brothers need your help,
please step in and lend them your hand. Also at the request of
the Grand Lodge of Maine, A.F. & A.M. and on behalf of their
Lodge #23 of Freeport Maine to our Secretary W.Bro.Gary Sortor we
presented to Bro. Ervin P. Weston a “50” year member
medallion and lapel pin. This request came to us from the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge, F. & A.M. of Washington. We at Yelm
Lodge made the presentation at a “Special Communication
Meeting” of Yelm Lodge to fit into Bro Ervin Weston’s
schedule. All work was done in an outstanding manner by the
Officers and Brothers in attendance.
ALSO TAKE NOTICE that at all future stated meetings this year, a
dinner will be served at 7 P.M. in reception hall down stairs.
For our February 5th Stated Meeting we will have a French Dip au
Jus, green salad and beverage. Dessert following our Stated
Meeting by our Sr. and Jr.Stewards. Your spouses or guest of a
Lodge member are welcome to join us for dinner.
The best to you and yours throughout the year.
Fraternally yours,
W.M. Tony Ward
* * * * *
December - 2007 - Greetings from the Desk of the Secretary
Greetings My Brothers:
Once again I can announce that we had an outstanding and
productive meeting on December 4th. Awards were given out by
order of W.M. Rob Stewart, Senior and Junior Wardens to all Lodge
Officers for outstanding service to the Lodge and community. We
received an award from the M.W. Grand Lodge for "Outstanding
Community Service". This one will join the one we received
last year for "Outstanding Family Involvement" on the
in the Lodge for all to see.
It was brought before the Lodge and approved to send a check to
the Hospital Visitation Program for $105.30 to provide
visitations for the men and women in the military hospitals. This
my Brothers is a very noble and worthy charity. We also sent out
21 Christmas cards to soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center
recovering from wounds received while serving this great nation.
In each card we delivered a thank you from all of us at Yelm
#244.
On the 8th of December we had our installation of officers for
the year 2008 with about 60 members and guests present. An
"outstanding" job was done by the installation team.
After the meeting there was a wonderful meal provided by the
family of our new W.M. Tony Ward. A great time was had by all.
Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year ahead to each of you and
your families.
Fraternally yours,
W.B. Gary S. Sortor
* * * * *
November - 2007 - Greetings from the West
Greetings My Brothers:
Well, they say that when you work hard and try, good things come
your way. In saying thins I have made it to the position of
Master Elect. This has not come as a given nor a hand out. Many
years of going through the chairs, being on different committees
and volunteering within the Lodge when needed has enabled me to
be elected by unanimous vote of the brethern. Most of you who
attend Lodge on a regular basis know who I am and my involvement
in the Yelm area. For those of you who can't always attend, let
me introduce myself as Master elect for 2008.
As a short time resident if Yelm, only approaching my seventh
year, I have found this community very warm, inviting and
friendly. I work for Thurston County District No. 2 under the
supervision of three elected cemetary board members, one of whom
introduced me to the Masonic way of life. He is W.B. Gary S.
Sorter, who is not only my boss and fellow brother, but has
become a great friend. In my line of work I have started my own
company called Yelm Monument Company selling various cemetery
products like head stones and flower vases, etc. I use a P.O. box
so as not to conflict with any county regulations and can help
any brethern in their time of need. I grew up not too far from
Yelm in Spanaway and graduated from Bethel H.S. in 1979, went off
to college both out of state and in state, U. of WA, P.L.U. and
U. of Hawaii to name a few. After college I found myself single
and rearing two children in a single parent household. As for
work, the county job keeps me very busy. Recently I was elected
by the Washington Cemetery Funeral Assoc. as Secretary/Treasurer,
an elected position for the state to help govern the cemeteries
and funeral homes. In my time off my son and I are avid bow
hunters and this time with him is very valuable and rewarding. He
asks me often... "When can I become a Mason?" I am an
active member of Terrestrial Lodge No. 228 in Eatonville where I
was appointed Sr. Deacon under the direction of W.M. Bill Grein.
Recently I became a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason of Olympia
and plan to go into York Rite. This coming year with the help of
all the brethren of our Lodge # 244 I see a fantastic and
rewarding year. I look forward to serving as your W.M. in 2008.
Fraternally yours,
Tony Ward
* * * * *
October - 2007 - Greetings from the West
Greetings My Brothers:
Time is approaching for the new year. This year has been filled
with many accomplishments and goals completed.
Looking at the year ahead, a great many ideas have been brought before the brethern... some have been put into motion. This is what the fraternal brotherhood is all about... working together and having fun.
I look forward to helping and working with each and every brother in the Lodge during the next year.
This past month we raised Brother Phil Kealii Peoples to the Master masons Degree. Brother Phil K. is a third generation member of our Lodge. His grandfather W.B. Ralph Peoples, and his father W.B. Phil M. Peoples were Masters of the Lodge.
Please mark your calendars for the Lodge's Installation of Officers for the 2008 year, which will be held at 6P.M. on December 8th. Invitations will be mailed to you in November.
It has been my pleasure to serve the Lodge as your Senior Warden this year.
Thank you.
Fraternally yours,
Tony Ward
* * * * *
September – 2007 – From the
Desk of the Secretary
Greetings My Brothers:
Brothers here it is September again and the Lodge is now light.
I trust that each of you had an enjoyable summer. For those of you that missed our annual summer Lodge BBQ that was held at Bro. Joe Chiappino’s home, you missed a super one with lots of wonderful food and fellowship. Our stated meeting for September was quite productive.
We held a First Degree on the evening of the 18th for our newly obligated Brither Joe Kruft. All the work was done in an outstanding manner.
I am sorry to announce the passing of two of our Brothers over the summer; Bro. Ed Bennet and Bro. Harry Snider. Both of these Brothers were 50 plus year members of the Lodge. They will be missed by all.
We will be doing a 3rd Degree for Bro. Philip K. Peoples on Tuesday, October 2nd. Bro. Phil is the 3rd generation of his family to come up in Yelm Lodge. I hope as many of you who can will try to attend this meeting. May the Blessings of Heaven be with all of you and your families.
Fraternally,
W.B. Gary S. Sortor, Secretary
Freemasonry Encourages Personal Study and Social Betterment
Freemasonry, as we know it today, is very much a
product of the Age of Enlightenment, which has, over the
centuries, developed into a fraternity emphasizing personal
study, self-improvement and social betterment. Worldwide, there
3.5 million members of the fraternity of Freemasonry who continue
to help men and women face the challenges and opportunities of
the 21st century by building bridges of brotherhood, performing
good works in our communities and upholding the ideals for a
better tomorrow.
* * * * *
June 2007 - From The Desk of the
Secretary
Greetings My Brothers:
June was a busy month for the Lodge. At our June stated meeting W.B. Ernie Kell and I were both escorted to the alter and presented with the Hiram Award which caught both of us by susprise. I want to thank each of you for making this possible. On the second Tuesday we conferred two second degrees; one for Bro. Daniel Rozier and one for Bro. Philip K. Peoples. I know how proud W.B. Philip M. Peoples is to watch his advance through the degrees from the pride I felt in watching my sons as they advanced. Our Lodge is in good shape and we received a petition for a new member at our last meeting. We have a terrific lineup of officers following W.M. Robert Stewart. Our Senior Deacon Bro. Richard Nunnelee announced his forth coming wedding on June 17th, and told us due to his wife's employment, he will be moving to Susanville, California. Good luck Bro. Richard ... we will all miss you and it is California's gain. News reached me today of the passing of Bro. Ed Bennett. He will be laid to rest at a grave side service on July 6th at 1PM at Yelm Cemetery. Ed was a 50 plus year member of our Lodge and he will be greatly missed.
On Friday, July 6th we are planning to visit Olympia No. 1. They will have a Bar-Be-Que at 5:15 PM followed by their stated meeting at 6:30 PM and the conferral of two Master Mason Degrees. Please let Bro. Joe Chiappino know if you are planning to attend so he can notify Olympia No. 1 as to how many meals to plan for. It should be a great visitation.
My Brothers, I hope to see you at the Lodge's summer Bar-Be-Que if possible on August 11th. RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST. Please respond to the enclosed invitation as the "cut-off-date" for reservations is July 31th.
Enjoy the summer and may the Blessings of Heaven be with you and your families.
Fraternally,
W.B. Gary S. Sortor, Secretary
* * * * *
May 2007 – Stated Communication
From The East:
It is just about summer and the yard work has begun. Makes those
long days and nights with lots of chores to do. As of this
writing I am back to working six days a week and possibly
ten-hour days starting Monday. I am known for doing everything at
the last minute, that is just how I am, yet I find a way to
follow thru with my communication to you. This leads me to a
passage in the Bible, which I hope each and every one of you will
read. There is a lesson to be learned by this passage (Matthew
20: 1-16), which I recently learned myself. It brought me to ask
this question, “What is my commitment to the
fraternity”? I would like each and every one of you to ask
that question of yourself.
This coming Tuesday, May 15th at 8:00 PM we will be conducting a
first degree. Our next stated meeting will be Tuesday June 5th at
8:00 PM. We will then go dark until September.
Next month you will receive all the information for the August
11th barbeque to be held at Brother Joe Chiappino’s home.
Mark your calendars now.
I hope everyone is over their health issues and can enjoy the
summer.
Fraternally,
Robert C. Stewart III
Worshipful Master
The Test
Author Unknown
Several years ago, the story is told of a Mason who always wore
his
Masonic ring and lapel pin when in public. On some occasions, he
rode
the bus from his home to the downtown area. On one such trip and
when he
sat down, he discovered the driver had accidentally given him a
quarter
too much change.
As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd
better give
the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he
thought, "Oh,
forget it, it's only a quarter; who would worry about this little
amount." Anyway, the transit company gets too much fare;
they will never
miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.
When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he
handed
the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too
much change."
The driver with a smile replied, " I noticed your Masonic
ring and lapel
pin. I have been thinking lately about asking a Mason how to
join. I
just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much
change. You
passed the test. Can you tell me how to become a Mason?"
When the Mason stepped off the bus, he said a silent prayer,
"Oh God,
Grand Architect of the Universe, I almost sold you and my beloved
Masons
out for a mere quarter."
Our actions are the only Masonic creed some will ever see. This
is a
really almost scary example of how people watch us as Masons and
may put
us to the test even without us realizing it! Always be diligent,
whether
it be at the theater, restaurant, grocery, service station or
just
driving in traffic.
Remember, whether it be a lapel pin, a ring, or an emblem on the
car,
you carry the name of our great fraternity on your shoulders
whenever
you call yourself a Mason. You never can tell who might be
watching!