Noah Lodge #357 Trestleboard

Brothers of Noah Lodge,

The summer is almost over but things are still HOT here at Noah. Several exciting things have happened and are happening.

(UPDATE AFTER 1st Meeting in September) First and foremost I want to bring to the attention of EVERY brother of Noah the "Topic of Discussion" which took place at our September 13th meeting (as stated in the original "September" Trestleboard). The subject is one in which we want to have the input of each of you. Brothers, I am talking about the necessity of Noah raising its dues. I hope that you read the word "necessity" in the previous sentence. W.B. Dana McGrath presented the cold hard financial facts regarding Noah's present and future financial solvency.

It has been years since Noah has had to raise our dues, but alas the time has come again. Noah's dues have been the lowest in the area for many years, and to be honest for too long. At our first meeting in September, a Motion was made, seconded and voted on to bring to a Membership vote at our next meeting (Sep 27) the increase in annual dues to $90. PLEASE attend and vote your position on this important issue. You will soon receive a postcard reminding you of this event. If you haven't been to lodge in a while, maybe this is a great reason for you to show up and opine on the matter at hand.

At our last meeting it was noted that the old very large refrigerator that has been in our kitchen for who knows how many years, (and finally kicked the bucket) is being replaced. There are now THREE new refrigerators (one with an ICE MAKER and a freezer) in our kitchen. As a result, we have a spare "almost-new, slightly-used by gentle chefs refrigerator/freezer" in the kitchen. If you have an idea or a know of a need, please contact me or bring your idea to the Lodge for discussion.

Brothers, these were NOT purchased by Noah. They were not even purchased by a Mason. They were purchased for Noah Lodge by two wonderful (anonymous) people who KNEW Masons throughout their lives and knew WHAT Masons stand for and do. You see, Brothers, even when you don't realize it, some people are noticing the things you do as Masons. What each of us does INSIDE the Lodge, as well as OUTSIDE the Lodge is what really counts. But it should be noted, as a Mason it really matters most what is INSIDE your HEART.

I have also been informed that the E.A.s have been progressing rapidly and will be present at the second meeting in September to stand proficiency. I look forward to this evening where there hard work is brought before the brothers. By the way, this is open to all E.A.'s past and present classes. If you have worked on your own and are ready to stand proficiency, please attend and you will be given the same opportunity before the brethren. It was discussed at our last meeting to open this up to any E.A. The reason being that we have had many on the Membership rolls of Noah for a long period of time who have never even completed the E.A. work. If we do not hear from them at this meeting, we will be dropping them from the rolls of Noah Lodge.

I also wanted to thank R.W. District Deputy Timberlake for attending Noah at our last meeting in August. He also brought with him several members of his committees who gave us more great information on Masonry. We had a great night and appreciate all of them taking the time to update Noah on all the latest events going on in our district as well as in the state. Oh yes, the officers of Noah were also graded based upon the floor work. (report cards are confidential :)

Last but never the least, I want to see YOU at Noah this meeting !!! Make it a plan, dust off that apron and come on out.

Until Next Month,

W.M. Dr. Rick A. Means

GREETINGS ALL, AND WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ????

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU AT LODGE, BUT CAN NOT FIND YOU.

I wonder if your "CABLE TOW" in broken. How long is your cable tow ? In much older times is was considered to be three (3) miles; of which a brother was expected to attend lodge. But we have learned there is no merit in attendance due to fear or fines. Freemasonary is not unreasonable.

It does not demand the impossible. What is hard for one may be easy for another. A brother who is physically impaired may find it hard to attend, while a brother with an airplane finds 100 miles not too far for him.

Today, that length of your cable tow is "the scope of a brothers reasonable ability". It is up to each one of us to determine for ourselves what is just and right and reasonable - and brotherly.

I hope to see you soon. May the Lord bless and keep you safe.

Bro. Larry Newton
Senior Warden

Every once in awhile I read something or hear something that I say to myself “I wish I would have said that or wrote that.” Following is one of these, which I just read, written by W.B. Vern Wertz a PGM of the Grand Lodge of Oregon, printed in The Masonic Service’s Short Talk Bulletin.

My Brothers, like most, if not all, of you I owe a great deal to my parents. They not only gave me life, but also some attitudes and skills that allowed me to have a good life. One of these attitudes was an intense opposition to ingratitude and an equally intense drive to pay my debts.

My Brothers, you owe Freemasonry; and you are not paying her back!
I imagine that most of you believe that what I just said is ridiculous and are reviewing your work within Freemasonry. Listing with some pride that you have served as a Worshipful Master, or have been a member of Grand Lodge Committees, or have been a Grand Lodge Officer; perhaps all of that, but what you may not understand is the breadth and depth of your debt to Freemasonry.

Let's review some things. First, Freemasonry was a gift to you and it came with no strings attached. Some good men saw something within you and decided to entrust you with Freemasonry. They gave it to you with the single hope that you would allow it to become a vital and significant part of your life. They gave it because they knew it could change your life in so many, many ways; and all for the better. Freemasonry can do this because it always stands for those things that are decent and moral and right: and always stands against those things that are indecent and immoral and just flat out wrong.

Those good men gave you a truly magnificent gift and while no one ever has or ever will demand repayment, you owe Freemasonry.

Now let's reflect on the men you are bound to by the gentle ties of Brotherhood.

Consider this list:
·    Andrew Jackson, Harry Truman and 12 other Presidents
·    Davy Crockett, Lewis and Clark, and Charles Lindbergh
·    Eddie Rickenbacker, Omar Bradley and Audie Murphy
·    Arthur C. Doyle, Walter Scott and Rudyard Kipling.

And I could go on for pages!

It is probably safe to say that some of these famous Brothers were not only good men, but also dedicated Masons. The world was changed for the better by many of them; and they are all your Brothers.

Now consider the men you sit with in lodge. Every time you attend a lodge, you are met with men who are just as brilliant and talented as any of those I have listed. You sit with men, who have freely given of their blood for you and this country; who are just as devoted to truth, honor and charity as any man who preceded them. You meet with Brothers who are builders of both material edifices and spiritual men; who have talents in every art or science; and who quietly and firmly set the example for being an honorable man. And all of these men were a gift!

Let's consider how you are treated by your brothers. Regardless of rank, position, title or wealth you walk on the level with all your Brothers. And because of this simple, but remarkable fact, you are treated with respect and your accomplishments are recognized by your brethren with unfeigned joy.

Outside of Freemasonry, in every field of human endeavor, success is almost always met with both recognition and envious detraction. If a man's achievements are mediocre they will generally be met with the overwhelming silence of indifference. If a man presents a master work, he may hear words of praise; but they will be engulfed in the cacophony of voices raised up in envy and detraction. Long, long after a good work has proven its value, there will still be a chorus raised to depreciate its worth and destroy that value. Imagine Robert Fulton's detractors still proclaiming that you cannot build a steam ship, and even if you could it would be a vessel of death; this going on while the rest of the world stands on a riverbank to watch it go by.

In Freemasonry a Brothers master work will face no clamor of denial, but will be met with a smile, a firm handshake, and a few heartfelt words of praise, of thanks. This kind of supportive behavior falls under the heading of Brotherly love, and this love was a gift to you by those good men who opened the door of Freemasonry when you came knocking

You might well want to take a moment and reflect on all that you possess. I think you may recognize that the gift of Brotherly love within the Masonic family is one of your most valuable assets, and because it is, it is no great leap of reasoning to conclude that you owe Freemasonry.

I believe that every Mason has to develop his own plan for giving back to Freemasonry, but I feel compelled to offer at least one idea.

The first time I went to Donald Lodge I was just a lad. I was very shy, so I was clinging, to my Dad with considerable enthusiasm. After we had climbed a Mount Everest of stairs, I looked into the lodge room, and I was happily surprised because I knew almost everyone in the room. I was used to seeing them in stained and worn work clothes, but now they were all dressed up like they were going to church. I was confused; so I tugged on my Dad's hand and asked "Dad, what is a Mason?"

My Dad gave me an answer, one I never forgot. It was later in life that I discovered he was quoting John Wesley; this is what he told me:

Son, a Mason is a man
who does all the good he can,
in as many ways as he can,
in as many places as he can,
to as many people as he can,
for as long as he can.

I believe that as Freemasons we cannot too often discuss the meaning of those words. I know that we cannot too often live them!

And when all is said and done, it is by living them that we pay on, not off, our debt to Freemasonry.

Finally, it seems to me that life is like a foreign language that all struggle to learn and which few seem to master. How grateful I am that Freemasonry offers us a remarkable guide to the mysteries of "pronunciation". This removes the confusion and despair about life and replaces them with the gentle tints of hope. At peace and in harmony with life, we move forward with a confidence born of the certain knowledge that we walk within the grasp of Brotherly love and under the protection of the Great Architect of the Universe.

What a gift!

WB Charles Applegate, Junior Warden

I'm mailing out FINAL Dues Notices at the end of September.

We still have a lot of Brothers who have not paid to date. Dues for 2010 MUST be paid by November 22, the day to appear in Lodge on the "Summons".

First meeting in September, we will discuss raising the dues.

Fraternally,

WB Jerry Keeton
Secretary

My Brothers,

Where were you first prepared to be a Mason? Is that spirit
and desire still burning in your heart? Would you like to re-kindle it?

Freemasonry is alive and well and practiced at Noah Lodge #357. All you
need is to be here on the second and fourth Monday each month, no exam
necessary..

Forgot the ritual? We do too sometimes. We never forget to extend the right
hand of friendship. Refresh your spirit and join us in lodge on Monday
night, you will be home in time for football.

Light refreshments and heavy
fellowship after lodge.

May God Bless you, every day in every way.

John McKinney
Chaplain

Brothers,

It has been a long time since I have left a message for you. This time I am priviledged to be addressing you as a District Deputy Grand Master. It is indeed an honor to be seving the Grand Master in this capacity.

By way of announcements; My Official Visit to Punta Gorda will be Sept the 16th.

The 28th Dist. will be answering a challenge by the 29th Dist. by bowling at Coral Lanes on Santa Barbara (just north of the Cape Coral Masonic Lodge). Come help us out and have a good time and good fellowship.

The Fourth Wednesday of every month the Masters and Wardens have a meeting at Lehigh Acres Lodge. The 28th District needs all Master Masons to attend this meeting. We have been conspicuous in our absence.

Oct. 22nd is the date of the Grand Masters visit to the 28th & 29th Districts. This visit will be at Cape Coral Lodge on Santa Barbara Ave. Registration will be at 5:00p.m. Dinner at 6 p.m. Meeting at 7:30 p.m. See you there and learn the latest from the Grand Lodge.

Every third Sunday I have been going to St. Petersburg for the board meeting of the Masonic Home and meeting with Bro. Bob Gilliland, who sends his greetings.

Fraternally,

R.W. Jerry Timberlake
DDGM, District 28