January 2018

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Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Trestleboard, January 2018 Mountain City Lodge No. 67 - Lexington, Virginia From the East Brethren…… Well the day the I’ve both looked forward to and dreaded arrived. I’ve had the honor of sitting in the East for my first Stated Communication as your worshipful Master, and in doing so have followed in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. One of the wonders of our Fraternity is that Masons can emulate their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, etc regardless of how our journeys through life have differed. I’ll never forget as a 6 or 7 year old being shown into the Temple and my dad’s and granddad’s Lodge, and the feeling of reverence with which my dad opened the door and let me see inside. I only hope I can do justice to their memory, and to the legacy left by my predecessors at Mountain City Lodge #67. If you missed our January Stated, you missed the presentation of a proclamation issued by the Mayor of the City of Lexington, Frank Friedman, commemorating the 160th Anniversary of our Lodge. I will make a copy f the Proclamation available online later in the week, and will see that it gets posted on our Facebook page. Going forward, it’s my hope that we can continue the policy of increasing public awareness of who we are and what we do. The is the simplest and best avenue to have prospective Masons ask us about the Fraternity. We may not be able to recruit overtly, but we can certainly advertise!!!!!! Only by continually initiating new Masons can we fulfill our obligations to our community.  I will tell you that as much as I respect and admire the various efforts we sponsor and support throughout Virginia and beyond, my philosophy has always been that our efforts must begin here at home. By being more relevant in our own communities, we will raise awareness of who we are and what we do and hopefully encourage more prospective candidates “ask us how to be us”. Internally, I would ask that all new Masons coming in to the Lodge be asked to learn the catechisms. It may seem a little archaic, but it not only drums into us what it is to be a Mason, but is a tremendous aid to learning the Ritual involved in proceeding through the Chairs. In closing, I’d like to simply add --- Family, Fellowship, Civic Responsibility, and Tradition – those are the Cornerstones I believe we must build on. Fraternally, WM John Morman Royal Arch & Knights Templar As you may know, the Lexington area is home to a Royal Arch Chapter and Knights Templar Commandery. We are known as the “York Rite” of masonry. We meet on 3rd Monday of each month (both meetings that night). On Jan. 20, we’ll host all SIX degrees of Royal Arch in Lexington at the Mountain City Lodge Hall. Tonight is the last night to get a petition in to receive those degrees. We’ll be organizing the “Commandery Orders” ritual for joining in the same fashion later this spring. Each month we’ll share something in this column that will educate you more on the need for Royal Arch and Knights Templar for your masonic journey. Also, we’ll have important dates for speakers and events.  For more information, contact Jesse Lyons at [email protected] or (540) 319-1464.  The Past Master Once in the East he sat, The jewel about his neck; And with a hat he covered his head When other heads were bare. The Brethren came and went In answer to his back; And stood and offered up the signs To him who wore the Square. Once like the coursing sun He rose up in the East. And all the brethren rose as one As work begun or ceased. Once he guarded treasure; The secrets of the Craft - The Charter, ritual, ancient work By wish the Craft increased. But when the year had closed Three steps he did take down; Down to the floor to take his place Among the Brethren there. So like his brethren, he; Yet somehow different, too; For he had sat up in the East And he had worn the Square. He is a man apart, A Mason marked for Time. To him who has with honor served. To him must honor be. -From the Texas Freemason & Maryland Master Mason Handbook Firearms in the Lodge Brethren – the question was raised recently about openly carrying firearms in the Temple/Lodge Room.  I myself hold a concealed carry permit, so this has nothing to do with any political position concerning firearms.  Those who know me know my position very well!!!!  However, the Grand Lodge of Virginia has stipulated that only one Brother may carry a firearm into Lodge, that Brother to be designated by the WM.  The obvious exception to this would be Law Enforcement officers. Please – abide by this directive and don’t embarrass a another Brother who may need to ask you to leave your firearm outside the Lodge room.  We do have a safe we can secure firearms in if you do come in to the Fellowship room. Officers Master - Wor. John William Morman S.W. - Br. Brent W. Fellows PT J.W. - Wor. John J. Mulligan Secretary - R.W. Warren Schmid Treasurer - R.W. Lyle Scott Cassell S.D. - Br. Steve McNeil J.D. - Br. Eric Osborne S.S. - Alex Greene J.S. - TBA Chaplain - Br. Jimmy Strothers Tiler - Br. Howard Smith Marshal - R.W. Jackson Glisson Trustees Chair - R.W. Baldwin Gerard Locher Jr. Trustee - R.W. John Dester Trustee - Wor. Jesse S. Lyons Trustee - Wor. John J. Mulligan Trustee - R.W. Torben Peterson Trustee - R.W. Frederick Vaughan Sr. Advisor - R.W. Warren Schmid   Calendar of Events Visit our website for all dates.   Mon. Jan. 22nd: Shenandoah Shrine Club Meeting - 7PM - Mountain City Lodge Fellowship Hall Wed. Jan. 24th - Sun. Jan. 28th: Shenandoah Shrine Club Circus Tues. Jan. 30th: DDGM Visit Practice - 6:30pm @ Mountain City Lodge Wed. Jan. 31st: Blood Drive - 12pm - 5pm @ SVU  Thurs. Feb. 1st: Blood Drive - 11am - 4pm @ W&L Fri. Feb 2nd: Blood Drive - 12pm - 8pm @ VMI Sat. Feb. 3rd: Blood Drive - 12pm - 8pm @ VMI Mon. Feb 5th: Mountain City Stated & Scott Cassell's visit as DDGM - 6:30pm Dinner, 7:30pm Stated @ Mountain City Lodge  Thurs. Feb. 8th: Glasgow Stated Sat. Feb. 10th: Division Leadership Conference - 9am - 12pm @ Bridge Christian Church in Fishersville Tues. Feb. 13th: Buena Vista Stated Mon. Mar. 5th: Mountain City Stated - 6:30pm Dinner, 7:30pm Stated @ Mountain City Lodge  Sat. Mar. 17th: GM Visit to District 20 & 23 - Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge - $25 Dinner & Untiled Meeting Submissions   If you have submissions for the Trestleboard, please email them to Br. Brent Buswell at [email protected]. Copyright © 2018, Mountain City Lodge, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 103 W Nelson St, Lexington, VA 24450 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

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