March 2018

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Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Trestleboard, March 2018 Mountain City Lodge No. 67 - Lexington, Virginia From the East Brethren…. First of all, my thanks to SW Brent Fellows who I hear did an excellent job standing in for me for the March Stated. It’s always a trial sitting in the East for the first time, and Bro. Brent is to be commended for doing so early in this year. Next… We are beginning a new, (for our Lodge), program of instruction, discussion and mentorship for our new candidates as they proceed through the degrees. This will accomplish several things – most notably, it will get our candidates involved more immediately in our Lodge, we will build our fraternal relationships with them faster, and it will bring us in line with Grand Lodge requirements for candidate advancement. Bro. Brent Fellows has made a good start with this program, and I have asked RW Scott Cassell and W John Mulligan to assist in getting a cohesive process established that we can all participate in.   Getting our new Brethren qualified with their catechisms will also be a primary objective of the program, which stands us all in good stead as it will develop future officers who will be more familiar with ritual and leave them more able to step up to a chair.   We have our Saturday Blood Drive coming up in April. I hope as many of our Brethren who can’t, quite understandably, make weekday blood Drives will find some time to relieve those stalwart Brethren who always man the trenches otherwise. This is a great method of raising awareness of our Lodge in the greater Community. Lastly, my health. If you haven’t heard or read, I will be undergoing cancer surgery on April 4th. Recovery is scheduled to fairly quick, and I will hopefully be participating in Lodge activities before the end of the month.  Your support is always appreciated and gratefully received. Fraternally,   WM John Morman Ask Hiram When the Worshipful Master is closing the Lodge, he may use the short closing prayer which states, "May the Blessing of Heaven rest upon us and all regular Masons..."  Many  Masters say Blessings....(plural)  instead  of (blessing)  (Singular).  What is the reason for using "Blessing" ? Why do you think that Heaven or God only has one Blessing to rest upon us?  Think back to the Entered Apprentice Degree and the 133rd Psalm which states." For there the Lord commanded the Blessing (singular) even life forever more."  Well brethren, there it is!" Life forevermore."is the one Blessing of Heaven which we desire to rest upon us., and there lies the explanation of the singular form of the word "Blessing" used by the Worshipful Master when closing his Lodge. Mile of Pennies Fundraiser Do you know how many pennies make a mile? A total of 84,480 pennies side-by-side make a length of one mile, and that translate into $844.80 for the Masonic Home of Virginia's Outreach Program. So can we have your used pennies? 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 Royal Arch and Knights Templar (Meet on 3rd Monday; 6:15pm Dinner, 7pm Meetings)   We resume Royal Arch and Knights Templar Activity this month. We will be going through the Knights Templar closet on our stated meeting and learning more about the Royal Arch degrees recently completed. Also, we’ll be discussing fundraising for the charities of the groups (Alzheimer’s, Eye Foundation, Holy Land Pilgrimage). For more info on “why” to join Royal Arch, specifically the chapter that meets at Mountain City, check out this video:  https://youtu.be/fxVSQXZ5ElY Jesse Lyons, High Priest & Emminent Commander Brent Fellows, Secretary & Recorder Officers Master - Wor. John William Morman S.W. - Br. Brent W. Fellows 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 Southers 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 Pedersen Trustee - R.W. Frederick Vaughan Sr. Advisor - R.W. Warren Schmid   Calendar of Events Visit our website for dates of all entities.   Sat. Mar. 17: GM Visit to Dist. 20 & 23 - 4:00PM @ Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge - Dinner is 6 pm. - St Pati Cas at Shrine Club.  Mon. Mar. 19: Chapter & Commandery - 6:15PM @ Mountain City Tues. Mar. 20: Practice - 6:00PM @ Buena Vista Wed. Mar. 21: FC Practice - 7:00PM @ Mountain City Sat. Mar. 24: Masonic Ritual School - 8:30AM breakfast & 9:00AM Start @ Mountain City Mon. Mar. 26: Shrine Club - 7:30PM @ Mountain City Tues. Mar. 27: Practice - 6:00PM @ Buena Vista Wed. Mar. 28: FC Practice - 7:00PM @ Mountain City Thurs. Mar. 29: FC Degree - 7:00PM @ Mountain City Mon. April 2: Stated Communication -  6:30PM Dinner - 7:30PM Stated & FC Degree@ Mountain City Tues. April 3: Practice - 6:00PM @ Buena Vista Wed. April 4: Blood Drive - 11:00AM - 5:00pm @ SVU Thurs. April 5: FC Degree - 7:00PM @ Mountain City Fri. April 6: Blood Drive - 12:00PM - 5:00PM @ Lexington Baptist Tues. April 10: Buena Vista Stated - 6:30PM @ Buena Vista Thurs. April 12: Glasgow Stated - 6:30PM @ Glasgow Submissions   If you have submissions for the Trestleboard, please email them to Br. Brent Buswell at brentbuswell@gmail.com. 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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