Trestle Board September 2010

8/9/2019 Trestle Board September 2010

1/8

Our Newest Master Mason

SSppeecciiaallIInntteerreessttAArrttiicclleess::

FFrroomm tthhee EEaasstt.. 11

FFrroomm tthhee WWeesstt.. 33

IInnddiivviidduuaallHHiigghhlliigghhttss::

EEddiittoorrss CCoorrnneerr 22

VViissiittaattiioonn 22

EEdduuccaattiioonn 44

NNoottiiffiiccaattiioonnss 55

PPooeemm//HHuummoorr 55

FFaammoouuss MMaassoonn 66

CCaalleennddaarr 77

OOffffiicceerrss 88

Brethren:

September already!

Congratulations again to Joseph

G. Johnson, PM, on his receiving

his Hiram Award August 5, 2010,

for the year 2010. The DiningHall was filled to the rafters and

it was a well attended event.

Our Masonic Education Evening

was missing its Leader, TC

Dowden, and I made a Milk Can

Dinner, enough for double the

amount of attendees. However,

we had a good time and

fellowship.

The 26th of August we had a

great pork loin sparerib dinnerand we opened Lodge at 7:30pm

and conferred the Third Degree

rom the EastBro. Joseph Romero, Worshipful Master

on Brother DJ Ross. Oasis of

Mara #735 from 29 Palms

performed the Second Section

and the Lecture was given by

Illustrious Brother Charlie Ash,

PM. We also had a visitation

from Orange Valley Lodge #13of Riverside, Ca. After closing,

we retired to Dining Hall for

refreshments and good

fellowship. All members and

visitors stayed after it was a

great evening.

This Month (September) and

until November, the Incoming

Line of Officers will be

practicing the three Degrees to

become proficient and qualifyfor the year 2011. We will

practice every Thursday at 6:30

pm, except on Stated Mee

Night, and after MasonicEducation Night.

Grand Lodge annual

communication will be 25

& 27th and I will be attend

and voting on the various

resolution and amendmen

and any comments that yo

have please let me know o

your pleasure.

Remember to make

reservations for Dinner!

Joseph Romero, WM, PM

A newsletter serving the Masonic and affiliated bodies of the high desert

Yucca Valley Lodge #802

Yucca Valley California

September 2010Trestleboard

Trestleboard - a draftsmans designing board; that on which a Mason draws his designs for his character and spiritual growth;

that on which the Worshipful Master lays out his designs for the workmen; a Lodges newsletter and calendar of events.

Do you want to get

the Trestleboard

sooner? Sign up for

email delivery and

youll get it before

the 1st

! Send an

email to the editor

to sign up.

FFoollllooww uuss oonn FFaacceebbooookk,,wwhheerree yyoouu ccaann uuppllooaaddssttoorriieess,, pphhoottooss aanndd nneewwsseevveennttss!!

PPlleeaassee sseenndd ssttoorriieess,,pphhoottooss,, ccoommmmeennttss oorrccoorrrreeccttiioonnss ttoo tthhee eeddiittoorraatt::TTCCDDoowwddeenn@@rrooaaddrruunnnneerr..ccoomm

OOuurr 5500tthh

YYeeaarr iinn YYuuccccaa VVaalllleeyy

Illustrious Charlie Ash 33, DJ Ross, and WM Joe Romero, PM
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


2/8

Yucca Valley Trestleboard Page 2 of 8

A beautiful system of Morality, veiled in Allegory, illustrated by Symbols

The building materialsand tools we use asallegorical symbols areerfectly suited to the

task of making andimproving a brotherMason.

What makes Masons different

from any other fraternal

organization? Is it the Initiation?Other fraternities initiate too,

right? Is it the ritual? They have

ritual too, right? Ive read some

of the other initiation ceremonies

and they are fairly similar to ours

and to each other.

There are known fraternal

organizations which existed as far

back as ancient Greece and Rome

and analogous institutions in the

late medieval period calledconfraternities (such as the

Templars), which were

organizations allied to the

Catholic Church. These

confraternities evolved into

purely secular fraternal societies

as did Freemasonry, which in

turn was used as a model for

most modern fraternal orders

and societies.

The Masonic initiation isdifferent, though. It is

transformative in a way the other

fraternities cant be. When they

initiate, they are focused on the

outward instruction to the

The Editors CornerBro. T.C. Dowden

Masonic VisitationYucca Valley was pleased to have

visitors from Orange Valley Lodge

#13 (Prince Hall), Riverside, CA on

August 26th, where both they

witnessed and even took part in the

second section of the Third Degree.

Welcome to WM Daiman Webb,

Sec. Larry Martin, Tres. David

Jenkins and Past Master William

Barr. We were honored to have

them with us and look forward to

visiting them in return.

initiate about their fraternity,

ust like we do, but they dont

focus on the transformative

nature of initiation like theMasonic initiation does.

We instruct the candidate, yes,

but we begin a transformative

ourney for the candidate.

When a man becomes a

Mason, it doesnt happen in a

single night. It is a journey

through the mind and soul.

Masonry is a progressive

science. Each lesson builds on

the previous lesson, and thoseall start with the ritual of

initiation.

That is the reason that we have

three degrees in the Blue

Lodge, to buildeach level of the

oundation of Masonic

teaching. It just isnt

reasonable to believe that a

man can transform overnight,

with a single ceremony.

Masonry is a lifetime journey ofdiscovery. Masonry requires

mentorship and coaching of a

brother to achieve each

succeeding level of knowledge

and understanding.

The building materials and

we use as allegorical symbo

are perfectly suited to the t

of making a brother Mason

We construct our inner tem

using the tools of the trade

the laws of architecture and

Geometry. The tools given

us by the Founders of our

fraternity, when used prope

will build a mighty temple.

The lore and teachings of th

Masonic fraternity are the r

difference between

Freemasonry and other

fraternities. The fact that

Masonry is a progressive

science requiring study,

learning, and application of

learning to our own lives se

us apart.

Practical applications of the

lessons taught create a bett

man. None of the other ma

fraternities promote individ

improvement at its core.


3/8

Yucca Valley TrestleboardPage 3 of 8


What is Masonry?This questions or a variation of

it asked by non-mason,

whether out of interest or

curiosity, is probably among

the most difficult for many

Masons to answer. How do

you answer such a question?

Where do you begin? What

can you tell a non-Mason

about Freemasonry, without

giving away "the secrets of theCraft"? There is not really a

short answer to such a

question. It is The World's

oldest fraternal organization.

It is A beautiful system of

Morality, veiled in Allegory,

illustrated by Symbols.

While both statements are

true, they don't really answer

the question adequately.

For me it was a bitembarrassing the first time I

was asked such a question, I

had never tried to express in

words what Freemasonry is,

what it means to me, or what

Masons do. Since I was very

new to the fraternity at the

time I didn't know much and

wasn't sure what I could tell.

The reality of it is: there is so

much that can be told about

the fraternity, it's difficult to

know just where to begin!

The Masonic Service

Association of the United

States produced a short paper

on this subject aptly titled,

"What's Your Answer?" whichoffers some ideas that could

be included in your answer.

Freemasonry is an

educational organization. By

means of the ritualistic

ceremonies and other

educational programs,

Masons learn and teach the

truths of morality, justice,

patriotism, and the necessity

of brotherly love.

Masonic meetings are opened

and closed with Masonic

ceremonies to remind the

members of the principal

purposes of the Fraternity,

which are to develop brother

love and respect for truth.

Freemasonry is a charitable

organization. Masonic Home

and Hospitals, Grand' Lodge

Scholarship Programs, Charit

Funds, and the Hospital

Visitation Program of the

Masonic Service Associations

are examples of such

achievements.

Freemasonry is also, but not

primarily, a social

organization.

When you are asked, What

Freemasonry, it's up to you

decide how much or how litt

to say, but try to have a shor

answer ready, one that feels

comfortable and expresses

your understanding,experience, and enthusiasm

for the Fraternity.

rom the WestBro. Joseph DuPont, Sr. Warden

Freemasonry is also, butnot primarily, a socialorganization.


4/8



Lets begin with a simple definition of

initiation from the Columbia

Encyclopedia as it would relate to our

subject: Coming from the Latin,

initiation implies a beginning. The

related verb initiate, means to begin

or start a particular action, event,

circumstance, or happening. The

initiation process is often likened to a

simultaneous death and rebirth,

because as well as being a beginning it

also implies an ending of existence as

one level drops away in an ascension to

the next.

From time immemorial initiations have

been performed and carried out by all

of the different cultures, races, religions

and philosophical orders. For reasons as

simple as initiating a boy into manhood,

to initiating priests into priesthood.

Mankind has carried out this practice

throughout all of time to assist in

answering those eternal questions

Where does it all come from, this quest,

this need to solve lifes mysteries where

the simplest of questions can never be

answered? Why are we here? Whatis the soul? Many different initiatic

orders have been formed to assist in our

quest and our search for more light, yet

are too numerous to name, however I

would like to list a few, as some are of

great importance to understanding the

origins of Freemasonry and its

philosophies toward the initiatic

process. This brings us to the very

important question So what is or

what should be the Initiatic Experiencein the context of Freemasonry? The

brethren conducting the initiation, (the

initiators), in possession of a certain

knowledge and state of being in respect

to each of the degrees, transfer this

knowledge or state to the candidate or

person being initiated. The energyof

this transmission, it is important to

note, is as important as the knowledge

itself. Think of it in terms of how much

more solemn our degrees are to the

initiate when they are done by brethren

who truly know and understand the workand are not just transmitting words to

the candidate but feelings or energy as

well. The initiations and orders are

intended to cause a fundamental process

of change to begin within the person

being initiated, be that physical, mental,

or spiritual or a combination thereof.

Modern Freemasonry deals with each of

these in order of the first three degrees.

We teach the initiate first about the

physical portions of his environment inthe lodge and his outward actions in the

first degree. Then we touch on the

mental and encourage him to study and

improve his mind and further his

knowledge by educating him with a base

knowledge of the sciences to gain

intellect in the second degree. Lastly in

the third we expound on the spiritual

side of man and convey to the candidate

those contemplations of the eternal cycle

of mans spirit: Birth, life, death, rebirth.

Recognizing this tripartite nature of man

is essential to understanding what we will

call the Mystery, because the Mysteryis

that which cannot be distinguished by

the physical being through the senses, or

by the mental being through the intellect,

but rather is perceived directly by the

spiritthat element of mans being that

is one with what some call the Grand

Architect of the Universe, Universal Truth

or simply stated our unconscious

connection to the divine. Freemasonry

consists of many men with many diverse

beliefs but with one common

understanding and belief in a greater

creator.

Any number of experiences may cause

man to consider the existence of an

unseen reality. It may be that he is

Masonic Education: The Initiatic Focus, by Br. Rob Herd suddenly controlled by the mysteriouand powerful emotion of Love; he ma

be moved by an overwhelming spirit

Brotherhood; he may feel the

penetrating presence of the All Seein

Eye while searching his soul in a

chamber of reflection; or perhaps he

feels his spirit affected by an inspirin

work of music.

Whatever the circumstance, such

exalted experiences result in an

awakening of consciousness. This is

goal of the Initiatic Experience within

Freemasonry my brethren, this

awakening of an individual to his

connection to the spiritual plane. Th

individual is no longer blissfully ignorof a non-material existence and begi

to thirst for direct communion with t

spiritual reality which he senses. In

essence a part of him has stopped

existing and a new part has started a

journey, fulfilling the basic definition

initiation given previously. To quenc

his desire to explore this higher

consciousness, he may now delve int

music, poetry, philosophy, and other

intangible arts that inspire this feelin

beyond the limitations of the body anthe mind.

When the Initiate is awakened to the

mysterious power of these energies

the whole ethical and moral tone of h

life is advanced. Because he now

understands that there is a universal

Mysteryof which he and every other

human being is a part, he no longer

perceives himself as an individual, bu

rather as an element of one great

consciousness. He no longer identifi

himself with the body or mind, which

emphasizes his individuality, but inst

with the spirit, which affirms his

universality. With this heightened

consciousness comes the understan

that Fraternity refers not only to

Freemasonry, but to the brotherhoo

Man.


5/8



My words are safe within his breastas though within my own

his hand forever at my back

to help me safely home

Good counsel whispers in my ear

and warns of any danger

By square and compass, Brother now!

Who once would call me stranger

I might have lived a moral life

and risen to distinctionWithout my Brothers helping hand

and fellowship of Masons

But God, who knows how hard it is

to resist life's temptations

knows why I knelt where Hiram knelt

and took that obligation.

Last Night I Knelt Where

Hiram KneltBy

Pat M. Armstrong

Last night I knelt where Hiram knelt

and took an obligation

today I'm closer to my God

and I'm a Master Mason

Tho' heretofore my fellow men

seemed each one like the other

today I search each one apart

I'm looking for my brother

And as I feel his friendly grip

it fills my heart with prideI know that while I'm on the square

that he is by my side

His footsteps on my errand go

if I should such require:

His prayers will lead in my behalf

if I should so desire

Trestleboard CostsThe cost to print and mail out 100

Trestleboards each month runs right at

$128, which comes to $1,536 annually.

That is quite a drain on our Lodgessavings. We dont have the income to

sustain this.

For those Brothers that are able, we

are accepting annual sponsorships at

three levels:

Gold Sponsor - $25.00.

Silver Sponsor - $20.00;

Sponsor - $15.00;

The sponsors names will be listed in

the Trestleboard monthly. A business

card ad can be done for $20 monthly.Sponsorship will allow us to continue to

mail out the Trestleboard every month.

If you are able, please sponsor. See TC

Dowden or Oscar Rodriguez to donate.

Dues IncreaseThere is much discussion on the long

term financial health of the Lodge. T

is to inform the members of the Yucc

Valley Masonic Lodge that in our laststated meeting of August 5th, a motio

to increase the membership dues wa

made and accepted to be voted upon

on our next stated meeting that will b

held on September 2,2010.

It is proposed that dues will increase

from the current amount to $70 per

year plus per capita. Per capita for

2011 will be $33 so dues for the year

2011 will be a total of $103. You are

invited to come, discuss the motion

and vote on that day.

F/Y Secretary Oscar Rodriguez.

Q. How many Masons does it take to

change a light bulb?

A. After much research this tricky

question can now be answered. It take20, as follows:

2 to complain that the light doesn

work.

1 to pass the problem to either

another committee, the Temple

Board or the Master of the Lodge.

3 to do a study on light in the

Lodge.

2 to check out the types of lights

the Knights of Columbus use.

3 to argue about it.

5 to plan a fund-raising dinner toraise money for the bulb.

2 to complain that "thats not the

way we did it before."

1 to borrow a ladder, donate the

bulb and install it.

1 to order the brass memorial plat

and have it inscribed.

Sponsors:Joseph Romero

TC Dowden


6/8



Famous Mason: Ernest Borgnine 33, Actor, Freemason

Ernest Borgnine (bornJanuary 24, 1917)

is an

American actor of television

and the big screen. His career

has spanned nearly six

decades. He was anunconventional lead in many

films of the 1950s, including

his Academy Award-winning

turn in the 1955 film Marty.

On television, he is best

known for playing Quinton

McHale in the 1962-66

series McHale's Navy, co-

starring in the mid-1980s

action seriesAirwolf, andvoicing the character

Mermaid Man in the

animated series,

SpongeBob SquarePants.

Borgnine earned an Emmy

nomination at age 92 for

his work on the series ER.

In August 2009 at age 92 he

earned the Lifetime

Achievement Award from

the Rhode IslandInternational Film Festival.

Borgnine joined the United

States Navy in 1935, after

graduation from James

Hillhouse High School in

New Haven, Connecticut.

He was discharged in 1941,

but re-enlisted when the

United States entered

World War II and serveduntil 1945 (a total of ten

years), reaching the rank of

Gunner's Mate 1st Class.

He served aboard the

destroyer USS Lamberton

(DD-119). His military

decorations included the

American Campaign Medal,

the Good Conduct Medal,

the American DefenseService Medal with Fleet

Clasp, and the World War II

Victory Medal.

In 2004, Borgnine received

the honorary rank of Chief

Petty Officer from the

Master Chief Petty Officer

of the Navy, Terry D. Scott

the US Navy's highest rank

enlisted sailor at the time

for Borgnine's support of tNavy and naval families

worldwide.

He was the first center squ

in the original version of th

television game show

Hollywood Squares, with h

Peter Marshall.

For his contribution to the

motion picture industry,

Ernest Borgnine has receiva star on the Hollywood W

of Fame at 6324 Hollywood

Blvd. In 1996, he was

inducted into the Western

Performers Hall of Fame at

the National Cowboy &

Western Heritage Museum

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

He is to be honored with th

Screen Actors Guild LifeAchievement Award at the

17th annual SAG Awards, t

be held January 30, 2011.

Brother Borgnine is a mem

of Abingdon Lodge No. 48,

Abingdon, Virginia, and

Hollywood Lodge No. 355 i

Los Angeles. He is a 33rd

degree Scottish Rite Mason

Grand Cross and is presentthe Honorary Chairman of

Scottish Rite RiteCare

Program, which sponsors 1

Scottish Rite Childhood

Language Disorders Clinics

Centers, and Programs

nationwide.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__O2xWxISQ0g/SKhR3wsz8zI/AAAAAAAAAgs/l_E4IXj5Bgs/s1600-h/Borgnine_0001.jpg


7/8



Yucca Valley Masonic Center

September 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Virgo Libra 31Hall AssociationBuilding BoardFinance BoardMtg. 6 PM

1 2Stated Mtg 6 PMDinner 6:30Open Mtg 7:30

3 4Breakfast8-10 AMGalaxy Club 10 A

5Eastern Star

Ice Cream Social2:00-4:00 PM$5.00 per person

6Labor Day

7 8Rosh Hashana

93rd Degree

Proficiency Work6:30 PM

10 11Breakfast

8-10 AMOasis of Mara

12ConstitutionWeek

13Oasis of MaraStated Meeting29 Palms 7:30 pm

Eastern Star6 PM

14 15Daughters of theNile 11:00Yucca Valley

16MasonicEducationWorking GroupDinner 6:30 PM

17Shrine Club11:00 AMYucca ValleySizzler

18Officers Schoo

of Instruction

19 20 21 22Scottish Rite inPalm Springs

23Second Degreepractice

24 25

26 27Eastern Star6 PM

28 29 30Degree practice

September is

U.S.

Constitution

Observance

Month

Lodge Calendar OOuurr 5500tthh YYeeaarr iinn YYuuccccaa VVaalllleeyy

Special thanks for excellent service and color prints to:


8/8



http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Yucca-Valley-CA/Yucca-Valley-Masonic-Lodge-802/387646035017?ref=sgm

Yucca Valley Masonic Lodge

PO Box 686Yucca Valley, CA 92286

PHONE:(760) 820-4499

FAX:(760) 820-4499

E-MAIL:

[email protected]

Trestleboard Editor:

T. C. Dowden [email protected]

Were on the Web!See us at:

www.masons802.org

YUCCA VALLEYMASONIC LODGE

PO Box 686Yucca Valle , CA 92286

Grand Master of the State of

CaliforniaMost Worshipful Kenneth G. Nagel

Worshipful Master Joe Romero, P.M. 228-2515

Senior Warden Joseph DuPont 367-4373

Junior Warden Vacant

Treasurer Mark Clark 367-7246

Secretary Oscar Rodriguez 449-0147

Chaplain David Glenn 660-5736

Senior Deacon Joseph Johnson PM 365-5764

Junior Deacon Joseph Pennington 362-2785

Marshal Wayne J. Stuart 364-4586

Senior. Steward James N. Henley 366-2527

Junior Steward Brian L. Slack 365-6245

Tyler Vacant

Officers Coach Vacant

Inspector 830th Masonic Dist Mert Gayler

Telephone Chair

Adriana C. (Tina) Bergamin 365-5523

Lod e Officers 2010

USPSIdentification StatementTrestleboard - Published monthly by

Yucca Valley Lodge #802 F&AMPO Box 686, Yucca Valley CA 92286

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Yucca-Valley-CA/Yucca-Valley-Masonic-Lodge-802/387646035017?ref=sgmmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.masons802.org/http://www.masons802.org/http://www.masons802.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Yucca-Valley-CA/Yucca-Valley-Masonic-Lodge-802/387646035017?ref=sgm

Trestle Board September 2010

Documents

Transcript of Trestle Board September 2010