Message from the East February 2016

Gainesville Lodge No. 41 Trestleboard

Hello Brothers,

As we continue our momentum into February, we’ve kicked off several activities and already have some great developments to share with you!

The Craft have received a very good offer for much needed paint and refurbishment to the Lodge ceiling. Within a few short weeks, we should begin seeing a new beautiful white coat and ornamented ceiling in the Lodge room. Thank you Br:. Bill Oigarten for the reference and recommendation!

Our Br:. John Diarcy has volunteered—with generous support from a friend, Tim—to refurbish and update our front sign. Already they’ve been able to restore the wiring and light it back up to the street (along with our back porch). They’ve also made a template copy of the stenciling for the sign, as the older script is no longer in use, so that we can update the sign in the future.

Tim (pictured) creating a copy of lettering and numbering for template.

Br:. John has also volunteered to help with the windows (one of which we recently repaired in the library) and with replacement for our basement doors. W:. Al Kimball has helped us identify the wood we will need to make some repairs to the dining area. And Br:. Paul Davidson has provided us with the sale of a new 42” monitor, which we can use for presentations. Thank you Brothers for all your work and support! We have begun implementing a steady Masonic Education program at each Stated Communication. In the 2 nd Stated of each month (that is, the fourth Wednesday) R:.W:. Kurt Morauer will present for us a series of talks on the foundations and connections of Masonry with the Knights Templars. As you can see from this photo from the first presentation, it is truly impressive to hear and see.

R:.W:. Kurt in full Templar regalia.

Along with Br:. Matt Goekel, they are also looking to extend the program into a book/reading group, including talks from the Building Better Builders series from Br:. John Nagy. If you are interested, please let them know! For those interested, Br:. Nagy will be at Mandarin Lodge in Jacksonville on Saturday March 5th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/master-mason-event-building-better-builders-workshop-with-bro-john-nagy-tickets- 20683059588

It was an honor to meet representatives from our Master’s Charity, the Guardian Foundation (a local chapter of the Guardian ad Litem). If you were not able to attend and see their presentation, please click the link below in the graphic. More information is also available in the Lodge front lobby. I’m proud to announce our three newest FCs, from the degree held on February 13th at 2:00 pm. They did a wonderful job with their proficiency and are already making great progress toward the next degree! All of our cast did an outstanding job; for many, they were performing in their first degree.

Newly passed Brothers Austin Van Wie, Benjamin Bainbridge, and David Wahl, with cast.

We will be holding an upcoming EA degree at our next Stated Communication on March 9th at roughly 8:00 pm (officers in tuxedo), and a practice for the degree on Monday March 7th at 6:00 pm.

I want to thank R:.W:. Fred Latsko and Br:. Aldrin Catabay for their work in preparation figures for our budget this year, and all of the suggestions of the Brothers and Finance Committee on our best practices for Lodge income ideas.

I also want to thank our Secretary for helping to provide information on our 25, 40, and 55+ year members. I’ve been honored to present one to our Brother of much distinction—Robert Emmett Cooper—and I look forward to the opportunity for several more of ‘classes’ to follow in the year!

To celebrate Patriotism Month, the Buchholz JROTC will be holding a special presentation to the Lodge at our upcoming Stated Communication on February 24th. We are honored to have them assist in the flag ceremony, and we hope to have a winner for the Grand Lodge certificate later this year. The same visit will be our last official visit for our DDGM, R:.W:. Rick Goodnight, during his year.

On Thursday, February 25th, we will have our first of two Master Mason Association meetings at Gainesville 41! Dinner is only $10, and we will have several things to discuss for the District at our meeting at 7:00 pm! Please come out and help us win the traveling gavel! (It would look so good in the Lodge…)

See our calendar of events (located at http://gainesville41.org/) to always be updated with the latest details.

Fraternally, Thomas E. Metcalfe Worshipful Master Message from the West

"Freemasonry is not a material thing: it is a science of the soul; it is not a creed or doctrine but a universal expression of the Divine Wisdom. The coming together of medieval guilds or even the building of Solomon’s temple as it is understood today has little, if anything, to do with the true origin of Freemasonry, for Masonry does not deal with personalities. In its highest sense, it is neither historical nor archaeological, but is a divine symbolic language perpetuating under certain concrete symbols the sacred mysteries of the ancients. Only those who see in it a cosmic study, a life work, a divine inspiration to better thinking, better feeling, and better living, with the spiritual attainment of enlightenment as the end, and with the daily life of the true Mason as the means, have gained even the slightest insight into the true mysteries of the ancient rites." ~ Brother Manly P. Hall

My Brothers: I bid you greetings from the West. I hope you are all well in your respective places of travel. It is a great start for the year; our lodge just finished a Fellow Craft Degree this February and we will be having an Entered Apprentice and a possibly Master Mason in March.

I want to honor the passing of our R:. H:. Brother Sandy Huff. He was a constant in spreading the cement of Brotherly Love and Affection. He has done so much for district 14 and more especially the craft. He was one of the many lights that helped me, inspired me, and motivate me into everything that is right and true in Freemasonry. He was a mentor, brother, and friend. I love him and miss him. I look forward to having fellowship with him again in the Celestial Lodge above, in the Eternal loving presence of the Great Architect of the Universe.

Brother Luis Davilla wanted to extend his thankfulness to the brothers for praying for him and his cousin, who is out of the coma.

If any Brothers who have limited cable tows but have any prayer requests for sickness and distress this coming Wednesday, please communicate them to me or any of the lodge officers.

Best wishes and blessings to all the Brothers who have birthdays in January and February: Happy Birthday!!!

Wink Summers 1/5 Garry Sweat 1/6 Dempsey Sapp 1/11 Ralph Phillips Jr. 1/12 Allen Jesse Jr 1/12 Kevin Hanson 1/12 Terrell White Jr. 1/14 Richard Bowlan 1/15 Chris Cao 1/15 Stuart Wheeler 1/18 Larry Hunt 1/19 Jeffrey Manulkin 1/20 Terry Backer 1/25 Calvin Hayes 1/25

Gene Yates 2/2 Sam Bridges 2/9 Chris Drouin 2/9 Bill Oigarden 2/10 John Zunkel 2/12 Chester Bullard 2/14 Art Grant 2/17 William H. Bryan Jr. 2/19 John Bill Wheeler 2/20 James Willis Sr. 2/22 Otto Johnston 2/26 Jack Moore 2/28

Lastly my Brothers, we will have our District 14's Master Mason Association (Masters and Wardens) this coming Thursday 2/21/2016 6:30pm @ Gainesville Lodge 41. We actually won the gavel last November brothers! Let us show our solidarity by supporting our lodge and each other this Thursday. Help and assist your fellow brothers in 41. Be blessed and be a blessing ~Brother Aldrin Message from the South

Greetings from the South brothers!

This year is shaping up to be a great one, and we are all very excited to see W:. Tom's plans beginning to spring to life.

I'm happy to report that the Eastern Star ladies will continue to cook for us at our regular stated communications! I'm equally excited to report that I have worked out arrangements with them to step in and cook a few meals myself, both to give them a break, and to exercise my own culinary abilities.

And speaking of culinary abilities, MMA will be held at our lodge this Thursday, February 21st. I would encourage everyone who is able to come out, not only so we can win the traveling gavel, but so you have the opportunity to taste some of the finest chili around. I will be acting as sous chef for our Senior Deacon, Br. Tobias, this Thursday as he prepares his very own award winning chili recipe to feed the brothers attending the MMA meeting. The chili alone will be worth the trip!

For those of you who aren't aware, I am also the lodge librarian, and I am planning to get in there and not only catalog what we have, but start the process of preserving some of our oldest documents for future generations. If anyone would like to assist with this project, please get with me.

I'm also focusing on the replacement of the linoleum on the kitchen floor very soon, as it is starting to peel back and could prove to be a hazard in the future. If anyone would like to assist with this, I will be seeking help in the near future.

Thank you everyone, and I hope you have a wonderful month!

Fraternally,

Brother Matt

______Upcoming Events

February 24th Stated Communication: DGM Official Visit. Presentations: Buchoholz JROTC; Kurt Morauer on Knights Templar (2nd of 4 talks). Dinner at 6:30, Meeting at 7:30.

February 25th Master Mason Association meeting at Gainesville Lodge #41. Dinner at 6:30 PM, with meeting to follow. All MM are welcome! Cost is $10 for meal.

March 5th Br:. Nagy, talk at Mandarin Lodge in Jacksonville on Saturday March 5th. 9am-4 pm, Breakfast and Light lunch. Event details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/master-mason-event-building-better-builders- workshop-with-bro-john-nagy-tickets-20683059588

March 7th EA Degree Practice, 7:00 PM (after officer’s meeting).

March 9th Stated Communication. EA Degree. Dinner at 6:30, Meeting at 7:30.

March 19th Masonic Home Pilgrimage Day

March 26th District/Zone Masonic Education Workshop at 9 am Have a Response or Inquiry? Want to send a message to our Google Group? send emails to [email protected].

Know a Brother that needs to be added to our email list? Email the W:.M:. at [email protected].