Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
April 2014
Vol. VIII Issue IV
FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS OF FLORIDA 200 Richey Road Leesburg, Florida 34748 Phone: 352-787-5696 Email: leesburglodge58@centurylink.net Meets the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of Each Month at 7:00pm
Chartered January 15th, 1868
Trestle Board WHank DeBerry (Paula).. 330-7311 Trestle Board Printing Leesburg Printing .. 787-3348 Lodge Web Mail leesburglodge58@centurylink.net
Education Chairman WHank DeBerry, Ron Glover, Jeff Lamb Lodge Mentors Chairman WLarry Duff, WHank DeBerry, all Past Masters Catechism Chairman WDon McIntyre, Sr., WBob Browning, Jeff Lamb Petitions Investigation Chairman WMHaas, WLarry Duff, W Hank DeBerry Investigations Interviews WM John Haas will appoint as needed Funeral Chairman WJim Angelos, WBob Browning, Ed Spencer Activities & Awards Chairman WM John Haas, Ron Glover, Jeff Lamb Officers meet at 6:00pm, first stated meeting, Committee Chairman meet the second meeting of each month for business and planning.
If you Google 'Captain Morgan' you will get many references to Captain Morgan Spice Rum, but if you carefully scroll through the listings you will find references to a Captain Morgan and his association with Masonry. It has been speculated for years that he was killed for trying to reveal the secrets of Freemasonry. In my research I found an interesting article about his supposed murder and thought I'd pass it along. It's really not quite that simple as you will soon see. William Morgan was born in 1774 (yes, over 235 years ago!) in Virginia. In 1819 at age 45 he was married to a girl sixteen years of age. Two years later he moved to Canada and became a distiller. Fire destroyed his brewery and reduced him to poverty after which he moved again. In 1823, he was at Rochester, New York and subsequently took up residence in Batavia, New York in 1826. While he had visited lodges before this time, there is no evidence to show where (or if) he was initiated, despite his rather complete knowledge of the ritual. He was denied admission to the local Lodge and Chapter (of York Rite Masonry) at Batavia for reasons unknown. (Refusal to admit a Mason to a lodge meeting is quite rare but does happen when a visitor's status as a Mason is in question.) However, it is confirmed that he received the York Rite Royal Arch Degree at LeRoy, New York in 1825. When a new Chapter was proposed in his own town, his name was on the petition but objection was made to his being included and a new petition was prepared without it. Resenting this action, Morgan apparently became bitter and sought revenge. He entered into a conspiracy with the local newspaper editor to publish a malicious book on Freemasonry. Some reports indicate that David C. Miller, the newspaper editor, had received the Entered Apprentice - first - degree in Freemasonry but objections arose and he was prevented from proceeding further. This, some Masonic scholars assert, could have given rise to his interest in taking part in the scheme of Morgan's....) (continued on page 4)
Chaplins Corner
It is with great sadness that we report the loss of a Brother from Umatilla Lodge who has been in our prayers for some time. Brother Jim Scarmada went to be with the Great Architect after a long and hard fought battle. His family is in our prayers and thoughts at this sad time. Brothers, dont let your family be in the dark on your final wishes. Too many times we have had Brothers pass and nothing is known of their final requests such as a Masonic Funeral. If the Lodge does not know about it, then the Lodge cannot perform a funeral service for a Brother who deserves one. Keep your family informed Brothers! It is important to you and to them that we be able to give this last service for you. Enter it into your will or final request and keep it in a safe place that they will be able to access at the proper time. It doesnt cost you anything to let them know and it may give them comfort in their grief. As always Brothers, please keep your Masonic Home and our military in your thoughts and prayers and may the Great Architect bless and keep you.
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There was great resentment in the town and the newspaper building was set on fire but no serious damage was done. As a result of this hotheadedness, four Freemasons were indicted and three were sent to jail. In fact, the Masons themselves offered a reward for the guilty party and some assert that Miller set the fire himself. There is, however, no proof as to what actually happened. Morgan was arrested several times on various claims, some real and some apparently 'trumped up', possibly at the instigation of the local Masons. In one of these instances, a man came to pay the bail for Morgan and from that day on, Morgan was supposedly never seen again. Some 'eye-witness' reports tell of him being taken away by a group of men carrying torches. Other 'eye-witness' reports indicate that he was given a horse and wagon and rode away alone. There were at least a half-dozen 'eye-witness' reports, all of which were at odds with the other. Since then, various explanations have been put forth over the years, the most common being that Morgan was murdered by Masons. A month after Morgan left the jail, a badly decomposed body was found some distance away. The now-widow of Morgan, first said it was not her husband and was quite emphatic in so doing, citing total difference in body height, facial hair, etc. Later, she changed her story. Reports are that the corpse changed appearance several times as well, leading to charges and counter-charges of skullduggery! Mrs. Monroe claimed that it was the remains of her husband and those remains were turned over to her after an inquest. The foes of Masonry did not believe it then and they don't believe it now. There were subsequent stories of seeing Morgan in other lands but despite the interest of thousands of scholars and some 39 different official investigations, the mystery is just as obscure now as it was then. The Governor of New York, a Mason himself, offered a reward of $2,000 (an enormous sum at that time) for the identification of the murderer(s) and yet - despite SO many making claims that they 'knew' who did this heinous crime, no one ever claimed that reward. While Freemasonry promptly disavowed any sympathy with those who might have decided to punish Morgan for his supposed wrongdoing, it did little to check the resentment which grew and festered in this poor area where unemployment ran extraordinarily high and people were willing to believe anything that might explain their misfortunes. Despite the horrific and oft-made claims bandied about by the foes of Freemasonry, they don't know any more about this than the rest of us. There has never again been a similar incident anywhere in the world.
WJim Campbell
Sorry Brothers, I am on vacation this time and dont have an article for you. Dont forget our First Saturday Breakfast and our Second Sunday Dinner this month and we will be having a meal on the second stated meeting of the month. The first will have an officers meeting. The meal will be at 6:00 PM followed by the Stated Communication. The menu for the second meeting meal will be announced at the first Stated Communication.
Brothers,
We need sponsors for the Trestle Board! So far the response has been very thin. The sponsors pay for the mailing cost of the printed version. The Lodge absorbs the cost of printing but as you all know, the cost of postage is going up all the time now. Please help us out by sponsoring us for a year. It is $20 for the entire year or any portion of it. Our Trestle Board is one that is seen all over the state and hopefully one you can be proud to have your name on. Thank you for your support. The Editor
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Name(s) of Those Who Attended: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Date(s) Attended: _____________________________________________________________________ Function/Activity/Training/Etc. Attended: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Number of Hours Involved:______________________________________________________________ Location of Activity: ___________________________________________________________________ Please leave completed slips on the Secretarys desk at the Stated Communications, or email W. Hank DeBerry with this information at hdeberry@embarqmail.com, or place them in the slot in the Secretarys door
Name(s) of Those Who Attended: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Date(s) Attended: _____________________________________________________________________ Function/Activity/Training/Etc. Attended: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Number of Hours Involved:______________________________________________________________ Location of Activity: ___________________________________________________________________ Please leave completed slips on the Secretarys desk at the Stated Communications, or email W. Hank DeBerry with this information at hdeberry@embarqmail.com, or place them in the slot in the Secretarys door
Event:_________________________________________________________ Date (s):__________________________ Time:_________________________ Description/Comments____________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ For further information contact:____________________ at ________________ Submitted by:_____________________________________________________
Event:_________________________________________________________ Date (s):__________________________ Time:_________________________ Description/Comments____________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ For further information contact:____________________ at ________________ Submitted by:_____________________________________________________
If you would like to be a sponsor in 2014, please see the secretary with your donation. Your donations are applied to the monthly mailing costs of the Trestle Board, we need 60 sponsors to cover the yearly mailing costs. Sponsorship is $20.00 for the year or any part thereof. Our Goal for this year is 60 sponsors. Please consider a sponsorship.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and Im not sure about the former.
- Albert Einstein -
Scottish Rite
April Birthdays
Happy Birthday!
Editors Note: All articles and information must be received by the editor prior to the 23rd of the publishing month for inclusion in the next issue. Articles can be e-mailed to: leesburglodge58@centurylink.net
The Test
Several years ago, the story is told of a Mason who always wore his Masonic ring and lapel pin when in public. On some occasions, he rode the bus from his home to the downtown area. On one such trip and when he sat down, he discovered the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter; who would worry about this little amount." Anyway, the transit company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet. When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change." The driver with a smile replied, " I noticed your Masonic ring and lapel pin. I have been thinking lately about asking a Mason how to join. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. You passed the test. Can you tell me how to become a Mason?" When the Mason stepped off the bus, he said a silent prayer, "Oh God, Grand Architect of the Universe, I almost sold you and my beloved Masons out for a mere quarter." Our actions are the only Masonic creed some will ever see. This is a really almost scary example of how people watch us as Masons and may put us to the test even without us realizing it! Always be diligent, whether it be at the theater, restaurant, grocery, service station or just driving in traffic. Remember, whether it be a lapel pin, a ring, or an emblem on the car, you carry the name of our great fraternity on your shoulders whenever you call yourself a Mason. You never can tell who might be watching!
Just before we were to tyle before our last stated meeting a very elderly man came into the Temple. I went over to introduce myself as Master of the Lodge. The gentleman asked if he might be able to receive his Fellow Craft Degree. He said he had been regularly initiated here 60 years ago. Astonished I asked why it had taken him so long to return. He replied, "I was learning to subdue my passions and now I am ready to improve myself in Masonry."
- Author Unknown -
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The following pages are from our St Paddys Day Feast of Corned Beef and Cabbage!
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SUNDAY DINNER
Leesburg Lodge No. 58 April 13, 2014 Menu
Baked Ham or Grilled Chicken Breast
Potatoes, Vegetable Melody, Raisin sauce, Tossed Salad, Dinner Rolls, Drinks, Desserts (sugared or no sugar added)
$8.37 + .63 tax - Adults, under 14 - $3.72 + .28 tax
11:30 AM until 1:00 PM Please call the Lodge at 787-5696 or sign the guest list in the
lobby and provide the number attending with you,. This ensures enough food is purchased and prepared for all. ALL MASONS, their families and friends are invited to our Monthly Second Sunday Dinners and First Saturday Breakfasts Help support your Blue Lodge, IT IS where all other Masonic Bodies Begin.
Celebrating 146 years (1868 2014) in Leesburg, Fla. The Lakefront City
11:30 a.m. TO 1:00 p.m. Baked Ham or Grilled Chicken Breast Potatoes, Vegetable Melody, Raisin sauce Dinner rolls, Desserts (sugared or no sugar added)
Menu items: April 13, 2014
SUNDAY DINNERS
$8.37 + .63 tax per person, Children under 14 years of age $3.72 + .28 tax
PLEASE call the Lodge at 787-5696, or sign the guest list in the foyer, provide the number of guests attending with you, this ensures enough food is prepared for all. ALL MASONS, their families and friends are invited . Menu suggestions welcomed, just fill out a comment card. Dont forget to call or sign -up!!!