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Brethren:
Thanks to all who helped make the 2006 Installation of Officers a great event.
Eric Thoss and John Sanchez worked thru the day and the rain to deliver a truly satisfying tri-tip and chicken dinner. Along with others, Don and Ruth worked late to insure the kitchen and hall were clean, and all on hand helped pick up the tables and chairs after an evening of festivities and good music that wore us all out.
The Lodge and the line are really coming together, and 2006 looks like a great year ahead for all of us.
By the time you read this the January, events will have played out, but be ready for February, because February 18th, we plan to renovate the Dining Hall with a coat of fresh paint. Show up early and stay till the work is done. Then, probably in March, date to be determined, the Lodge will pay tribute to our departed brother Jack Miller, by planting a tree in his honor near the Tilton Street entrance. With all the effort he put into the Lodge, it is fitting that he be honored in a lasting monument to his dedication to San Mateo Lodge.
But others are now picking up where Jack left off…
If the Lodge aprons appear to hang straighter; perhaps that is because Bro. Jim Touchstone took them home and made repairs where needed. This attitude of doing what we can, where we can, seems to be catching on, and reminds me of the story of the two wolves which I will close with.
Two Wolves:
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between 2 “wolves” inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Author unknown.
See you all Thursday February 2nd for the Stated Meeting.
Fraternally,
William Hedrix
Worshipful Master
Brethren,
Well, Hello from the West! What a great installation we had. Thank you to the Hedrixs and all that helped. You guys did a bang up job. The setting, the food and entertainment was a great success. We had a great turnout. My family had such a good time I think they were one of the last to leave.
We have a great year to look forward to. Plans are already in the works towards sprucing up the Lodge. We are looking into painting the indoors and changing the pink walls to a more neutral color. Ladies, please make sure and join us at February’s Stated Dinner, we are going to need your input on the color. There are other projects we are looking into for the year, so get out those work clothes and let’s all pitch in as much as we can.
This is going to be a fun year. There are lots of activities our Worshipful Master has planned. It looks like we will be participating in the Pumpkin Festival. I wouldn’t expect anything less from our Master that lives on the coast. I think it will be a great weekend. Just a few of the activities we are doing...The San Mateo Fair, A Night At The Races, and more! WOW ...Let’s kick it up a notch this year, and show ‘em what we’ve got!!!
We have new candidates coming through and a great group of young men working on their 1st Degree. Let’s keep them motivated and moving along.
I would like you all to take a moment and reflect back on last year. Please stop and remember our Brethren we lost and pray for their family and friends. It is very hard to lose a loved one. We, as Masons, are here for one another and each others families. Please, let’s keep in touch with these families and let them know they are still a part of “our family.”
In closing, I would like to tell you I am proud to be a Mason and proud to be a member of San Mateo Lodge # 226.
Fraternally,
David Huston
Senior Warden
Beloved Brothers of Our Sacred Craft, a most happy and prosperous New Year–Masonic year Anno Lucis 6006. It has been my great pleasure and honor to be Elected to serve San Mateo Masonic Lodge # 226 as Junior Warden for this year. I only hope and pray that my service this year will be worthy of that Great and Notable Masonic Hero whose office I symbolically portray in the Lodge.
I also wish to compliment our most recent Past Master, Worshipful David Rice, for a successful year and for the honor of being called and enabled to complete the great work which I set in motion so long ago when I was first Raised as a Master Mason, that of being a Line Officer of a California Masonic Lodge.
I also want to thank our newly elected Master William Hedrix and Senior Warden Dave Huston for letting me be a part of their Great Team. May we do a good job continuing to spread that Sacred Light of Freemasonry to our future Brothers to be this year.
February and March are important months in our Masonic Calendar. In February we celebrate Presidents’ Day, in effect honoring all the Great Men who held that High Office, Masonic and non-Masonic. It is held on the 20th this year. I remember when I was in school we celebrated Feb. 12 in honor of Abraham Lincoln and Feb. 22 the birthday of George Washington the latter being a well-known Mason; the first a non-mason but a Great Man nonetheless.
When March comes upon us, it heralds the return of spring and the calendric equinox which is the time, like in the fall, when the hours of the night season are equal to the hours of the day season. The holidays celebrated for Catholics and fun loving folk are among the Irish St. Patrick’s Day, Mar. 17- Patron Saint of Ireland and among Italians St. Giuseppe’s Day (St . Joseph’s) the Patron Saint of the Family.
In conclusion, I look forward to seeing as many of you in Lodge as can attend and hope this Trestleboard finds you in good health and joyful spirits.
Fraternally
Richard H. Segel
Junior Warden
From the Corner Office
Progress in The Corner Office
I want to thank all of the officers and members of this Lodge who have taken the time to visit the Lodge office during the past few months of reorganization. It deserves to be said that our Lodge office has been in transition for the past two years, and that we are working diligently to update all of our records, especially the Dues Records. By the time you receive this Trestleboard, most of our members will have had the opportunity to remit their 2006 Annual Lodge Dues.
That being said, we have a few members who will have received a special letter indicating that their Lodge Dues are past due. If you are one of these brethren, please write, or call me at the Lodge Office regarding any special circumstances you are aware of concerning your 2004 and 2005 Lodge Dues. If you have not received your Dues Card for the last two years, that may prompt you to contact the Lodge Office to clarify the matter. I will do my best to resolve your concerns in a timely manner, first come - first served.
Don’t be surprised, if when you stop by the Lodge Office next time, it feels like a busy place…we’re getting a lot of work done. Thank you for your patience, and I look forward to seeing you at Lodge soon.
Happy New Year,
Charlie Drechsler, P.M.
Lodge Secretary
Hall Association
The Hammer Club:
If you haven’t seen the Lodge in a while, please come to the next Stated Meeting Dinner to peruse the halls and visit with your friends. We’ve dedicated the Building Manager’s Office on the stage, the York Rite Offices just outside the Lodge Room entrance, the Lodge Office at the end of the hall, and the Member’s Lounge & Library on the third floor. The officers, members, and their ladies will be choosing a new paint color for the Dining Hall at our February Stated Meeting Dinner; this work will be scheduled shortly thereafter.
We have been working as a team of Lodge officers and Hall Association members to respond to your thoughtful suggestions for improving our Masonic edifice. In doing so, we are becoming a more synchronized group of workers. I’ve seen and felt the excitement of Freemasonry in the conversations among our members. As the President of this year’s Hall Association, I have asked the board to re-dedicate ourselves to making regular and meaningful strides in the maintenance and improvement of our Great Lodge Building.
Your San Mateo Masonic Lodge – Hall Association meets every last Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM; this allows us a month to accomplish projects, and then report at the subsequent Lodge Stated Meeting. If you would like to attend, please do so, and I’ll personally welcome your input. We’ve got a great group of thinkers and doers, and we’re pretty good at keeping the talkers on task. We will be scheduling Lodge improvement projects throughout the year, please attend regularly and let us know how you like it.
Cheers,
Charlie Drechsler
President
Receiving the Trestleboard is always a pleasure, to not only read of Lodge members that I know but to see the names of new members getting involved in the working of the Lodge.
I was saddened this last September with the passing of Bro “Jack” Miller, this got me thinking of the influence that this Lodge has had on my life, by that I mean the people who made it for me “home away from home,” the people who just by being there guided my conduct; friends who would always be there with an “attentive ear.”
My application to the craft was signed by my good friend Bernie Abrams of whom I asked the question, “Why become a Mason?” His reply, “Increase the odds of meeting good people.” He was right. My First and Second Degree Coach was Bro Cliff Paulson, a gentle man who will always conjure up pleasant memories. My Third Degree Coach was Bro Jack Miller, what more could one ask for.
As time passed I had the pleasure of working with some great people, some who are not with us today, some still very active in the Lodge. Bro Charlie Drechsler, Secretary, extols the virtues of participating in the Lodge, I would suggest that by taking an active part in its organization you are giving yourself the greatest gift – wonderful friendships. I cannot imagine my life without the experience of those good friends, Cliff, Bernie and Jack, may God bless them.
John Pask
Views expressed in the San Mateo Lodge Trestleboard and on this website are those of the author of each article and do not necessarily reflect the views of Freemasonry as a whole, The Grand Lodge of California, or any other members or Officers of San Mateo Lodge #226 F&AM
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