March 2022 Trestle Board

Brethren,

    Spring has not quite sprung just yet but it is getting close! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow predicting 6 more weeks of winter (4 weeks ago) but he has been right only 40% in the past 10 years! William Shakespeare warned us to ‘beware the ides of March” (March 15th) but, I think after that, we might see a brightening of the sky and a lengthening of days! Sunday March 20th marks the Spring Equinox when our clocks Spring Forward causing us to lose an hour of sleep but after that we can look forward to a good year ahead of us!

     At the Lodge, it is time to get busy. Our “Foot-to-foot” program coordinator, Wor. Bro. Andrew Coelho, delivered another 18 pairs of gym shoes to Caroline Middle School in February as we continue to help the less fortunate students to participate in school activities. We also extend our gratitude to Mrs. Sharon Rachanow (Eastern Star) for her assistance with this program. Our “Foot-to-Foot” fund is now depleted and needs to be rebuilt again. Charitable donations received at Stated communications will complement that fund but additional donations will be gratefully accepted.

The street light in front of the Lodge has been out for some time now. Both Wor. Bro. Tom Lewis and myself have communicated with Virginia Power and hope to see this working again soon. The garage next to the Lodge building is gone and, I am told, is to be replaced with an ice cream parlor. I am looking for ways that this might be a benefit to the Lodge. Suggestions are welcome!

At our February Stated Communication a vote was taken and Worshipful Bro. Michael Beal was nominated for DDGM for 2024 with myself as alternate. I am sure that Mike will do an excellent job!
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Audit Committee for their Report which was accepted into the lodge records.

March 12th sees the annual District Visit of the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia to District #8. As in recent years, this visit will be at the Bowling Green Town Hall! The event starts at 6pm and tickets are available from the Lodge Secretary, Joseph Pack at $20 each. This year our Grand Master is Most Worshipful James Golladay, Jr. Come out and give him a good Bowling Green welcome!

March 14th is the date for our next Stated Communication and our “program” will be the Official Visit of the District Deputy Grand Master for the 8th Masonic District, Right Worshipful Dennis Wayne Berry. We will also vote on another affiliation and have a new petition to read.

March 21st will be our first degree of the year when two candidates will be Initiated into Masonry. We will start at 7pm and your presence is encouraged. The lecture will be furnished by Wor. Bro. Chuck Cooper of Fredericksburg #4.

The following Monday, March 28th, we will hear an EA Return and confer the Fellowcraft Degree. The “walking lecture” will be delivered by another member of #4, Brother Pat McConnell. If any brother would like to deliver a lecture then please let me know. It would be a benefit to the Lodge if we could deliver the lectures ourselves.  

 We continue to look for new opportunities to be of service to our local community so if you know of anything then please let me know.

Wishing you all an Excellent month !

     Fraternally,
     Richard J. Fisher
     Worshipful Master