October 2022 Trestle Board
Greetings Brethren!
As predicted, we did, indeed, have yet another good month at the Lodge. Brothers Lee and Micky Tingler were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on September 19th. We are really excited to have the brothers as members of the Lodge and look forward to enjoying their great enthusiasm for the Craft and the tenets of out institution. I feel absolutely certain that they will both be great assets to Kilwinning Crosse 2-237. Please join me in welcoming them!!
Labor day came and went and moved us into the fall season. I am reminded how nature accounts for the return of seasons and the variety of scenes which each seasons displays to the discerning eye. Virginia, of course, is famous for its beautiful fall colors and I encourage you to get out and enjoy them if you can. Of course with fall comes the shortening of days and the availability of the old “I don’t like to drive at night” excuse. No one used that during the summer although it didn’t seem to benefit us in any way. The Lodge is trying hard to rebuild attendance after the Covid “Pandemic” but people are still not coming back. Why is that? What can I, as Master, do to encourage you to return to your favorite Monday night adventures? Please email me at rjfishersr@gmail.com with your suggestions, requests etc.
Saturday September 10th was the date for “Grand”s to visit out District. At noon the Grand Commander of Knights Templar of Virginia hosted a very enjoyable picnic at the Spotsylvania Chapter of the Isaac Walton League and in the evening the Grand High Priest made his official visit to Capitular District #19. Both events were well attended and both had representatives from Kilwinning Crosse present.
At the meal before our September Stated communication we had a cake (kindly provided by SW Huey Allen) to celebrate RWB Tom Lewis’s 80th birthday. My he have many, many more! A very enjoyable meal was furnished by the Ladies of the Eastern Star Chapter as usual and it was requested that I mention/advertize an event that they are having in October. At the Lodge at 6:30 PM on Thursday October 13th they will host an invitational to learn more about the organization. This invitation is open to all Master Masons, their wives and daughters and any associated members of the Masonic Family. Just as the Lodge needs you support, so does the Eastern Star. This may be a way to demonstrate some of the values of membership and attendance to that reluctant lady who prefers you to stay home. If I can figure out how to do it, I will attach their flyer to this message.
On September 17th I attended the Area Ritual school at Kinsale. It was a good and beneficial event attended by about 50 Masons from the area. It provided me with a useful preview of the MM Degree which I had the pleasure of conferring twice just two days later. If you were not at the raising of the brothers Tingler, you missed a historic event. It is extremely rare that two filial brothers are raised on the same night and we enjoyed the honor of making this happen.
On September 26th we made our first Fraternal visit of the year (probably of the decade) to Spotsylvania #26. After an enjoyable meal we listened to the RW Grand Senior Warden who gave a very good and inspiring speech. Our visit was recorded along with one from the Master and brothers of John A. LeJeune #350 who are all great masons and good friends.
That brings me to this month. The month starts out quite gently. There is a MM practice tomorrow night 10/4 at Fredericksburg #4 and an MM Degree on Wednesday also at Lodge 4. Our Stated will be on 10/10 and I hope to see you all turn out in record numbers to show your support of your Lodge! RW Chuck Deremer was able to remove the old swollen batteries from the electric chair lifts and has replacements coming. Thank you Sir! At the meeting we will discuss a few proposed changes to be made in an effort to make the Lodge more comfortable and attractive. Your input would be appreciated. We also need to vote on the release of a 2018 petitioner to Spotsylvania 26. The candidate has moved among other changes, We also have an affiliation on which to vote.
On the 13th of October is the invitational mentioned above for the Eastern Star and, in Fredericksburg, the Annual meeting of the Rappahannock Area Scottish Rite Club. This meeting is open to all Masons and their families although voting is restricted to Members only. The meeting will be at Capital Ale House on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg starting at about 6:00PM. We usually reserve the downstairs room for this event.
On October 15th you are invited to an unusual meeting. a Grand Lodge Reunion Table Lodge Organizational meeting at St. Tammany Lodge No.5 in Hampton. The proposal is to start an annual rotation of Table Lodges to celebrate the original Lodges of Virginia. This meeting is organizational but it would be nice to fill six seats at this event. It is likely that we will be nominated as the host for 2023 as, apparently, Norfolk No.1 may have already done it without inviting us! I expect to go. I would like the SW and JW to join me as well as a few brothers interested in Table Lodges and the organization thereof. The meeting is at 6PM. There will be a four course meal for a donation of $10 yes ten. Please let me know if you will attend. First six get it!
It is likely that 19th October will be the date set for our next MM degree which will be preceded by a Fellow Craft Return. Please mark this on your calendars. The practice on the 17th will, logically, be on the MM degree.
Saturday October 22nd sees the 2022 FALL DEGREE CONFERRAL IN MEMORY OF Ill. Clifford Cardwell Grotz, Jr., 33º, IGH at the Scottish Rite in Richmond. It will be held at the ACCA Shrine building. Cost is $300 and includes 2023 dues. If you would like to become a 32nd Degree Mason please let me know and I will send you a petition.
October 25th will be the next District School at 6:30 PM at Fredericksburg #4.
Once again. the George Washington Masonic National Memorial is conducting a symposium entitled “Scottish Freemasons in America, 1750–1800 at the beginning of November which coincides with the Grand Master’s visit to Lodge 4. As one of the Lodges whose first charter was issued by Scotland we have been asked to attend. There is a website with information at the following address: https://gwmemorial.org/blogs/news/scottish-masonic-event..Brethren from Scotland will be present at the symposium and at the Table Lodge for the Grand Master’s Annual visit to Lodge 4 on November 4th. I plan on attending the Table Lodge at very least and, hopefully the symposium too. Come and join me!
We have nine Anniversaries this month. Those raised in October include:
Bro. David Rozell 37 years
WB Ronnie Walters 33 years
WB David Storke . 33 years
RWB Allen Clark 27 years
Bro. Douglas Sanders 26years
WB Robert Atkinson 21 years
WB Michael Beal 7 years
Bro. Michael Ulrey 7 years
Bro. Logan Edmisten 4 years Congratulations !!
Practices continue to be held on Mondays, if no Degrees are scheduled, at 7pm at the Lodge and we have a group of regular attendees. If you would like to learn a part for a degree, refresh your memory on Lodge opening and closing procedures or re-learn a catechism, please come and join us. We are flexible in what we work on according to the needs and desires of the attendees.
On the Internet, our Facebook page “Friends of Kilwinning Crosse Lodge No. 2-237” is thriving and has an ever increasing number of followers. We have reached 468 people in the last 28 days – a 280% improvement! Check it out!
Finally, If anyone would like to contribute any items or articles to the trestle board please email them to me and I will try to accommodate. Fraternally,
Richard J. Fisher, Master
