Arcana Lodge #187
Ancient Free & Accepted Masons

Hello again, I am pleased to report that the First Degree that was held on February 7^th went off really well. Brother Bernie Wiklund, who presided in the East, did an outstanding job! My thanks go out to Brother Gary Sibben who rehearsed the First Lecture with me, and to WB Jerry Chartrand who did a superb job on both the Second and Third Lectures.

The Second Degree is Fast Approaching, and there are still openings for Senior Deacon and one of the Steward parts. Your help is needed and will be much appreciated.

The tickets for the Spaghetti Dinner have been sent out, and several brothers have already returned their reservations and/or tickets that will not be used, but most have not replied. It is very important that we get an accurate count of how many people we can expect to make food for. The first year we almost ran out of food, and last year we made enough food to feed 150 more people than showed up. So please return your dinner reservations to the Lodge secretary in the preaddressed envelope provided, and don’t forget to indicate if you can help out in the dinning room that night. I would also like to thank WB Richard Hunt for donating the printing expense for the tickets, letter and envelopes.

We have received one new petition and have therefore scheduled another set of degrees to start with the Entered Apprentice degree on May 15^th, 2000. Let’s all try to make this next set of degree a very special event by initiating a large class of new members. There’s still some time to turn in additional petitions for the next set of degrees. It’s good to see that the tradition of this great and good fraternity is moving in a positive path.

Fraternally yours,

John Fosdick
Senior Warden

Dear Trestleboard readers,

It is a new term and new events. In February on the 19th Lincoln Chapter DeMolay had their Sweetheart dance from 8-12 PM, and everyone had a great time.

The Jobs meetings on March 4th is dedicated to our Parents/Grandparent's day, and March 18th is Mason/OES day, both meetings start at 10:00 AM.

Sunday, March 26th Bethel #19 and Lincoln Chapter are having a joint Jobs and DeMolay Prospect Dinner at Arcana Lodge. If you know any teens that would like something to do, have them come and check out what Jobs and DeMolay have to offer teens in the new millennium. The dinner starts at 4:30 PM and is free for prospective members and their families.

Sincerely,
Tara Anderson
Sr. Princess of Bethel 19

The daily test for a true Mason is the level of the quantity, as well as the quality, with which he uses his Masonic working tools in order to achieve his Masonic goals.

For instance, are we using our twenty-four inch gage to divide our time according to our Masonic Teachings? Are we giving eight hours per day to God and a distressed worthy brother? Are we giving one hour per day to God and a distressed worthy brother? Are we giving ten minutes per day to God and a distressed worthy brother?

The twenty-four inch gage is the very first working tool presented to us. How effective was the presentation? Perhaps the presenter did not follow the teaching of the twenty-four inch gage to a very high percent and therefore did not transmit the value of this great & basic Masonic working tool to us. How well were we listening during that presentation? Perhaps the beauty of the lodge and the details of the previous parts of the ceremony which we had just passed through distracted us. Who among us will refocus on the twenty-four inch gage and increase the level of quantity & quality with which we apply it in our daily living?

Brothers, it doesn't stop there. If we are forgetting to apply the twenty-four inch gage in the manner it was taught to us by our Masonic initiator, then what are the chances that we are also forgetting about the application of our second working tool - the common gavel? If we are not now giving even ten minutes a day to God and a distressed worthy brother, how much time could we possibly be intentionally giving to the quantity & quality of our personal use of our common gavel upon ourselves individually?

Are we remembering to intentionally use our common gavel to chip away personal flaws as Michael Angelo chipped away the unnecessary parts of that block of marble in order to create his statue of David as a symbol of hope for humanity, (that great reminder that courage can overcome great opposition - Goliath)?

If we do not create the time to use our common gavel, then how can we become proficient with our common gavel? How can we become better men? (How can the rough stone be made smooth)? In other words, to what percent are we talking the talk but not walking the walk? Does that rough and rugged road get shorter without our intentional striving to smooth our rough stone -- to purify our hearts? Is not the quality of our achievements directly dependent upon the quality of our personal striving? Who among us can fill his heart with charity without the proper use of his twenty-four inch gage and common gavel? Who among us can use the trowel in all its symbolic splendor without having created the daily habitual use of his twenty-four inch gage and common gavel?

We all know how to pray to God. Let us ask for guidance to maximize the quality of our striving in the application of our Masonic working tools for the good of Masonry and all mankind. Let us, like Michael Angelo, search for and find that courage and beauty in each of us which is waiting beneath the surface of our rough stone. Let us apply what our brothers have strived so hard to impart to us. Let us strive to be truer Masons and thus truer servants of God, (in whom we all trust).