TRESTLE BOARD

July 2015
Vol. XV

Issue VII

LEESBURG LODGE No. 58

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

Committees for 2015

Officers for 2015

Worshipful Master
Senior Warden
Junior Warden
Treasurer
Secretary
Senior Deacon
Junior Deacon
Senior Steward
Junior Steward
Tyler
Chaplain
Marshal
Organist
Lodge Instructor
Lodge Historian
Librarian

Bro. Ron Glover..874-9504

Br. Jeff Lamb (Sherri).... .753-0277
Br. Wayne Reynolds.(Linda)407-484-0096
WLarry Duff (Brenda)..874-2164
W Hank DeBerry (Paula)..... 430-0238
Lodge .................... .787-5696
Br. Ed Spencer..324-2134
Br. Pedro Arroyo (Marcia)386-804-2043
Br. James M. Thomas...568-1554
Br. Norman Novis (Alona)...409-7669
WJim Angelos 255-1724
Vacant
W John Haas (Tina).360-9114
Vacant
WHank DeBerry (Paula)...330-7311
Vacant
W Larry Duff (Brenda).874-2164

Trestle Board
WHank DeBerry (Paula).. 330-7311
Trestle Board Printing Leesburg Printing .. 787-3348
Lodge Web Mail
leesburglodge58@centurylink.net

Board of Relief
Chairman WMRon Glover, Jeff Lamb, Wayne Reynolds
Lodge Property
Chairman Jeff Lamb, WDon McIntyre, WJim Angelos,
W John Haas, WMRon Glover
Finance - Investments & Budget
Chairman Jeff Lamb, RW Ken Graves,
WTom Russell, WLarry Duff, WJohn Haas
Vigilance
Chairman WJohn Haas, WBob Browning, Jeff Lamb,
Charity & Scholarships
Chairman WJohn Haas, Sec. WHank DeBerry, Ed Spencer

Living
Past Masters
Charles Porter
1959
RWRay Richardson
1969*
William Ed Davison
1974
Robert H. Smith
1977
RWColin Crews
1980^*
H. C. Connell
1985
RWTheodore Jansen 1986*
Michael Dozier
1988
John H. Meier V
1989
Jay A. Frizzell, Jr.
1992
Raleigh Sorenson
1993/1994
Don Barfield
1996
Tom Russell
1997/1998/2002
Mervyn Harris
1999
RWKenneth Graves
2000*
RH Thomas E. Beach 2001
Robert H. Browning 2003/2004
RWDennis Ricker
2005/2007^*
Roland P. Gibson
2006
Bill Green
2008
Richard Ecott
2009
Donald McIntyre, Sr.
2010
Randall Jesmok
2011
Larry Duff
2012
Jim Angelos
2013
John Haas
2014

Affiliated
Past Masters

Education
Chairman WHank DeBerry, WMRon Glover, Jeff Lamb

MWJoseph Brearley
Henry DeBerry
Jack Delauter
Robert C. Gleckler
Robert Kennedy
Clifford Moore
Frank Peregrin
Glenn A. Reynolds*^
Edwin Robbins
Robert L. Welch
Forest Case*
Wayne Parks
Fred Lint
Raymond D Trudeau
John R. Haas
Gary Towne
^ Past District Instructor
* Past DDGM
# Past Grand Master

Lodge Mentors
Chairman WLarry Duff, WHank DeBerry, all Past Masters
Catechism
Chairman WDon McIntyre, Sr., WBob Browning, Jeff Lamb
Petitions Investigation
Chairman WMRon Glover, WLarry Duff, W Hank DeBerry
Investigations Interviews
WM Ron Glover will appoint as needed
Funeral
Chairman WJim Angelos, WBob Browning, Ed Spencer
Activities & Awards
Chairman WM Ron Glover, WJohn Haas, Jeff Lamb,
Wayne Reynolds
Officers meet at 6:00pm, first stated meeting, Committee Chairman
meet the second meeting of each month for business and planning.

18th Masonic District

DDGM

RW Alan Heist

407-718-5841

District Instructor

RH Ed Mayfield PDDGM

352-751-3532
2

LIGHT FROM THE EAST

WM Ron Glover

Well here we are in the end of June and start of July and along with that comes the realization that the year is
half gone already! I hope everyone is having a safe summer so far. I would like to start this off by once again briefly
mentioning the Saturday Breakfast and Sunday Dinner. For those Brothers and guests that came the first Saturday in
June I would like to thank you. All eight of you. It helped us beat our attendance in May by two people! Yes Brothers,
those are accurate numbers. In all seriousness though Brothers, I do sincerely thank all of you that have been helping out
the past couple years and supporting us by either working in the kitchen or just stopping in for some food and fellowship,
but we are facing a pretty serious dilemma when it comes to our Breakfast fund raisers. In the next few months we are
going to have to make a few tough decisions. The reality of the situation is that with the participation we have now, as
far as attendance, we are actually costing the Lodge. With the electricity and the AC and the cost of the food, there is no
way we can continue doing it with only six to eight people showing up. I know there are some of you that havent been
to the Breakfast in a while and for differing reasons. I can tell you that we have a pretty outstanding Kitchen staff right
now that have been working hard to produce good food and I still cant think of another place in town where you can get
as much breakfast as you want, including eggs cooked to order, sausage links and patties, bacon, biscuits, sausage gravy,
homefries or hashbrowns, waffles, pancakes, French toast, donuts and pastries, along with all of the coffee and juice you
can drink for only $6. I can also tell you Brothers from personal experience that the quality and taste of our Breakfast is
outstanding. Having said all of that, in order to help bring some people back that havent tried it in awhile, we are going
to be doing something a little different in the month of July. Our first Saturday this month is falling on the 4th of July so
with that in mind, in honor of Freedom, and in honor of Freemasonry, we are going to be giving a Free Breakfast. Brothers bring your friends and family down for a fantastic free breakfast. We are hoping once some of you come back and
see what we have you will come back again. Unfortunately the bottom line is if we dont see attendance rise over the
next two months I dont see how we can afford to keep offering the Breakfast.
Moving on to a lighter subject, I am happy to announce that our newly raised EA Brother, Jayson Wood is already prepared to perform his FC Catechism at our first meeting in July. Brother Wood was only initiated in the beginning of May and I would like to congratulate him for his efforts in accomplishing the memory work. As I write this we
are just about to perform the MM degree, along with The Villages and Mt. Dora, and it looks like we are going to have
to jump right back into practicing for a FC degree.

Chaplains Corner
This month my Brothers, we need to talk of Charity. They say that charity begins at home and that is
correct, partially. However, after your family and their needs are taken care of, should we not think
of others less fortunate than us. We need to start giving to our Community and it will in turn give to
us. Yes, I said give to us. If we are shown to be taking part in our Community, then there will be men knocking at our doors wishing to join up so they can be a part of something good. It is human nature to help others
and by doing that we will be recognized and before you know it we will have a full house again. Think Brothers and come up with a good worthwhile charity to take part in and lets try to do our Community a good deed
and help them out. Bring up at our next meeting on July 7th.
3

I mentioned the fact that the year is half over. For those that have been in the East you know what I mean
when I say I have never had a year that went by so fast, yet went by so slow! It has been an honor to sit in the
East this year and as always I want to thank all the Brothers that have helped this year. Next time you come to
Lodge if you look toward the East you will see not only my smiling face, but the District 18 Traveling Gavel
and the District 18 Traveling Cup. The Traveling Cup is a trophy that is given out at the monthly District meeting of Masters & Wardens and is given to the Lodge with the highest number of members attending. For those
that are unaware, the Traveling Gavel is a gavel that stays in the District and travels from Lodge to Lodge.
However, the only way to get it is to have five or more Brothers from your Lodge attend a meeting at the
Lodge that currently holds the Gavel and make a formal announcement that you would like to take it. We went
to Umatilla on the third Wednesday in June and I wasnt sure if we would even have enough Brothers from our
Lodge to show up, but to my pleasant surprise I arrived to find all the Lodge Officers except for three that
couldnt make it due to their work schedules. To the officers, along with Richard Follett, our Tyler from last
year who continues to support our Lodge in so many ways, I thank you for all your support and help.
I would also like to thank everybody for coming to our last meeting and supporting us in our District
Deputy Grand Masters Official Visit. It was an honor to host RW Alan Heist and his party, which included
our Past Grand Master MW Dale I. Goehrig, RW Ed Mayfield, and all the District Committee men except for
one that were able to show up. The night went off fairly well for the most part. We got some new information
and had fun along the way.
Brothers I hope you all continue to have a safe Summer and before I go I want to remind everybody of
a special visit well be having on July 7th, our first meeting in July. RH Aubrey Cross will be here to give a
speech about the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It will be about 30 minutes and will be about the
sacrifices that these great men made, many of whom were Masons, in taking their stand against tyranny. It
does not have a happy ending for most. I would like to encourage all you Brothers to bring your wives, kids,
and friends. This speech will be open for everybody to attend. Please spread the word. RH Cross will be starting his speech at our normal meeting time, which is 7pm, and we will start our business meeting directly afterwards. For those that have heard RH Crosss lectures in Lodge and the outstanding speech he gave about Gen.
Douglas MacArthur last year then you know that we are in for a treat.

From the West

From the Secretary

Bro. Jeff Lamb

WHank DeBerry

Greetings Brothers, hope this finds you all

enjoying our beautiful warm summer and I hope you
have a glorious July 4th celebration. We have had a
busy couple of months lately and that doesnt look
like it is going to slow down a bit. Our Lodge along
with The Villages No. 394 and Mt Dora No. 238 put
on a Master Mason Degree this past month and
raised 5 new Brothers to the Sublime degree of Master Mason. Brother Jose Castro and Brother Anthony Sierra from Leesburg were our participants in
the degree. We have Brother Jerry Hall in waiting
for his Master Mason degree and Brother Jayson
It was also nice to see quite a few broth- Wood waiting to be passed to Fellow Craft. These
Brothers are moving along very quickly and will be
ers from around the district in attendance, to
welcome these fine young men into our frater- an asset to our Lodge. We also have two others that
have recently taken out a petition for membership
nity. Young men who will become the future, of and are awaiting the proper investigation and then
not only our lodge, but Freemasonry in general. we will be doing a new class for EA.
I am sorry to say that we have not had very
I think it is important to reflect on when good success
lately with our Breakfasts and Sunday
each of us were raised to the degree of Master
Dinners. I would like to thank the 8 folks who atMason and how much of an impact that day
tended our last Breakfast and hope that you enjoyed
may have made in our lives. By looking back at your meal. The 25 folks that had Sunday Dinner
us all seemed to enjoy their Inside Picnic and
our own experiences of that exciting day, it can with
there were some that said we should do it more often
remind us of the duty we have to attend future during the summer months. Nothing like a grilled
degrees and to be there with a kind word, a
hot dog or hamburger eaten in the nice cool A/C of
show of support, or advice and encouragement the dining room. Sorry most of you missed it.
Brothers I will be sending out delinquent letfor our fellow brothers who are just beginning
ters on several Brothers who have not paid their dues
their journey in Freemasonry.
for the year. If not paid, I have no choice but to send
Keep this in mind my brothers when you a Summons and then a letter of Suspension when
approved by the Lodge. Brothers, this is all by regusee brother Castro, Sierra, or any other newer
lation in the Digest of Masonic Law and is written
member of Freemasonry and let them know
out for all to see. The Lodge has no leeway in this
except to declare the Brother on The Emeritus List,
that you are there to help and support them in
and only then after investigation. Brothers we are
any way you can, because you never know
going to fall short moneywise again this year and
when you might find yourself learning from, or part of the reason is not receiving those dues owed
being helped by them.
by the Brothers who are delinquent. I urge you all to
get your dues paid up. We have made it easier by
offering to accept credit/debit cards and I honestly
dont know of anything else to do.
Brothers, those of you who havent been to
Lodge in a while, Come on back and see us and visit
once in a while. We would enjoy having you sitting
there. The officers have worked hard on their ritual
work and deserve to have someone see what they
can do. Hope to see you soon!

A congratulations is in order to our two

newest brothers Jose Castro and Anthony Sierra
who were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Leesburg Lodge on June 25th.
Also, two young men from Mt. Dora Lodge
and one from the Village's Lodge. Together the
three lodges came together to put on a Master
Mason degree that District 18 could be proud
of.

From the South

UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES

July 2015

Bro. Wayne Reynolds

July 1 - Lake/Sumter York Rite - 7:30 PM

.

( No Article this month)

July 4 - Independence Day

July 4 - First Saturday Breakfast 8:00-10:00 AM
** FREE BREAKFAST THIS MONTH ONLY**
July 6 - Boy Scout Troop #1 Mtg. 7:00 PM
July 6 - DeMolay Mtg.-Eustis - 7:00 PM
July 7 - Stated Communication 7:00 PM
July 7 - RH Aubrey Cross presentation 7:00 PM
July 8 - Open Books/School of Instruction 6:30
July 8 - Lake/Sumter Commandry - 7:30 PM
July 12 - Second Sunday Dinner 11:30-1:00 PM
July 13 - Rainbow Assembly #79-Mt Dora - 7:00 PM
July 15 - Masters & Wardens - Tavares - 7:30 PM
July 21 - Stated Communication 7:00 PM

Once again Brothers and Sisters we ask that you please

DO NOT drive on the grass
next to the Lodge parking lot.
It is leaving ruts in the
ground and they are hard to
mow over. Thank You!
-Yard Maintenance Guy6

Masonic Education Worksheet

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,
hdeberry@embarqmail.com or place them in the slot on 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

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

Leesburg Announcement Forms

Please Print Clearly

Event:_________________________________________________________
Date (s):__________________________ Time:_________________________
Description/Comments____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
For further information contact:____________________ at ________________
Submitted by:_____________________________________________________

Leesburg Announcement Forms

Please Print Clearly

Event:_________________________________________________________
Date (s):__________________________ Time:_________________________
Description/Comments____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
For further information contact:____________________ at ________________
Submitted by:_____________________________________________________

2014 TRESTLE BOARD SPONSORS

YOUR NAME HERE - INDIVIDUAL OR COUPLE FOR ONLY $20.00
Current year or any part thereof - HELP US KEEP YOU INFORMED!
John Dean

Hank & Paula DeBerry

Larry & Brenda Duff

Jim Angelos

William & Sharen Aston

Joe Schlegal

Suzanne Mina

John & Tina Haas

Jim & Becky Campbell

Richard Follett

Ed Spencer

George A. Brown

Bob & Carolyn Browning

Ken Graves

George Shoemaker

Betsey Jordan

Bill & Sharon Staple

RW Ed Mayfield

Gary & Alberta Grimes

Dennis & Ginny Ricker

Ronald J. Glover

Ronald W. Glover

Ed Spencer

Charles and Marlene White

If you would like to be a sponsor in 2015, 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.
"You get out of Masonry only what you put in it."

HIGH TWELVE
Meeting Times & Locations

RAINBOW
ASSEMBLY
No. 79 at Mt. Dora

Hawthorne Masonic High Twelve No. 547 Meets at 11:00 a.m. on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday
of each month at Golden Corral, 1720 Citrus
Blvd. (Hwy 27/441) Leesburg, FL. Tel: 352728-3911.

Lets not forget the young Ladies of our local

Rainbow Chapter. They need our support.
We should also remember they are the future
of our Ladies organizations and future leaders in our
communities. Meetings are at 7:00pm on the 2nd
and 4th Mondays of each month at Mt. Dora Lodge.
Know a young Lady who might want to join,
you can contact Chapter Mom Debbie Dyer at 407908-6973 or Chapter Dad Warren Shippee at 321689-6661.
Attend a meeting and be impressed.

Tri-County Masonic High Twelve meets

10:30 a.m. 1st Wednesday of each month at La
Hacienda Recreation Center, The Villages.
Reservations for lunch due by the Thursday before the meeting, call Rita at 750-5561.

Adversity is the first

The one whose judgment

path to truth.

counts most in your life

- Lord Byron

is the one staring back

in the glass.
- Unknown

18th MASONIC DISTRICT

LODGES
Stated Communication Meetings
Leesburg No. 58
Umatilla No. 65
Clermont No. 226
Eustis No. 85
Villages No. 394
Tavares No. 234
Wildwood No. 92
Groveland No. 190
Mt. Dora No. 238

DEMOLAY
CHAPTER
At Eustis

1st and 3rd Tuesday

1st and 3rd Monday
1st and 3rd Monday
2nd and 4th Monday
2nd Monday
2nd and 4th Tuesday
2nd and 4th Tuesday
2nd and 4th Thursday
1st and 3rd Thursday

Lets also not

forget the young Men of our local DeMolay Chapter.
They also need our support. We should also
remember they are the future of Masonry and future
leaders in our communities. Meetings are at 7:00pm
on the 1 and 3rd Mondays of each month at Eustis
Lodge. Know a Man who might want to join, you
can contact Granddaddy Philip Paul at 407-8328771. Attend a meeting and be impressed.

Have YOU Traveled Lately?

HELP BY SUPPORTING OUR

MASONIC YOUTH
10

July Birthdays

Scottish Rite
www.OcalaSR.com or www.SROrlando.com
Ocala Scottish Rite meets the first Monday of each month,
at 7:30pm.at Ocala Scottish Rite Center, 3632 NE 7th Street, Ocala,
Fl.
Orlando Scottish Rite meets at 1485 Grand Road, Winter
Park, Fla. on the 4th Friday of each month, except, November,
which is on the third Friday and dark in December, meetings at
7:30pm.

York Rite Bodies

A Continuation of the Blue Lodge
www.flgyr.org
Ocala York Rite Bodies Meetings at Belleview Lodge No. 95
Ocala Chapter No. 13 - Meets Second Wednesday of January,
March, May, September and November beginning at 7:30 PM.
Ocala Council No. 22 - R&S Masters - Meets Second Wednesday of February, April, June, October and December beginning at
7:30 PM.
Ocala Commandry No. 19 - Knights Templar - Meets on the
fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM.

July 1 - Quinton Brady

July 2 - Fred Caruso
July 2 - William Stephens
July 3 - William Kilgore
July 8 - Donald DeWitt
July 9 - James Judge II
July 10 - Albert Reese
July 10 - David Richardson
July 11 - Larry Duff
July 12 - Bill Green
July 12 - Jeff Bush
July 14 - Randy Jesmok
July 14 - Charles Porter
July 16 - Greg Clark
July 18 - Jack Penturff
July 20 - Ralph Rogers
July 20 - Robert Hart Jr.
July 21 - Hank DeBerry
July 24 - Bill Farmer
July 26 - Tom Weekley
July 27 - Fred Neilson
July 31 - Don Baisden

Lake/Sumter York Rite Bodies - Meetings at Leesburg Lodge 58

Eustis Chapter No. 33, Meets on the first Wednesday at 7:30
PM
Golden Triangle Council No. 28Royal & Select Masters Meets first Wednesday at 7:30 PM.
Chapter and Council will alternate on who begins first.
Triangle Commandery No. 38 Knights TemplarMeets on the
second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM, except in July and
August.

Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter No. 84

Lady Paula DeBerry PM Worthy Matron
W Hank DeBerry PPWorthy Patron
Lady Orrissa Maurer PMSecretary
W Robert Welch PGP Treasurer

Attention Brothers and Sisters! The Chapter

will be dark in the months of July, August and
September. The Only thing going is the Proficiency class and the Rob Morris picnic both on
August 29th.
11

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

This Short Talk Bulletin was

written by Worshipful
Brother Walter M. Callaway,
Jr., Editor of The Masonic
Messenger, official publication of the Grand Lodge of
Georgia, in fulfillment of the requirements for admission into the Society of Blue Friars, an honorary association of Masonic writers. Brother Callaway read
this essay at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Blue
Friars in Washington, D. C., on February 26, 1975.
While Freemasonry is a beautiful system of
morality, it has its fraternal machinery, made up of
many component parts including nuts and bolts.
From time to time the machinery requires inspection.
There are many Masonic mourners going
about the streets today who are singing sad songs
about the impending demise of our ancient Brotherhood. We are being warned that Freemasonry must
adapt its philosophy and its ways to fit the times, that
we must be relevant to the world today. Some claim
that "in the interests of time" the ritual must be shortened to the point of emasculation; some of the lectures should be abolished because they are timeconsuming. There are many who want to see the Masonic Grave side Rite eliminated because at times it
causes conflict with certain clergymen. These are but
a few of the lamentations being heard from those
who do not seem to have time for the Craft and its
ancient ways.
One of the most rewarding of Masonic assignments is that of Foreign Correspondent of one's
Grand Lodge, or Chairman of the Fraternal Relations
Committee, or by whatever style the job is denominated. In my own Grand Lodge of Georgia, the position is spelled out as a one-man Committee, Foreign
Correspondent. One of the major duties of the office
is to receive and review the Proceedings of all the
other Grand Lodges in fraternal communications
with one's own. This position affords a high vantage
point from which the Correspondent is enabled to
keep himself abreast of Masonic developments
across the United States and in many foreign countries.
It has been my pleasure to have served my
Grand Lodge as Foreign Correspondent for the past
seven years. During that period I have been enabled
to observe and to learn of Masonic affairs the world
over. It is a delightful Masonic assignment for one
who is interested and concerned.
According to our Masonic scholars, .

Famous Freemasons

12

Freemasonry dates back for some six hundred years or more. It originated in Operative form prior to
the year 1390, when the Regius Manuscript was supposed to have been written, or copied, whichever the case
may be. This means that for more than six centuries Freemasonry has waxed and waned in this world of ours.
Sometimes it has reeled with a bloody head from the blows of church and state; in our own country Freemasonry was persecuted with mercilous ferocity during the Morgan frenzy.
There have to be logical explanations.
Every man to his own opinion; may we never see the day dawn when freely expressed opinion is denied to any man! In my view Freemasonry has survived as a living force for good by its rigid adherence to the
landmarks throughout the years; by compliance with the ancient customs and usages of the Craft; by recognition of the precept that it is not within the power of any man, or body of men, to make innovations in the body
of Masonry. The system of Morality which we call Freemasonry is clothed in the habiliments of Truth, which
is invulnerable to successful attack from without or within.
We have little to fear from attack by external enemies. Through centuries they have stormed our walls
without success. I don't know of any internal enemies in the Craft who would deliberately seek to destroy us.
But we do have those in our ranks who, with the best of intentions, would disrupt Freemasonry as we have
known it and make innovations to the point of changing our Gentle Craft to something other than Freemasonry.
I speak of those who would permit solicitation of candidates; those who regard size of membership as
the criterion of lodge success or failure. Since the Masonic "gold-rush" days of the late 1940's and early
1950's, when petitioners were coming from here, from there, from everywhere, and our Lodge and Grand
Lodge officers, with some exceptions, became enamored of the sheer force of numbers of new members, there
has been almost a mystique about the size of membership. One may read all the written material on the philosophy of Freemasonry ever printed without once finding that size of membership is a laudable goal of the
Craft, or that a Lodge with one hundred members is necessarily a better Lodge than one with only fifty members. The energy expended by those who moan over our losses of membership would be put to better use if
those mourners made an in-depth study of why we lose so many members we already have.
Why do so many permit themselves to be suspended for non-payment of dues? Why do so many members never return after they have been raised? Why do so many Entered Apprentices never return after that degree? Such an investigation, I think, could produce facts which might be embarrassing to the Lodge and its
leadership.
If there is a heel of Achilles in the structure of Freemasonry, or in the practice of Freemasonry, I
should say that it lies in the failure of the Lodge to hold the interest or to educate the newly raised candidate in
the degrees of Freemasonry. From the time he is raised, he is given a few instructions on the floor of the Lodge
and is then dismissed to the sidelines by the Master with a perfunctory parting shot, "Come back as often as
you can. You'll get out of Freemasonry only what you put into it!"
Such a statement is not true and tends to mislead the new Brother into thinking that Freemasonry is a
sort of tit-for-tat arrangement. The Master should inform the new member that he must stand his examination
on the Master's catechism; then he should inform him that there exists out there a great wide world of Freemasonry and that he, the new Brother, should learn all he can about his Fraternity, that he should participate in it,
that he can profitably spend the rest of his life learning a little at a time something about the Craft and what it
stands for, that it extends far beyond his Lodge, his state or his own country. He should be informed that the
Ritual is a necessary means to an end and should not be regarded as the sum total of Masonic knowledge.
Such is the occasion when we have a golden opportunity to stimulate an unquenchable thirst for Masonic knowledge, something that should be imbued in all candidates for Freemasonry. It is my personal view
that it is quite impossible for a man to advance in Masonic knowledge without at the same time becoming a
better and more useful member of the craft. Can a citizen study the lives and times of our founding fathers
without becoming a better patriot?
All this is not to say that it is to be expected that each Freemason who reads Masonic books will become a Masonic scholar. But at least he should read enough to know some of the basic facts of the origin and
general philosophy of Freemasonry. He should learn to tell the difference between fiction and fact in Masonic
literature.
13

To effectuate any improvement in any system of Masonic education, it is necessary that our communications be improved, member to member, lodge to lodge, Grand Lodge to Grand Lodge. With your permission,
a personal point is made here. Your speaker was made a Master Mason in 1939, appointed to the west chair in
1940. Occupational difficulties incidental to World War II caused me to drop out of the "line" on two occasions. Finally I became Worshipful Master in 1953 and served my term through 1954. About five years later, a
new secretary of the Lodge handed me a tract and said he thought I might be interested. It turned out to be a
Short Talk Bulletin of the Masonic Service Association. In some twenty-one years as an active Freemason, this
was the first time I had ever seen or heard of a Short Talk Bulletin!
In recent years it has been quite noticeable that serious efforts are now being made by Grand Lodges
to inculcate more Masonic knowledge on the members and better proficiency on officers and ritualists. Most
Grand Lodges seem to have adopted rather vigorous programs to improve such practices. It is all gratifying
and encouraging. Nothing but time can tell the results, but we would point out that there can be no end to such
activities. To be effective they must be continuing, generation after generation.
In my own Grand Lodge of Georgia there is now under way an aggressive program of Masonic education and Lodge Leadership. A Conference aimed at Wardens, but including other Lodge officers, is held at a
center convenient to Lodge officers of North and Middle Georgia each November. Another is held in extreme
South Georgia for the benefit of Wardens and others in that area. Emphasis is placed on leadership in the
Lodges and these are held before annual Lodge elections in December.
To each newly raised Master Mason, the Grand Lodge presents copies of official publications: The
Lodge System of Masonic Education is a 90-odd page booklet explaining the basic philosophy of the three degrees. Masonic Etiquette is a 58-page booklet explaining rules of behavior, decorum and the like. All through
the year, meetings are held in specified areas of Georgia's 12 Masonic Districts, under the direction of the State
Chairman of the Lodge Leadership Program, assisted by one of the four Area Directors. Educational type articles are printed in our Grand Lodge monthly publication, The Masonic Messenger, which goes to all 96,000
members in Georgia.
Georgia, like so many other Jurisdictions, is making great efforts to catch up the long slack in Masonic
education.
There are many component parts in the whole system, all of them important. But let us not forget the common
nuts and bolts; they too are important.

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At Days End
Is anybody happier because you passed his
way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
The day is almost over, and its toiling time is
through;
Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of
you?
Can you say tonight, in parting with the day
thats slipping fast,
That you helped a single Brother of the many
that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or
said;
Does the man whose hopes were fading now with
courage look ahead?
Did you waste the day or lose it? Was it well or
sorely spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness, or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber, do you think
that God will say,
You have earned one more tomorrow by the
work you did today? -Anonymous-

Submitted by W Jay Frizzell

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Pictures from around the Lodge

Leesburg Chapter #84 Order of the Eastern Star had their 100th
Anniversary on June 14, 2015.

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Pictures from around the Lodge

At a recent meeting of three Lodges in Leesburg, there was held a Master Mason Degree. The Lodges were Leesburg No.58, The Villages No. 394 and Mt Dora
No. 238. Five Brothers were raised to the Sublime degree of Master Mason. Presiding in the East was Brother Jeff Lamb of Leesburg. All three Worshipful Masters
were present, W. Roger Alcock, W. Jim Farrow and W. Ron Glover. The Newly
raised Brothers are from l-r Brother Corey Abbott, Brother Anthony Sierra, Brother
Maurice Walton, Brother Casey Gates and Brother Jose Castro. Congratulations to
the newly raised Brothers and best wishes on your journey in Freemasonry. Also
congratulations to the Worshipful Masters for bringing this all together at the same
time and gaining valuable new spirit in your Lodges.

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Pictures from around the Lodge

L-R Brother Jeff Lamb, Bro. Anthony Sierra, Bro. Jose Castro and W.M. Ron Glover
of Leesburg Lodge No. 58

L-R Bro. Corey Abbott, W.M. Roger Alcock, Bro. Casey Gates and Bro. Chris Krussell of Mt Dora Lodge
No. 238
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Pictures from around the Lodge

W. Jim Farrow and Brother Maurice Walton of The Villages Lodge

No.394

L-R W.M. Jim Farrow, Bro. Jeff Lamb, W.M. Roger Alcock, W.M. Ron Glover

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SUNDAY DINNER
Leesburg Lodge No. 58
June 14, 2015
Menu
Roast Beef of Baked Chicken,
Green Beans, Carrots, Mashed Potatoes
Salad, Desserts both ( Sugared and Sugar free),
Drinks (Iced Tea, Coffee or Lemonade)
$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.

Future menu suggestions are always welcome!

Introducing 2015 Chef Crew

JW Wayne Reynolds
SS James Michael Thomas
JS Norman Novis
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Leesburg Masonic Lodge No. 58 F&AM

PO Box 985
Fruitland Park, Florida 34731

NONPROFIT
US Postage
PAID
Permit#1040
Leesburg,, FL
34748

Celebrating 147 years (1868 2015)

in Leesburg, Fla. The Lakefront City

SUNDAY DINNERS

11:30 a.m. TO 1:00 p.m.

Menu items: June 14, 2015

Roast Beef or Baked Chicken

Green Beans, Carrots, Mashed Potatoes
Garden Salad, Desserts (Sugared & Sugar-Free)
Coffee, Iced Tea and Lemonade

$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!!!

1st Saturday Monthly Coffee Klatch & Breakfast

8:00am to 10:00am

Eggs (cooked to order), Pancakes, Waffles, Bacon, Sausages

(Pattys or Links), Breakfast Potatoes, Grits, Sausage Gravy,
Biscuits, Toast
Coffee, Orange Juice
$5.58 +.42 sales tax per person
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