Fraternal greetings from the East

Greetings Brethren! I would like to take a brief moment to introduce myself as many of you I know and some I haven’t as yet had the opportunity to meet. My name is Jack Harless and the Brethren of Far Hills Lodge have graciously elected me as Master for the coming year at our annual election on November 13. For the coming year I would like to institute a Masonic theme that will hopefully represent the “spirit” of Far Hills Lodge. That theme is “Looking Back to Move Forward”. This year I would like to place a strong emphasis on our storied past and use that as a foundation to move Far Hills Lodge specifically, and Masonry in general into the 21st century.

Many are familiar with the beautiful wisdom-teaching attributed to David that says; “There is nothing new under the sun.” We will be trying some new things this year, but they will all have a solid foundation on the tried and true Masonic principles that have led and sustained us over the centuries.

Our Lodge has a great mix of people and talent, and we are seeing a renewed interest in Masonry from the younger generation; so come to Lodge and see Masonry in action! We are still looking to fill a few officer positions, so please contact me if you would like to actively participate in really bringing your Masonry to life!

Again, thanks to all the Brethren of Far Hills Lodge and I look forward to working with and serving this great Lodge in the coming year.

From the Secretary’s Desk

WB John Weyrauch has been sending out the dues notices for next year. Please return them with your check as soon as possible. Remember that being suspended for non-payment of dues can adversely affect all your other Masonic affiliations.

Remember to contribute to our other charities listed on the dues notice. Be sure to add your e-mail address for our records.

I-Care Program

The Grand Lodge and the Ohio Masonic Home have been working on an I-Care Program, which is designed to offer aid and assistance to our elder members and their families; as the aging process works its magic on each of us. There are some in-depth programs, people assigned and trained to work them, and a large array of possibilities for those who require the assistance. What they do not have is the referrals from Lodges of those who could or should be receiving these services, but are unaware of their existence.

A survey will be sent requesting info on our members who may need medical or welfare assistance. Lodge volunteers, trained to ask the right questions, will then make contact with these brothers and/or their family members to find out what assistance is needed and what assistance may be available.

~ Trestleboard ~

Dec. 11 ~ 7:00 PM ~ Stated Meeting Open Installation of Officers
Dec. 25 ~ Meeting Cancelled ~ Christmas Day
Jan. 8, 2009 ~ 7:00 PM ~ Stated Meeting ~ Table Lodge
Jan. 22, 2009 ~ 7:00 PM ~ Stated Meeting

This Month in Masonic History

On Dec. 5 1730, Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette included news about several Lodges of Free-Masons meeting in that “province.” Franklin was not yet a Freemason when his newspaper printed this item.

Important Notice

Please note that all correspondence to the lodge should be sent to our Secretary’s home address:

John A. Weyrauch • 4700 Briar Knoll Drive • Kettering, OH 45429
(937) 434-5140 • jaweyrauch [at] woh.rr.com

If the correspondence is meant for the Master, it should be sent to:

Jack M. Harless • 7185 Bigger Lane • Centerville, OH 45459
(937) 433-7328 •jtoren19 [at] yahoo.com or jack [at] drholten.com

Mail sent to the temple address will be returned to the sender by the post office.  We do not have provisions to receive mail at the temple.

Come Back to Lodge

Can you say “I sat in Lodge with you”?

The annual meeting of Far Hills Lodge No. 784, F&AM was held on November 7, 2007. At this meeting the officers were elected who will govern the lodge for the upcoming year. These Brethren will be installed at the stated meeting of the lodge on December 13, 2007.

Congratulations to our two newest Master Masons: Bro. Brian Bailey and Bro. Joe Rakoczy. Welcome aboard brethren.

Our inspection this year will be on April 1, 2008 in the Master Mason Degree. We will be needing your help to display the work since most of it will have to be performed by lodge members. If you are familiar with the speaking parts, let me know so that a craft can be assembled.

Special Announcements

Congratulations to W.B. Bobby Gene Campbell, PM and KYCH on his election and installation as Most Illustrious Grand Master, Royal and Select Masons of Ohio. WB Campbell was Worshipful Master of Rock Moriah Lodge No. 740 in 1990. Among his many affiliations, he was Excellent High Priest of Friendship Chapter No. 245, R.A.M; Illustrious Master of Adoniram Council No. 131, Royal and Select Masons, Eminent Commander of Valley Commandery No. 80, Knights Templar; Past Patron of Jacob Eby Chapter, Order of Eastern Star; member of The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Dayton and many other affiliations. His travels this year will be many and long. WB Campbell has been married almost forty years to the former Cathy Fuller. He has two daughters: Kimberly J. Campbell and Steffany R. Campbell. We wish him well in the coming year.

Congratulations to W.B. Rodger L. Southworth, PM on his election as a Knight of the York Cross of Honor, Ohio Priory No. 18. WB Rodger was Worshipful Master of Rock Moriah Lodge in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. Among his many affiliations, he was High Priest, Friendship Chapter No. 245, RAM, 2003, 2008; Illustrious Master, Adoniram Council No. 131, 2005; Emminent Commander, Valley Commandery No. 80, 2006; and Apollo Dramatic Chapter Tabernacle No. 2, June 4, 2004.

We have survived the onslaught of Halloween and the holiday celebrating Thanksgiving. Now we enter the season celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. We should remember our less fortunate brethren and the hungry.

After that, we will enter the New Year. A holiday of parties, noise makers and firecrackers and a time of football games to fill a second full season. Please be careful driving at this time of the year and we hope to see all of you in your lodge during 2008.

We will, again, be purchasing boxes of candy and flowers for our widows. Volunteers are needed to assist in the distribution.

One unhappy note is the passing of Yvonne Isaacs. She is the wife of our former secretary, George Isaacs. She was a classy lady and we send our best wishes to the family.

Blood Bank

Blood donations to the Blood Bank. Maybe our members don’t realize we do have a blood bank account set up at the blood center. Just need to tell them it’s for the Far Hills Masonic Lodge #784, and we will get credit for each pint of blood donated.
– Thanks, Ron Seigla

From the Secretary’s Desk

I have been collecting dues monies and sending out the dues cards for the next year. If you haven’t paid yours yet, I urge you to exercise your most important Masonic duty, that of paying your dues. Remember that you must be in “good standing” with your Blue Lodge, to be a member in “good standing” of the other Masonic bodies, including the Shrine

Lodge Education Officer

Did U Know?

The Georgian Lodge No. 11, Paris, France (under the jurisdiction of the Grande Lodge Nationale Française or GLNF) celebrated the 85th Anniversary of the consecration of the Lodge in 2006.

Under the by-laws of Lodge, only one candidate can receive a degree at any one time. Therefore, there is never a situation where more than one candidate is initiated, passed or raised on a particular night. The idea behind this is that the candidate in question receives 100% of the attention of the Brethren for the evening, and that the ceremony that he participates in is dedicated to him and him alone.

The Georgian Lodge No. 11 is one of the oldest Lodges in the GLNF, and was consecrated when their mother Lodge, St. George’s No. 3 reached its constitutionally and by-laws mandated maximum of 50 members, and therefore had to “spin-off” a daughter Lodge. The Lodge was consecrated on March 12, 1921. The Georgian Lodge No. 11 is an English-Speaking Lodge that works the ritual most commonly employed by Lodges in the United Grand Lodge of England, namely, the Emulation Ritual. This ritual is very “strict” in its working of the ceremony, in that it is not theatrical. It ultimately relies on the use of language and the employment of the allegorical nature of our Order to transmit Masonic Light to the candidates.

Special Lodge Supporters

Brethren add your name to the list. These Brethren donated Ten Dollars or more in extra support to our lodge and we thank them. Please see the complete list by clicking on the page link “Special Lodge Supporters” in the right hand column of this site.

Important Notice

Please note that all correspondence to the lodge should be sent to our Secretary’s home address:
John A. Weyrauch • 4700 Briar Knoll Drive • Kettering, OH 45429
(937) 434-5140 • jaweyrauch [at] woh [dot] rr [dot] com (please fill in the appropriate symbols in your email address. This email was presented in this fashion to avoid “spam” software from picking it up on this web site.)

If the correspondence is meant for the Master, it should be sent to:
James M. Simko • 1316 Southlyn Drive • Kettering, OH 45409
(937) 293-8452 •jsimko.pwm [at] usa [dot] net (note the dot between the o and the p)

Mail sent to the temple address will be returned to the sender by the post office. We do not have provisions to receive mail at the temple.
The Lodge website is: www.farhillsmasons.org • The Grand Lodge website is: www.freemason.com

Officers Elected and Appointed for 2008

James M. Simko
PM Worshipful Master

Jack M. Harless
Senior Warden

David L. Brewer
Junior Warden

Thomas R. Spettel
PM Treasurer

John A. Weyrauch
PM Secretary

Thomas R. Adams
Senior Deacon

Ned R. Graeter
Junior Deacon

Arthur G. Camp
Tyler

Richard D. Crandall
Chaplain

Michael Perry
Senior Steward

Alan D. Crandall
Junior Steward

William F. Schmidt
Marshal

Lloyd O. Nickell
PM Lodge Trustee

~ Trestleboard ~

See the sidebar for most Trestleboard entries

December 13, 2007
7:00 PM ~ Stated Meeting
Business & Installation of Officers (Suits)

December 27, 2007
No Meeting
Merry Christmas

January 10, 2008
7:00 PM ~ Stated Meeting

January 24, 2008
7:00 PM ~ Stated Meeting

MORE OF Murphy’s Lesser-Known Laws

• The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong.
• Things that come to those who wait will be the things left by those who got there first.

Murphy’s Lesser-Known Laws

• When you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of 12 people who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty.
• Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
  Teach a man to fish and he’ll sit in a boat all day, drinking beer.
• Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
• He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
• Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don’t.
• Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.