I hope that your summer has been exciting, I know that mine has. It’s time to pick up the tools and begin working again. We have a busy schedule planned for the next couple of months and your participation will be greatly appreciated.

Believe it or not, the Masonic year is actually winding down and we are looking for brethren to fill positions in the line. This may be the year to take a more active role in your Lodge.

Brethren, at our last stated meeting in June we had an unusual occurrence happen. Two candidates opted out of the Grand Master’s Class to take their journey through Masonry the traditional way.

We were privileged to have three Past Grand Masters: MWB David L. Dresser, MWB William P. Mayberry, Sr. and MWB James M. Williamson; and our Deputy Grand Master RWB Terry W. Posey present to initiate the two grandsons of MWB Dresser. Other members of the Lodge assisted in the work of the evening. WB Jim Simko did a fine job with the lecture and Bro. Tom Adams did his usual fine job with the charge.

Please join us in welcoming our new members into the Lodge and help us to make them feel welcome. Newly obligated EAs are Bros. Michael A. Miller and Jonathan D. Miller, two blood brothers who, as you read above, decided to receive their degree work the traditional way. These are the two grandsons of MWB. Dresser.

Grand Master’s Class

At the state-wide Grand Master’s Class held on June 13, 2009, 2340 men were raised. In the Second District, held at the Dayton Masonic Center, 235 candidates (largest in the state) received their three Masonic degrees. That class included nine candidates from Far Hills Lodge, including MWB Dresser’s son-in-law Bro. John E. Millstead, Jr. Other new brothers from the one-day class are Bro. Eric M. Bull, son of Bro. John E. Bull, Jr., Bro. Sean K. Fickert, son of Bro. Robin S. Fickert; Bro. Thomas A. Harris, grandson of Bro. Thomas N. Harris, Bro. Mark T. Seitz, son of Bro. Thomas A. Seitz; Bro. Anthony D. Tomlinson, Bro. Robert Tomlinson, step-sons of WB Lloyd O. Nickell; Bro. Christopher R. Wamsley and Bro. Matthew A. Mattingly, friends of WB Jack M. Harless.

I-CARE

The main mission of Masonic Senior Services/I-CARE is to link senior Masons, their wives and widows, and Eastern Star members to services in their community that will allow them to remain healthy, safe and independent in their own homes as long as possible.

An in-home assessment is available to provide convenience, privacy and individual care in linking unmet needs with available services. Each of the I-CARE Coordinators has extensive knowledge of their area’s available services for seniors.

Lodge Education Officer

On August 5, 1884 on Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor, the cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty was laid.

On October 9, 1880, the American Committee of the Statue of Liberty issued an invitation to the Freemasons Grand Lodge of the State of New York.

On August 5, 1884, in response to that invitation Grand Master William A. Brodie, assisted by his associate Grand Lodge Officers, laid the cornerstone of the pedestal of the Bartholdi Statue of Liber Enlightening the World, on Bedloe’s Island, in New York Harbor.

The copper box placed under the stone contained many rare memorials. Among the were nineteen bronze medals from the United States Mint, representing as many Presidents of the Federal Government who were all proven Freemasons; a copy of the United States Constitution; George Washington’s Farewell Address; copies of New York City newspapers; a portrait of Bartholdi; a copy of Poem on Liberty by E.R. Johnes; and a list on parchment of the Grand Lodge officers.

Although cornerstones of public buildings and monuments had been laid by representatives of the Grand Lodge from the beginning of the history of the State, voices of opponents began to be heard questioning the propriety of the procedure. The Grand Master took occasion, therefore, to offer worlds of explanation at the laying of the cornerstone of the Statue of Liberty. He said that the Fraternity had been called upon for this service because it had become a common law of practice the world over to invite the Masonic craft to lay the cornerstones of public structures, in time honored recognition of the fact that, symbolically at least, the Freemasons of the present are the descendants of the ancient operative Masons who built the world’s great masterworks of architecture.

There was, besides, a special reason: “No institution has done more to promote liberty and to free men from the trammels and chains of ignorance and tyranny than Freemasonry, and we, as a Fraternity, take an honest pride in depositing the cornerstone of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World.”

Bro. Frederic A. Bartholdi was born April 2, 1834 at Colmar, Alsace, France. He passed away in 1904. He was the designer of the Statue of Liberty. Bro. Bartholdi convened his Lodge members to review the statue before it was shown to the United States committee. He was one of the early members of Lodge Alsace-Lorraine, Paris, France.

From the Secretary’s Desk

Any questions or problems regarding membership, dues, suspensions, reinstatement from suspension, petitions or awards should check with John Weyrauch. We can make special arrangements according to the situation of each individual brother or just answer your questions. Dues are comin’!

Blood Bank

Brethren, we do have a blood bank account set up at the Community Blood Center. When you donate tell them that it is for the account for Far Hills Masonic Lodge #784. We will get credit for each pint of blood donated. Brethren, this is one way to help others by giving something of yourself.
Thanks,
-Bro. Ron Seigla

Annual Communication

October 16 & 17
Toledo, Ohio

The governing body of Ohio Masonry is the Grand Lodge of Ohio, F & AM, located in Worthington, near Columbus. Each year the Grand Lodge holds an annual communication to dispense with business necessary to govern Ohio masonry and to elect new officers.

The Annual Communication is held in different cities and this year it will be held in Toledo on October 16 & 17.

Since it his highly likely in the normal progression of the officer line that the Deputy Grand Master advances (if elected by the members present at the convocation) to Grand Master, the present DGM, RWB Terry W. Posey, will be elected Grand Master in Toledo.

The Past Masters’ Club of Antioch Shrine has been asked to be the Honor Guard for his installation on Saturday. A bus has been hired to transport anyone desiring to go to Toledo on that Saturday (17th) morning and return later in the afternoon. For details or to reserve your seat, contact Mike Johnson at (513) 885-1627 or (513) 737-6576.

Open Houses

At the statewide open houses mandated by the Grand Master the words used to describe the event were: “excitement” and “success”. Check out the article in the May/June 2009 issue of the Beacon.

A Warm Masonic Tale

This is a story of Masons surrounding a campfire in the Old West, at night, discussing the Fraternity and its teachings. One old man listened patiently, then finally spoke up.

“I can tell you more about Masonry in a little example than some of the great Masonic philosophers can in books.

Everybody stand up and gather in a circle around the campfire,” he said. They did that.

“Now, everybody hold hands with the man next to him,” said the old man. They did that, too.

“What do you see looking ahead?” asked the man. “The face of a brother through the flames,” said one participant. The old man asked, “What do you feel in front of you?” The response was “the warmth of the fire” and “the comfort it brings on a cool night.” The old man continued, “What do you feel at your side?” They responded, “the warm hand of a Brother.”

“Okay,” said the man, “Drop your hands and turn around.” The did so.

“Now what do you see as you look ahead?” asked the old man. The reply: “Complete darkness.”

“What do you feel at your side?” “A sense of loneliness, of being alienated.”

He asked, “What do you feel at your side?” They answered, “Nothing at all.”

Finally, the old man asked, “What do you feel on your backside?” They replied, “The warmth of the fire.”

“So it is with Masonry,” said the old man.

“In Masonic gatherings you can feel the warmth of Masonic interaction. You can see the face of a Brother through the light Masonry brings to you, and you can always feel the warm hand of your Masonic Brother.

When you turn away from Masonry and are out in the world, you see darkness, feel alienated and alone, and you do not feel the warm hand of your Masonic Brother. But Masonry, and the warmth and light it brings, are just a turn away from you.”

Brethren, as we begin a new lodge year on November 1st, our annual meeting will be held on November 13, 2008. The main topic for this meeting will be the election of officers who will rule and govern the lodge for the upcoming year. This meeting should be considered as the most important meeting held in a lodge. Your attendance is earnestly solicited.

On a sad note, we announce the death of our Junior Steward, Bro. Alan D. Crandall. He was only 46 at the time of his departure. His loss was totally unexpected. Alan is the son of our chaplain, Bro. Richard Crandall. He was a loyal and faithful servant to his God and to the lodge. A Masonic memorial service was held for Alan on October 22, 2008. He rests from his labors.

Just back from the 199th Grand Lodge Convocation in Columbus. The GL, because of the economical mess, withdrew their proposed increase of the per capita rate.

Our new Grand Master is Most WB Charles R. Murphy from the Toledo area. RWB Terry W. Posey is the new Deputy Grand Master and is next in line to be Grand Master. He is a local boy.

On November 1, 2009 there will be one more work day at the temple to finish the painting in the basement. This will be a BYOB (BRUSH) and rollers party. Bro. Tom Adams has offered to fix breakfast. It sounds like an offer that you can’t refuse. Time is 8:30 AM.

From the Secretary

Dues notices will be mailed later in October and the checks received will be deposited after 11/01/08 to keep the records straight.

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.

Too many times I have received a notice that a brother has passed away in response to a request for dues payment. The Brother had passed on, and no one thought to notify the Lodge.

~ Trestleboard ~

Nov. 1 ~ 8:30 AM ~ Breakfast ~ BYOB (Brush)
Nov. 13 ~ 7:00 PM ~ Annual Meeting and Election of Officers
Nov. 27 ~ Meeting Cancelled ~ Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 11 ~ 7:00 PM ~ Stated Meeting ~ Business
Dec. 25 ~ Meeting Cancelled ~ Christmas Day
Jan. 8, 2009 ~ 7:00 PM ~ Stated Meeting

From Labor to Rest

Walter Edward Mueller

DOB 05/27/1935
EA 04/02/1973
FC 06/04/1973
MM 09/17/1973
Died 08/15/2008

Leon Laswell Chasteen

DOB 09/09/1926
EA 12/05/1947
FC 01/17/1948
MM 02/27/1948
Died 09/19/2008

Alan Douglas Crandall

DOB 04/03/1963
EA 13/15/2003
FC 03/15/2003
MM 03/15/2003
Died 10/03/2008

Frederic Herman Haenzi

50 YEAR MEMBER
DOB 04/16/1916
EA 07/16/1939
FC 08/22/1939
MM 10/13/1939
Died 10/13/2008

From the Lodge Education Officer

18 MASONIC PRINCIPLES IN MODERN ENGLISH

01. Serve God, as you understand Him to Be.
02. Expect good things in life, and live like you do.
03. Be generous to people in need.
04. Keep your promises.
05. Be industrious and improve your mind.
06. Remember that there is a life to come; and act with this in mind.
07. Take care of your family.
08. Be tolerant of the honest opinions of others.
09. Keep yourself morally clean.
10. Help your Brother Masons.
11. Learn the ritual work and be active in Lodge.
12. Protect your own physical and mental health.
13. Be strong in the face of adversity.
14. Make your decisions in a calm frame of mind.
15. Always treat other people fairly.
16. Be proud to be a Mason, but modest in expressingt.
17. Watch for good men seeking what Masonry offers and assist them within our rules.
18. Be happy and enjoy life.

On the Lighter Side

See No Evil
A man robbed a bank and told all the customers to line up against the wall. He walked up to the first
customer and asked, “Did you see anything?” The man said yes and the robber shot him. He went to the second customer and said, “Did you see anything?’. The customer said yes and the robber shot him, too.

He asked the third customer, “Did you see anything?” The man said, “No, but my wife saw it all!”

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 {dot} com

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.