Trestleboard
Quarter #4
October—December 2013
San Mateo Masonic Lodge
#226
Volume 1, Issue 4
From the East
Inside this issue:
Brethren:
From the West
2
From the South
2
Meet our Newest
Master Mason
Christopher
DeLong
3
Birthdays
3
“The Truth 1”
4
Youth Groups
4
As autumn begins and I look
forward to the end of my year
in the East. I realize it has
been a very busy year with a
lot of changes and challenges.
I am happy to report that we
have not lost one single member to the Celestial Lodge
above and that one of our
members turns 100 in October.
We will raise another Master
Mason by the end of the year
bringing our membership to
146.
We have had several successful functions this year. And
even though we had a cold and
wet 31st Outdoor 3rd Degree it
was well attended and the
Brother we raised had a very
rewarding experience. Thanks
to all of the Brothers who
helped with the degree and a
special thank you to Solomon’s
Chapter #95 for their beautiful portrayal of the Mark Master Degree.
We still have two events this year,
please come and celebrate our
Hiram Award recipient on the 18th
of October and our Stated Meeting
for December will be Brothers only
for a Table Lodge.
We have made major improvements in our cost structures for
both the Lodge and the Temple.
The Temple is profitable for the
first time since 2002 and their contribution will come very close to
balancing the budget for the Blue
Lodge. We continue to get more
renters and we hope that next year
the Temple will begin saving for
the outside building repairs.
The Blue Lodge has done very well
in cutting costs and making our
dollars stretch further. We did
decide to raise dues this year from
Outdoor 3rd Degree 2013
Another GREAT success Thanks to all of the Brothers who helped with setup and tear
down and cooking — Special thanks to Tom Barth PM who lead the efforts — Also thanks
to Solomon’s Chapter #95 for a beautiful portrayal of the Mark Master Degree!
Make sure to join us next year for all of the fun and great fellowship!
For more pictures see our website
Worshipful Master
James Ritter
[email protected]
(650) 504-7701
$60 to $100 per year, but
this should insure our future
as a Lodge. We still have
about 20 members who are
delinquent with their dues
and I encourage those
Brothers to contact either
our Secretary or our Treasurer to get this taken care of
as soon as you can.
I have had a busy but rewarding time in the Oriental
Chair this year and I thank
all of our officers and those
Brothers who helped me so
much, they are too numerous to list but you know
who you are. As a parting
thought remember:
“To finish the moment, to
find the journey's end in
every step of the road, to
live the greatest number of
good hours, is wisdom”
- Bro:. R. W. Emerson
Fraternally,
James Ritter,
Worshipful Master
Trestleboard
Page 2
From the West
Brethren:
Efren Prado
Senior Warden
[email protected]
(650) 283-5605
Stated Meetings: @ 6:30
October 3
November 7
December 5
Officers Practice: @ 7:00
October 10, 24, 29
November 14, 21
December 12, 19
DSI: @ 6:30
October 17 - San Mateo
November 12 Peninsula
Another year is coming to a
close and what an interesting
year it has been. I have to
thank the officers who took
their respected offices seriously and our officers coach
for a job well done. Words
were spoken clearer, managed
better with timing and above
all, all 3 degrees of our craft
were being delivered with
sincerity to our incoming new
brothers.
coaching the officers of San
Mateo Lodge #226! I look
forward to our continual
growth and bond leading us
into next year.
Moving forward to wrap up
this year we will have one
more 3rd degree and maybe
possibly a 1st degree before
we end our year. We will be
practicing advanced stations
as we gear up towards next
year's new line of officers and
get them situated and comfortable in their future places.
Please brethren study, study,
study and our practices will
run smoother, timely and then
we can just focus on fine tuning the details.
Slip in a quick reminder that
our very own officers coach
will be presented Masonry’s,
second most highest award.
The Hiram Award. Great job
WB Tom Barth, and thank
you so much for all the time
and effort you give back to our Since this is the last article this
gentle craft in helping being a year I would like to personally
two time Past Master and thank Worshipful Jim Ritter
on a successful year as Master
and going above and beyond.
With renters on the rise, the
Temple Association being run
in union with the Lodge... we
will begin to move forward in
a much more positive financial
direction.
I will leave you with this
thought. Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Apply these
three tenants of our craft in
our daily lives and harmony
will forever be with us wherever we may go and always
felt at our Lodge. Thank you
for allowing me to serve as
your Senior Warden.
God bless us all!
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Efren Prado
Senior Warden
From the South
Brethren:
Come one come all Brothers –
We have several SPECIAL
EVENTS coming up. We want
to see every one of you. Here is
our calendar:
Dennis Mahoney
Junior Warden
[email protected]
650-504-2300
But first, a few comments on
some of our great recent events
for those who missed them.
August 17, Saturday
Stated Meetings:
October—Meatloaf
November — Turkey
December — Table Lodge
October 18th 6:30pm
Hiram Award
Thomas Barth PM
@ San Mateo Lodge
January 11th 11:00am
142nd Installation of
Officers
Lunch—1:00pm
Our District Picnic was a lot of
fun with great food.
September 5, Thursday
We presented a Golden Anniversary Award to Brother
Robert Rathborne at our regular
stated meeting dinner. At this
time we also presenter several
25 year awards to Brothers who
were in attendance.
September 14, Saturday
Was our Annual Outdoor 3rd
Degree plus the Mark Master
Degree. It was cold and windy,
but that did not dampen our
enthusiasm. It was a great
event, and again with plenty of
delicious food.
October 3, Thursday
We presented a courtesy Golden
Anniversary Award to Brother
Freeman Smith at our regular
stated meeting dinner. Brother
Smith is a mason from Arizona
who now lives in our area. At
this time we also presenter several 25 year awards to Brothers
who were in attendance.
meet for dinner at 6:30pm Dinner will be an Oktoberfest
treat with presentations to follow.
November 7, Thursday
Our Stated Meeting for November - This is our annual Thanksgiving dinner - We will meet for
dinner at 6:30pm.
December 5, Thursday
Our Stated Meeting for December - This will be a Table Lodge
Closed to all except Brothers.
January 11, Saturday
Our 142nd Installation of Officers - Will be a Grand celebration beginning at 11:00 am
October 18, Friday
with lunch to follow - Do not
There will be a Hiram Award miss this event!
dinner - We will be celebrating Fraternally,
the Achievements of Brother Dennis Mahoney
Thomas Barth PM - We will Junior Warden
And for upcoming events:
Volume 1, Issue 4
Page 3
Christopher M. DeLong
Our Newest Master Mason
Raised at the 31st annual Outdoor Degree
Birthdays:
October
Edward H. Baxter 10/5
Eddie A. Sirhan 10/7
Nicholas A. Grasso 10/10
Harold Bowyer 10/11
David K. Rice PM 10/15
John J. Sanchez PM 10/15
Daniel R. Mills 10/16
Ollie R. Guinn 10/19
Alberto T. Jacinto PM 10/21
John D. Swendsen 10/23
Arnulfo M. Tabinas PM 10/23
Matthew F. Edwards 10/24
Stanley A. Fitschen 10/26
William A. Price 10/29
Robert J. Klass 10/30
November
First Degree
George T. Chapman, Jr. 11/2
John Vitrano 11/5
Hamdi Ugur 11/7
Michael D. Tagulao 11/8
William E. Price PM 11/13
Carlito L. Bade 11/14
Donald A. Yeager PM 11/20
David P. Smith 11/25
James A. Touchstone 11/26
James K. Huston 11/27
December
Double Second Degree
Chris was born in Burlingame hospital in April of 1976, his parents
moved to Penryn, CA (outside of Sacramento) when he was two years
old. He grew up in Penryn until he left for college on a football
scholarship to Boise State University. After a year of college football
he decided to pursue one of his childhood dreams of enlisting in the
Army. He served nearly 5 years as a Cavalry Scout, stationed in
Schweinfurt, Germany. After leaving the Army he attended CSU
Sacramento and earned a BS in Business Administration and later
attended University of Virginia earning a MS in Accounting. Shortly
after graduation he became a licensed CPA. He is currently in the
process of starting his own business in San Mateo.
Robert W. Mayers 12/3
Donald C. Nelson PM 12/4
Mamdouh Lofty 12/5
Robert L. Ennis 12/6
Homer A. Butz 12/12
William W. Dashiell 12/16
Joseph H. Rincon 12/16
Robert A. Cissna, Jr. 12/19
Robert D. Hammond 12/19
Donald R. Kerr 12/21
Rodney A. Cunningham 12/29
He has recently been married to Mary Judson DeLong and they live in
San Mateo. They have two children, Collin (6) and Judson (3). As a
family they enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, bike riding and
playing at the park. They are all learning/improving their golf and
tennis game right now. He also enjoys traveling, hunting, fishing and
reading.
Chris was Initiated on February 21st, Passed on July 25th and Raised to
the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on September 14th at our 31st
outdoor degree.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you
San Mateo Masonic Lodge
#226
303 Tilton Avenue
San Mateo, California
94401
Phone:
(650) 342-2721
E-mail:
sanmateomasoniclodge226
@gmail.com
Chartered from the
Grand Lodge of California
1873
Truth 1 - Why Truth Is A Masonic Ideal
There are mental and physical health benefits to telling fewer lies. Individuals enjoy improved personal relationships and more rewarding social interactions when they fib less.
Anita Kelly, University of Notre Dame, noted: "[People can] dramatically reduce their everyday lies
and that in turn is associated with significantly improved health."
An investigation saw participants instructed to stop lying for a period of 10 weeks. Many said they
were able to do so by being truthful about what they achieved each day, as opposed to exaggerating.
Others revealed they resisted the urge to make excuses for their failings, while some attempted to
avoid lying when asked a difficult question.
Psychologist John Cooper comments:
"The best definitions of truth are embodied in the little known work from Dr Will Schutz. He is best
known as the creator of FIRO theory. In the body of work called the Human Element, truth is operationalised as a problem-solving tool to increase health, joy and productivity both personally and interpersonally.
"One thing that seems to be clear - telling or not telling the
truth rests on levels of self-awareness and can lead to an
exaggerated emotional state which can lead to consequences.
There is evidence from the emotional intelligence field to
show that negative emotions (and by implication lying, withholding and distorting) negatively affect the human physiology, reduce resilience and diminish mental functioning. The
field of psychoneuroimmunology provides evidence that the
immune system is actually suppressed by prolonged negative emotion."
Are you a Mason? Tell the truth!
Greg Sudmeier
Blue Lodge 226, San Mateo, CA
SR 32• Valley of Burlingame
We’re on the Web! sanmateomasoniclodge.org
Rainbow
For the month of October, the girls have been very
busy. At the beginning of the month, they were
involved with the Redwood City Port Fest and the
"Horses to Horsepower" Car Show this was a fund
raiser for their Grand Service Project. On October
12, they assisted the members of Peninsula Lodge
with their 150th Anniversary Open House. On October 13, they will be at the "Make a Difference
Event" happening at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
October 14, they will hold their Installation of Officers, for the Fall quarter, at Peninsula Lodge in San
Carlos. On October 19, they will assist with the
Peninsula Chapter of DeMolay for their Installation
of Officers. October 20, they will be at the Northern
California Masonic Home for the Senor Ball.
For the month of November, there will be a bit of a
rest, with some servings to be scheduled, and December will start off with the Installation of Officers
of Peninsula Lodge, where the Assembly will be
assisting and serving. Later that month, the girls
help Santa by buying toys for needy children and
delivering them to Burlingame Lodge. For all of the
activities held at the Lodges, the girls really appreciate the Masonic support. They work very hard with
so few people to accomplish so much! Please show
your Masonic support by attending of their meetings, which are held every second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7 PM at Peninsula Masonic
Job’s
DeMolay
Fall Term 2013
To the members of San Mateo Lodge;
Job’s Daughters like many Masonic organizations is struggling. Right now our primary
concern is membership. I would encourage
you to make Job’s Daughters an option for any
eligible young lady you may know by telling
them about it. If you know of any girls related
to a Master Mason who are not already Job’s
Daughters, please let us know. Thank you for
your support in our growth efforts.
Fraternally,
Marcy Christensen
Bethel Guardian, Bethel 37, San Francisco,
Job’s Daughters International
Call/Text: (650) 400-5885 Or Email: [email protected]
October brings a change of term for DeMolay.
This month we will install a new set of officers led by Cavan Shannon as Master Councilor, Andrew Aufdemberge as Senior Councilor and Daniel Bueno as Junior Councilor.
We are quite pleased with the progress the
guys have made this term. For the first time
since Peninsula Chapter’s re-institution, all 22
officer positions will have a DeMolay appointed to their position. Even better, we are
initiating four new candidates at Grant Master’s Class on October 12th.
Looking to the Fall, our day of comfort project
is collecting canned foods for First Harvest
Food Bank. We are also participating with
Redwood Rainbow Assembly in making
lunches for the homeless. At the end of November, we prepare for our annual NorCal
convention in Sacramento, where we make
another push in the competition for Chapter of
the Year.
We are especially thankful to the Brethren of
San Mateo Lodge 226 for their ongoing sup-