The Trestle Board

Blocher Lodge No. 247

April 25, 2008

Coming Events

Our most recent candidate is still working on his FellowCraft lecture, and we expect him to be ready to turn it in at the May meeting.   Hopefully, we will be ready for his Master Mason's Degree during the following two weeks.

A Sad Note:

It is with profound sadness that we must report the passing of Danny Riley, of Caulksville, AR, on September 30, 2007.   Danny was a former Certified Instructor of The Work; Certified Instructor of the Second Section, Master Mason Degree.

Danny was also proficient in the Funeral Lecture, and never failed to answer the call for numerous Masonic Funerals for deceased Brothers in many areas of west central Arkansas. Danny will be deeply missed within our Fraternity.

From The Worshipful Master

Ritual Practice:

All of our practice nights are at 7:00 PM every Tuesday except the Stated Meeting on the first Tuesday of the month. All elected and appointed officers are expected to be there, and we encourage all Master Masons, whether members or not, to attend, watch, listen or participate.

We'll have coffee, a few snacks, and fellowship before the practice... around 6:30 PM at the Lodge Hall.  We are working on the adopted Opening/Closing Ritual and occasional work on the Degrees and the Second Section of the Master's Degree.  If any brother is interested in certifying in any of the available certification programs, we'll arrange instruction for that as well.

From the Secretary

A note about dues:

Section 3440.A of the Digest of Laws states, "If the blanks in the By-Laws of a Lodge be filled in so as to make the dues payable 'annually,' the members are in arrears after January 1st.  If the By-Laws... require the dues to be paid 'quarterly' then at the end of each quarter those who have not paid for that quarter are in arrears.---Pro. 1898, pg 132."

Article 13 of our current Lodge By-Laws states, "Every member of a Masonic Lodge knows that he is required to pay the Lodge dues, as provided for in the By-Laws of the Lodge, and he should pay them promptly without waiting for a notice from the Lodge... "

No matter what date might be set for paying dues, the end of the current year is always December 31st. Dues for the current year should have been paid on or before December 31, 2007 to avoid being in arrears during the current year, although a member cannot be suspended for non-payment until after the end of the current year.

A member in arrears cannot be elected or appointed to an Officer's position in the Lodge. He cannot vote at the Election of Officers, and the Secretary is required to certify to the Worshipful Master that all members present who wish to participate in the Election have paid their dues.  A member desiring a Certificate of Good Standing, Withdrawal, or Dimit must have his dues paid at least three months prior to the date of his request for any of those certificates.  A Lodge can vote before the end of the dues paying year to extend further time for an individual Brother to pay his dues, for not more than one year at a time, but a 'blanket' extension for all members is not allowed.

In view of the rising costs of operation, maintenance and repair, it is more important than ever to get our dues paid before spending money for stamps, envelopes, notices, etc.

General Interest

Stated Meeting Programs:

An effort will be made to include some form of education and/or Ritual review at every Stated Meeting, such as - one of the three Lectures; a discussion of elements of the By-Laws of the Lodge; other matters of interest to the membership.