July 2017 Trestleboard

Friday, July 7, 7:30 p.m. 
    Stated Communication
    Dinner -  6:30 p.m.

Monday, July 3
    NO LODGE PRACTICE
Monday, July 10
    7:30 p.m.  – Lodge Class – F.C. Degree Practice
Monday, July 24
    7:30 p.m.  – Lodge Class – F.C. Degree Practice
Monday, July 31
    7:30 p.m.  – Lodge Class – E.A. Degree Practice

Wednesday, July 19, 7:00 p.m.
    Henry Lodge No. 57
    Duty: Junior Warden

Saturday, July 9
    2:00 p.m. - DeMolay Legion of Honor Investitures at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial
Monday, July 17 
    7:30 p.m. - Provisional Lodge of Past Masters
Sunday, July 23 
    2:00 p.m. - Manassas Rainbow Assembly No. 13 Installation of Officers
Saturday, July 29 
    12:00 p.m. - District 3 Grand Commander's Visit
Monday, July 31 
    7:00 p.m. - Temple Committee Meeting
 

        July is a great month for us as Masons in our great country. We have many things to be thankful for due to the sacrifices made by our founding fathers. Not all but a few were Masons who left their imprint on the founding of our country. The principles they lived be were evident in the declarations they made. The 4^th of July is a time that we should not take for granted or try to distort. Our forefathers thought so much about what we should be they risk their lives and that of their families for. Take time this month to reflect on what we have now and celebrate the founding of our country with pride.

        Most Worshipful V. Stuart Cook has issued Grand Master’s Edict 201-2. This Edict places restrictions on who can carry a weapon and when into our lodges. Most Worshipful Cook granted two exceptions to allow carrying of firearms into the lodge. The first exception is granted to active and honorably retired federal, state or local law enforcement officers and all Grand Lodge Committee members on security. The second exception is a reasonable number as granted by the Worshipful Master. One restriction placed on those permitted to carry a weapon, are not to participate in floor work of any degree being performed. I have appointed a committee led by Brother James Mendelson to recommend a reasonable number and to examine a brother that has a concealed carry permit. The complete edict and Most Worshipful Cook’s explanation letter are available at the lodge or on the Grand Lodge website. I highly recommend every brother to take the time to read these two documents.

        This month we have scheduled a Provisional Lodge of Past Masters on July 17th. The Provisional Lodge of Past Masters is for brethren who are not Royal Arch Masons to receive the Past Masters Degree. This degree is required in order to be elected as a Warden. We have three candidates scheduled for this degree. District class will be held at Henry Lodge No. 57. Our lodge is responsible for the Junior Warden position. Class starts at 7:00 p.m. and is open to all Master Masons. District class is always another great venue that we come together as a district to improve our skills in Masonry.

        Annually, Manasseh Lodge recognizes local school students for their achievements. In June, we presented citizenship awards to students at Grace E. Metz Middle School, Mayfield Intermediate School, and Pennington Middle School. This year we presented the awards to four deserving students based on their scholastic achievements. Plaques with the student’s names and dates are given to the schools and each awardee received certificate and gift card. Each of the schools look forward to our presentations and it is a great way to be involved with our community. I want to thank all the brethren who were able to attend and make the presentations by Masons more memorable.

        On June 3^rd, we assisted the Prince William County Sheriff’s office on the Child ID program. 228 children received their photo identification cards that day. It was a long day for the brethren and the Rainbow girls but it was rewarding to see the kids get their ID cards. Hopefully these parents and guardians may never need to use the cards. The Child ID program is an important part of our interaction with the community. I thank the brethren and the Manassas Rainbow Assembly No. 13 for their time and dedication to the program this year.

        Worshipful John Mitchell, Jr. District 4 District Education Officer, conducted our Subordinate Line Officer Training (SLOT). SLOT is very important training for the upcoming line officers and their development. During this training, along with Right Worshipful Solomon, indicated that the Grand Lodge will be publishing a more comprehensive SLOT training program that will be broken out into nine modules. The projected publications date has not been determined but the training program is being reviewed now. Once we receive it, we will notify the brethren on getting a copy. It is a great resource for all the brethren.

        Our newest Commandery, Turner Ashby No. 35 will host District 3’s official visit for the Right Eminent Grand Commander, Sir Knight Roy B. Henderson on July 29^th at 12:00 p.m. Piedmont Commandery  No. 26 and Old Dominion No. 11will also be part of this event. We welcome Sir Knight Henderson into our lodge on his official visit.

        Bethel No. 55 International Order of Jobs Daughters held their installation of officers on June 11^th. Even though we don’t have a Jobs Daughter Bethel here, we always welcome these ladies to be part of our lodge. We hope Honor Queen Alana Connor and her court have a great year in working with our fraternity.

        Prince William Chapter of the DeMolay continues to improve. At the Spring Quarterly in Lurray Caverns, they had several young men received their degrees. The chapter had a sleep over last month for the boys to develop bonds of friendship as well as work on their ritual. It was a long night but well worth it to invest in our future. There will be a Legion of Honor Investiture ceremony held at the George Washington National Masonic Memorial on July 9^th at 2:00 p.m. It is a public ceremony to honor those DeMolay for their work and commitment. Our Chapter will be supporting this event. It is an impressive ceremony and I encourage the brethren and family to attend.  DeMolay Conclave will also happen this month at the Christopher Newport University July 20-23. If you know of any young men that would make a fantastic addition to Prince William Chapter, contact Dad Wyatt Hamrick.

        Our Rainbow Girl Assembly No. 13 have been preparing for Grand Assembly. The Virginia Grand Assembly is July 14-15 in Williamsburg and our assembly will be well represented. In addition to this, the assembly will have its installation of officers on July 23^rd at 2:00 p.m. Miss Gigi Costis will be installed as Worthy Advisor for her second term. Come out and support our girls to show them our support.

        Last month, Wimodausis Chapter No 106 Order of the Eastern Star initiated our tiler, Brother Eric Sommers into the Order. Brother Sommers will be another asset to the chapter as they continue to expand.  The chapter also did an excellent job of preparing dinner for us last month. Our sisters and brothers are an integral part of our lodge and are always willing to support us. Although the Chapter will be dark in July and August, they are always with us at our events and we could not accomplish everything without them.

        We must also work on our charity by giving the gift of life through our blood donation program.  Brother George Harrington has been leading this program for years and would love to have the brothers give blood to help out those in need. If interested, contact Brother Harrington to find out how you can contribute by either giving blood or assisting in blood drives.
If interested in having flags flown in memory of someone, please see the Lodge Secretary or myself. The cost is $200 for three months.

        We must remain faithful to our obligations, our country and God. Every Mason has the ability to be more than a good and honorable man.  We need to cultivate ourselves to be “A Force for Good.” Celebrate our Country and what we stand for in order to preserve our Country and our Craft. Learn from our forefathers and teach others these principles. I look forward to seeing each and every one of my brothers at our communications as well as being part of each of our appendant bodies.  God Bless and have a beautiful month.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Christopher A. Swihart
“Obligations to the Craft, Allegiance to our Country, and Duty to Our God”
Worshipful Master
Manasseh Lodge No. 182
 
The end of June status is as follows:
Beginning Year: 216   New Members: 0         Affiliated: 0
Deaths: 2         Demits: 3         Suspensions: 0
Candidates in process: 4
Awaiting elections: 0  Awaiting affiliation: 0
Current: 211

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7 STATED COMM. 7:30PM DINNER 6:30PM	8
9 DeMOLAY LEGION OF HONOR INVEST. 2:00PM RAINBOW ASSEM. PRACTICE 2:00PM	10 LODGE PRACTICE F.C. DEGREE 7:30PM	11 MAN PLEDGE ASSEM MTG 7:00PM MAN. RAINBOW ASSEM 13 MTG 7:30PM	12 PR. WM. CHAP. DeMOLAY ADV. BD. MTG. 6:30PM PR. WM. CHAP. DeMOLAY 7:30PM	13 MANASSAS R.A. CHAPTER 81 7:00PM DINNER 6:00PM	14 RAINBOW GRAND ASSEMBLY	15 RAINBOW GRAND ASSEMBLY
16	17 AMARANTH DESTINY CT. 14 DARK	18	19 DISTRICT CLASS HENRY LODGE 57 7:00PM DUTY: JR WARDEN	20	21 DEMOLAY CONCLAVE	22 RAINBOW ASSEM. 13 IN. OF OFFICERS PRAC. 9:00AM RAINBOW FOUNDERS DAY DEMOLAY CONCLAVE
23 DEMOLAY CONCLAVE RAINBOW IN. OF OFFICERS 2:00PM	24 LODGE PRACTICE F.C. DEGREE 7:30PM	25 MAN PLEDGE ASSEM MTG 7:00PM MAN. RAINBOW ASSEM 13 MTG 7:30PM	26 PR. WM. CHAP. ORDER OF DeMOLAY 7:30PM	27	28 F.C. DEGREE 7:00PM	29 GRAND COMMANDER VISIT TO DISTRICT 3
30	31 TEMPLE COMMITTEE MTG 7:00PM LODGE PRACTICE E.A. DEGREE 7:30PM