October 2017 Trestleboard

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

Friday, October 13, 7:30 p.m. 
    Called Communication
    F.C. Catechism & M.M. Degree

Monday, October 2 
    7:30 p.m.  – Lodge Class – M.M. Degree Practice
Monday, October 9
    7:30 p.m.  – Lodge Class – M.M. Degree Practice
Monday, October 16
    7:30 p.m.  – Lodge Class – E.A. Degree Practice
Monday, October 23
    7:30 p.m.  – Lodge Class – E.A. Degree Practice
Monday, October 30
    7:30 p.m.  – Lodge Class – F.C. Degree Practice

Wednesday, October 18, 7:00 p.m.
    Manasseh Lodge No. 182
    Duty: Worshipful Master

Saturday, October 7
    9:00 a.m. - CHILD ID Program During Manassas Fall Jubilee
Saturday, October 7
    5:00 p.m. - Manassas Rainbow Assembly - Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
Friday, October 13
    7:30 p.m. - Master Mason Degree Conferral
Saturday, October 14
    8:00 a.m. - MAHOVA Family Day - Richmond, VA
Saturday, October 28
    5:30 p.m. - Lodge Halloween Party

    October is the turning of the seasons as we get ready for the Winter to come. It has been a long road this Masonic year, but it will be memorable. The time to reflect will come once we finish our preparations to settle in for the Winter and waiting for the Spring warmth to bless us again. We work hard as a Craft and a nation to live up to a high standard of morals and principles. Let us make the preparations to ensure we are prepared for the change of seasons to come.

    This month we will receive the Fellow Craft Catechism work back from Brother Steven Smith and raise him to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on October 13. Brother Awan has been working hard with Brother Smith to assist him in advancing through the degrees. Brother Smith is now ready to take the next step in Masonry. If within the length of your cable tow, come out for this momentous occasion for Brother Smith.

    One of the Manasseh Lodge projects that has been kicked around is to have a television installed in the Lodge. This project was considered, but never got past the stage of collecting estimates. Right Worshipful Carl Dunn, Jr. decided to pick up the ball again by querying the brethren to include now big, where to install and technical aspects. He developed the project to get the estimate and put the message out to the brethren Tor donations. That project has now come to fruition thanks to the generous donations of Right Worshipful Emil Klingenfus, Brother Joseph Martinez and a few other brethren. Right Worshipful Klingenfus donated enough to cover the complete project and the substantial donation of Brother Joe will cover some additional requirements. I am so grateful for these two brothers and all the brothers of the lodge for the constant care and dedication to our Fraternity.

    We start off this month with our Child Identification Program during the Manassas Fall Jubilee on October 7th. Our Lodge will assist the Prince William County Sheriff’s Department. The Child ID Program provides parents with a comprehensive child identification service at no cost. Our lodge usually has about 250 children come through the station. This is a magnificent event to give back to the community.  We need brethren to work with the Sherriff Deputies throughout the day. If you are available, contact us or show up at the booth between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

    The 239th Grand Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, A. F. & A. M. of Virginia, will be held at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa, 12042 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia. The Business Session will commence on Friday, November 10, 2017, at 8:30 a.m.  Exemplification of the Degrees will be held beginning on Wednesday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. and ending on Thursday, November 9, at 3:00 p.m. The Grand Lodge webpage (LINK) will be updated as additional information becomes available. If planning on staying you can make your reservations online now.

    On October 28, we will have our Annual Halloween Trick-or-Trunk Party. The Halloween Party has been a fun family filled event that has grown since we first held it five years ago. The parents enjoy it as much as our children with the costumes, decorations, food and, of course, the candy. It is pot luck if you want to bring something. The party kicks off at 5:30p.m. and we would love to see you and your family there.

    Our Lodge had another successful display of our ritual work at the William Ed Ray, Sr. Area Ritual School on September 15-16. Brother Tom Costis was awarded the Ed Ray Left Handed Gravel Award for performing the best ritual. Manasseh Lodge was again awarded for the highest attendance. I want to personally thank Right Worshipful William W. Costis for his dedication to work with us every Monday, or chance when we can meet with him. Manasseh Lodge No. 182 will host all the lodges from District 4 on October 18 at 7:00 p.m. I encourage all the Brethren to attend.

    Manassas Royal Arch Chapter No. 81 held its election and installation of officers last month and Companion Joseph Martinez Sr. was installed as High Priest. Excellent Joe is already off to a fast pace to change things up in the chapter. Thanks to Joe, we have new aprons for the officers and new Veil markers are on the way.

    After nearly a year and a half in the process, I am proud to say that Prince William Chapter of the DeMolay held its installation of officers on September 16. I am proud that our DeMolay Chapter once again has enough young men to open regularly. Brother Charles Hite was installed as the Chapter's Master Counselor and has done an excellent job of learning his degree work and participation in DeMolay events. The other boys are doing the same to increase their proficiency to progress in line.

    Grand Worthy Matron Marcia Perry and Grand Worthy Patron Don Strehle had their official visit to District 23 last month. This completes all the official visits for the year. Sis. Marcia Perry and Bro. Donald Strehle were very pleased with the reception and attendance of all our Eastern Star sisters and brothers for the ritual work and participation.

    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 "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

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1	2 LODGE PRACTICE M.M. DEGREE 7:30PM	3	4	5 RAINBOW ASSEMBLY BOARD MEETING 7:00PM	6 STATED COMM. 7:30PM DINNER 6:30PM	7 MAN. FALL JUBILEE 8:00AM RAINBOW ASSEM. SPAGHETTI DINNER 5:00PM
8	9 LODGE PRACTICE M.M. DEGREE 7:30PM	10 MAN PLEDGE ASSEM MTG 7:00PM MAN. RAINBOW ASSEM 13 MTG 7:30PM	11 PR. WM. CHAP. DeMOLAY ADV. BD. MTG. 6:30PM PR. WM. CHAP. DeMOLAY 7:30PM	12 MANASSAS R.A. CHAPTER 81 7:00PM DINNER 6:00PM	13 CALLED COMMUNICATION F.C. CATECHISM & M.M. DEGREE 7:30PM	14 MAHOVA FAMILY DAY 8:00AM
15	16 LODGE PRACTICE E.A. DEGREE 7:30PM	17 WIMODAUSIS 106 OES 7:30PM	18 DISTRICT CLASS MANASSEH 182 7:00PM DUTY: WM	19 AMARANTH DESTINY CT. 14 7:30PM DINNER 6:30PM	20	21
22	23 LODGE PRACTICE E.A. DEGREE 7:30PM	24 MAN PLEDGE ASSEM MTG 7:00PM MAN. RAINBOW ASSEM 13 MTG 7:30PM	25 PR. WM. CHAP. ORDER OF DeMOLAY 7:30PM	26	27	28 LODGE HALLOWEEN PARTY 5:30PM
29	30 LINE OFFICER MTG 7:00PM LODGE PRACTICE F.C. DEGREE 7:30PM	31