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April Trestleboard

April, 2023

Greetings, Brother Texan,

A hearty “Rebel Yell” of appreciation goes out to the officers and brothers who came together on March 25 to raise our newest Master Mason, James Caldwell!  Special appreciation to our Officer  and Ritual Coaches, Worshipfuls David Driesbach and Rob Wilson.  Each of our Masonic journey is an individual experience, but making a Master Mason requires a group effort, and I appreciate the members of this lodge who gave so selflessly of their time and effort to make it happen for James.  Thank you.

We have a loaded social 2023 calendar, which you can always find here: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=sanjuanbautistatxlodge46@gmail.com&ctz=America/Los_Angeles .

But if you have a smart phone, please use the following link to synchronize the Lodge’s calendar into yours, so you won’t ever miss a beat:  https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r?cid=sanjuanbautistatxlodge46@gmail.com .

Brothers, your Executive Committee meets monthly to plan our Stated meetings in hopes to make them more productive and concise.  I ask that any new business that you wish considered to be submitted to the Master or the Secretary at least 15 days prior to our stated meeting, so we can properly arrange for its consideration.

Thank you for your continued membership in California’s Most Outstanding Masonic Lodge. Period.  We are such a unique lodge because of each of you.  You are what makes Texas-46 special and you are what links her historic past to her promising future and the “Brothers-46” yet to come.  What part will you play in her unfolding adventure through timeless San Juan’s history?

I’ll conclude with an excerpt of an address by our Scottish Brother, Robert Burns, in his “Address to the Unco Guid”:

Then gently scan your brother man,
Still gentler sister woman;
Tho’ they may gang a kennin wrang,
To step aside is human:
One point must still be greatly dark, –
The moving Why they do it;
And just as lamely can ye mark,
How far perhaps they rue it.

Who made the heart, ’tis He alone
Decidedly can try us;
He knows each chord, its various tone,
Each spring, its various bias:
Then at the balance let’s be mute,
We never can adjust it;
What’s done we partly may compute,
But know not what’s resisted.

 

A modern interpretative wording:

Therefore look gently on men

and even more gently on women.

Although they may go a little wrong,

Do not condemn them.

Above all consider not merely what they have done,

But WHY.

God alone has the power to look into a human heart,

to judge actions and motives and regrets.

He alone knows not only what one has done and why,

But what one has resisted doing and why.

–Man’s responsibility is to forgive; only God has the authority to judge.

 

Sincerely and fraternally yours,

Kevin Herrick, PM, Master

 

UPCOMING EVENTS for April 2023:

WED April 5 @ 6 pm — Parlor Night.  Dress as a Gentleman Cowboy or a Victorian Lady and join us for a step back to a timeless age.  $20 donation to join the fundraiser poker game (no winnings – proceeds benefit Lodge Budget). Bring a friend and receive a bonus!

SAT April 8 @ 9 am Family Breakfast and Stated Meeting.

 

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SAT-SUN  April 22-23.  Masonic Cave Picnic and family weekend in Volcano, Calif.  Join your lodge brothers and families and those of Escurial Lodge #7 (Nevada F&AM) families as we meet up in Volcano, CA for a family picnic at the historic cave where Masons held meetings in 1853 while constructing their masonic Hall in town.  There will also be time for local exploration and sightseeing after (see below).  Several brothers are interested in attending the local Volcano Theatre Company’s production of Prisoner of Second Avenue by Neil Simon, that Saturday night!  This play commemorates their opening production 50 years ago! Buy tickets now before they sell out! Here is the link:  https://ci.ovationtix.com/35803/production/1143581

Planned Events Saturday April 22 include:

  1. Saturday at noon: Bring a picnic lunch for yourself and family and meet up at the Masonic Cave Picnic tables, located just 20 feet from the cave.  This is a family and friend event. Bring your own food and drink, and expect a great fellowship to ensue!
  2. 2 PM-ish Saturday:  Volcano Lodge room tour has been arranged for the afternoon on Saturday through the Volcano Consolidated Lodge master, Greg Niskanen, with a tour of the town offered by Brother Doug Ketron, a local mason and historian beginning at about 2 PM.
  3. Tour the Kennedy Mine, for a nominal donation of $15 per person, proceeds support the local Eastern Star.  Make reservations in advance here:  http://kennedygoldmine.com/
  4.   5-7pm Saturday Fraternal Social time at the Volcano Union Pub and Inn (with a restaurant).  Volcano Pub and Inn
  5.   7:30 pm Saturday (this presentation is also available Friday night) Volcano Theatre Company’s presentation of Neil Simon’s Prisoner of Second Avenue.  Reserve your tickets online now. https://ci.ovationtix.com/35803/production/1143581

While in the area, make plans to also explore some of the following UNSCHEDULED ACTIVITIES with friends and brothers Friday PM through Sunday AM (nothing formally planned, so arrange times and events with your friends and group, or play it by ear!):

  1. Wine tasting – MANY various venues in the area (just click here or go online and search “Amador County wineries”): link to Amador wineries
  2. Black Chasm Cavern. https://cavetouring.com/
  3. Explore the Kennedy Mine and book a tour early. Donations benefit the local Easter Star Chapter. /http://kennedygoldmine.com/
  4. Graveyard exploring – various pioneer cemeteries are in the area include the Volcano Catholic Cemetery, Pine Grove Cemetery, Volcano Protestant Cemetery, Aqueduct City Cemetery, Lockwood Station Cemetery, and others.  Explore the past and imagine how life was in the days of the mining boom. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1965760/volcano-protestant-cemetery
  5. Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park   https://www.google.com/maps/place/Indian+Grinding+Rock+State+Historic+Park/@38.4208228,-120.6660062,13z/data=!4m9!1m2!2m1!1samador+county+cemeteries!3m5!1s0x809a71986ddc5279:0xb5625f5501e96bff!8m2!3d38.425104!4d-120.6408647!16zL20vMDdueXpj

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ADDITIONAL UPCOMING TEXAS-46 EVENTS in May and June:

WED May 3 @ 6 pm — Parlor Night.  Dress as a Gentleman Cowboy or a Victorian Lady and join us for a step back to a timeless age.  $20 donation to join the fundraiser poker game (no winnings – proceeds benefit Lodge Budget). Bring a friend and receive a bonus!

SAT May 13 @ 9 am -2PM Family Breakfast and Stated Meeting and Texas BBQ to follow.  Worshipful Reb Monaco and Brother Laurence Connell will receive their 50-year pins recognizing their years of dedicated service to the Craft, and how better to celebrate this achievement and support these worthy brothers than attend lodge and join with your family and friends in a traditional west Texas BBQ!  I can smell the grill already!

SAT May 20 @ 11 am at Masonic Homes in Union City. 34400 Mission Blvd, Union City.  Texas Lodge members and family will be given a free guided tour of this outstanding care facility with behind-the-scenes tour of the living quarters, library and social areas, reading rooms, dining area, activities centers, and exercise facility.   Lunch will be available for a small fee.  Plan to attend and bring family and friends to learn first-hand how your donations to The California Masonic Foundation support this amazing resource for Brothers, widows, and family.  Charity never faileth, Brother!

WED Jun 7 @ 6 pm — Parlor Night.  Dress as a Gentleman Cowboy or a Victorian Lady and join us for a step back to a timeless age.  $20 donation to join the fundraiser poker game (no winnings – proceeds benefit Lodge Budget). Bring a friend and receive a bonus!

SAT June 10 @ 9 am Family Breakfast and Stated Meeting.  Be sure to arrive early for Breakfast as our PAST MASTER members share the highlights of their year(s) presiding in lodge and tell us all about how theirs was the greatest year in the history of Masonic Light! Then chuckle to yourself as these venerated brothers show us how lodge is opened with ritual perfection and experienced, flawless practice (or not)!  This is a great past-time you won’t want to miss!  PMs, we honor YOU this day and thank you in advance for playing along and contributing your part in creating Texas History!  his meeting is about YOU and your sacrifice to the Craft!