Category Archives: Trestleboard

Order of Eastern Star

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As you enter our lodge hall and look up at the ceiling you will see a 5-pointed star made of different colored bulbs. Why is it there? This is the emblem of the co-educational Masonic organization, the Order of Easter Star that met for many years at the Mission Masonic Center. Over the years participation has diminished as it has many other Masonic organizations. Where 20 years ago there were probably twelve chapters in San Francisco, now there are only two, Golden Gate Chapter No. 1 and Pacific Star Chapter No. 252.

Dr. Rob Morris established the OES around 1850 with the General Grand Chapter of OES forming in 1876. It grew into a worldwide organization with over 500,000 members under the General Grand Chapter. The OES is a very strong supporter of Masonic lodge and their ideals. The presiding officers of the OES are the Worthy Matron (a lady) and Worthy Patron (a Master Mason) who preside in the East and West with 16 other supporting officers.

The colors of this emblematic star are blue, yellow, white, green and red; and represent five of the great women from the Old Testament, Ada, Ruth, Ester, Martha, and Electa. As new candidates are conducted to each star point, they are instructed in the account of each heroine. Together they teach the candidates lessons of fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith and love.

To join the Order of Eastern Star you must have a direct blood line to a Master Mason. The OES can be much of a family organization as wives, daughters, husbands and children (over 18) may join together to enjoy each other and the Masonic world.

For more information about the Order of Eastern Star visit their website at www.easternstar.org or call Barbara Ratti, Secretary Golden Gate Chapter No. 1 at (415) 664-7829. Golden Gate Chapter No. 1 meets at San Francisco Scottish Rite Center, 2850 19th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132 on the first and third Thursdays.

Fraternally,
Bro. Jim A. Marshall

 

In Memorandum: Worshipful Garvin Lohman

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Garvin Frederick Lohman
Raised February 23rd, 1967
Entered into rest March 22nd, 2012
77 years, 6 months and 26 days

Garvin Frederick Lohman was initiated an Entered Apprentice on April 14, 1966, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on August 11, 1966 and raised a Master Mason on February 23, 1967 in King Solomon’s Seaport No. 260 (now Pacific Starr-King No. 136), a member for 45 years. He served King Solomon’s Seaport No. 260 as Master in 1974 and Mission Lodge No. 169 as Master until his passing on March 22, 2012. He affiliated with Mission Lodge No. 169 on March 3, 1992.

He was a Past Patron of the Pacific Star Chapter No. 252 Order of Eastern Star; KCCH San Francisco Bodies Scottish Rite, Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection, Past Master of the Chapter Rose Croix; Member of Asiya Shrine, Director of the Greeters, Architect of the Construction Club; and Past High Priest of San Francisco York Rite. He was a member of the Chinese Acacia Club.

Garvin received the Hiram Award from two different lodges; King Solomon’s Seaport No. 260 in 1986 and Mission Lodge No. 169 in 2005, a testimony to his dedication to Freemasonry and a feat not many can claim. He served as our Candidates’ Coach for many years and guided many of our newer members through their degree studies. He served on the Board of Directors for the Mission Lodge Masonic Hall Association since 2009. He also played the role of one of the ruffians in the second section of the third degree.

“Soft and safe to thee my Brother”

An Article forwarded by Jan Lohman

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The following article was forwarded by Jan Lohman and is from Golden Rule Lodge’s April 2012 TrestleBoard.

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It has long been understood that the Baby Boom generation didn’t join the Masons. As a result, there is a five-decade difference between the generation of men who kept Freemasonry alive for us and the men who are now moving into leadership positions throughout the fraternity. At any other time in the history of Freemasonry, each succeeding generation came along approximately in twenty-five year intervals, making changes in their lodges, and in Freemasonry as a whole, to reflect their needs and desires. Masonry has always adapted to serve the societies in which it resided. Until recently. Now, instead of a twenty-five year adjustment in direction, Freemasonry is suffering from fifty years of habit and hardening of the arteries.

Leadership has no age, and there are no limits on imagination. But a lodge has to mean something to its members. It has to remain part of their lives, every day, every week, every month. Because once it’s more fun, or less hassle, to stay squeezed comfortably in the LaZBoy, curled up with a remote control, than it is to go to lodge, we have lost them. No one would ever voluntarily join a memorization club, and no one wants to join the oldest, greatest, most legendary fraternal organization in the world, only to be sentenced to a lifetime of cold cut sandwiches made with suspicious meat, generic cola, and monthly meetings of nothing but minute-reading, bill-paying and petulant sniveling over why no one comes to meetings anymore. Be honest with yourself. What rational human being seriously wants to go to the trouble of leaving home to go and listen to someone spend twenty minutes reporting that nothing happened at last month’s meeting either?

It will be the lodges that provide programming for their active members – whatever their age may be – that will survive and prosper into the future. But those that stubbornly cling to the notion that lodge is no event, that lodge is just one more meeting to be borne, that lodge is that most terrible of things, Ordinary – those are the lodges that will literally bore themselves to death. Those are the lodges that will slip silently away in the night. And the shadows of things that Might Be will have faded into the concrete Reality of a deserted lodge room.

The Old Masters Wages

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The following poem was forwarded by Bro. Tommy Lee and is dedicated to Wor. Bro. Garvin Lohman.

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"The Old Masters Wages"

I met a dear old man today,
who wore a Masonic pin
It was old and faded like the man,
It’s edges were worn quite thin.

I approached the park bench where he sat,
To give the old brother his due
I said, "I see you’ve traveled east,"
He said, "I have, have you."

I said, "I have, and in my day Before the all seeing sun,
I played in the rubble, with Jubala, Jubalo and Jubalum."
He shouted, "don’t laugh at the work my son,
It’s good and sweet and true,
And if you’ve traveled as you said,
You should give these things their due."

The word, the sign the token,
The sweet Masonic prayer,
The vow that all have taken,
Who’ve climbed the inner stair.

The wages of a Mason,
are never paid in gold,
but the gain comes from contentment,
when you’re weak and growing old.

You see, I’ve carried my obligations,
For almost fifty years,
It has helped me through the hardships
and the failures full of tears.

Now I’m losing my mind and body,
Death is near but I don’t despair,
I’ve lived my life upon the level,
And I’m dying upon the square.

Sometimes the greatest lessons
Are those that are learned anew,
And the old man in the park today
has changed my point of view.

To all Masonic brothers,
The only secret is to care,
May you live your life upon the level,
May you part upon the square.

 

The First California Masonic Funeral

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THE 1st CALIFORNIA MASONIC FUNERAL

The following article was forwarded to us by a Brother in Southern California and was originally printed in a May 1876 edition of Australian Freemason.
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The first Masonic funeral that that ever occurred in California took place in 1849, and was performed over a brother found drowned in the Bay of San Francisco.

On the body of the deceased was found a silver mark, upon which was engraved the initials of his name. A little further investigation revealed to the beholder the most singular exhibitions of Masonic emblems that were ever drawn by the ingenuity of man upon the human skin. There is nothing in the history of the traditions of Freemasonry equal to it.

Beautifully dotted on his left arm in red and blue ink, which time could not efface, there appeared all the emblems of the entire apprenticeship. There was the Holy Bible, square and compass, the twenty four inch gauge, and common gavel. There were also the Masonic pavement, representing the ground floor of King Solomon’s Temple, the identical tassel which surrounds it, and the blazing star in the centre. On his right arm, and artistically executed in the same indelible liquid, were the emblems pertaining to the Fellow-Craft’s degree, viz., the square, the level and the plumb. There were also the five columns representing the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite.

In removing his garments from his body the trowel presented itself, with all the other tools of operative masonry. Over his heart was the pot of incense. On other parts of his body were the bee-hive, the book of constitutions, guarded by the Tyler’s sword pointing to a naked heart; the All-Seeing Eye, the anchor and ark, hour glass, scythe, the forty-seventh problem of Euclid, the sun, moon, stars and comets; the three steps which are emblematical of youth, manhood and age.

Admirably executed was the weeping virgin, reclining on a broken column upon which lay the book of constitutions. In her left hand she held the pot of incense, the Masonic emblem of a pure heart; and in her right hand was a sprig of acacia, the emblem of the immortality of the soul.

Immediately beneath her stood winged Time, with his scythe by his side, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and the hour-glass at his feet, which is ever reminding us that our lives are withering away. The withered and attenuated figure of the destroyer was placed amid the long and flowing ringlets of the disconsolate mourner.

Thus were striking emblems of mortality and immortality blending in one pictorial representation.

It was a spectacle such as Masons never saw before, and in all probability, will never witness again. The name of the deceased was never ascertained.

 

From The East (January 2012)

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“Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir men’s blood – make big plans, aim high in hope and work.”
- Daniel H. Burnham

My Brethren,

It is indeed an honor and pleasure to serve as your Master in 2012. The officers pledge to you a year of Renaissance in building and strengthening our Lodge. Many fine degrees are planned. We encourage your attendance, participation and support as we continue to improve ourselves in Masonry.

An important monthly endeavor will be a Masonic Forum, scheduled on the second Saturday of each month to be held from 9:00 to 11:00 am at Mission Lodge. The Forum will be open to all masons. The purpose of the Forum will be three-fold, (1) An educational presentation by a Masonic Orator, (2) Proficiency coaching sessions to assist in degree advancement, (3) Degree ritual rehearsals will be performed. You are encouraged to serve as a backup degree team member. This will provide a golden opportunity for all to receive further light in Masonry.

Our Mission Lodge’s One-Hundred and Fiftieth anniversary is less than a year away. Your officers are dedicated to making this celebration a momentous occasion. All of the brethren are encouraged to participate in the planning and preparation of this event.

Some of our event planed for this year will be: monthly dinner programs, Northern California excursions, a mystery night, a fishing outing, and baseball. These are but a few of the activities being planned. Suggestions are welcome by all!

Many thanks to the Installing Officers Melchor Malang, PM, Moises Mendoza, PM, Bruce McKelvie, PM for their superb work, and to Gregory Pantages for his stirring rendition of "Stout Hearted Men" and "God Bless America".

On behalf of the officers we wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Fraternally,
Garvin F. Lohman, P.M.
Worshipful Master

 

From The West (January 2012)

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Happy New Year! As I write my first article after being installed in the West, I am excited in what we have ahead of us for the upcoming year.

As most people already know, I am an enthusiast for the ritual we perform; it is the foundation that everything that we do is built upon.
My hope, is that we don’t “just parrot the words”, but integrate the meanings behind the words.

I have often said that “Masonry is the world’s oldest men’s self-improvement group,” and here’s why:

Our Masonic path contemplates the journey of man’s life, from childhood to “mature masculinity.” We learn through our teachings, the concept of the Imperfect & Perfect Ashlars:

We view ourselves as imperfect, rough stones; which being shaped using the tools of morality, we are transformed into perfect stones.

We all know that we’ll never get to perfection, but it’s the constant drive towards making ourselves better men, better husbands, better fathers, and better pillars of our communities.

…and in turn, God willing, we’ll influence others to be better, and hopefully the world, a better place.

In closing, I ask you… What have you done today to implement your working tools?

Fraternally,
Andrew Brumana
Senior Warden

From The South (January 2012)

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New Year, New Life, New responsibilities are set in the South. Year 2012 is going to be a wonderful venture for the Junior Warden. I look forward to initiate as many Entered Apprentices who may apply and whom we may find worthy. I have been preparing myself to deliver a long form first degree using power point projector and journey into the ancient meaning of the craft and manifest them into the present. This, I have high hopes to do with your 101% support. The sad old is gone, behold the new life has come. Be on our side where hope is upheld and light illumines the darkness.

It is also my hope as your Junior Warden to be able to serve you not only in refreshments but also in any matter I may deem able to assist as a true brother in masonry. I will stand for justice when issues are presented to me in the south, but will also strive to whisper good counsel for harmony and unity.

In our attempt to serve you and be able to accommodate your visitors for dinners and refreshments, I would ask you to please subscribe to the “Meet up” set on our website for food reservations or otherwise email me at OakesLeonard@msn.com or simply call me at (650) 534-5831.

Lastly, I would like to thank Worshipful Master Lohman for allowing the Junior Warden, in his earlier stage, to sit down with the Senior Warden and Secretary in the Budget Committee Meeting. There is yet a lot of things to learn for this young officer and I ask you to allow me in seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and be able to sit in the East in due time just as those who have gone that way before.

Happy New Year and Happy New Life to All.

Fraternally,
Leonard Oakes
Junior Warden

From The East (December 2011)

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At the outset, I wish to greet you all ‘Happy Holidays’. That’s the politically correct way of greeting members of our fraternity that is so conscious of not bringing into the open any hint of religious persuasions. And while I respect that, I also feel the need to be able to just greet you in the manner I know. So, for my Christian brothers, I greet you ‘Merry Christmas’, to my Jewish brothers, ‘Happy Hanukkah’ and to the rest of the brethren, ‘Happy Holidays’.

As I write my last message for the year, I’m counting the remaining days of my term as Worshipful Master of Mission Lodge #169 and with that comes a huge sigh of relief. It’s indeed quite comforting that by then, I shall have fulfilled what is required of me with regard to the discharge of my duties while seated in the Oriental Chair.

This sigh of relief, however, should not be construed as a total abandonment of my bond with our lodge and its constituency. As the soon-to-be Junior Past Master, I pledge my continued support for the forthcoming activities of the lodge I have learned to care about.

Looking back through these past months, the thing that comes to mind is "gratefulness". I am so grateful for all the help afforded to me; help that, I believe, was given by a "brother to a brother", help that is reflective of how our fraternity encourages us to "stretch forth a helping hand" in times of need.

I therefore wish to publicly express my gratitude to all the Officers, Committee Members, Master Masons and Past Masters for helping me manage the affairs of the lodge. I thank the Board of Trustees, the Hall Association for their excellent managing of our financial affairs. I thank our Candidate Coaches for preparing the new members advance in their degree. I thank our Officers’ Coach for his subtle ways of pointing out improvements in our degree conferrals.

I also would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family, most particularly to my wife, Tess, for her generosity and wholehearted support, seen and unseen. They have been my inspiration in times when the demands of my mastership seem difficult to bear.

To you all, my sincerest thanks. Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the elected and appointed Officers for the ensuing Masonic year and wish them the best.

May the vision of Mission Lodge #169 prevail.

Fraternally,
Jess R. Bautista, P.M.
Worshipful Master

 

From The Master Elect (December 2011)

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FROM THE MASTER-ELECT

First off, thank you to the 90 brethren who voted in our November election of officers and for electing me as Master.

The following officers have been appointed to serve Mission Lodge: Chaplain: Delfin B. Endrina, P.M., Assistant Secretary: David R. Kidd, Sr. Deacon: Jose Luis Gomez, Jr. Deacon: Eleftherios J. Karkazis, Sr. Steward: Omar Valles, Jr. Steward: Jason J. Marandas, and Tiler: James G. Lintner.

You, your family and friends are cordially invited to the Installation of Officers for the ensuing Masonic year on Saturday, December 17th, 2011. Please RSVP.

Plans for the year 2012 will include educational programs, several California excursions and preparation for Mission Lodge’s 150th anniversary in 2013.

May the spirit and blessings of the Season remain with you and yours throughout the year!

Fraternally,
Garvin F. Lohman, P.M.
Worshipful Master-Elect