Post on 18-Oct-2020
TRESTLEBOARD
R:.W:. Lou Ortt, District Deputy Grand Master, 23rd District
Worshipful Master John R. Brandon Jr.
Stated Communications - 1st & 3rd Monday at 7:30 pm
(Dark 1st Monday—June through September)
Family Dinners held year-round on the 3 rd Monday at 6:00 pm
118 E. Venice Ave, Venice, FL 34285
www.trowel.com/flamason/Venice301
Chartered on the 18 th Day of April 1951
Volume 70 Issue 09
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0
Worshipful Master: W.·. M.·. John R. Brandon Jr. 850-819-0426 Senior Warden: Br. Darren Bracken 941-809-1494
Junior Warden: Br. Justin Broome 941-626-3806
Treasurer: R.·. W.·. John F. Wermann 941-492-2284
Secretary: Br. Dennis Taylor 941-484-2682
Chaplain: R.·. W.·. Lou Ortt 941-485-5313
Senior Deacon: Br. Stephen Corkran 941-716-1140
Junior Deacon: Br. Timothy Ferdon 941-380-6246
Marshal: W.·. Adam S. Kendall 941-448-4777
Senior Steward: Br. David Singer 941-202-8426
Junior Steward: Br. Jordan Williams 321-514-0503
Tyler: Br. Walt Milne 941-266-6212
Asst. Tyler: Br. Vince Modie 440-334-4499
Organist: Br. Ken McBride 609-335-4653
Board of Relief: W.·. M.·. John R. Brandon Jr. 850-819-0426
By Laws: R.·. W.·. John F. Wermann 941-492-2284
Charity/Vigilance: Br. Justin Broome 941-626-3806
Education: R.·. W.·. Barry D. Hart 941-544-5550
Electronic Media (Facebook): W.·. Hampton Crimi 941-468-0578
Finance: Br. Darren Bracken 941-809-1494
Fund Raising: Br. Alan Meudt 352-552-2100
Funerals: R.·. W.·. Lou Ortt 941-485-5313
Greeters: Br. Stephen Corkran 941-716-1140
Historian: R.·. W.·. Barry D. Hart 941-544-5550
Investigations: Br. Justin Broome 941-626-3806
Lodge Instruction/Catechism: Br. Justin Broome 941-626-3806
Lodge Property: Br. Vince Modie 440-334-4499
Masonic Youth: DeMolay Br. Timothy Ferdon 941-380-6246
Masonic Youth: Rainbow Girls R.·. W.·. Lou Ortt 941-485-5313
Monthly Meals/Kitchen: Br. Justin Broome 941-626-3806
Petitions: W:. Steve Ellis 941-306-8520
Publicity: Br. Justin Broome 941-626-3806
Scholarships: W.·. M.·. John R. Brandon Jr. 850-819-0426
Social Media: Br. Alan Meudt 352-552-2100
Transportation: R.·. W.·. Lou Ortt 941-485-5313
Trestleboard Editor: Br. Paul J. Noller 941-391-3300
Scottish Rite Valley of Tampa
Trinity Commandery No. 16
Royal & Select Masters Bradenton Council No.9
Royal Arch Masons Sarasota Chapter No. 35
Sahib Shriners
2
Appendant Bodies
Venice Lodge No. 301 F. & A. M.
Committee Chairs
Officers
3
In the East
Greetings Brothers I hope everyone is having a great year, it’s hard to believe it’s already September.
It won’t be long and our northern brothers will be back. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon. We
will be having our family dinner meeting on 21 September, please remember to RSVP our Junior Warden if
you are going to attend the dinner. There will be masks and hand sanitizer available at the Tyler’s station.
Brothers it is with sadness that I announce the passing of Brother Eric D. Geistert (Eric the Painter).
Brother Geistert has set aside his working tools and ascended to the celestial lodge above. Brother Geistert
was a life member of Venice Lodge No. 301 and of the Sahib Shrine. His passing is a loss to Masonry but a
gain for heaven. Rest in peace Brother.
It looks like the Venice Holiday Parade is the latest casualty of the pandemic, the city of Venice has
cancelled it for this year and it does not look good for the boat parade. Will send more information when the
city makes a final decision.
There are only two Master Mason Association meetings and School of Instruction left for this year.
The next meeting will be held on Sept 24, 2020 at Sarasota No. 147. Dinner will be at 6 p.m. with the meet-
ing starting at 6:45 p.m. The school of instruction will follow at 7:30 p.m. All Master Masons are welcome
and encouraged to attend especially line officers and lodge instructors. This is a great place to find out what
is going on in the district and to meet brothers from our other lodges. The broken column is up for grabs to
the lodge with the most representation so come out and bring it to Venice. I know it’s broken but what can I
say, we’re on a budget. Hope to see you there.
Open Books will be held at Sarasota No. 147 on Sep 19, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you need to brush
up on a degree part or just want to learn more this is the place to see the work written out with no cypher. Just
bring your current dues card, it’s as easy as that.
Masonic Leadership Training Class Modules 1 – 5 will be taught at Phoenix Lodge No. 346 on 30
Sept, class starting at 6 p.m. This is good information for everyone not just lodge officers.
Last chance to get in on the Masonic Benefit Golf Tournament on September 19, at Rolling Green
Golf Club. If interested contact W:. Tom Davies - thos.davie@gmail.com or W:. Paul Richie -
richie2142@earthlink.net for details.
Masonic Quote of the Month: Sep. “Freemasonry is an institution founded on eternal reason and truth;
whose deep basis is the civilization of mankind, and whose everlasting glory it is to have the immovable sup-
port of those two mighty pillars, science and morality.” R:.W:. John Dove. Doctor, Author, Grand Secretary
of the Grand Lodge of Virginia 1835.
Fraternally,
John R. Brandon, Worshipful Master
In the West
4
Welcome to the latest edition of Venice Lodge’s Trestleboard.
I will make a quick Thank you to our Brother Paul Noller for assembling and publishing this news-letter every month for several years now, Thank you Brother Paul for your commitment to Masonry and finding your niche in assisting Venice Lodge.
Our next family dinner meeting is September 21st, where Chef Deb has continued to help prepare meals for us throughout these difficult times. Please make your reservations with our Junior Warden
The Lodge is on a steady keel of building improvements this year and is looking great thanks to our Worshipful Master John Brandon and our Building Manager Vince Modi. We expect the dining room flooring project to begin September 14th and will greatly enhance the area. Hopefully, all is completed in that week and cleaned up for our dinner. Please join us for dinner even if you cannot remain for the even-ing meeting.
Other building improvements being planned is an exterior paint job, we are discussing and plan-
ning a color scheme that makes our building better match the new buildings surrounding us and include our brick fundraiser to the south entrance.
I have made mention of replacing our south awning and offered a rendering of possibility for it,
however in recent dealings with the City of Venice I have discovered they have strict policy that any exte-rior building alterations must comply with the area being of “Northern Italian” design making that project more difficult and expensive. So, we will move on to other necessary updates like possibly the re-strooms. Attached is a sample of the brick fundraiser, please email me at darren450b@gmail.com to ensure I have exactly what you want the brick to read. As we approach the 4th quarter of the year, they will be ordered.
I hope to see everyone at the dinner meeting. Fraternally, Darren Bracken, Senior Warden
5
In the South
Brethren & Ladies: It is very important that everyone planning on attending our family dinners make reservations. Please let me know so we can ensure sufficient meals will be available for all who attend. We do not want to run out of food! Please contact me at: nportmason@gmail.com
Greetings my brothers. As always, I hope you all are healthy and well, hopefully things will start to
get back to normal soon as the Covid 19 rate starts to level and fall. That being said we are steaming forward
as usual. Our three fellow crafts are diligently studying their catechisms and are hopefully going to be giving
back this meeting in September. I would like to give a big thank you to brother David Singer for stepping up
and becoming our newest catechism instructor. He is leading our brother fellow crafts and teaching them their
catechisms. All that being said hopefully we will be able to raise these three brothers to the sublime degree of
master mason in October. We are still in need of catechism instructors so if any brother has the time and is
willing to instruct our newly obligated brothers, please reach out. This is one of the most important jobs in the
lodge and the most necessary, because without new brothers learning and advancing our great fraternity will
be in great jeopardy.
This month we will be doing our community outreach day at St Francis animal rescue. The date and
time have not been confirmed but as soon as that is all figured out I will ask the worshipful master to send out
a email to the craft detailing all the particulars. If that is something you would like to participate in please
email or text me. Any help of any kind is better than no help at all, and greatly appreciated. And as always,
the food donation bins are still in the dining room, please give what you can.
Sadly, my brothers we lost one of our own this past month. Brother Eric Geistert has laid down his
working tools and joined the celestial lodge above. Alas my brother. Services will be held at Sarasota Nation-
al Cemetery Thursday September 3rd at 11:30 am. There will be a reception at Venice Community Center
Friday Sept 4th from 4:00-7:00 pm.
On a brighter note any brother interested in becoming a Scottish Rite mason, the valley of Tampa will
be conducting the necessary degrees on Oct.24th. This is a one-day event and open to all master masons. An-
yone who is interested please contact W:. Jeff Pick at 301master2013@gmail.com.
The charity of the month for September will be the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota county. We all
know the great work they do and I am more than happy to extend them a donation in the name of Venice 301.
The menu for the family dinner for September will be pulled pork, mac and cheese, cole slaw, rolls,
and brownies w/ice cream for dessert. Please rsvp with me or Chef Deb so we can get a accurate headcount.
Thank you all for your dedication and love for our craft and I will see you all in lodge
Fraternally,
Justin Broome, Junior Warden
If you are aware of any Brother or Lady who is in sickness or distress, please contact a Lodge Officer.
R a i s e d t o t h e S u b l i m e D e g r e e o f M a s t e r M a s o n
All men are born of Mothers . All Masons are raised by Brothers - Anonymous
Entered Apprentice Fellow Craft
C u r r e n t E A & F C M a s o n s
C a l l e d f r o m L a b o r t o R e s t
6
Venice Masonic Lodge No. 301 is on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Venice-Lodge-No-301-F-AM-115500398463074/
S i c k n e s s & D i s t r e s s
Tristin Crimi
Devin Dukes
Greg Ellis
09/08/1981 Michael D. Morgan
09/10/2001 Stephen C. Murphy
09/11/1993 Jeffrey J. Dougherty
09/11/0993 William B. Franklin Jr.
09/13/1994 Robert Collins
09/14/2002 Scott D. Steelman
09/15/2018 Calvin J. Cadena
09/15/2018 Carl F. Gill
09/16/1995 Robert E. Kelly
09/16/1995 Joseph F. Stella
09/16/1995 Kent E. Wilson
09/16/1995 Scott S. Wilson
09/19/2012 Marcel M. Leclerc
09/22/1984 Lloyd R. Wyman
09/24/2013 Alan W. Meudt
09/26/1985 Richard J. Tokarz
09/27/2004 Donald H. Campbell
09/27/2014 Adam S. Kendall
09/27/2014 Justin D. Letner
Br. Eric D. Geistert
July 7, 1938—August 23, 2020
Br. Stephen Corkran
7
For more educational insights like the above, please visit: http://www.themasonictrowel.com
MASONIC EDUCATION - TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED by Richard E. Fletcher PGM, Vermont
Continued from August
Many times ancient symbols, which have in more recent times been co-opted by Freemasonry, are mis-taken as evidence of early Masonic existence . Let me give you one example. The All Seeing Eye on the one dollar bill is certainly well known in Masonic circles and, unfortunately, has mistakenly been inter-preted as a Masonic symbol. It is in fact an ancient symbol which was taken into Freemasonry in far more recent times.
This lack of understanding of ancient signs and symbols has, in my judgment, misled many Masonic historians into false conclusions. The study of history, particularly, where the written word was not used requires a well trained person when interpreting its meaning. That is why we need to do a far better job of interpreting early Masonic history than we have done in the past. If Masonic history began in earlier times than we normally talk about, it is obviously going to make a reconstruction of our past difficult because we have very few written records to go by. Remember these were times when few people could read or write. So, we don't have minutes of early Lodge meetings available. Also remember, if their very lives were at stake, that was another strong inducement not to put very much information into written form!
The purpose of my tracing this obscure part of our history is simply to say to you that I very strongly be-lieve that there was a far more significant purpose to the origins of Freemasonry than simply erecting buildings! I do believe that Freemasonry evolved into that stage, during its development, but the Cathe-dral builders reflected a time in our history and not its beginning!
Let me carry this thinking one step further and bring it into the late 1700's. Benjamin Franklin and Vol-taire did not join a workers guild! They joined what they believed to be an educational society which was called, "Freemasonry." These were extremely intelligent men who had no time to waste on things that were not important to them, and yet Franklin was an active Freemason and Voltaire joined only shortly before his death! What was it that they saw in Freemasonry that eludes us today?
Well let's focus our thoughts more on modern Freemasonry and see what we can determine. It has been said that Freemasonry in Europe was for the elite and in America for the masses. With the great numbers of members that we have attracted over the years, there seems to be a certain amount of truth in that statement. Today we tend to overlook the fact that even though our numbers are dwindling we still have in excess of two and one-half million Freemasons in the United States alone.
It would seem that when Freemasonry caught fire it did so in massive numbers. In the 1920's we were in the three millions in membership. In the 1950's and early 60's in the four millions and have been on a decline ever since. But, if we look at the membership in the 1700's, when by any standard of measure-ment Freemasonry was certainly at its most influential peak, there were not very many Freemasons! Lodges were small, intimate and every Brother knew every other Brother.
With larger numbers, perhaps also, came the seeds of our own downfall. It is very difficult to have per-sonal knowledge of each Brother when our numbers are so large. One of the most frequent complaints we hear in Freemasonry is a Brother saying that "I was in the hospital and no one came to see me. The chances are no one even knew he was in the hospital! We also have an extremely mobile population. It is no exaggeration to say that somewhere in the 30% range of the members of each Grand Lodge live somewhere else, other than the Jurisdiction in which they where raised. How do you keep a personal re-lationship with a Brother when you don't even know where he is?
- To be Continued in October
8
Masonic News & Events
The Scottish Rite is widely considered to be the University of Masonry. You are invited and encouraged to spend one Saturday, October 24th, at the Tampa Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 5500 Memorial Hwy, Tampa, FL 33634.
Witness degrees performed on stage in full costume by members of the Scottish Rite. There is nothing for you to memorize. You just, watch, listen and learn. The experience will open your mind to new thoughts. At the end of one day, you will be a 32° Mason!
For further information and to obtain a petition please contact: W:. Jeff Pick, 32° KCCH Scottish Rite Ambassador 301master2013@gmail.com
**Car Pooling is available**
1951 (d) Forest Chapman 1952 (d) C. Allen Pattison, DDGM 1953 (d) Elihu B. Roberts 1954 (d) Sanford Smith 1955 (d) Robert Bruce Rigby Sr. 1956 (d) Carl Cribbs 1957 (d) Malcolm A. Miner 1958 (d) George R. Mitchell 1959 (d) Irvin H. Jones 1960 (d) Joseph Jossart 1961 (d) Thomas Hankins 1962 (d) John A. Nelson 1963 (d) Lee G. Briner 1964 (d) George R. Collett Jr., DDGM 1965 (d) William Hendrix 1966 Richard Geraci 1967 (d) Wade H. Ballard Sr. 1968 (d) William A. Cultice 1969 (d) Paul Lanius, DDGM/DI 1970 (d) A. Bradford Smith 1971 Roger Isphording 1972 (d) Larry Jeffrey 1973 (d) Hubert Palmer, DI 1974 (d) Joseph Bezjian 1975 (d) Donald A. Richard 1976 (d) Forest L. Foster 1977 (d) Harold L. Jones 1978 (d) Hudson W. McCoy 1979 (d) John P. Haus 1980 (d) George A. Carver III 1981 (d) Harold L. Jones 1982 (d) Maurice M. Dalton Sr., DDGM 1983 (d) James Oakley 1984 George DeNeen 1985 (d) C. Bruce Jones
1986 (d) William W. Brooks 1987 Rodger L. Craig Sr., DDGM 1988 Richard Cervi, DDGM/DI 1989 (d) Ralph Wilkinson 1990 Robert B. Strayer Jr. 1991 (d) Robert J. Lane 1992 (d) Curtis Bradley 1993 David Harris 1994 Stephen H. Clark, DDGM 1995 (d) Malcolm B. Ryder 1996 Louie E. Kelly 1997 Frederick Ellis 1998 (d) Richard Tacy 1999 Steve Ellis 2000 (d) Eric B. West, DDGM 2001 (d) B. John Ross 2002 John F. Wermann, DDGM 2003 Hampton Crimi 2004 Robert Kern 2005 Louis H. Ortt, DDGM 2006 (d) Donald Hixon 2007 Joseph Stella 2008 G. Rocky Kearney 2009 John Hobeika 2010 John Latta 2011 Barry D. Hart, DDGM/DI 2012 Louis Marchetti 2013 Jeff Pick 2014 Steve Murphy 2015 Derek J. Lynn 2016 Mark R. Baltimore 2017 Scott D. Steelman 2018 Gene Scheuring 2019 Adam S. Kendall
9
Venice Lodge No. 301 F. & A.M. Past Masters
(d)- Deceased DI - District Instructor DDGM—District Deputy Grand Master
1993 Br. Steve Yosman
1994 R.·. W.·. Lou Ortt
1995 W.·. David Harris Jr
1996 W.·. B. John Ross (d)
1996 W.·. Malcolm Ryder (d)
1997 Br. Don Needham
1998 Br. Donald Smith
1999 W.·. Malcolm Ryder (d)
2000 W.·. Malcolm Ryder (d)
2000 W.·. Richard Tacy (d)
2001 W.·. Malcolm Ryder (d)
2002 W.·. B. John Ross (d)
2003 R.·. W.·. Rodger Craig
2004 R.·. W.·. Rodger Craig
2005 R.·. W.·. John Wermann
2006 R.·. W.·. John Wermann
2006 W.·. Hampton Crimi
2007 R.·. W.·. John Wermann
2007 R.·. W.·. Rodger Craig
2008 Br. John Lewis (d)
2009 Br. John Greene III
2010 Br. John Greene III
2011 Br. John Greene III
2012 No Award Given
2013 W.·. Louie Kelly
2013 W.·. Mark Baltimore
2014 Br. Marcel Leclerc
2015 Br. Walt Milne
2016 Br. John Brandon
2017 Br. Darren Bracken
2018 Br. Dennis Taylor
2019 Br. Vince Modie
Venice Lodge No. 301 Mason of the Year
We would like to thank the following brothers for supporting our Lodge.
Gold $50.00 Silver $25.00 Bronze: $10.00
Venice Lodge No. 301 Boosters
10
Perpetual Members of Venice Lodge No.301 Mark R. Baltimore
Lee G. Briner
Philippe G.V. Canlers-Memorial
Richard Cervi
Steve Clark
John Coffey
Donald Coulter
Rodger Craig
Hampton Crimi
Maurice Dalton Sr.
Frederick Ellis
Steven Ellis
David Farley
Les Frisby-Honorary
Richard Geraci
Barry D. Hart
Harold L. Jones-Memorial
G. Rocky Kearney
Louie Kelly
Adam Kendall
Robert Kern
John Latta
Robert MacAlvanah
Joseph Madrak
James Malmfeldt-Memorial
Louis Marchetti
Robert Martin
Gerald Maxey
Clark McClelland
Ronald Morrison
Paul J. Noller
Earl Orth
Louis Ortt
Jeffrey Pick
Blair Post
Dwight Ridgeway
B. John Ross
Malcolm B. Ryder
Mark Scarselli
Edward Schwenk-Memorial
Glenn M. Smith-Honorary
Joseph Stella
Richard Tacy
Dennis A. Taylor
Richard J. Tokarz
Robert D. Trump-Honorary
Jerry Wadel
John Wermann
Eric West
Andrew Wormington
John Winters
W.·. Mark R. Baltimore
W.·. David Harris
R.·. W.·. Barry D. Hart
Br. Paul J. Noller
W.·. Jeff Pick
Please contact a Lodge Officer to support our Lodge as a Booster.
23rd Masonic District Lodges
Englewood Lodge No.360—265 Pine St., Englewood, FL 34223—1st/3rd Tuesday-7:30pm Liberty Lodge No.412 (Daylight) at Manatee Lodge No.31—2nd Saturday-9am Manatee Lodge No.31—402 15th St. E., Bradenton, FL 34208—1st/3rd Monday-7:30pm Peace River Lodge No.66—909 North Oak, Arcadia, FL 34266—2nd/4th Tuesday-7:30pm Phoenix Lodge No.346—240 S Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237—1st/3rd Tuesday-7:30pm Punta Gorda Lodge No.115—25349 Airport Rd., Punta Gorda, FL 33950—1st/3rd Thursday-7:30pm Sarasota Lodge No.147—2160 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34237—2nd/4th Tuesday-7:30pm Venice Lodge No.301—118 E. Venice Ave., Venice, FL 34285—1st/3rd Monday-7:30pm West Coast Lodge No.409—520 30th Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205—2nd/4th Monday-6:30pm
Help Yourself—Help Your Lodge—It is Once—It is Forever
Louise Craig
Linda Dale
Merilee Greene
Barbara Hart
Wendy Kearney
Judith Kendall
Donna Noller
Elaine Ortt
Diane Pick
Debra Sims
Merri-Anne Wermann
Perpetual Friend Members of Venice Lodge No.301
11
Venice Shrine Club
Meets 3 rd Tuesday—11:00 AM
at Left Coast Seafood
385 US41 Bypass, Venice
York Rite Freemasonry Commandery 1st Thursday—7:30pm
Odd Months—West Coast No.409
Even Months—Venice No.301
Royal Arch 2nd Thursday—7:30pm
SU
N
MO
N
TU
E
WE
D
TH
U
FR
I
SA
T
1
2
3
Tri
nit
y C
om
man
der
y N
o.1
6
7:3
0 p
m
Eve
n M
onth
s:
Ven
ice
No.3
01
Od
d M
onth
s:
Wes
t C
oast
No.4
0
4
5
6
DeM
ola
y
Ven
ice
No.3
01
7:0
0 p
m
7
La
bo
r D
ay
Ven
ice
No
.30
1
Sta
ted
Co
mm
un
icat
ion
Da
rk
8
9
10
11
Sa
raso
ta
Sco
ttis
h R
ite
Clu
b
Sah
ib S
hri
ne
11
:30
am
Pa
trio
t D
ay
12
13
14
Tam
pa
Sco
ttis
h R
ite
Din
ner
5:4
5 p
m
Mee
tin
g 7
pm
15
1
6
17
1
8
1
9
Op
en B
oo
ks
Sar
aso
ta N
o.1
47
9am
—1
2 p
m
M
aso
nic
Ben
efit
G
olf
To
urn
am
ent
(See
Fly
er)
20
DeM
ola
y
Ven
ice
No.3
01
7:0
0 p
m
21
Ven
ice
No
.30
1
Fam
ily D
inn
er
6:0
0 p
m
Sta
ted
Co
mm
un
icat
ion
7
:30
pm
22
A
utu
mn
B
egin
s
23
24
Dis
tric
t 23
Mast
er M
aso
ns
Ass
oc.
6:4
5 p
m
Sch
ool
of
Inst
ruct
ion
7:3
0 p
m
Sara
sota
No.
147
25
26
27
Ra
inb
ow
Gir
ls
Ven
ice
No.3
01
2:0
0 p
m
28
29
30
SE
P 2
02
0 V
en
ice
Ma
son
ic L
od
ge
No
. 3
01
F.
& A
. M
.
Flo
rid
a
Ma
son
ic
Lic
en
se
Ta
g -
P
lease
su
pp
ort
th
e eff
ort
to
rais
e m
uch
need
ed
fu
nd
s fo
r th
e M
aso
nic
Ho
me o
f F
lori
da b
y p
ur-
ch
asi
ng
a
Flo
rid
a
Maso
nic
L
icen
se
Tag
. C
ho
osi
ng
th
e
Maso
nic
Tag
fo
r y
ou
r v
eh
icle
wil
l sh
ow
yo
ur
sup
po
rt o
f th
e C
raft
as
well
as
the M
aso
nic
Ho
me o
f F
lori
da.
I
t i
s o
nly
an
ex
tra
$2
5.0
0!