MOSES PAUL LODGE #96

DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Free and Accepted Masons Dover, N. H.

February 2015

Organized Under Dispensation December 20, 1889

Chartered May 21, 1890

February Calendar

Event: Square and Compass

Date and Time: Thursday February 5th 6:30 pm at the Lodge Hall,

Dress Code: Casual

Cost: Usually less than $10.00

Description: Fellowship dinner,

Who can attend: EA’s and above, and Guests

Event: Special Communication Fellowcraft Degree

Date and Time: Thursday February 12th 7:00 pm

Dress Code: Tux and gloves, all others Business casual

Cost: Donation Basket at Collation

Description: Fellowcraft Degree

Who can attend: Fellow Crafts and Above

Event: Stated Communication

Date and Time: Thursday February 19th Lodge opens at 7:30 pm

Dress Code: Officers jacket and tie, all others Business casual

Cost: Donation for collation

Description: Monthly Business meeting

Who can attend: EAs and above

District 5 Calendar

Event: Fellow Craft Ritual Workshop –Strafford Lodge Dover NH

Date and Time: Tuesday Feb 3, 6:30 pm-9:00 pm

Dress Code: casual

Cost: Donation Basket

Description: DDGL will hold this important workshop on the Fellow Craft Degree

Who can attend: Fellow Crafts and above

Event: Winnipesaukee Lodge Breakfast Buffet

Date and Time: Sunday February 15, 7:30 am-11:30 am at Winnipesaukee Lodge

Dress Code: casual

Cost: $10.00

Description: Famous Breakfast Buffet

Who can attend: Public event All are welcome!

Event: Ladies at the Table –Strafford Lodge Dover NH

Date and Time: Saturday Feb 21, 5:00 pm-7:00 pm

Dress Code: Business casual

Cost: $15.00 per person

Description: 7 course dinner and ceremony

Who can attend: All Masons and Ladies

MOSES PAUL LODGE #96 In Memory Of

Brother David Stephen Weeks

Born April 22, 1930 Laconia, New Hampshire

Entered Apprentice March 7, 1959 Passed to Fellowcraft April 14, 1959

Raised to Master Mason December 19, 1959 Member Moses Paul Lodge 25 years, and a

Mason for 56 years Called from Labor to Rest January 8, 2015

Worshipful Master Secretary

Robert J. Corsetti John T. Pond, Jr.

Moses Paul Lodge #96, Dover, NH

Officers Elect. & Appointments for 2015

Worshipful Master: Wor. Robert J. Corsetti 603-969-8378

Senior Warden: Michael J. Stacy 603-394-6455

Junior Warden: David Akridge 603-343-1388

Treasurer: Adam M. Hughes 603-335-3617

Deputy Treasurer:

Secretary: John T. Pond, Jr. 603-978-8940

Deputy Secretary: Wor. James S. Miller 603-742-6691

Representative to Grand Lodge: Richard Lapointe 603-905-9953

Chaplain Wor. Kristopher G. Furtney 603-664-7920

Senior Deacon: Robert P. Johnson Jr. 603-319-8757

Junior Deacon: John T. Pond, III 603-841-6113

Marshall: Wor. Donald Meserve 603-742-2845

Senior Steward: David Martinelli 603-749-8916

Junior Steward: Brett Cossaboon 603-833-1492

Tyler: Richard Lapointe 603-905-9953

Organist:

Lodge Ambassador:

Historian: David Akridge

Finance Committee: Jean L. LaBrack 603-743-4066

Trustees of Charity Fund David Akridge - 2015

Wor Kristopher Furtney 2015, 2016

James E. Phelps 2015, 2016 ,2017

Widow’s Program Chairman: Vincent R. Puleo 603-491-1639

John T. Pond, Jr. 603-978-8940

Gates: #1-,

#2-,

#3-

Representative to Evergreen Place: James E. Phelps

Building Assoc. Representatives: Richard Lapointe

John T. Pond, Jr

Adam M. Hughes

Robert P. Johnson

Public Affairs Officer: Wor. Kristopher G. Furtney 603-664-7920

Lodge Care Taker: Richard Lapointe 603-905-9953

Web Master : John T Pond, III 603-841-6113

MASTER’S MESSAGE

Brethren:

January has been a very busy month for our

lodge. We have successfully had several MM

practices and put on a great degree for James

Lewis last week. I wanted to thank all the

brothers who gave up their time and nights to

help put this degree and give a special thanks to

our brothers from Strafford lodge. You are what

personifies Masonry. It's all about, friendship

and brotherly love and your help in our degree was greatly

appreciated. Let's remember to get out and support our Strafford

Lodge brothers on their upcoming events.

If anyone wants to put on a presentation for our upcoming Feb.

Stated please contact me with the subject matter. We have our

tickets for the 100 club fundraiser on sale now so get yours before

there all gone until next year.

Fraternally and Respectfully Attest

Worshipful Robert J. Corsetti John T. Pond, Jr.

robertcorsetti@msn.com bears123@comcaast.net

Greetings from the South.

Brother Dave Akridge

Our year is already off to a great start. Our Installation of Officers

is complete, we have a Master Mason and Fellow Craft Degree

scheduled as well as some new petitions. Masonry is has a

renewed interest in amongst the younger generation as we

approach our 125th

Anniversary as a Lodge. Stay tuned for the

various special events that will be happening to celebrate this

milestone.

As many of you may be aware, there used to be a DeMolay chapter

in Dover. We have an exploratory committee formed for purpose

of determining whether we have the ability to attract enough young

men to re-charter Dover DeMolay. I have the pleasure of serving

on this committee along with Brother Secretary John Pond Jr. We

believe it can be done. First and foremost it will benefit the young

men who are a part of this outstanding group and secondly, it

provides a feeder system for our Lodge.

If you know a young man who might have an interest, please feel

free to drop us an email or give us a call.

Fraternally

Brother Dave Akridge

Junior Warden

The Trowel

The Old Tyler Talks

ON A LODGE BUDGET

It is an outrage! That committee should be indicted for defaming

the fair fame of Masonry!" The New Brother was indignant.

"Sounds terrible to me," agreed the Old Tyler, sympathetically.

"What committee and what did it do?''

"That committee on the budget. They brought in a report which is

to lie over a month before discussion, and I am just seething with

indignation!"

"Seethe out loud. Maybe I can seethe, too, and then there will be

two of us!" suggested the Old Tyler without a smile.

''Oh, You'll seethe all right!" assured the New Brother. "The

committee averaged our income from past years to find what we

can expect this year. Then they laid aside a fund of $1,000,

subtracted the fixed charges from what is left, and apportioned the

remainder among our other activities."

"Isn’t that all right?" asked the Old Tyler.

"You don’t understand! This committee has dared to say that we

should spend only so much for entertainment, only so much for

relief and charity, only so much for education!"

"I must be stupid or something," puzzled the Old Tyler. "That

sounds reasonable to me!"

"Reasonable to decide beforehand that we can’t spend more than a

certain amount for charity? For entertainment? For education?

Masonry is built on the thought of relief! Now can we function if

we must circumscribe our charities?"

"Softly, softly!" countered the Old Tyler. "You forget that

Masonry is founded not only on relief but also on brotherly love

and truth. If we spend all our resources on relief, where do we get

the money to spend on truth and on cementing the ties of brotherly

love?"

"Fine words!" derided the New Brother. "But this report says that

only such and such a percentage of our receipts can be spent in

charity . . ."

"Wait a minute!" the Old Tyler spoke sharply. "Either you didn’t

listen or you couldn’t understand the report. Evidently you don’t

know that the Master did me the honor to make me a member of

that budget committee, so I know all about it. The budget

committee says nothing about confining charity to the amount

stated. It said that the average expended for charity during the past

five years was so-and-so much, so that we could reasonably look

forward to spending a similar amount in the coming year. The

figure was given to allow a basis of comparison and a decision as

to how much could be spent for other purposes.

"Running a lodge without a budget is like running an automobile

without gasoline. By the budget we determine how and where and

when we are to function. Without a budget we overplay our hand,

spend too much in entertainment, not enough in relief. Without a

budget we may rob our future brethren by encroaching upon our

capital assets. A budget is an adviser constantly saying, ‘Go slow!’

Not all worthy projects are within our means."

"You still don’t explain what we can do when our charity calls

exceed the average of the past five years." The New Brother spoke

less excitedly.

"We will meet them, of course," snapped the Old Tyler. "No

Masonic Lodge refuses a call for charity when it has the means.

But if the calls for charity are twice as big as expected, then we cut

down on entertainment. If we have no budget line to which to hew,

we spend as much for entertainment as before, and so come out at

the end of the year a loser."

"But this budget cuts down on so much. We must use less or

cheaper printed matter, and only a certain sum for ladies’ night

instead of . . .

"Instead of giving a committee of three the authority to loot the

lodge treasury of all that’s in it to provide free entertainment for

wives and sweethearts! You said it! No man loves his wife more

than I love mine, yet I am content to have the lodge entertain her

once a year with a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and undertake her

entertainment on more elaborate lines myself. Don’t forget, my

brother, that our primary purpose is neither charity nor

entertainment, and that when we make either or both the principal

parts of our Masonic activities, we work against the best interests

of the fraternity.

"Masonry is a cultivation of love between man and man; it is

education, as between heart and heart. It stands for patriotism, for

freedom of thought and conscience, for a simple devoutness, for

reverence, as well as for fun and frolic. Our ancient brethren found

‘refreshment’ necessary, but only when the ‘work’ was done. The

‘pay as you please’ system of too many lodges always skimps

something, and it’s usually the work, not the refreshment. So I’m

for the budget, and for it strong!"

"So am I!" agreed the New Brother, in a very small voice.

Secretary’s Desk Thank you to all who have paid their dues on time! Remember Dues were

payable by January 1st. The Lodge depends on this money to be able maintain

our building and pay the bills. Please take care of this obligation as soon as

possible! If you can’t afford your dues or have other issues preventing you from

paying them please contact me or any officer, we may be able to work out a

solution.

Don’t forget to get your 100 club ticket, see flier in this Trestle Board

As we prepare for the new year what a great time for a new beginning. Your

Lodge has a lot to offer all members whether young or old. When was the last

time you came to a meeting? We as your officers know that your time is

valuable and should not be wasted! If you were to attend the Stated Meeting, I

think you would be impressed by how things are working. These meetings are

fun and informative. Can’t remember the signs or you don’t feel you know

anyone, don’t worry, we are all brothers and will greet you with open arms.

This month’s education article is A Foundation Stone

There will be no Past Masters message this month, hopefully we’ll get back on

track soon.

This month’s Famous Mason is Brother Major General John Sullivan, by

Brother Gerald D. Foss Grand Historian, St John’s Lodge #1 Portsmouth NH.

Please visit our website www.nhfreemasons.org for upcoming events.

The District 5 Calendar at:

https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=5thmasonicdistrictofnh%40gmail.com

NH Grand Lodge Web site at: www.nhgrandlodge.org

Webmaster: dovermasons@nhfreemasons.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MosesPaulLodge96

NOT RECEIVING THE TRESTLE BOARD BY EMAIL???

If you would like to get it as soon as it comes out and save the Lodge a stamp

send your email address to bears123@comcast.net

Moses Paul Lodge #96 Masonic Building Association

100 Club Fundraiser How the Game Works:

100 tickets will be sold at $60.00 each, tickets will be numbered from 00 to 99. If your

number is drawn, you will win $50.00.

In order to reserve your ticket each participate must pay $10.00. However after the

initial start of the game if the $60.00 isn’t fully paid you must pay a minimum of

$5.00 per month until the entire $60.00 is paid. If you number gets drawn the balance

owed will come out of your winnings. For example if you still owed $10.00 on the

60.00 ticket then you would receive a check for $40.00. If you win a second time you

would receive the full $50.00.

The odds of winning are 1 in 100, and there will be 52 drawings each year. The

winning numbers will be the last two numbers of the NH Lottery’s Friday night Pick

Four evening numbers.

Anyone can buy a ticket. Tickets will be available from any member of the Building Association or

Moses Paul Lodge on a first-come first-serve basis. The game will start when

all tickets are sold and you will be notified of the starting date. This fund raiser

is fun to play, it is affordable, and works as a fundraiser to be donated to

Moses Paul Lodge. So, if you would like to get in on the 100 Club, sign up

soon as tickets will go fast. GOOD LUCK!!! 100 tickets @$60.00 ea = $6000.00

52 winners @$50.00 ea =$2600.00

Potential net to Lodge =$3400.00

Give the brethren a chance to do something, anything, no

matter how small or unimportant. A brother convinced that he

is helpful is enthusiastic.

Carl H. Claudy

A FOUNDATION STONE

This Short Talk Bulletin has been adapted from a pamphlet

published by the Grand Lodge A.F.& A.M. of Illinois, entitled,

What Can a Mason tell a Non-Mason About Freemasonry.

The ancient traditions of Freemasonry permit you to influence your

qualified sons, friends and co-workers to petition for the degrees.

There is absolutely no objection to a neutrally worded approach

being made to a man who is considered a suitable candidate for

Freemasonry. After the procedure for obtain-ing membership in a

Masonic Lodge is explain-ed, there can be no objection to his

being reminded once that the approach was made. The potential

candidate should then be left to make his own decision and come

of his own free will.

One of the most misunderstood of the laws of Freemasonry is the

rule that prohibits the solicitation of a candidate by any Mason.

Every man who enters the portals of a Masonic Lodge must come

of his own free will and accord but he can only come if he knows

of the opportunity.

So far ingrained in our Masonic law is the rule against solicitation

that it has unquestionably caused most Masons to refrain

completely from discussing Freemasonry with friends and

acquaintances who are not Masons. Don’t let that happen to you.

The failure of the Masonic institution to make known to the public,

that is to non-Masons, its principles and its purposes has, in the

past, resulted in both suspicion and antagonism toward Masonry.

People are naturally inclined to be suspicious or fearful of those

things of which they are ignorant.

Freemasonry is not a secret society, but is rather a society which

possesses certain secrets. A really secret society is one in which the

membership is not known. Freemasonry is quite well known to the

uninitiated. We do not attempt to hide our membership. A large

percentage of our membership wears pins or rings bearing well-

known emblems of the Craft. We do not meet in secret places. We

meet in Temples which are well marked as Masonic - often times

with neon signs bearing the square and compasses - and we meet at

meetings which are quite well advertised.

What is actually supposed to be secret about the institution of

Freemasonry is its ritual. Dr. Mackeys 23rd Landmark, The

secrecy of the Institution, embraces nothing more than it’s ritual,

which we must conceal and never reveal. The fundamental

principles of Masonry which are taught by that ritual, however,

are, or could be, well known, and most of them are not even

principles peculiar to the Masonic institution.

The candidate for the mysteries of Masonry must always come to

us of his own free will and accord, unbiased by friends and

uninfluenced by mercenary motives, and he must so formally

declare before he enters a Lodge room. It must be his own personal

desire which as brought him to the point of petitioning for the

degrees of Masonry. An explanation of the charitable and character

building attributes of Freemasonry to a worthy and well qualified

person is not solicitation.

Probably the first question that would come to the mind of the

uninitiated would be What is Freemasonry? We define it as a

progressive moral science divided into different degrees. This

definition probably would not satisfy and would mean practically

nothing to the Non-Mason. Freemasonry might be defined to such

a person as a fraternal society which is based on certain moral and

religious doctrines; the moral doctrines including Brotherly Love,

Relief, Truth; Temperance, fortitude, Prudence, and Justice; and

the religious doctrines comprising a belief in god and a future

existence; sometimes shortened to the statement of a belief in the

fatherhood of god and the brotherhood of man.

There is no reason at all Why this subject should not be discussed

quite freely with a non-Mason. The fact of the matter is that the

philosophy of Masonry is freely discussed in thousands of printed

volumes available to Masons and non-Masons alike.

One question which often comes from non-Masons is this: How

does one become a member? Why have I not been asked to join?

In any such discussion, of course, the non-Mason should be told

that, unlike the members of other fraternal organizations, Masons

are forbidden to solicit any one to become a member, and that any

prospective member must apply of his own free will and ac-cord;

and further, that he must pass a unanimous ballot for admission. It

must be free will and accord on both sides.

One question which any non-Mason might ask, and which can be

freely discussed with him, is the relationship of Masonry to

religion and to the churches of any denomination Masonry has two

fundamental religious tenets - a belief in God and a belief in a

future existence, or, as it is phrased in Mackeys Land-marks, a

belief in the resurrection to a future life.

The inquirer should be told that Masonry is not a religion in any

sense of the word; but it is religious, and that no atheist can ever be

made a Mason. As the Old Charges approved in 1723 put it, If he

rightly understands the art, he will never be a stupid atheist nor an

irreligious libertine. In those charges, under the heading of

Concerning God and Religion it was said:

But though in ancient times Masons were charged in every country

to be of the religion of that country or nation, what-ever it was, yet

it is now thought more expedient only to oblige them to that

religion in which all men agree, leaving their particular opinions to

themselves; that is, to be good men and true. or men of honor and

honesty, by whatever denominations or persuasions they may be

distinguished; whereby Masonry becomes the centre of union, and

the means of conciliating true friendship among persons that must

else have remained at a perpetual distance.

Masonry does not require membership in any church as a condition

of membership in a Lodge. On the other hand, membership in any

church is no bar to admission to Masonry. There is nothing in the

requirements of Masonry to prevent a Roman Catholic, a

Mohammedan, a Buddhist, a Mormon, a Protestant, or a member

of any religious sect from becoming a Mason. Any bar is one

prescribed by the church to which he may belong. For in-stance,

while Masonry is not anti-Catholic, nevertheless until recently the

Roman church had itself set up the ban of excommunication of any

of its members becoming Masons, which edict had been repeated

by the Popes since the year 1738. There is nothing wrong in telling

a non-Mason that, or telling him that the discussion of sectarian

religion is prohibited in every Masonic Lodge.

One might also ask whether Masonry is a political organization.

He should be told that no political discussion would be permitted

in any Masonic Lodge.

Here again we might refer to the Old Charges, where we are told:

A Mason is to be a peaceful subject to the civil powers, wherever

he resides or works, and is never to be concerned in plots and

conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation, nor to

behave himself undutiful to inferior magistrates; for as Masonry

hath been always injured by war, bloodshed and confusion, so

ancient kings and princes have been much disposed to encourage

the Craftsmen because of their peaceable ness and loyalty,

whereby they practically answered the cavils of their adversaries

and promoted the honor of the fraternity, which ever flourished in

times of peace.

In our jurisdiction, the rule that the discussion of politics and

religion in Lodges is to be avoided has the force of an Ancient

Land-mark.

Another question a non-Mason might ask is whether Masonry is a

benefit society, like the many fraternal societies offering insurance

and death benefits. This is something which can and certainly

ought to be discussed, to avoid any misunderstanding by a

prospective candidate. The inquirer should be told that we have no

insurance benefits, and that while Masons are second to none in

their charitable endeavors, as is evidenced by our Homes for the

Aged and for Children, nevertheless it would be financially

impossible for the Fraternity to care for all of its members. The

minimum dues of $20 per year provide little surplus for any Lodge

to render aid except to those in dire distress.

Another subject which could certainly be discussed with a non-

Mason is the history of the Masonic society and its evolution from

the Operatives, the builders of the Middle Ages, who created the

great Gothic cathedrals, churches and other structures in the British

Isles and on the continent of Europe. There are many interesting

topics of Masonic history which are perfectly proper to be

discussed and might possibly excite the interest of serious-minded

listeners who are not Masons. The history of our Craft in America

and the part which Masons played in the early history of our

country is something of which we should all be justly proud. It is

no secret and no Mason is prohibited from discussing it.

You should not discuss the ritual. Part of the fun of Freemasonry is

the excitement and adventure of the ritual. You can explain that it

is based in part upon the Holy Bible and that the ceremonies of

Masonry are of a serious and dignified nature, without levity or

horseplay. Certainly every candidate should be told this, and

should be asked not to listen to the remarks of unthinking brethren

about riding the goat and similar intimations that the candidate is

entering into something like a high school fraternity. Such

intimations are unworthy and untrue. Explain that Freemasonry is

divided in-to three degrees and what is required to progress.

Explain about the catechism, questions and answers, and what is

expected: 6,000,000 Masons learned and be sure they know they

can. All they need do is ask to start their travel from friend to

brother.

We are proud of our fraternity and want you proudly to explain

Freemasonry to the worthy and well qualified people in your

sphere of influence.

Major Gen. John Sullivan

Honored NH Mason By Gerald D. Foss, Grand Historian

St. John's Lodge #1,Portsmouth, NH

John Sullivan was born in Somersworth, New Hampshire,

February 17, 1740. He studied law and was admitted to practice

before the courts of the Royal Province of New Hampshire. His

home and place of business were in Durham, New Hampshire.

Durham sent him to the Provincial Assembly early in 1774 as its

representative. This led to his appointment as a delegate to the first

Continental Congress. Appointed brigadier general in the

Continental Army in 1775, he was promoted to major general in

1776. After being engaged in several prominent battles of that war

he resigned his commission late in 1779.

He was sent to the Continental Congress again in 1780 and

1781. Attorney-general of New Hampshire from 1782 to 1786, he

was chosen President (Governor) of New Hampshire in 1786 and

1787. He was Speaker of the House in 1788 and also president of

the Constitutional Convention which ratified the Federal

Constitution. This made New Hampshire the state to establish the

United States of America. He was chosen presidential elector for

1789 and cast his vote for President George Washington. Again he

was elected President (Governor) of the State of New Hampshire

in 1789. President Washington appointed him as the first judge of

the Federal District Court in the latter part of 1789, a position

which he held at his death. Harvard College conferred upon

Sullivan the degree of Master of Arts in 1780 and Dartmouth

College be- stowed the degree of Doctor of Laws on him in 1789.

Many honors have been accorded General John Sullivan. Among

them are the incorporation of the Town of Sullivan in Cheshire

County, New Hampshire, in 1787; establishment in 1827 of the

County of Sullivan, New Hampshire; erection of a granite

monument by the State of New Hampshire in 1894 near his home

in Durham, New Hampshire. More recently, a steel span across the

Piscataqua River from Newington to Dover Point was named in his

honor. In 1929, the United States Post Office issued a

commemorative postage stamp bearing his likeness in honor of his

victorious New York expedition against the Indians. The State of

New York honored him in 1879 by erecting a monument at Ithaca.

The Town of Epping, New Hampshire, which long had a Masonic

lodge called Sullivan Lodge No. 19, renamed it Major General

John Sullivan Lodge No. 2., F. & A.M., a few years ago.

Sullivan's Masonic career commenced in old St. John's Lodge

Portsmouth, NH on March 19, 1767. That evening the lodge held a

regular communication in the house of Isaac Williams of

Portsmouth. The minutes of that meeting, in part: "This evening

proposed by Br. Hall Jackson, Mr. John Sullivan, who was balloted

for, and unanimously agreed to be made this evening and

acquainted him the result of the Lodge, he was ready and

according was made a Mason this evening." It would be twenty-

two years before the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire would be

established, but of the first officers chosen in 1789, four were

present March 19, 1767. John Sullivan, Hall Jackson, George

Turner and Joseph Bass. John Sullivan received the degree of

Master Mason December 28, 1768,in the Master's Lodge at

Portsmouth.

On this date the lodge room was located in the new Earl of

Halifax Tavern, owned and operated by Brother John Stavers.

Although the name of the tavern had been changed to Pitt Tavern

during the Revolutionary War, it was in the same building that

deputies from Masonic lodges met July 8, 1789 to organize the

Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. From 1768 to 1774 the minutes

record the occasional presence of John Sullivan, but since his

home was about twelve miles from the lodge room it is to be

expected his attendance was not as regular as of those living in

close proximity to it. On November 22, 1775 the St. John's Lodge

minutes record that Major Joseph Cilley was made a Mason gratis

"for his Good Services in Defense of his Country." Brigadier

General John Sullivan was present this evening.

This date was during the period in which General George

Washington had ordered Brigadier General Sullivan to Portsmouth

to check harbor defenses. The records show that Major General

John Sullivan on the evening of March 27, 1777, proposed that

Major Winborn Adams be made a Mason. It was done.

Unfortunately, Lt. Col. Adams was killed less than six months later

leading his regiment into battle at Bemis Heights. While General

Sullivan was in charge of the campaign to secure Rhode Island he

visited the Providence Lodge of Freemasons frequently. When he

was ordered to depart from Rhode Island, the Providence Lodge

voted that a committee present an address "to our worthy Brother

Major-General John Sullivan, in behalf of this lodge . . . ." It was

published in the Providence Gazette of March 27, 1779. The

message extends "most cordial Thanks, for the particular Honor

you have done them, in so frequently associating with them in

Lodge;". It is a touching tribute. General Sullivan's reply to the

address is also interesting for it shows clearly his knowledge and

approbation of Masonry. In 1788 St. John's Lodge adopted its

fourth set of bylaws. At the end of the bylaws, as was the custom,

each member signed his name. The well-known signature of "jno

Sullivan" appears, in his own handwriting, to this set of laws.

In the spring of 1789 several New Hampshire Masons were

promoting the establishment of its own Grand Lodge. The first

meeting was held in the Pitt Traven July 8, 1789. Sullivan, then

President of New Hampshire, was elected the first Grand Master.

He was absent, but at the second meeting, held July 16, 1789, he

was present to accept the office. Because he had not served as a

Worshipful Master of a symbolic lodge, there was a delay in his

installation as Grand Master. It was arranged for him to be elected

Worshipful Master of St. John's Lodge at its next annual meeting.

On December 3, 1789 , St. John's Lodge held its annual meeting

and elected Sullivan Worshipful Master for the ensuing year. He

was duly installed as Master of his lodge December 28, 1789, and

conducted his first meeting January 4, 1790. On April 8, 1790,

plans were completed for the elaborate installation ceremonies of

the Grand Lodge officers for the first time in New Hampshire. The

event was held in the Assembly Hall on Vaughan Street because

the crowd was too large for the lodge room. Brother and Doctor

Hall Jackson, the oldest Master in the chair, installed John Sullivan

into the office of Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand

Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in and for the State of New

Hampshire. Grand Master Sullivan then proceeded to appoint and

install the other officers who would serve with him during the

ensuing year.

The regular quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge was

held April 28, 1790, at which time Most Worshipful John Sullivan

presided. Six months later he declined to serve further because of

ill health. On October 27, 1790, Dr. Hall Jackson, his proponent of

1767, was elected to succeed Sullivan as Grand Master. After a

long illness, Sullivan died at his home in Durham January 23, 1795

and was buried in the family cemetery situated in back of his

home. In this burial ground, in addition to a suitable gravestone, is

a large stone on which is mounted a bronze marker. The latter was

placed there by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire in 1964, that

the spot might be found if occasion should require it.

SOURCE: Excerpted with permission from "Three Centuries of

Freemasonry in New Hampshire" by Gerald Foss, NH Publishing,

Somersworth, 1972.

St. John's Lodge #1

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHERS

Raymond E. Allen Raymond L. Blaisdell

Gerald E. Brown Leo P. Cinfo

Robert J. Corsetti Nicholas D. Couturier

Ian Y. Cundiff Frank B. Freeland, Jr. Calvin A. Mittlesteadt

Kyle K. Parent Gerald L. Smith

How old is Grandpa???

Stay with this -- the answer is at the end. It will blow you away. One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general. The Grandfather replied, "Well, let me think a minute, I was born before:

?? television

?? penicillin

'?? polio shots

?? frozen foods

?? Xerox

?? contact lenses

?? Frisbees and

?? the pill

There were no:

?? credit cards

?? laser beams or

?? ball-point pens Man had not invented:

?? pantyhose

?? air conditioners

?? dishwashers

&n bsp;? clothes dryers

?? and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and

man hadn't yet walked on the moon

Your Grandmother and I got married first, . . And then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother. Until I was 25, I called every man older than me, "Sir". And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, "Sir." We were before gay-rights, computer- dating, dual

careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions. Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege. We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends-not purchasing condominiums.

We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.? We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on our radios.? And I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.? If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan ' on it, it was junk? The term 'making out' referred to how you did on

your school exam.? Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and instant coffee were unheard of. We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, . . . But who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.? In my day:

?? "grass" was mowed,

?? "coke" was a cold drink,

' ?? "pot" was something your mother cooked in

?? "rock music" was your grandmother's lullaby.

?? "Aids" were helpers in the Principal's office,

?? " chip" meant a piece of wood,

?? "hardware" was found in a hardware

store and "software" wasn't even a word.

And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us "old and confused" and say there is a generation gap... And how old do you think I am?

I bet you have this old man in mind...you are in for a shock!

Read on to see -- pretty scary if you think about it and pretty sad at the same time!!

Are you ready ?????

This man would be only 65 years old!!!

Masonic Humor

A picture is worth a 1000 words!

Moses Paul Lodge #96

Living Past Masters

Gerald E. Brown..…..……………..1965

Robert D. Sylvester…..………..1966, 67

Ronald C. Bartlett…..……………..1968

Donald S. Meserve..…………….…1972

Raymond E. Allen..………..………1975

William H. Carswell, II……1976, 77, 78

Stephen J. Regoulinsky…..…… 1981, 82

David R. Spiller…….………….1984, 85

Edwin F. Mitchell, Jr.………..……..1986

Anthony Zizos.…………………1989, 90

James S. Miller...1991, 98, 01, 02, 03, 04

John F. Torr…………….1993, 94, 99, 00

Stephen E Wawrzkiewicz…………..1995

Robert H. Stewart..…………………1996

Jay A. Edgerly………………………1997

William C. Hill, HPM……………….2003

Michael J. Mawson…..………………2005

George M. McGee III.……………….2006

Christopher Piehler……………2007, 2008

Robert D. Berry..…………………….2009

Bruce G. Staples, HPM……………...2010

Kristopher G. Furtney…………2010, 2011

Vincent R. Puleo……………....2012, 2013

Major General John Sullivan