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

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