Trestle Board

Venice Masonic Lodge No: 301 F. & A. M.

Chartered on the 18th Day of April 1951

January 2015 Vol‐65 Issue 1

   

 Stated Communica ons 

Held on the 1st Monday and 3rd Monday at 7:30pm 

Family Dinner on 3rd Monday at 6:00 pm 

118 E. Venice Ave, Venice, FL 34285 

www.trowel.com/flmason/Venice301/index.html 

 

 

 

Venice Lodge No: 301 F. & A. M.  

2015 Officers

W:. Master:      W:. Derek J Lynn         (703)‐407‐3137   

Sr. Warden:      Br.  Mark Bal more        716‐7898 

Junior Warden      Br. Sco  Steelman        725‐0599  

Treasurer:        W:. Dwight Ridgeway        807‐5690 

Secretary:        W:. Steve Murphy        662‐0471 

Senior Deacon:      Br. Gene Scheuring        204‐6226 

Junior Deacon:      Br. Marcel Leclerc        (207)‐754‐5556 

Marshall:        W:. Jeff Pick          993‐0990 

Senior Steward:      Br. Jus n Le ner         441‐8457 

Junior Steward:      Br. Adam Kendall        448‐4777 

Tyler:         Br. Walt Milne          266‐6212 

Organist:        Br. Ron McLeod          330‐6991 

Appendant Orders

Sco sh Rite:   Master of Kadosh ILL. Barry D. Hart 544‐5550 

York Chapter No. 35: Excellent High Priest: Jeffery T. Lawrence 315‐5300 

York Venice Council 41: ILL Master: John “Jud” Powell 350‐8028 

Commandery Eminent Commander: Todd Meschelle 737‐1978 

Recorder for Commandery: Gerald E. Goacher, PEC 923‐2665 

Recorder for Council & Chapter John F. Wermann, KYCH 492‐2284  

 

Board of Relief:      W:.M:. Derek J Lynn    451‐8122   

By Laws:        R:.W:. John Wermann    492‐2284 

Educa on:        R:.W:. Barry D. Hart    544‐5550 

Electronic Media (Face‐Book):  W:. Hampton Crimi    468‐0578 

Finance:        Br. Mark Bal more     716‐2898 

Funerals:        W:. Lou Or        485‐5313 

Greeters:        Br. Mark Bal more     716‐2898 

Inves ga ons:      Br. Mark Bal more     716‐2898 

Lodge Instruc on/Catechism:  Br. Gene Scheuring     204‐6226 

Lodge Property:      W:. Lou Kelly      468‐2318 

Mentors/Pe ons:     W:. Lou Kelly      468‐2318 

Publicity:        Br. Ed Shauan      681‐6365 

Scholarships:      W:.M:. Derek J Lynn    451‐8122   

Telephone Tree:      Br. Gene Scheuring     204‐6226 

Transporta on:      W:. Lou Or        485‐5313 

Vigilance / Charity:     Br. Sco  Steelman      725‐0599  

Monthly Meals / Kitchen:   Br. Sco  Steelman      725‐0599 

Commi ee Chairmen

Fraternal Greetings Brethren,

Hope that the Holidays treated you and your families well and welcome to the New Year. As always I am certain that this is going to be that special year I have envisioned, with all of life's trials and tribulations resolving or at least getting better than the previous year. Reviewing the month of December 2014, De-cember 1st was much more than just another election; I was honored by the brethren to be-come their WM for the year 2015. Thank you to the brethren for their confidence in me. I will need all your support for a successful year. The 22nd saw us bring three more new candidates to the light in the EA degree, with Br. Mark Baltimore as the degree master, and as usual an excellent presented degree by him and the degree team.

The strength of the officers and broth-ers who frequent lodge nights is impressive but there is more to do. One goal this year is to reach out to those brothers who we have not sat in Lodge for a while; we do miss your attendance even though we have been remiss in expressing it. I could blame it on our busy lives but everyone is busy, that is no reason

for brothers not to be in touch, the question is how we allocate our time. Emails and texts are a quick and easy way to communicate but lack in the personal interaction of grip; a word, a smile or a call. There are no smiles in text or caring tone in an email. I intend to fix the gap in communication and reach out to you; it is your opportunity to respond.

In Lodge we will speak with strong clear voices so none go away unhappy. I need all of your help in bringing the lodge, broth-ers and families together this year and all the future years to come. If we all pitch in a little, stronger fellowship and family support for what we do will follow. The outcome will be a fraternity to be more proud of and a reason to attend lodge. Call a brother you haven’t seen for a while, just ask how he and his fam-ily is doing and welcome him back. Both will be glad you did. It is up to us to make it hap-pen.

Fraternally,

W. Derek Lynn Worshipful Master

From the East  

From the West  

Brethren,

It’s hard to believe 2014 is gone. They al-ways say the older you get the faster they go. I hope everyone had a good holiday and enjoy a safe happy new year.

I would like to congratulate W:. Steve Mur-phy on doing a great job as master in 2014. I also would like to express my apprecia-tion for all of the 2014 officers for all of the hard work they did for our great lodge.

W:. Lynn and his line of officers are look-ing to have a very busy 2015 with some new fund raising events planned. So, we

will be looking for both new and old faces to come out to help. I am looking forward to my new position as Sr. Warden. I am committed to working hard to make Venice 301 the friendliest lodge in the 27th district. If any brothers have any fund raising ideas please feel free to contact me at: baltimore711@yahoo.com or (941) 716-2898.

Fraternally,

Mark Baltimore, Senior Warden

Family Dinner Menu 3rd Monday of the Month

Cottage Pie, Veggies, Dinner Rolls, Apple Pie and Ice Cream

Hot Coffee and Iced Tea

Brethren,

First, I want to congratulate Derek Lynn for having been elected as Worshipful Master for 2015. I am honored to have been elected as your Junior Warden and I am looking forward to a great year while serv-ing Derek and our Lodge. A big “Thank You” to outgoing Worshipful Master, Steve Murphy who had an outstanding year while leading our Lodge.

Our family dinner will be held on Monday, January 19th, starting at 6 pm.

I am so fortunate that our outstanding chef, Deb Sims, will continue to provide the Lodge with delicious meals in 2015. I look forward to working with her. I encourage all of our members and their families and friends to come out and enjoy the wonderful dinners and fellowship.

Fraternally,

Scott D. Steelman, Junior Warden

From The South 

Charity of The Month

Salvation Army

We would like to thank the following Brothers for suppor ng our Lodge. 

Gold $50.00 Silver $25.00 Bronze: $10.00

W:. Steve Ellis 

R:.W:. John Wermann 

W:.M:. Derek Lynn 

W:. Jeff Pick 

W:. Fred Ellis 

 

*Contact W:. Derek Lynn if you would like to support your Lodge by becoming a Booster con-

tributor for 2015. Remember it starts at $10.00 

Venice Masonic Lodge #301

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Monitored by W:. Hampton Crimi

Boosters

Chaplains Corner

Sickness & Distress:

Please keep our brethren in your thoughts and prayers:

Br. David Al mier—Village on the Isle Assisted Living 

Br. John Lewis—Village on the Isle Assisted Living 

W:. Malcolm Ryder—Hospice at Bay Village in Sarasota 

R:.W:. Maurice (Babe) Dalton—Manor Care in Sarasota 

Perpetual Members Help Yourself—Help Your Lodge

It is Once—It is Forever

Lee Briner Philippe George V. Canlers‐Mem. Richard Cervi John Coffey Rodger Craig Hampton Crimi Maurice Dalton Sr.   Frederick Ellis Steven Ellis David Farley Les Frisby Richard Geraci Barry D. Hart 

Harold L. Jones‐Mem. Rocky Kearney Louie Kelly Robert Kern John La a Robert Mac Alvanah Joseph Madrak Louis Marche  Robert Mar n Gerald Maxey Clark McClelland Ronald Morrison Paul Noller Earl Orth 

Louis Or  Jeffrey Pick Blair Post Dwight Ridgeway B. John Ross Edward Schwenk‐Mem. Glenn Miller Smith‐Hon. Joseph Stella Richard Tacy‐Mem. Robert Duane Trump‐Hon. John Wermann Eric West John Winters

District 27 Lodges

Manatee Lodge No.31: 402 15th St. E., Bradenton, FL 34208—1st/3rd Mon. 7:30 pm 

Braidentown Lodge No.99: 520 30th Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205—1st/3rd Tues. 7:30 pm 

Palme o Lodge No.110: 402 15th St. E., Bradenton, FL 34208—2nd/4th Tues. 7:30 pm 

Sarasota Lodge No.147: 2160 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34237—2nd/4th Tues. 7:30 pm 

Phoenix Lodge No.346: 240 S Tu le Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237—1st/3rd Tues. 7:30 

Englewood Lodge No.360: 265 Pine St., Englewood, FL 34223—1st/3rd Tues. 7:30 pm 

North Port Lodge No.406: 5900 S. Biscayne Blvd., North Port, FL 34287—2nd/4th Wed. 7:00 pm

Venice Lodge No. 301 F. & A.M. Past Masters  

1951 (d) Forest Chapman            1983 (d) James Oakley 

1952 (d) C. Allen Pa son – DDGM 1984 George DeNeen

1953 (d) Elihu B. Roberts            1985 C. Bruce Jones 

1954 (d) Sanford Smith            1986 (d) William W. Brooks 

1955 (d) Robert Bruce Rigby Sr.           1987 Rodger L. Craig Sr. ‐ DDGM 

1956 (d) Carl Cribbs              1988 Richard Cervi ‐ DDGM

1957 (d) Malcolm A. Miner            1989 (d) Ralph Wilkinson

1958 (d) George R. Mitchell            1990 Robert B. Strayer Jr. 

1959 (d) Irvin H. Jones            1991 (d) Robert J. Lane 

1960 (d) Joseph Jossart            1992 Cur s Bradley 

1961 (d) Thomas Hankins            1993 B David Harris Jr. 

1962 (d) John A. Nelson            1994 Stephen H. Clark ‐ DDGM 

1963 Lee G. Briner              1995 Malcolm B. Ryder

1964 (d) George R. Colle  Jr. – DDGM 1996 Louie E. Kelly 

1965 (d) William Hendrix            1997 Frederick Ellis 

1966 Richard Geraci              1998 (d) Richard Tacy 

1967 (d) Wade H. Ballard Sr.            1999 Steve Ellis 

1968 (d) William A. Cul ce            2000 Eric B. West ‐ DDGM 

1969 (d) Paul Lanius ‐ DDGM/DI 2001 B. John Ross

1970 (d) A. Bradford Smith            2002 John F. Wermann ‐ DDGM 

1971 Roger Isphording            2003 Hampton Crimi

1972 (d) Larry Jeffrey              2004 Robert Kern 

1973 (d) Hubert Palmer – DI 2005 Louis H. Or  

1974 (d) Joseph Bezjian            2006 (d) Donald Hixon 

1975 (d) Donald A. Richard            2007 Joseph Stella 

1976 (d) Forest L. Foster            2008 G. Rocky Kearney 

1977 (d) Harold L. Jones – 2            2009 John Hobeika 

1978 (d) Hudson W. McCoy            2010 John La a 

1979 (d) John P. Haus             2011 Barry D. Hart ‐ DDGM 

1980 (d) George A. Carver III            2012 Louis Marche  ‐2

1981 (d) Harold L. Jones – 2            2013 Jeff Pick 

1982   Maurice M. Dalton Sr. – DDGM2 2014 Steve Murphy 

 

(d)- Deceased  

DI - District Instructor

Masonic Education

FREE AND ACCEPTED

The Masons who were selected to build the temple of Solomon were de-clared free. These Free Masons were allowed to gather with their families and were ex-empt from paying taxes. They also had the privilege to bear arms. Thus, they were ac-cepted as free men.

At the destruction of the Temple by Ne-buch-a-nezzar, these Free Masons were taken to Babylon and put into captivity with the Jews. Cyrus, after taking control of Babylon, gave these Masons permission to return to Jerusalem to erect a second Temple, freeing them to do so.

To be free they had to be accepted as free, hence the term Free and Accepted. Not all men in all cases are accepted as free, they are held by the restraints of doctrine and power. To be free in mind and body one must work at it. So if your are asked:

Are you a Free Man?

Yes.

How do you know you are a free man?

Because I am free to follow my dreams.

What makes you a free man?

The people around me, for I am accepted as a free man.

If you can answer these questions in this manor you are truly a Freemason.

Masons of the Year

Masonic Birthdays

1993  Br. Steve Yosman  

1994  W:. Louis Or         

1995 W:. David Harris Jr  

1996  W:. B. John Ross 

1996  W:. Malcolm Ryder 

1997  Br. Don Needham 

1998  Br. Donald Smith 

1999  W:. Malcolm Ryder 

2000  W:. Malcolm Ryder 

2000  W:. Richard Tacy (d) 

2001  W:. Malcolm Ryder       

2002  W:. B. John Ross            

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

2009  Br. John Greene 

2010  Br. John Greene

2011  Br. John Greene

2012  No Award Given  

2013  W:. Lou Kelly 

2013  Br. Mark Bal more                   

2014  Br. Marcel Leclerc 

 

01/10/1977 David Farley 

01/12/1998  John Wermann 

01/14/1984  William Lather 

01/22/197  Dennis Taylor 

01/22/1979  Larry Hanson 

01/27/2004  Kenneth Archibald 

01/28/1980  Charles Jones 

Current Petitioners

Br. Mark Sanders

Mr. Matt McKinley Palmer

New Entered Appren ce Class Ini ated  December 22, 2014. 

Pictured Le  to Right:  

R:.W:. Barry D Hart, Br. Wayne Breka, SD Gene Scheuring, Br. Kadan 

Duke, Br. John Greene III, PM Lou Kelly, Br. Walt Milne, Degree Master 

Mark Bal more, SW Derek Lynn, JW Sco  Steelman, JD Marcel Leclerc, 

Br. Micah Wemes, W:.M:. Steve Murphy 

January 2015          

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Commandery            1st Thursday— 7:30pm  Odd Months—Braidentown #99  Even Months—      

Venice #301 

2

Sarasota Lodge #147 

Installa on of  Officers 

6:30 pm  

3  

Venice Lodge #301 

Installa on of Officers 

   5:30 pm Dinner  

  7:00 pm Installa on 

4

5 Stated Commu‐

nica on                        

7:30pm 

Followed by 

fellowship 

6 Phoenix Lodge #346 

Installa on of Offic‐

ers 6:30 pm Dinner  

7

8 Combined Installa‐on of Chapter 

Council & Com‐mandery Dinner Braidentown #99 

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16 Council—3rd Friday at Venice #301—7:30pm 

17

18

19 Stated Commu‐

nica on                

7:30pm 

Dinner 6:00 pm 

20

21

22 Master Masons  6:45 pm Sarasota #147 

23

24

25

26 Lodge Officers Mee ng 7:00 pm 

27

28

29

30

31

 

Venice Lodge #301 

Venice Shrine Club

 

President Jim Fahey 

941‐223‐6533 

Mee ng Place: TBD 

Meets 3rd Tuesday at 

11:00am 

YORK RITE MASONS

Royal Arch—2nd Thursday at Sarasota #147—7:30pm  

Council—3rd Friday at Venice #301—7:30pm  

Commandery—1st Thursday—7:30pm  Odd Months—Braidentown #99 Even Months—Venice #301