Brethren –

October is now in our rear view mirror and 2018 is rushing to an end.  What happened this past month?  Plenty!  Brother Jim Dietzel arranged an outing at Bad Axe Throwing.  An unusual sport to say the least, but those that went had a terrific time.  A visit was made to Metropolitan Lodge 161 in Leesburg.  Wonderful fellowship and an opportunity to hear different ritual was much enjoyed.  For our Stated, chef Brother Justin Matthews prepared an outstanding meal to nourish us.  Most Worshipful James Litten (2016) was our keynote speaker and provided with a Founders Day talk that included some Herndon Lodge history.  We held a Called Communication to confer the Entered Apprentice Degree and heard an EA catechism return.  We will need to schedule this Brother for his FellowCraft Degree this month.  Several Brothers sojourned north to join some 300+ Brothers – including PA Grand Master Eugene Herritt – on the Gettysburg Battlefield for a Master Mason Degree.  The month was closed out with the Leesburg Halloween Parade where we joined with the Brethren from District 2 to be “Stonecutters”.

Read the full Trestleboard Here

A very old and very large elm tree on a neighboring property was presenting fall danger to all buildings near it.  A cooperative approach was taken to benefit all parties.   The Lodge supplied the access for the endeavor to proceed.

A crane was used to bring the tree down a piece at a time.

A worker in the tree shows just how large it really was.

One branch – larger than most trees in the area.

A high flying act.

The stump was left this tall because a chain link fence used to be on the property. The tree engulfed it.

WB William Baumbach (District 4 MAHOVA Ambassador) presented Herndon Lodge with the 2018 Morlock Award for the Lodge’s outstanding support of the Masonic Home.   Well done Brothers!

Herndon Lodge added 3 new Master Masons to our rolls.   Please welcome Brothers Matthew Hamill, Duncan Arthur, and Greg Derosa to our Lodge.   This brings our August total to 5 new Master Masons for the month.   Congratulations Brothers.

Newest MMs with DDGM RW Don McAndrews and RW Phil Brooks

Matthew Hamill, Duncan Arthur, and Greg Derosa with JoJo

Full cast for the degrees

Greetings Brethren:

The Temple is really shaping up.  We started the month with a Temple clean up and repair day.  The Bethel, DeMolay, Eastern Star, and many Brethren pitched in to clear out the storage and the kitchen areas, make repairs and paint in the Lodge room, and clean anything that was not moving.   Pictures from the day’s work are posted on the Lodge website.   Special thanks to Bros David Harrison, Brutus Cooper, Chris Pendleton, Rob Martin, Brian Coleman, Rob Worthington, Howie Snowdon, Bennett Corrado, and Jim Dietzel for your time and energy supporting this effort.   Thank you to the OES for the new blinds in the Social Hall and Bailey room.  We are not done quite yet.  In the Lodge room, plans are underway to repair and paint the ceiling damage caused by an AC leak and to repair the wall cracks started by the 2011 earthquake.

Click Herndon May2018 TB to read the full Trestleboard.