 From The East Greetings from your Master Tom Tompkins. In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are giving you a slightly different version of our Trestleboard. Subsequent to the receipt of the letter below, Sacramento County has become a “shelter in place” county as described below. I have chosen to share a letter received from Grand Master John E. Trauner, written March 18, 2020: Masonic Events During COVID-19 Gathering restrictions On March 16, the California Department of Public Health released new guidance on the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. Department has found that all non-essential gatherings should be postponed or canceled until further guidance is provided. All gatherings are non-essential in the context of this guidance. In addition, a growing number of counties are issuing “shelter in place” orders, directing everyone in those counties to stay inside their homes and away from others as much as possible while the order is in effect. They may leave their homes only to provide or receive certain essential goods or services, engage in certain essential activities or work for essential businesses and government services. All Masonic gatherings are also non-essential in the contest of these shelter in place orders. Based on the foregoing it is my direction that there be no Masonic gatherings of any kind in this state until further direction is received from me. This includes all Masonic organizations and Masonic Youth Orders. None of our Masonic organizations or Masonic Youth Orders may hold a gathering of any kind in this state until further direction is received from me. Masonic Funeral and Burial Services While there is some authority to the effect that a funeral is an essential activity, you should contact the licensed funeral director for the service about your participation. If the licensed funeral director believes that the conduct of the funeral will qualify as an essential activity which you may attend, then members of the lodges Masonic organizations, and Masonic Youth Orders may attend and participate, but only in such numbers and with such social distancing as the licensed funeral director for the service shall determine. Payment of Lodge Essential Bills Including Charity As a result of these actions, no lodge can hold a stated meeting to pay its bills, and there is no clear remedy in our law to solve this problem. I do note CMC 403.095 which allows the elected officers of a Grand Lodge to conduct the essential business of the Grand Lodge if a competent state or national authority prohibits an Annual Communication. While this provision is not available for use by constituent lodges, I believe that the extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances we are now experiencing allow me to exercise my powers as follows: Special Procedure for Lodges Effective today, a majority of the elected officers of the lodge may order the advancement of lodge funds to pay those essential lodge bills whose payment cannot reasonably be deferred.
The lodge master should inform the inspector of any other circumstances that may need to be addressed while this special procedure is in effect. This special procedure is available only during the pendency of any applicable inhibition or prohibition on non essential gatherings. In any event, it will have no further force or effect after my term as Grand Master ends. Sincerely and fraternally, John E. Trauner Grand Master Grand Lodge F&AM of California   Forrest M. BirdChances are you know someone who is alive today because of a man named Forrest Morton Bird, because of his devise he invented in 1947 " The Mechanical Ventilator". A 50 year Mason, Brother Bird says the commitment of Masons and the Masonic organization to promoting health and wellness dovetails with his own commitment in these ares.  John J. RobinsonThe founding visionary of the Masonic Information Center, John was a former Marine, a farmer, a business executive, and an author with a special interest in the history of Medieval Britain and the Crusades. During his lifetime he was a member of the Medieval Academy of America, The Organization of American Historians, and the Royal Over-Seas League of London. He also headed a family trust dedicated to historical research and publication. Robinson first began studying Freemasonry in the early 1980's and came to the attention of Masons with his book "Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry" presenting a believable explanation for a connection between the Knights Templar and modern-day Masons. A second book, "Dungeon, Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades" soon followed. He soon found himself regularly speaking to Masonic and non-Masonic groups: the former having a profound interest in his findings while the latter often concerned about perceived secrecy and imagined wrong-doings. In 1993, Robinson published "A Pilgrim's Path: One Man's Road to the Masonic Temple" in which he described his experiences with Masons and those against them. Masonic authors praised the work as comprehensive and profound. As a result of his interactions with Masons, he ultimately petitioned a lodge and became Brother Robinson - as explained in his book. Regretfully, not long afterwards, he became ill and passed to the celestial lodge above. The Masonic Information Center is a lasting tribute to his interest in and acceptance of Freemasonry as a way of life. Blue LodgeWhat does your Blue Lodge mean to you? Just a place to spend an hour or two? Do you hurry in on meeting night and begrudge the time to do things right? And can hardly wait for the meeting to end so you can rush back to your home again? Do you take no joy in the time you spend in your Blue Lodge room with your brother friend? If this is the way you spend your day, you’ve missed the message along the way. Take a moment and trod the path again, and learn what it means to make a friend. Stretch forth your hand when the need is there. When you visit, offer to fill a chair. Visit a brother who’s sick or in bed. Don’t wait for the funeral after he’s dead. Call up a widow and brighten her day, by offering help along the way. I think if you’ll live by the Masonic Creed, you will find in this life everything you need. And you’ll find that you hate for lodge night to end, when it cuts short the time you can spend with a friend.
From The Secretary's Table Brethren, Our dues for 2020 are $125.00. Check your dues card. It should say: “Paid through December 31, 2020”. If not: They are due now and delinquent after January 1, 2020. Fraternally, Bob Jackson, Secretary Hall Board  Greetings from your Hall Board Spring is almost here and so is this nasty virus. But your hallboard is still looking after your lodge building. Most of our tenants have cancelled their meetings thru the month of April, so your rental manager is actively working with them concerning their rents. Your Hallboard wants to make sure we look after our ten-ants and keep them thru the rough times that we all are experiencing. Brother Bob Jackson is doing a great job juggling all the tenants and the chores around the lodge building. Thank You Brother Jackson. Brethren, These are trying times for us all, we all miss the people who we see and socialize with on a regular basis, I assure you hope happier times will return. This situation is only temporary. The Supreme Grand Master is giving us a test. We all can pass this test with flying colors. Please pray for those who are sick in our lodge and pray the Good Lord will keep them safe. Fraternally, Tom Tompkins, PM HSJ Hallboard President |
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