The Hall of
 MOINGONA LODGE, NO. 633 A.F. & A.M.
Chartered June 27th, 1921
1141-69th Street; Des Moines, Iowa 50311-1507     (515) 279-2850
Web Site: http://www.iowamasons.com/633.html
   E-mail: moingona@netins.net
Stated Communications are all second Tuesdays at 7:30 O'clock, P.M.
following dinner at 06:30 P.M.

Trestle Board of May 2008 A.D.; 6008 A.L.

111 Members
James A. Ash        
Worshipful Master
Erik Lucas
Senior Deacon
Don Bryan, Jr.
Senior Warden
Ian Bodson
Junior Deacon
Greg Clausen, P.M.
Junior Warden
Kevin E. Burke
Senior Steward
Charles Shelabarger, PM
Treasurer
Jay St. Adams
Junior Steward
Dr. Tom Gruis, PM.
Secretary
Gene Morris, Sr., P.M.
Tyler
John Mott, Jr., P.M.
Chaplain
Kenneth E. Harrier
Marshal

Kenneth Harrier - Jr. Past Master and Joseph Tusant, Sr. P.M.
The Grand Master of Masons in Iowa is Donald E. Mosier.
Secretary: 1243-48th Street; Des Moines, IA 50311-2405 (515) 277-2512
E-mail: donnatom@netins.net  or www.gruis.org

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W. M. James Ash sends greetings from the East!

NOTICE OF ELECTION TO BE HELD

At our Stated Communication of 10 June 2008
We will be electing a Senior Warden and a Junior Warden.

Senior Warden Don Bryan, Jr. needed to step down at this time because of family needs and the demands of his business.
His Father passed away recently also. Hopefully at some future time he will be able to return to the line.

Following the election the new list of officers will be e-mailed and posted to the website and included in the next Trestle
Board

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Moingona has just put up a web site on the internet! The address is http://www.iowamasons.com/633.html or you can go directly to IowaMasons.com and scroll down and there we are! OR click on Polk County and we are listed there. You might also want to check out http://showcase.netins.net/web/iowamasons/ and http://www.iowagrandmaster.org

This is a reminder that this is being sent to those with E-mail by that means only, unless otherwise requested. Other members will receive this by post.

Our newest Master Mason Jason M. Golden was raised on Wednesday; 26 December! He was elected into membership on 13 November. The Wednesday Raising came into play as a ripple effect of the terrible weather at the end of 2007. We also have a brother who has completed just the first degree and another who has completed just the first two degrees.

Also welcome new members John Bali and Stanley Edwards.

This is a reminder that this is being sent to those with E-mail by that means only, unless otherwise requested. Other members will receive this by post.

Moingona’s dues are $55.00 starting for 2008. It is generally far best to pay dues by check and please do so as soon as possible. I personally wish that Iowa had a life membership plan, but there is none. As of now, sixteen have not paid their dues for 2008.   SO FAR only one has complained about the necessary dues increase.

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On May 10th I attended a membership retention meeting called by Grand Master Donald Mosier. The session I was at was conducted by Jack Butler, Chairman of the Committee of Division and reference. It was very interesting and informative because the information was based on actual interviews conducted in Iowa with men young in Masonry in Iowa. Many ideas were freely and openly discussed. I took some notes and would like to share just a few of the thoughts of that meeting. Remember this is by no means an “official” reporting of this excellent meeting!

 

 Some of the things needed are:  

 

* Qualified mentors for the new members. Those of us that became Masons through the olde posting lecture process remember the bond with our mentor! “Qualified” indicates a man with knowledge of many facets of Masonry – not just the ritual. M.I.’s and D.L.s used to attend schools where there were sessions on ritual, history, and jurisprudence! That practice has long been discontinued. Ritual is one very important part of Masonry – but not the only one!
It was well agreed that the relationship between a new member and his mentor is of Great importance! (I am still very grateful to P. M. Mike Perry and P. M. Charles Jackman for being me mentors.) It was suggested that mentors contribute to the training of their replacement(s).

 
* Continued education about Masonry. Many sources of information were identified and your search may well begin at the Grand Lodge website. Some lodges have a “LEO” meaning a Lodge Education Officer. A suggestion was made that MAYBE a duty of the Senior Warden would be to assure that such education takes place.
  * Websites – one new Mason, in his twenties, was references was hesitant about joining because the lodge did not have a website and his thought was basically “If you don’t have a website then you don’t exist.”
  * More dignity to the Degrees was suggested; the manner of dress being one suggestion and another, the absence of “coaching” and correcting during work. A Degree is not a school. It is a special occasion for the candidate and he, as well as the Lodge, must be helped to realize that! Taking degrees should not be seen as another way to fill up the time of an evening (Daylight Lodges acknowledged….) rather that a ball game or roller skating or a movie. It should be a life changing and most impressive and memorable event!
  * Communications.
  * To relate to present society
  * Dignity

  The purpose of a lodge is to make Masons – NOT just members!

Accordingly, I have offered to conduct some sessions about Masonry other than the Ritual, which I do love and respect, starting in September. Know what? It might not be a bad idea to have a “Study Group” for this purpose.

Iowa Research Lodge No. 2 provides excellent materials and speakers at both meetings each year. The joining fee is $15.00 and you get three books just for joining. Dues are $15.00 per year and you get a book each year included in those small dues. It IS a really good deal. If you are interested contact the Secretary (me) who is also Sr. Warden of IaRL-2 this year. Information is available at http://www.yorkrite.com/ia/lodge2/ . The Iowa Masonic Library in Cedar Rapids is a fantastic wealth of information and is the best or second best in the world! There are many other research lodges including the “Civil War Lodge of Research” which is specializes. Several states also have these. If there is interest I can start a list of some of these organizations.

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Some closing thoughts: If you were asked about Masonry – what would you say? If you were accused of being a Mason is there enough evidence to convict you? ß (I admit I adapted that from a question about being a Christian.) What came you here to do? Where is a man first made a Mason? Masonry – good stuff! And there should be FUN involved too!

 

The Secretary is pretty much responsible for the content of this Trestle Board.

Let your lodge hear from you!

Travel safe!

Tom Gruis, K.Y.C.H., Secretary.
5/20/2008 17:40:45 -

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