
Star in the East Lodge #59 of Free and Accepted Masons

63 Water Street Exeter, New Hampshire 03833


JUNE 2025 trestleboard
Star in the East Lodge #59
Exeter, New Hampshire
Wor. Dwane Staples, Master
TRESTLEBOARD
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Stated Meeting of Star in the East Lodge #59, F. & A. M.
Thursday June 12, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. (Dinner at 6:P. M. and Collation after meeting)
- To conduct all business that may regularly come before the Lodge
- Program:
Thursday June 12: Stated Meeting: Hawaiian Shirt Night and Lobster, Steak Dinner
!! Sunday June 15: Breakfast at Star in the East. 9:AM!!
Thursday June 19: Hot Dog Night 6:30pm!! Friends & Family Invited. Open Lodge at 7:30pm to examine Brother Tom Flacco on his FC Lesson
Sunday June 22: St Johns Sunday Service Portsmouth, NH
Thursday June 26 : Masters Class at Star in the East Lodge, Exeter 6:30pm
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FROM THE EAST
Greetings Brethren!
I hope this Trestleboard finds all of you well. This is our last month of Masonry at our Lodge before the summer break and I hope you can attend one of our events at the Lodge this month.
Our stated communication will be our annual Hawaiian shirt night. Dig out that loudest Hawaiian shirt and where it to Lodge. No coat, no tie just plenty of color! We will be having our annual steak and Lobster meal so [please make a reservation with our JW. The details on how to do this and deadlines are further down in this document. We will be opening on the EA degree at our stated.
I also want to extend a special invitation to our Past Masters to please join us for Past Masters night and recognition for your participation in the Lodge.
Our monthly breakfast will fall on Father’s Day and I hope to see as many as can make it. I know that you will have plans, you can come and enjoy breakfast and bring your family before your Father’s Day celebration get togethers.
Our Hot Dog night will be held on June 19 and we will be opening on the Fellow Craft Degree for the purpose of examining Brother Tom Flacco on hie FC lesson. Dress will be casual and the MM Degree will be scheduled for after the summer break. Please come and support Brother Flacco.
On Sunday June 22 the annual St Johns Sunday service will be held in Portsmouth, NH. We will meet at he Pit Tavern in the morning and march to the church. The march will leave the Pit Tavern at 8:50am to the church. The return from the service will be at10:30am. Brethren from the First District are involved in this event and I hope you will attend if you are able.
Masters Class will be held back at Star in the East Lodge on June 26 this month. They have been held in Hampton at St James for the past few months and have been well attended and informative.
Finally, Brethren I want to thank you for all your support in the first part of this year. I have been excited with our programs and feedback. Please if there is a program you want to hear let me know. If you want to do a program please let know. When we meet again after the summer break we will have a busy fall season.
I look forward to seeing you in Lodge!
Fraternally,
Dwane Staples, WM (DDSL@comcast.net) 603.682.5205
Final Thought:
“The secret of making progress is to get started.” - Walt Disney
Special Notes:
- There is no warmth more comforting than surrounding yourself with good people who care.
- Star in the East is committed to being a Lodge that practices inclusion. Please, Brethren, if you would like to present a program, take part in Ritual, serve on a committee, or help with our dinners, we’d love to hear from you.
- Remember, our Lodge room is a sanctuary, free from the worries and tribulations of the outside world, where we all meet on the Level.
- You are someone’s impression of the Fraternity. Please dress appropriately for our meetings.
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From the West
Greetings from the West
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RW Richard Cole and I are preparing our next Fellowcraft, and his progress is great.
I am hoping to travel about the district over the next few months to witness so much fraternal fellowship. Anyone who might be interested in joining me – feel free to reach out: 603-944-5404.
I want to give a shout out to our Worshipful Master. RW Dwane Staples has reminded me of his great ritual work. He also reminds me how to laugh at myself! This is a great reminder that our fellowship can be serious, yet most enjoyable.
I am looking forward to what promises to be a wonderful Spring of fellowship and great Degree work.
“Friendship between man and man is infinite and immortal”. Plato
Michael Frost, SW
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From the South
Fraternal greetings Brethren
What a great first half of the year, we have such a special thing going on at our lodge right now, I am so honored to serve my Brethren and our Lodge in the Junior Warden role. Communication; at our most recent “Master’s Class” session we talked a great deal about the importance of communication. That is why I am excited about our current text-em all tool. The ability to “capture” responses back from this service that is loaded into an excel spreadsheet is tremendous, but it only work if we use it. Please respond directly back to the messages that you all receive. Thank you all and looking forward to seeing a lot of you in June!
The menu for June stated:
MAIN COURSE:
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Steak & Lobster – Choice of 1 or 2 Proteins
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With all the fixin’s
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DESSERT:
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Cake
COLLATION:
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Kane’s Donuts
NOTE: RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST FOR THIS MEAL.
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The cost of this meal will be $25 for Single Protein or $35 for Double Protein
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Single Protein (Steak OR Lobster) Double Protein (Steak AND Lobster, or Double Steak or Double Lobster) your choice!
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If you will be joining us for dinner, please REPLY back to text-em all messages (absolutely preferred method) or you can call or e-mail me: (603) 702-3480 / joe@atlanticautotruck.com
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. “Active Candidates & “Special Ladies” are not charged for the meals
Please reserve no later the Monday preceding the stated Meeting!
Joe Elliott, Junior Warden

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
Sometimes during the process of making a Mason, the Fraternity is lax in explaining what some of our terminology really means. This is especially true in our Obligations. We bind a Candidate on the Volume of Sacred Law to do or not do certain things without them really knowing what they are obligating themselves to. Doesn’t seem completely right somehow, so let’s address one of those issues and clarify something we all obligated ourselves to in the Entered Apprentice obligation.
In the EA Obligation, we all bound ourselves to “stand to and abide by all the ancient usages landmarks of the Craft”. Raise your hand if you know what they are and how many there are in the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. I don’t see many hands raised, so I guess we should look at them.
Landmarks are those things that define Masonry and without which, in total, the fraternity would not be Masonry. Each jurisdiction determines what constitutes a Landmark and how many there are, so the number of landmarks is not consistent throughout Freemasonry. Generally, the number varies from 7 to 15. However, all jurisdictions generally recognize each other’s right to establish their own list and accept them as regular Masonry.
The Grand Lodge of New Hampshire identifies eight (8) Landmarks in its Grand Constitution. They were first included in 1871, but there is no record of when they were established or where they were documented prior to 1871. For the most part, however, they are generally consistent with most other Jurisdictions. The Landmarks of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire are:
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Monotheism – A Candidate/Mason must have a belief in a Supreme Being under whatever name is appropriate for their religion – God, Allah, Vishnu, Waheguru, Adonai, Jehovah, etc.
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The Volume of Sacred Law – Part of the furniture of the Lodge as the symbolic presence of Deity. In New Hampshire ritual, the Bible must always be on the Altar, but other sacred volumes – Torah, Koran, Dhammapada, etc. – can also be on the Altar for those of different faiths.
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Secrecy – While most of the secrets of Masonry are readily available in most public libraries or online – words, grips, five points, etc. – a Mason exposing them is confirming their existence and compromising the security of the Lodge.
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Symbolism of the Operative Art – Almost everyone knows what certain tools, drawings, etc. are used for in real life. A trowel spreads cement, rulers measure, squares make sure things are at right angles, etc. However, their meaning to a Freemason is entirely different. This is the esoteric part of Masonry, where everything symbolizes how we should conduct ourselves as Masons.
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Division of Symbolic Masonry into Three Degrees – The three Masonic Degrees must be conferred in order – Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Master Mason. Each succeeding Degree depends on it’s predecessors in order for the process to make sense.
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The Legend of the Third Degree – While the legend again is publicly available, changing it to make it more secretive would change Masonry and make it something different.
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That it Makes Masons of Men Only – This may be one of the ancient Landmarks, since it is referenced in the Old Charges. There are female Masonic Lodges, but they are generally not recognized by legitimate Freemasonry.
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That Masonry is Non-Sectarian and Non-Political – Freemasonry’s dominant purposes are charitable, benevolent, educational and religious in the sense that it advocates that each Mason should attend/be active in the practice of their chosen belief. We do not deny membership to anyone because of his faith. To do so would be un-Masonic on our part.
Now you know!
RW Richard F. Cole, Jr, Historian
SUNDAY IS FUNDAY!!
Just a reminder – our next breakfast will be June 15th, at 9:00 am and go until we run out of food or conversation. Bring your family and friends for breakfast. There is no charge. All we ask is that you bring some food item to contribute to the meal. If you could please let the Junior Warden or me know if you’re attending it would be appreciated.
– Wor. Mike Daley Jr., PM
FROM THE NORTH
Fraternal Greetings Brethren,
Well…here we are again getting ready for the June Stated. This is becoming a favorite of mine as I prepare myself to grill 20 to 30 strip steaks at one time! I will endeavor to get a good medium rare on all of the steaks, but if you want to gnaw on a well-done piece of beef, please let me know and I’ll make an attempt to satisfy your blasphemic order. J
The evening is always fun as we get to dress down a little and show off our most colorful Aloha shirts, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all.
-Wor. David P. Dominianni, PM
Officer Email Links
2025 Installation

Remember, Brethren......YOU are someone's idea of Freemasonry!
A link for dinner reservations is below, but if there is a problem with it, please email him: joe@atlanticautotruck.com
or call 603-702-3480

Please make Star in the East dinner reservations here!
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