APRIL 2025 trestleboard

Star in the East Lodge #59

Exeter, New Hampshire

Wor. Dwane Staples, Master

TRESTLEBOARD

Stated Meeting of Star in the East Lodge #59, F. & A. M.

Thursday April 10, 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 April 3 Standing Committee 6:30pm

Thursday April 10: Stated Meeting

Saturday April 12 Lodge Cleanup Day in Morning

!! Sunday April 13: Breakfast at Star in the East. 9:AM!! PEA Tour to follow at10:30am

Wednesday April 16 Town Hall Meeting at Tucker Lodge, 6:30 Light Refreshments, 7:00 Meeting

Thursday April 17: Hot Dog Night!! Friends & Family Invited

Thursday April 24: Masters Class 6:30pm to be held at St. James Lodge, Hampton, Creating Masonic Dialog in Your Lodge

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FROM THE EAST

Greetings Brethren!

I want to start off saying how proud I am of the degrees that we have done since January. We did a Fellow Craft Degree in March on our own candidate and also a candidate from St. James Lodge in Hampton. We had a great supper, Degree and Fellowship. Thank you to WM Tim Simpson from Hampton for taking part in the Degree and RW John Paiva for also taking part at the last-minute notice.

Brethren we have a busy month of April so if you can make any of the events please come and help or just to have conversations with Brothers that you may not have seen for some time.

Some highlights, we will be doing the PEA tour after breakfast on Sunday April 13. Brother Carey Einhaus will be conducting the tour and if you ever wondered about some of the buildings please join us. We will be walking so make sure you dress accordingly. Please email Brother Einhaus to let him know you will be attending and if you are bringing someone else. His information is further down in the Trestleboard.

April 16 will be the First District town Hall Meeting held by the Grans Lodge. It will be at Tucker Lodge with light refreshments at 6:30pm and the meeting start at 7:00pm. If you want to ask questions of the Grand Lodge this is a good time to do so. They will have short program talks at this event.

Our hot dog night this month I want to leave open so that after we enjoy the hot dogs we can have conversations with those that attend. We can talk about ritual, our experiences in Masonry or just conversation about what we may be doing outside the Lodge. There is plenty of room in the upstairs for any or all of these conversations.

On Thursday April 24 we will be having our Masters Class with Hampton Lodge this month. The class will be at St. James Lodge in Hampton and start at 6:30pm. WM Tim Simpson and some Brothers from Hampton have been attending the class at Star in the East and we talked about having it in Hamton so we are going to try this. You don’t have to be an officer to attend and the last one we had great conversations that were very insightful.

I do want to hear from you if you want to suggest topics for programs we can do in the Lodge and if you want to do a program. Please let me know.

I know this message has been long, I want to ask everyone who plans to come to suppers please let JW Joe Elliott know by making a reservation. Our meals are being catered and we need to get the people who prepare them a number so we have an accurate count for the meals.

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

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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.

From the West

Greetings from the West, Brethren:

We are continuing to experience great things at Star in the East.

First, my compliments to all officers for some fantastic degree work. It was such a delight to have St. James Lodge, join us for a wonderful dinner and to share their candidate with ours. Hats off to WM Jim Ryan and Brother Kyle Chandler, for the exceptional work done to prepare our amazing candidate.

RW Richard Cole and I, are preparing our next Fellowcraft.

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

From the South

Fraternal greetings Brethren

All of us took an oath to help a distressed and worthy brother, Brethren, I AM THAT BROTHER, and my Distress is not getting reservations for dinner. We are moving forward in a way that we will continue with tradition (Fried Chicken) while also offering a healthier version (Baked Chicken Breast). As we move in this direction, with a possible “dual option” main course

E.g. In June will be: Steak, Lobster or both, it becomes more paramount that you help Me, your distressed and worthy brother, by taking Less than 10 seconds to shoot me a text, e-mail or phone call to let me know that you are coming.

It is much better to send me a reservation, and not be able to make it, than to throw a real wrench in my plans and NOT send me a reservation and show up anyway.

I would rather have more food than not enough!

The menu for April Stated:

MAIN COURSE:

Fried Chicken or Baked Chicken Breast
- When you send me your reservation, please indicate Fried or Baked Chicken!
Mashed Potatoes, Macaroni & Cheese, Grilled Vegetables

DESSERT:

Chef’s Choice (Surprise!)

COLLATION:

Assorted Cookies and Pastries

NOTE: RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST FOR THIS MEAL.

The cost of this meal will be $10.00
If you will be joining us for dinner, you are requested to email or call Brother Joe Elliott, Junior Warden; cell: (603) 702-3480 – joe@atlanticautotruck.com
In April, if it is your Masonic Birthday, you will not be charged for this meal! . “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

From the Historian

Throughout the history of our country, during times of war it was common for men entering the military to apply for membership in the Masonic fraternity. It was also common for Grand Masters of jurisdictions to issue dispensations waiving constitutional requirements for those who were going off to fight. During the U.S. Civil War, Star in the East had several instances of petitions being read and balloted on at the same meeting and in at least one instance, the three Degrees were worked before the end of the week. The Applicant had a letter from the Grand Master directing the Lodge to “exercise expedience in the matter”. One of the men who became a Mason in our Lodge by the process described above was Moses N. Collins, who was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on October 9, 1862.

Moses N. Collins, son of David and Ruth (Bean) Collins was born in Brentwood, NH on April 15, 1820. He married Abby Dow on May 7, 1846 in Piscataway, MD and they had one daughter in early 1847. Moses was a schoolteacher while he studied law and represented Brentwood in the NH Legislature in 1855. After passing the bar, Moses went to work for Gilman Marston in Exeter, and was a legislator representing Exeter in 1861 and 1862. In 1863, he was appointed Major of the 11th NH Regiment by his boss, by then Brig. Gen. Gilman Marston.

Moses Collins officially enlisted and was mustered into Company S, 11th NH Infantry as a Major on August 26, 1862. On September 9, 1862, he was given a rank change to Lt. Colonel. Lt. Colonel and Brother Moses N. Collins was killed in battle in Wilderness, Orange County, Virginia on May 6, 1864. His remains are buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, MA. His wife Abbie, who died in 1918 at 93 years of age, is also buried there.

Following the end of the Civil War, veterans of the conflict formed a veteran’s fraternal organization called the Grand Army of the Republic. By 1872, Exeter had a post located on Court St. called the Moses N. Collins Post Nr. 26, G.A.R. which remained active for many years into the 20th century. The organization itself ceased to exist in 1956 when the last Civil War veteran died.

Brother Moses’ time as a Mason may not have been very long, but there is no doubt he brought honor to both himself and the Fraternity.

RW Richard F. Cole, Jr, Historian

SUNDAY IS FUNDAY!!

JJust a reminder – our next breakfast will be April 13, 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