Trestleboard | star-in-the-east-59

JUNE 2026 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 June 11, 2026 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: Challenges with EV Vehicles

Thursday June 11: Stated Meeting: Hawaiian Shirt Night and Lobster, Steak Dinner, Past Masters Night, Open on EA Degree

!! Sunday June 14: Breakfast at Star in the East. 9:AM!!

Thursday June 18: Fellowship Night 6:30pm!! Friends & Family Invited.

Thursday June 25 Officer meeting to go over rest of the year

Sunday June 28: St Johns Sunday Service Portsmouth, NH

==================================================================================================== 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. BREAKING NEWS! Since our committee on what people think is appropriate attire at our meetings has been working hard on this and I have received feedback, I have decided to try this suggestion for this meeting only. Brethren can wear dress shorts with their Hawaiian shirts. No cut offs or cargo shorts only shorts that would be worn on a golf course so formal only.

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. In talking with Brethren, the one thing that they remember vividly besides the Degrees is the Master who raised them. Come and say hello to those who have served as Master of your Lodge.

Our monthly breakfast will be the last one before our summer break. Come and enjoy breakfast with all who attend.

Our Fellowship night will be held on June 18 and our JW will decide on Pizza or Hot Dogs and let us know.

On Thursday June 25 I would like to have an officer meeting to go over plans for the rest of the year. It will be busy.

On Sunday June 28 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. Please plan on being at the Pitt Tavern at 8:00am. Dress should be coat ad tie and officers bring your Apron and Jewel. Brethren from the First District are involved in this event and I hope you will attend if you are able.

Finally, Brethren I want to thank you for all your support. 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.

Hockey Quote for the Stanley Cup Playoffs “The player who says they can’t do something is usually passed by the player who is doing it!” What a story if Vegas wins the cup!

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.

From the West

GREETINGS FROM THE WEST

It has been another great moth of Masonic fellowship. I have seen another Entered Apprentice join our Lodge – with a great degree offered. I am still so happy to see good degree work practiced in this Lodge. We have such a great group of officers – inclusive of our Chaplain and Past Worshipful Master Bruce Hussey doing the History. What a fantastic piece of Masonic education.

I am sorry to have missed May’s Stated and Grand Lodge. My vacation took Chef Cindy and I to Portugal and Spain. I was happy to have two of our newest Master Masons attend.

I am in the process of working on several educational programs for our Lodge. I would like to thank RW Cole, and other members, bounce these ideas off their heads. This Mason continues to seek out more light in Masonry. I am hoping to spread this light during these many programs.

I am looking forward to our annual “Hawaiian Shirt Night!” The meal and the presence of so many Past Masters, really makes this a special event.

The Senior Warden:

In Masonic ritual and symbolism, the Senior Warden is stationed in the West. This position is deeply symbolic; just as the sun sets in the West to close the day, the Senior Warden oversees the “closing” of the Lodge and the transition of the brothers from back into the world.

Guild of Lodge Secretaries

Fraternally,

Michael W. Frost, SW

“Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.”

Tennyson

FROM THE SOUTH

We are looking forward to our June Stated Meeting with Dinner starting at 6PM.

Continuing tradition is one of the many actions that attracts me to Star in the East! As we continue our preparation for our Annual “Hawaiian Shirt – Steak and Lobster Meal” that precedes our June Stated Meeting; the parking permit for June 11th 2026 has been issued; the suppliers for steak and lobster have been determined and we are well on our way to another fantastic Masonic Experience! The last and most important piece is where you all come in.

The most important communication that lies within the realm of my responsibility to our Lodge is communicating our meals and getting a “head count” as to provide adequate food. This is where the aforementioned “where you all come in” plays a pivotal role.

Please keep a look out for the Text-Em all that will come out on June 1st this communication piece will ask you a question and your response will be recorded as:

Steak ($25) or Steak & Lobster ($35)
- Any other response or special request, please reach out to me.

The menu for June Stated:

MAIN COURSE:

NY Strip Grilled to perfection by our P.M. David Dominianni & Lobster “Steak & Lobster”
- Coleslaw, Macaroni & Potato Salad

DESSERT:

Strawberry Shortcake

COLLATION:

Assorted Cookies and Pastries

NOTE: RESERVATIONS ARE AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR THIS MEAL.

The cost of this meal will be $25 for Steak - $35 for Steak & Lobster
If you will be joining us for dinner, you are requested to REPLY directly back to the Text-Em All that will go out on June 1st.
Please, if you are reading this Tresleboard and do not get text-em all, please send me a text with who you are and I will add you in: Joe Elliott, Junior Warden
- cell: (603) 702-3480 or e-mail: joe@atlanticautotruck.com
. “Active Candidates & “Special Ladies” are not charged for the meals

Fraternally,

Joe Elliott, JW

SUNDAY IS FUNDAY!!

Just a reminder – our next breakfast will be June 14th, 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.

FROM THE HISTORIAN

I have been asked several times by Brethren - both members and visitors - if Star in the East Lodge always met on the second Thursday of the month. My response has always been no, but I could not be much more specific than that. I always knew I had the specific answer someplace, but could not remember where. Being continuously frustrated was frustrating, so I decided my office clutter was such that I had three options: live with it, throw it all out, or downsize. (Jim Ryan and I have something in common - being given Masonic “stuff”.)

In the process of downsizing (the logical choice), I found I have copies of what are probably the original and next two revisions of the Lodge by-laws from 1857, 1875 and 1895. They were in a box with a collection of myriad other small booklets on various and sundry Masonic topics. I had the answer to both meeting nights and the Annual Communication:

From 1857 to 1875, Lodge was held “on the Wednesday of each week on which the moon fulls.” The Annual Communication was on the regular lodge night in April.
From 1875 to 1895, Lodge was held “ on the Thursday of each week in which the moon fulls.” The Annual Communication was held on the first stated communication of the year.
The 1895 by-laws permitted the Lodge to omit meetings in July and August by vote of the Lodge, but the Lodge was still a moon lodge.

Moon lodges generally allowed for better light traveling home from Lodge meetings. There were probably a significant number of Moon Lodges in the early days of Masonry, but I do not have anything that gives me that information. There are several well-written books with Lodge histories, but none that I have in my library include that information. There are/were still two moon lodges in New Hampshire in the recent past - Evening Star in Colebrook and King Solomon’s in Elkins. With all the recent Lodge mergers, I’ve lost track.

My apologies for my Trestleboard absence the past few months, but it has been a complex period in the Cole family, and I found myself pulled in many directions. I want to thank our Worshipful Master and Senior Warden for helping me maintain a semblance of normalcy, balance and functionality.

Richard F. Cole, Jr., PDDGM, Historian

FROM THE NORTH

Greetings Brethren,

As the first half of our Masonic year comes to its end, I’d like to thank all of the Brethren who have given us such terrific programs. I know I’ve received more Light from them and I hope all of you have, as well.

Well…the old faithful grill has a fresh tank of propane and I’m looking forward to making the neighborhood around the Lodge smell like magic! Thanks to Brother JW for arranging the parking space outage and thanks not only to him, but also his lovely Michelle for providing us with great meals during his time in the South.

Fraternally,

David Dominianni, P.M.