MAY 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 May 8, 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 May 8: Stated Meeting: Program 24 “ Gage by Brother SW

Sunday May 11: Breakfast at Star in the East. 9:AM!!

Thursday May 15: Hot Dog Night 6:30pm!! Friends & Family Invited: Officer meeting7:15pm

Saturday May 17: Grand Lodge Annual Meeting: Grand Lodge opens at 9:30am

Thursday May 29: Masters Class St. James Lodge Hampton

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FROM THE EAST

Greetings Brethren!

As I sit and reflect on the April meeting, I am excited and inspired about the conversations and feedback that the members gave during the program. I am working on putting together 3 committees for the 3 topics that were discussed and they will report back to the Lodge at a meeting to give the members their findings. The topics are: Stated meetings, Dress Code and Degree Teams. I will let each committee look into these and bring back their findings.

Our program will be given by Brother Mike Frost on The Twenty-Four Inch Gage. I have also asked Brother Frost to tie its meaning into today’s world. I look forward to this presentation and good conversation on how each of you may tie into your daily lives.

This month our monthly breakfast will be on Mother’s Day. Please feel free to attend with your mother or special person and enjoy the company of the people that attend and prepare the breakfast, it is always a great time.

On Saturday May 17 will be the annual meeting of The Grand Lodge of NH. It will open at 9:30am and finish the day with the installation of the Grand Lodge Officers. At the town hall meeting we learned that the Grand Lodge will be doing the Lodge of Instruction differently this year. There will only be one LOI and it will be held at the Semi-Annual meeting of Grand Lodge in November and will be in the afternoon after the business meeting.

The Master’s Class this month will be in Thursday May 29 and will be at St James Lodge in Hampton. Star in the East will be joining with St James to hold this Master’s class. April’s class was very interesting and I hope you can make it. The topics are not only for Master’s and are interesting and informative.

I would like to have an officer meeting on Hot Dog night to go over the calendar for the rest of the year and have feed back on some ideas I want to try.

As I close, I want to pass along my sadness in hearing the news of the passing of Most Worshipful Jeremy Jason Sawyer. We have lost a great Mason and Man who dedicated his life to Masonry. He will be missed by all who he touched.

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

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

We are working on a lot of things in our Lodge. One of the objectives that I am working on is communication. The singular direction of communication has been our SOP for 300 Years (Trestle board). While this is still a fantastic form of communication, we need a bi-directional form of communication. Text-Em all seems to have that capability, you may see many messages come through. Getting the feedback of our Brothers (outside of the folks that we spend time in person at Lodge) is a headwind of progressing our Lodge, we are working on that!

The menu for May stated:

MAIN COURSE:

Chicken & Steak Fajita’s!
- With all the fixings

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!!

Just a reminder – our next breakfast will be May 11, 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

NOTICE FROM GRAND LODGE REGARDING THE 236th ANNUAL COMMUNICATION

FROM THE NORTH

Fraternal Greetings Brethren,

Although I was in agony and not able to attend, I’d like to thank Brother Einhaus for taking the time to show some of you the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy. I was looking at the pictures and there were some interesting places Cary took you to. I hope there will be an encore presentation sometime in the future.

I hope you all are getting some enjoyment out of my musical selections while you reflect and contemplate. Any comments or feedback are surely welcome. (no Shrig…no Mötley Crue)

-Wor. David P. Dominianni, PM