SEPTEMBER 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 September 11, 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: DDGM Visitation of Star in the East #59

Thursday September 4: Rehearsal MM opening and degree 6:30pm

Thursday September 11: Stated Meeting, Visitation by DDGM, Supper 6:00pm open 7:00pm Work in MM Degree

!! Sunday September 14: Breakfast at Star in the East. 9:AM!! FC Rehearsal 10:30am

Thursday September 18: Hot Dog Night 6:00pm!! Open Lodge at 7:00pm FC Degree for Brother Maxwell Cantelmo collation to follow

Thursday September 25: Masters & Wardens at Star in the East 6:30pm supper, 7:00pm Meeting

Thursday October 2: MM Degree Rehearsal 6:30pm

Saturday October 4: MM Degree for Brother Thomas Flocco 9:00am open Brunch to follow

Thursday October 9: Stated Meeting at William Pitt Tavern open 7:00pm collation to follow

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FROM THE EAST

I hope your summer break was a great one and you were able to enjoy time with family and friends. The first Trestlboard after the break contains plenty of opportunities for anyone to attend Lodge and as you can see, we will be busy in the first part of the fall.

We will start off with a rehearsal for the MM Degree and our visitation from our DDGM RW John Paiva at our stated meeting. This will be the first visitation for the new District Officers so if you are able, please come out to support them. Our DDGL and DEO officers will be presenting programs so it should be an interesting meeting. There will be a supper so please make a reservation with our JW.

We move onto our monthly breakfast where we will have a rehearsal of the FC Degree after breakfast at 10:30am. This will be a walk thru of the degree and our SW Mike Frost will be doing the degree. The Degree will be on our Hot dog night starting at 7:00pm

Our Hot Dog night will be referred to as our Fellowship night moving forward. It was suggested that we should rename it to this as we do gather for good Fellowship and conversation. We have also used this night to do some Degree work or rehearsal after enjoying the Fellowship. Please come and enjoy the Fellowship and we will be conferring the FC Degree on Max Cantelmo that night. Please let the JW know if you are planning to attend for the hot dogs. A collation will follow the Degree.

This month our Lodge is hosting the Masters and Wardens meeting. It will start at 6:30pm with a meal and the meeting will start at 7:00pm. All are welcome to attend and this is usually attended by all of the Lodges in the First District.

I have also included dates for the beginning of October. They include rehearsal a MM Degree on Saturday October4. We will open Lodge at 9:00am, perform the Degree and have a brunch after the Degree. I wanted to try something different and this is it. I hope you can attend as this in the morning and the brunch should be great!

Our October stated will be held at the William Pitt Tavern in Portsmouth. It will start at 7:00pm and we will open on the EA degree. I wanted to do this for any new member that has never visited the Tavern. It is an awesome feeling to meet in the Lodge room there so if you can pleas e join us. There will be no supper but we will have collation after the meeting.

Thank you for enduring this long message and taking the time to hopefully read it.

I look forward to seeing those who can make it to a Lodge meeting and join us in good Fellowship as we start the Fall season.

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

I hope all of you have been having a great Summer. Life has been busy, but a little vacant without spending time together in our beautiful Star in the East Lodge.

The second half of the year is looking busy…what a great situation to be in. Lots of great degree work on the horizon. These circumstances will afford of candidates’ quality and thoughtful passages into this wonderful fraternity. I, for one, am looking forward to being in “The East” for several degrees. This “Step-Up” program affords the Wardens an opportunity to better prepare for a possible role as Master.

I want to thank RW Cole for his gracious sparing of his time for rehearsals. Richard freely gives his vast knowledge of ritual experience. This allows me to maximize the quality of my “Working Tools!”

I also want to thank our Junior Warden for his incredible work with our meals! Star in the East, among so many other great qualities, is a place where good men can meet and break bread with a fabulous meal!

So, I have just booked another rehearsal with Richard…off to work my craft!

I will look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Fraternally,

Michael W. Frost, SW

“Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers.”

Tennyson

From the South

Fraternal greetings Brethren

We are looking forward to our September Stated Meeting, with our DDGM Visitation Dinner!

I still consider myself and “infant/adolescent” in our craft (under 5 years practicing!). The “public view” of Masonry is something that I am interested in.. So, when I get a chance, am not so weary, but still have time to “sit down and rest and refresh myself”, usually Sunday AM with a Box of Joe (working on my caffeine addiction but not going there now 😊), I try to enjoy something that I actually printed.

I picked up a LIFE publication on “Secret Societies” which, when I saw it, it “Excited my Curiosity”. I wanted to share a snippet of “The Classification of Secret Societies” and where our craft falls in this publication:

Religious; Egyptian or Eleusinian Mysteries
Military; Knights Templar (although the “Sons of Liberty” was mentioned in this category)
- Note: Jaques de Molay was the order’s last “Grand Master” and the namesake for the DeMolay youth organization
Judiciary; Vehmgerichte
Scientific; Alchemists’
Civil; Freemason’s
Political; Carbonari
Anti-Social; Garduna

Overall, the Largest and Longest running “Secret Society” was listed as “Christianity” and goes into the need/want for people of like minds to “meet with the ability to keep to themselves” in order to pursue progress and happiness.

On to Meal’s – As with everything in our world, cost of goods is on the rise.

We are increasing the meal cost to $15.00.

Please keep an eye out for Text-Em all coming to your cell phone the end of August. PLEASE reply directly back to the text-em all with your Dinner reservation!

The menu for September Stated:

MAIN COURSE:

Assorted Wraps (Turkey, Roast Beef, Chicken & Tuna Salad)
- With Potato & Macaroni Salad and Cole Slaw

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 $15.00
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
. “Active Candidates & “Special Ladies” are not charged for the meals

Please reserve no later the Monday preceding the stated Meeting!

Fraternally,

Joe Elliott, JW

SUNDAY IS FUNDAY!!

Just a reminder – our next breakfast will be September 14, 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,

I hope you all had a great summer (albeit arid as the Sahara), and that you are as anxious as I am to get back to Lodge. Our Worshipful Master has asked me to provide the musical interludes for the coming year and I am happy to do so. I will be absent for a Degree and a Stated in October, as the celebration of my 70th birthday will find me with family and friends for nearly half of October, so I will tap MWPGM Aronson to fill in. As always, please feel free to suggest any classical music to be included in the periods of reflection.

-Wor. David P. Dominianni, PM