|
FROM THE EAST
Happy new year, Brothers!
I trust that your holidays were
spent with family and friends,
celebrating 2024’s gains and
happy times while reflecting on
our saddening losses. Looking
ahead, I can see that 2025
promises to be a transformative
year for our humble Lodge,
especially as we play out the
decisions we made last year. As
a reminder, we voted in November
on the following items:
We will proceed in finding a
buyer for our building (any
resulting sales contract will be
presented to the Lodge for a
separate vote).
We will shift our formal
meetings to once per month on
third Mondays (pending a Bylaws
change).
We will shift our annual Dues
structure to be adjusted
following our annual audit cycle
(also pending a Bylaws change to
describe the process).
While I wanted to end 2024
with a festive holiday party and
the initiation of Mr. Egbunine,
hectic end-of-year schedules and
a short bout of food poisoning
got in the way. That caused us
to cancel our 16 December
meeting, moving Mr. Egbunine’s
initiation to 3 February. But
at least we had a grand time
with the Boumi Shrine’s Knights
of Mecca joining us on 2
December to confer the MM degree
upon Br Marcus Webster – a
memorable evening that featured
great ritual, fraternal messages
by MWGM Randy Watson and PGM
Richard Naegele, and a certain
proud grandfather, Brother Dave
Yensan, who raised Br Webster.
We also marched in the Aberdeen
Christmas Parade on 7 December,
greeted by hundreds of smiling
faces from the community, and Br
Webster led a spectacular church
service at the MMH chapel on 8
December.
We also held our elections
on 2 December. While I
appreciate the Lodge’s continued
confidence for another year in
the East, I know I will need to
lean on our newly elected SW,
Brother Angel “Luis” Matos, and
JW, Brother Chris Holzer, to
make everything happen. PMs
Ralph Perry and Dustin Casteel
continue as our dedicated
Secretary and Treasurer, along
with our Trustees. I’ve
appointed PM Tom Phillips as our
SD, Brother Ed Matthews as JD,
Brother Ross Allen as SS, and PM
Rob Maxson as Marshall.
Our open installation is set
for 6 January, with a catered
Olive Tree dinner at 6:30PM and
ceremonies starting at 7:30PM –
bring your significant other for
this great evening!
I do want to ask for your
prayers for some of our Masonic
family. On 1 January, Brothers
Gerald and Tom Phillips lost
their beloved wife and mother,
Virginia, who was in hospice
care at MMH. Just before
Christmas, Brother Chris Holzer
lost his brother in Florida – he
was able to quickly get down to
grieve with and support his
mother and extended family.
Also, please keep all of our
Widows in your thoughts – I was
able to spend some time with Ms.
June Major on Christmas Eve
while delivering our gift bags:
the pleasant smell of holiday
baking was a bittersweet offset
to the many mementos Br William
left in their home when he
passed in November.
I wish you each a great New
Year and I’m eager to get our
2025 plans underway – you are
key to our future, Brother!
It’s going to be an adventure!
Sincerely and fraternally,
Michael
J. Bowen,
PM
Worshipful Master
"When you visit Please bring one can of food to
help the needy in our community"
FROM
THE SECRETARY
According
to the By-Laws dues shall be
paid to the Secretary, annually
in advance of the first regular
communication in January. Dues
cards for 2025
are
available. $76.00
Pay
Pal is also available for 2025
Dues. https://www.paypal.me/Aberdeen187
If you use Pay Pal be sure to
update your payment amount to
$76.00 and include $2.50 for
fee.
If you would like to receive the
trestle board by e-mail, send
your e-mail address to the
secretary at the lodge e-mail
address.
TRESTLE
BOARD
Meeting scheduled for Mon January 6, 2025
has been CANCELLED
Special communication of
Aberdeen Lodge No. 187 will be
held, Mon January 13, 2025 at 7:30
p.m.
Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Open Instalation of Officersrs
7:30 p.m.
Stated communication of
Aberdeen Lodge No. 187will be
held, Mon January 20 2025 at
7:30 p.m.
Regular Order of Business
Conferral Entered Apprentice
Degree
*********************************************************************************************
|
|
|
|
 |
| 11th |
David S.
Zeigler |
| 20th |
Kirkland C.
Brennan |
| 24th |
Alfred G.
Kaye |
| 28th |
Herbert K.
Benjamin |
| 31st |
William R.
Loerop |
| 31st |
John T.
People |
| |
|
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRAND LODGE ACTIVITIES
***********************************************************
Regional Meetings (9:00 a.m. -
Noon
Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Mar. 1, Mar. 8,
2025
***********************************************************
Semi-Annual Communication Grand
Lodge
May 17, 025
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
***********************************************************
Family Day Picnic
June 7, 2025
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
***********************************************************
Grand Master's Ball
July 26, 2025
6:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
***********************************************************
Harvest Home Day
October 4, 2025
6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
**********************************************************
Annual CommunicationGrand Lodge
November 15, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
**********************************************************
For
information about any of the
Grand Lodge activities contact
the Grand Secretary’s Office
(410) 527-0600.
Grand
Lodge of Maryland e-mail:
office@glmd.org
Grand
Lodge of Maryland Website:
http://www.mdmasons.org/
|
