Trestle Board

Reseda sends out its Trestle Board by email monthly in addition to making it available here. If you want to receive it in your inbox, please fill out the form on the Contact Us page.

The Master's Message
October 2024

Greetings for the East,

First of all, I would like to commend all of Reseda Masonic Lodge #666 Officers on there continued resilience and drive in continuing to work on qualifications and on degree rehearsal to improve our time-honored customs. All your hard work does not go unnoticed, press forward and march on in your Masonic journeyThe reward is the journey, and the journey is the fruit of its own labor to oneself. Please reach out to me or Wor. Anderson if you find yourself in a place where you need one-on-one assistance. Thank you for all you do!

Secondly, we have come to a time of year when all seems to come together, and it is shown in the natural world by all of its inhabitants busy preparing for the next phase of the year. That being said, we also need not forget to take a time to be together in fellowship. We have mostly qualification and degree practices setup for this month, but we do need to remember that we have a joint event with the Widow’s Sons on Oct 19 at the Van Nuys Masonic Building from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The event is a BBQ and Car/Bike Show, and we are asking for participation to collect funds for the Youth Orders once again. Come out and support the BBQ or just donate online. Please let me know if you are willing to take part in the Car/Bike Show. I will send a flyer separate from the trestleboard.

Lastly, remember to come and support events that are put on by the lodge as best you can it will only strength the lodge bonds and will aid in growing our membership. Here is also a reminder that we will also do our second Pancake Breakfast for the year on November 24, so please mark your calendars. Thank you to everyone that came out to the Star Party at Moorpark College and enjoyed fellowship thereafter. I will cut it short and leave you all with a thought.

“There is a certain grave beauty in the practice of Masonic etiquette. The Masonic life as it is lived out in our assemblies is a conscious work of art, with each and every part coordinated to every other, and instinct with the feeling of the whole; if a man enters into that system without preparation or forethought, and trusting only his instincts, his manner will strike an awkward note, like a discord jangling across a strain of music; but if he has trained himself in his part and caught the spirit of the whole, the genius of Freemasonry will shine through his actions, will express itself through ritual, symbol, law, philosophy, fellowship and daily deed. To have one's self thus become a part of a great and living whole is a kind of satisfying pleasure nothing else can give, a participation in the very life of beauty, appreciated as much by the beholders as by the actor. This ability to confer pleasure upon one's fellows when gathered in communication or in ceremony is not the least of etiquette's rewards.”

-unknown

Sincerely & Fraternally,

Joel Castro

Master
- POTS

Thursday, October 3rd 6:45 pm

Stated Meeting on the 1st Degree
Dinner is open to invited guests and family

Thursday, October 10th, 7:30 pm

3rd Degree & Qualification Practice

Thursday, October 17th, 7:30 pm

3rd Degree & Qualification Practice

Saturday, October 19th, 10:00 am
RML & Widow's Sons Youth Order Fundraiser BBQ and Car/Bike Show

Thursday, October 24th, 7:30 pm

3rd Degree & Qualification Practice

THIS MONTH AT RESEDA MASONIC LODGE

Thursday, October 3rd

October Stated Meeting and Dinner at 6:45PM in the downstairs dining hall

Food options are the following: Tri Tip, Salmon, and Vegetarian

Dress code is slacks with polos or Hawaiian shirts.

Have a safe week and see you Thursday!

Please RSVP on Discord or by texting or calling (562) 855-2117 with your headcount and meal choices

~ Meeting Agenda: ~

We will conduct our usual Stated Meeting Business
Masonic Education by Wor. Shampay - The Tracing Boards

Thursday, October 3th, 6:45 pm

Stated Meeting on the 1st Degree

Dinner is open to invited guests and family

Thursday, October 10th, 7:30 pm

3rd Degree & Qualification Practice

Thursday, October 17th, 7:30 pm

3rd Degree & Qualification Practice

Saturday, October 19th, 10:00 am

RML & Widow's Sons Youth Order Fundraiser BBQ and Car/Bike Show

Thursday, October 24th, 7:30 pm

3rd Degree & Qualification Practice Meeting on the 1st Degree
Dinner is open to invited guests and family

(It's very important to keep a social distance. Please wear a mask and stay home if you're not feeling well!)

Reseda Lodge will hold our next Stated Meeting on Thursday, October 3rd at 7:30pm.

Dinner will be served at 6:45 PM.

Food options are the following: Tri Tip, Salmon, and Vegetarian

Dress code is slacks with polos or Hawaiian shirts.

Have a safe week and see you Thursday!

Please RSVP on Discord or by texting or calling (562) 855-2117 with your headcount and meal choices

~ Meeting Agenda: ~

We will conduct our usual Stated Meeting Business
Masonic Education by Wor. Shampay - The Tracing Boards

Donation: $15
via cash, check, or PayPal (PayPal address and QR code will be provided)

Please use the Discord app, or call or text (562) 855-2117 to RSVP.

Guests may stop by between 6:45pm and 7:30pm.

RESEDA LODGE WEBSITE

Reseda Lodge now has a website! You can view upcoming events, see the monthly Trestle Board, access Masonic resources, and read articles penned by Masonic scholars and our own Reseda Brethren.

You can visit the website here:

resedalodge666.org

Many thanks to Worshipful Daniel Rivera for providing abundant and valuable content for it and to Brother Hunter Goodin for his stunning photo of our lodge's Square & Compass and Ashlars!

RESEDA LODGE DISCORD APP

Reseda is now using Discord for its lodge app. If you are a member of Reseda, you are welcome to join to stay in touch with your Brethren digitally! You can participate in discussions, RSVP for events, and find photos and videos of our degrees and socials there.

Check this section in your EMAILED monthly trestleboard for instructions on accessing the Discord.

From the West

Dear brethren,

As we approach the last quarter of the year, I would like to remind our officers to continue learning their advanced stations, to continue working on your memorization where needed, and to prioritize attendance to our practices. We are only three months away from elections, if you have any concerns or need any help, feel free to reach out to me or our Officers Coach, Wor. Kevin Anderson. Let us take pride in our roles of service for Reseda Lodge!

I encourage our members to stay in touch on our lodge website, and on Facebook, Instagram and Discord for the latest announcements and schedule of events, and to reach out to our Master or Secretary with any questions or concerns.

Upon the Level,

Daniel Rivera, PM

From the South

We performed out first degree last month. Congratulations to our new Fellow Craft Mason brother Hormazd Bhandari. The Officers did a great job. Looking forward to more degrees.

By the Plumb,

Glenn Moore

Junior Warden

From Darkness to Light - The Hoodwink

Raymond Sydney James Daniels - Past Grand Master of Ontario, Canada

Fiat Lux

According to the Creation Myth in the Book of Genesis, Light is the first thing God created. “Let there be light, and there was Light.” In the Koran, “God is the Light of the Heavens and of the Earth.” Light is a fundamental feature of nearly all founding myths. In Greek mythology, Hyperion the Titan god of light, is the son of Ourans (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth).

Ex oriente lux

In Freemasonry, the Sun “that glorious luminary of nature” is a significant symbol in our ritual. In times past lodges held the annual installation ceremonies in celebration on one of the two Saints John days – St. John the Baptist 24 June and St. John the Evangelist 27 December. A few lodges in our Jurisdiction still hold to that tradition. (1) It will be noted that these dates closely coincide with the Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice respectively. In the 17th century English Freemasons were known as ‘St. John’s Men.’ This is curious as neither of the Saints John is associated with the stonemason’s trade or architecture. However, it is not surprising that our operative predecessors, having a close relationship with the Church as their employer, would adopt Patron Saints from the Ecclesiastical calendar.

The Saints John are known in Freemasonry as ‘The Two Great Parallels.’ As with all symbols there are a number of interpretations: the point within the circle, the centre, the circumference. All have profound significance in our rituals.

The first Grand Lodge was established on St. John’s Day, 24 June 1717 in London when four old lodges met at the Goose and Gridiron Tavern under the shadow of St. Paul’s Cathedral and elected a Grand Master. Twelve lodges in our jurisdiction are denominated St. John.

In former times Freemasons were known as ‘Sons of Light.’ We equate Light with knowledge and Darkness with ignorance. Hence the Freemason seeks Light. We express this desire when we declare that the purpose of Freemasonry is to “cultivate and enlighten the mind.” This is the intellectual challenge which Freemasonry presents. Masonry is a knowledge based institute of learning, the oldest and largest in the world.

“In all time, truth has been hidden under symbols, and often under a succession of allegories where veil after veil had to be penetrated before the true Light was reached, and the essential truth stood revealed.” (2)

2 When we enter the Lodge we enter the Temple of the Mind – a different world apart. In this sense Initiation provides a changed perspective. Henceforth, the Freemason sees things in a new light. It enables him to be at home in the world at a deeper level. This we term ‘enlightenment.’

The quest for the golden light which is beyond price

The Hoodwink (blindfold) is used at Initiation as a symbol of the darkness of ignorance. When it is removed, the first thing the Candidate sees are the Three Great Lights, and the first elements that are explained to him are these and the Three Lesser Lights. However, ‘enlightenment’ is not immediate. As a genuine seeker for knowledge, anxious for education, anxious for instruction, it requires commitment, diligence and devotion, serious study and quiet reflection. Like the Sun that moves almost unperceived across the heavens, it dawns gradually upon the serious candidate with the daily acquisition of Masonic knowledge.

1 e.g. Niagara No. 2, Niagara-on-the-Lake, the oldest Lodge on the Grand Register.
2 Pike, Albert. Morals and Dogma, p. 246

Brother Raymond Sydney James Daniels is the 74th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. You can find more of his "Masonic Minutes" here: https://www.freemasonryresearchforumqsa.com/rsj-daniels.php

Reseda Masonic Lodge Annual Independence Day Celebration BBQ

Reseda Masonic Lodge Food Drive

As we are continuing to face challenging times, our valley food banks are in dire need of support. Please join us in our food drive. On lodge nights we are collecting nonperishable items to donate to First Methodist Church of Reseda Food Bank. If you are unable to make these events please help support this by sending a small donation to ResedaMasonicLodgePaypal.

We appreciate all the support and thank you for your donation.

Reseda Lodge: The Mission in Motion Food Bank
Thursday Nights 6pm-9pm
(Before - During - After Lodge Meeting)

Thank you to all who continue the support for our food drive. The Missions in Motion Team at The First United Methodist Church is always in need and anything we can do to help is always appreciated.

If you are an at risk Brother or widow and need help with gathering supplies, please email our Lodge at resedalodge@gmail.com

Several Brothers are happy to go to the grocery store for you in order to reduce your risk of infection. We are here for you.

From the Secretary's Desk

Brethren,

It is that time of year again for our lodge dues. Your dues for 2024 will be $135.00 and your dues invoice was sent by the Grand Lodge to you sometime in November. Your dues were due by January 1st 2024.

As always brothers if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at 818-576-9025 0r email at resedalodge@gmail.com

Fraternally,
Chris Snyder, Secretary

Reseda Lodge Polo shirts are now available!!

Cost: $40
Payments can be made to the Reseda Lodge Paypal
Limited Sizes
Can be picked up at next monthly Food Drive or meeting!

* Grand Lodge of California Educational Resources *

Every brother should take the time to go to www.freemason.org, and go to the Member Center. Once there, click on the Candidate Learning Center and find some great Masonic Education on the EA, FC, and MM degrees. The presentations include videos and interviews as well as historic images and artifacts. It's free to take the test and well worth your time.

* Websites *

The Freemasonry Subreddit: An online forum of Masons and non-masons asking questions, discussing, and brainstorming about the Craft. There are some pretty funny memes there too.

The Midnight Freemasons: A Masonic blog that is updated weekly with new articles from Brothers around the country.

Ashlar to Ashes: An aggregate of all the Masonic Blogs out there today.

* Start a Conversation with a Brother *

Find a brother who may have an answer to your questions or a resource that you don't know about. Approach him and ask for help or seek his opinion. You'll combine Masonic Education with Brotherly Love and strengthen our Lodge. Likewise, share what you learn!

A short video outlining who the Masonic Service Bureau is and what purpose they serve. Originally presented at the 2019 Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of California.