WELCOME TO THE GAUGE & GAVEL ONLINE
The Trestleboard of Hudson River Lodge #309
November 2002

ARTICLES ARE DUE BY SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH
Please submit articles to Robert Gag and/or Bob Reynolds

Dates to Remember
Nov 25th - ORDMA meeting at Hudson River Lodge
December 5th - 3rd Degree at West Point Lodge
School of Instruction second Monday of each month
Wawayanda Lodge Breakfasts are the 4th Sunday of each month

FROM THE EAST

To a Past Master
by Walter K. Belt

Who's the stranger, Mother dear?
Look, he knows us? an't it queer?
Hush, my son, don't talk so wild;
He's your father, dearest child.
He's my father? It's not so.
Father died eight years ago.
Dad didn't die, O child of mine;
He's been going through "The Line."
But, he's been Master now, so he
Has no place to go, you see?
No place left for him to roam.
That's why he's coming home.

Fraternally
W:. Arthur J. Jefferson
Master

FROM THE WEST

Brothers All:
When you (hopefully) read this, you (hopefully) will have attended Lodge on November 13, and have witnessed the 2nd Degree on 5 Entered Apprentices. These are young men interested in pursuing Free Masonry.

They do need, and deserve the support of us that have become Master Masons. They have taken the 2nd step and also look forward to becoming Master Masons. What a healthy outlook for Freemasonry.

Please come and reaffirm your obligation to your lodge and brothers,
Bro. Don Brown D.S.A.
Sr. Warden

FROM THE SOUTH

My Brothers,

W.. Bro. Jimmy Salisbury , was in the hospital for a couple of days. He had an operation, he said they removed some of his Intestines [ a blockages ] . I think I got that right, because the other night Pegg took Jimmy out to dinner. Well the way he was eating, and how much he eat. I think the added more to his intestines because he put a lot away. Jimmy. God bless, I love you .

Well my wife went and almost put me in the grave, she came back from Fla. And that's not Fla. NY,. she bought a condo . what a surprises that was, next year she might be moving down there .

We have a lot of new faces in the lodge now. Lets see if in 2003 we can't double what we brought in this year.

I'll see you in lodge at 48 Grand St., in the Great city of Newburgh N.Y. Call the lodge and let us hear from you at (845) 562-0063 or e-mail me at poppy1@frontiernet.net.

W:. Thomas E. Reynolds, D.S.A.
Jr. Warden

FROM THE SECRETARY

Brethren:

I would like to announce the following Masonic Anniversaries:
Thomas Reynolds - 15 Years - 11/18
Richard G Ostner - 25 Years - 11/23
Congratulations to all of you for reaching these milestones.

Since I mailed out the dues notices, I have received some returned mail with incorrect addresses or insufficient addresses. Even some "address unknown". I have been able to find some correct addresses but some are still eluding me. If you have moved, please remember to contact this lodge with your new address (and phone number..and even an e-mail address if you have one). If you know the where-a-bouts of the following, let me know:
Kurt V Lucy     Eric K Lucy     J Alex Cohen

Finally, I would like to wish each and every one of you, a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and prosperous New Year.

W:.Otto F Janke,
Secretary

CHAPLAINS CORNER

Smiling is infectious, You catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner, and someone saw my grin.
When he smiled I realized, I'd passed it to him.
I thought about that smile, then I realized its worth.
A single smile just like mine, could travel the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected.

Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!

by Julia Halverson

R:.W:. Lloyd Buchulter
Chaplain

From Your Assistant Grand Lecturer

My Brothers,

There's a commercial on television in which a man looks up from his computer and tells his wife "That's it, I'm done. I've reached the end of the internet". I'm tickled at the premise that one might someday see everything there is to be seen on the internet with thousands of new webpages being added to it every minute. It's a living, growing experience that we can't possibly REALLY see the end of but the thought brings a smile to my face.


Well, there are some people who believe they've reached the end of the ritual. They've memorized the whole book, or at least the parts they think they need to know, and consider themselves to be finished. My Brothers, our ritual is also a vast, living entity, growing and constantly revealing new insights every time we consider it. One can never know everything there is to know about the ritual but it is the portion, no, the duty, of our more knowledgeable Brothers to impart their understanding and insights into the ritual to their brethren.

Most of you know where this is going. Several months ago, I initiated a school of Masonic instruction that meets the second Monday of every month at West Point Lodge in Highland Falls, NY. I know that folks are working longer hours and cabletows are growing shorter, but the paucity of attendance shocks me. It might be facetious to conclude that we have so many expert brethren that they don't need to attend, but the alternative is to acknowledge apathy and I'd rather not do that, I'd rather not resolve myself to the thought that the brothers of the Craft simply won't take the time, simply won't care.

Our ritual and unique history is what sets us apart from the plethora of other social and fraternal organizations. I will continue to offer this school because, frankly, I'm truly enjoying it. There isn't a meeting that goes by at which I haven't learned something from more knowledgeable brethren and, I hope, have been able to impart some light to them as well. I consider myself a facilitator more than an instructor and welcome the opportunities made available to myself and the others who attend. I hope that you, my brothers, will consider attending when you can. We'll have a great time and seek a little more light in Masonry! Until then, I remain

Yours in Service to the Craft,
V:.W:. Joe Leo
Assistant Grand Lecturer