May Trestleboard 2026

Worshipful Sirs and Brethren, greetings from the East. As the sun rises on a new quarter and moving into the summer, we have been very busy in the Lodge. We recently recognized two Golden Veterans, Brother Bob Kelly and Brother Ed Rigsbee. We also initiated Brother Adlhoch and raised Brother Beddoe. Over the next quarter, we will not be slowing down, we have our annual Masters and Wardens retreats and a Fellowcraft Degree in May and our 30th Anniversary of the Saint John's Festive Board in June. So, if you are reading this and ever felt like it's a good time to jump back into Masonry, this is it! Come out and support your Lodge Officers and Brethren . Sincerely and Fraternally, Worshipful Jeremy Dreaden

In an era where differences often lead to division, the Masonic Lodge remains dedicated to a simple but challenging goal: bridging the gaps between us. *** The Principle of Equality A core tenet of our fraternity is the practice of meeting as equals. When we gather, we set aside the external labels that often separate us—such as professional titles, political affiliations, and social standing. By moving past these distinctions, we create a space where men from diverse backgrounds can engage in honest, respectful dialogue. *** The Practice of Civility Bridging differences does not mean seeking total agreement. Rather, it is about practicing the art of civil discourse. In our meetings, we focus on: **Listening** to understand different perspectives. **Tolerance** for various beliefs and backgrounds **Harmony** as the primary goal of our interactions. Impact Beyond the Lodge The lessons we practice within our walls are intended to be carried out into the community. By fostering a culture of mutual respect, we aim to be better neighbors, coworkers, and citizens. In a world that often builds walls, we believe there is lasting value in the quiet, steady work of building bridges.

Anyone who has set foot in a lodge can’t help but notice the two large pillars set up in the “northwest” corner of the lodge room. These pillars, as many of you know, represent two bronze pillars which were built in King Solomon’s Temple, which Masonic lodges are all representations (though far from exact replicas) of. Masonry adds a rather eye-catching feature to these columns which scriptural accounts do not describe: a pair of globes. One of the Earth, and one of the stars. These globes are the subject of a statement which, at first glance, seems to be one of Freemasonry’s more absurd claims, but upon deeper reflection, provides an answer to a question most of us have asked since our childhoods. And it is an answer, I think, that is especially relevant in today’s world. So, what is this statement? We claim that these globes “are valuable instruments for improving the mind and giving the most distinct idea of any problem or proposition, as well as for enabling it to solve the same.” Like I said, on the surface, this seems like a ridiculous thing to say. There’s no way that the answer to any challenge we face can be found by studying these two globes. Accurate globes and star charts are certainly useful in the right circumstances. But any problem or proposition? Why on Earth would we ever claim this? The answer lies in the first part of the statement. That they are useful for “improving the mind.” That improved mind, in turn, is more and more capable of solving each new problem it is faced with. How many of us, year after year, sat in school and asked our teachers, “when are we ever going to need to know this?” Here’s the truth your teachers never wanted to tell you. We don’t. Most of us never need many of the exact facts and skills we learned in school. Basic language and math skills, sure. But only some of us ever needed most of the more complex things we learned in school. So why, then, did we all need to learn them? Because it was never about learning those specific skills. It was about learning skills at all. It was about teaching our minds to pick up and apply new information. Because no matter how thorough our education is, there will come a time in all of our lives, many such times actually, when we need to do something we have never been taught to do before. And whether we have someone to walk us through it the first time, or we have to figure it out on our own, we need to have the ability to learn and retain this new information. This is the lesson of the globes. That study is good for the mind. That taking the time to learn something is valuable. That it will improve your mind and equip you to face the challenges of your life more successfully. Even if those challenges never involve whatever you studied. Because we cannot possibly learn everything, we have to learn to be capable of learning anything, so we are ready for whatever life throws our way. In a world with smartphones, where we can look up anything we need to know any time, anywhere, people are starting to wonder why we bother learning at all. If we forget, we can just google it. And with AI becoming more and more prominent, people aren’t even bothering to do that anymore. AI searches for us and tells us what it found. AI writes our emails and out reports so we don’t need to have professional writing skills. My boss said her college age sons told her recently, “Mom, you don’t even need to use your brain anymore if you can work AI correctly.” But AI isn’t perfect. The internet is full of both good and bad information, and AI doesn’t always know the difference. But people every single day are just taking what it says for granted. In a world where this mindset is taking over more and more, I say that the lesson of these globes is more and more important. My friends and brothers, study. Please, study. Improve your minds. Give them the ability to understand and solve whatever life throws at them, so that when whatever tools you have been relying on are not available or not up to the task, YOU will be. Fraternally, Peter A. Parsons