From the East
Welcome to the month of October my Brothers and friends.
This month we will be celebrating a holiday which is my personal favorite, Halloween.
Halloween is among the oldest traditions in the world as it touches on an essential element of the human condition: the relationship between the living and the dead. The observance evolved from ancient rituals marking the transition from summer to winter, thereby associating it with transformation, which is still a central theme of the holiday.
Every recorded civilization has created some form of ritual observance focused on what happens to people when they die, where they go, and how the living should best honor those who have passed or respond to the dead who seem unwilling or unable to move on. Countries around the world today celebrate Halloween in one form or another, from Mexico's Day of the Dead to China's Tomb Sweeping Day. The modern-day observance of Halloween in countries such as the United States and Canada – where this tradition is most popular – share in this ancient tradition, even though some aspects of the holiday are relatively recent developments, and can be traced back to the Celtic festival of Samhain.
The jack o' lantern is associated with the Irish folk tale of Stingy Jack, a clever drunk and con man who fooled the devil into banning him from hell but, because of his sinful life, could not enter heaven. After his death, he roamed the world carrying a small lantern made of a turnip with a red-hot ember from hell inside to light his way. Scholars believe this legend evolved from sightings of will-o-the-wisp, swamp and marsh gasses which glowed in the night. On All Hallows Eve, the Irish hollowed out turnips and carved them with faces, placing a candle inside, so that as they went about “souling” on the night when the veil between life and death was thinnest, they would be protected from spirits like Stingy Jack.
Thanks, Chase Murray - Worshipful Master
From the West
Dear Masonic family,
I have just returned from visiting my family in Ohio. It was a delight to enjoy the fall weather and occasional rain showers that they are experiencing. I had numerous chances to visit my youngest brother who is currently in a nursing home. He contracted Covid a year ago and hasn't recovered from all the effects. Also while back there I assisted at a funeral of a friend of my other brother. All in all it sounds like a depressing visit. Such however is not the case. Throughout all the sadness I found joy in visiting my brothers and the home of my youth. I was reminded of a tale of a traveler who enjoyed his life through all the pleasures and heartaches that he encountered. After a long journey he finally came to the breathtaking "River of Death". As he was boarding the skiff that would carry him across, the boatman asked the traveler if he was afraid of what was on the other side? The weary traveler smiled at the oarsman and said "Why would I be afraid? My father owns both sides of the river."
Joyfully yours,
Don Ruch, PM, Senior Warden
From the South
To all the brothers, Ladies, family and Friends,
Welcome to the Month of October. We have a lot to celebrate as a lodge this Month.
The October Stated meeting dinner was delicious as always thanks to Ranch Catering, but that wasn’t the real celebration. The lodge presented Worshipful Brother Dave Murray with the Hiram award. It was great to see other brothers from around San Diego come and celebrate this great honor that was bestowed upon Worshipful Brother Murray. Brother Murray has been the driving force behind keeping our lodge healthy and strong, and bringing us back home to our original building. The Hiram award is just a small token of our appreciation for all that Worshipful Dave has done for us and our Lodge. Congratulations Worshipful Brother Dave!! Pictures of this wonderful event are below.
On Saturday October 12th we will be meeting at Consuelo Lodge for the Mason of the Year award. Our Worshipful Brother Ken Bycheck Jr. will be receiving this award. He has continued to dedicate his time to this lodge not just by being an officer of the lodge and serving as Master 2 years in a row, but he serves as the officers coach and tries to volunteer and be a part of all the events that goes on at our lodge and other Masonic events throughout. Worshipful Ken can always be counted on for help and guidance and is a vital role in the health of our lodge. Congratulations Worshipful Brother Ken.
Brother Wade and I will continue to plan trips to go visit other lodges at least every other month for a degree or stated meeting. This will help expand our brotherhood and support other lodges.
As mentioned in past Trestleboards, We really need to focus on how to get brothers to come back to the lodge. This is an ongoing problem with most lodges in California and frankly all over the world, and especially with our lodge. With the hope that I will be voted by my brothers in a few years to become the Master of the lodge, I want to start my journey towards the East sooner and not wait unit I am actually sitting in the East (if elected). I would like to encourage all brothers currently coming to the lodge, but especially those that are not coming to the lodge to start reaching out to me personally and share your journey in Masonry with me and to start finding ways we can change, improve, or enhance the lodge experience to get all those brothers back that have gone away for one reason or another. I encourage the brothers to call me at 858-943-1079 or email me at pjjohnson04@gmail.com. Please share with me what we can start doing to get you back into the lodge. We are not looking to fill officers’ chairs (although in full disclosure, that is a concern), we are looking to get our brothers back into the lodge and build back what this Lodge once was. We have a lot of younger members that really would thrive by hearing the masonic journey from brothers that have been here for a long time. I will continue to push this every month and will start reaching out to those I don’t hear from. We need to get the Santa Maria Lodge back to the brotherhood we all came here to join and put the past in the past and build towards the future of this lodge, for the younger members and for members who have yet to join. Let’s be proud of our fraternity again and especially the fraternity that has been here in Ramona for over 100 years. I love you my brothers and would love to see you all come back!!
John 6:35 “and Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
May God Bless you all and keep you safe and healthy!!
Pete Johnson - Junior Warden
Secretary’s Corner
October is here and the Masonic year is almost over. The Grand Lodge will is holding the Annual Communication this month. The Legislation is in a binder on the Tyler’s table outside the Lodge Room for anyone that would like to review it. After review, if you have thoughts or suggestions, please present them to the Master.
Congratulations to Worshipful Dave Murray for being the 2024 Hiram Awardee and to Worshipful Ken Bychak for being the 2024 Mason of the Year Awardee. Two very deserving brothers!
The Dues Notices for 2025 will be going out soon. If the incoming Grand Master’s Budget is approved, the projected dues for 2025 will be $129.00. Remember, if you send a payment in and are in arrears, that payment will go to the past due amount. You will still need to come back to good standing for the current year to receive your Dues Card. Please contact the Master or myself to discuss this if you have any questions.
Please go to member.freemason.org and check your information. If you have not yet created your account, PLEASE get with me and I will walk you through creating the account and entering your information.
If you are interested in becoming a Life Member, please use the following information from the CMC 2022
§809.320.B LIFE MEMBERSHIP A sum of money equal to the Lodge’s annual dues at the time of purchase of the Life Membership
multiplied by the factor indicated opposite the member’s age in the following schedule: Age 49 and under, a factor equal to or greater than 24 times annual dues; 50 to 54 inclusive, a factor equal to or greater than 20 times annual dues; 55 to 59 inclusive, a factor equal to or greater than 18 times annual dues; 60 to 64 inclusive, a factor equal to or greater than 16 times annual dues; 65 to 71 inclusive, a factor equal to or greater than 14 times annual dues; and Age 72 and over, a factor equal to or greater than 12 times annual dues.
Our current dues are $126.00. Use the chart above to calculate the amount needed. As an example, I am in the 55-59 bracket. For me to purchase a Life Membership, the cost would be 18 x $126.00 for a total of $2,268.00. Please contact me if you wish to pursue this.
There are still 16 Brothers that are in arrears for the 2024 dues. Remember, you have an obligation to pay your dues. If you have not made your payment, you are overdue. The dues for 2024 are $126.00. Per our By-Laws, the calculation is $60.00 + per capita rounded up to the nearest dollar. Per capita is $65.25 this year, which gives us our total of $126.00
If you are in arrears for your dues, you need to pay all that is owed to be brought back in to good standing. As an example, if you pay for 2024 only, and owe for 2023, I cannot send you your 2024 dues card. You are still in arrears and will need to bring your dues up to date first.
If you are financially unable to pay your dues, please contact the Master to discuss.
You can mail your dues to: Santa Maria Lodge No. 580, PO Box 68, Ramona, CA 92065
You can also go to our website, http://www.santamaria580.org, and pay online. If you have paid and have not received your card in a reasonable amount of time, please contact me at 951-970-4294 or secretary@santamaria580.org and I will take care of it.
S/F
Bill Graham, PM - Secretary
Reminder!!
Have you moved? Changed your phone number? Changed your e-mail address? Have you notified the Lodge if you have done any of these things?? In an ongoing effort to ensure that all member get due and timely notice of all Lodge information, it is important that you keep your information updated with us.
I would greatly appreciate it if all of you would log in to member.freemason.org, go to the My Profile section and ensure that all of your address/phone number/e-mail is up to date. This will automatically update the i-member section that I use as the Secretary to for your mailings and other contacts.
Calendar of Events
Lodge Officer Directory
Master - Chase Murray
Senior Warden - Don Ruch, PM (Vicki)
Junior Warden - Pete Johnson
Treasurer - Bob Weldon, PM (Brenda)
Secretary - Bill Graham, PM (Teri)
Chaplain - Elijah Descoteaux
Marshal - Bruce Smith, PM (Beverly)
Senior Deacon - Ken Bychak II, PM (Laura)
Junior Deacon - Rex McCray
Senior Steward - Mark Lantz (Kim)
Junior Steward - Dave Murray, PM (Catheren)
Tiler - Wade Hendry (Marianne)
(619) 607-2935
(619) 787-3858
(858) 943-1079
(760) 807-2883
(951) 970-4294
(619) 987-1004
(760) 788-9475
(707) 328-9617
(760) 788-4957
(858) 231-4646
(619) 302-1223
(760) 535-3176
Santa Maria Masonic Building
Association (SMMBA) Directory
President - Don Ruch, PM
Vice President - Chase Murray
Treasurer/Secretary - Dave Murray, PM
Member - Ken Bychak II, PM
Member - Bob Weldon, PM
Member - Wade Hendry
Member - Bruce Smith, PM
Member - Pete Johnson
(619) 787-3858
(619) 607-2935
(619) 302-1223
(707) 328-9617
(760) 807-2883
(760) 535-3176
(760) 788-9475
(858) 943-1079