January 2023 Trestleboard

The Trestleboard is an official publication of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32, which is a legally constituted Masonic Lodge operating under charter granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah. The Trestleboard is published for the sole and exclusive use of the members of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32, and any other use is expressly forbidden.  The editor of The Trestleboard is Glen Van Steeter.  Submissions of educational articles or other announcements may be sent to the editor at [email protected], and if selected for publication, will be given full attribution. All submissions are subject to the approval of the Worshipful Master of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32 and the editor of the Trestleboard.

The Lodge Secretary endeavors to keep our roster as accurate as possible. If you are moving, changing your mailing address, phone number or email address, please update your information in GrandView or notify the Secretary so that your information can be kept current.

Twin Peaks Lodge Secretary

January Calendar

• January 9th @ 7:30 PM: Stated Meeting. Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM prior to the meeting. Dress is business.
• January 14th from 8 am to 10 am: Volunteering Utah Food Bank. Dress for work. No open-toed shoes.
• January 16th @ 7:00 PM: Fellowcraft Degree practice at the Lodge. Dress is casual.
• January 23rd @ 7:00 PM: Lodge social meetup. Location will be Spitz Mediterranean in Draper. Please check the article below for details and address. Dress is casual.
• January 30th: Fellowcraft Degree at 7:00 PM. Dress is Business Formal.

Happy Birthday Twin Peaks Lodge!

Twin Peaks Lodge #32 turns 62 this year. Chartered January 24, 1961.

Sickness and Distress

• Worshipful Brother Glen Van Steeter, our Lodge secretary, had his carpal tunnel surgery on December 22nd and it appears that the surgery was successful. He is still in recuperation but has been able to get some decent nights of sleep over the last two weeks.
• Worshipful Brother Richard Wailes is still recovering from his hand surgery.
• Brother Stephen Sumbot has been meeting with his mentor and is progressing through the EA proficiency work, but is still recovering from his cancer surgery.
• Worshipful Brother Jerry Acton, Sr. is slowly recovering from his illness. We are hoping to see him in Lodge soon!

Please keep these brethren and their families in your thoughts, and add them to your daily devotions to the Grand Architect.

If you happen to hear about a brother who is in distress, please contact either the Worshipful Master or the Lodge Secretary ASAP so that the Lodge can put itself in a position to assist.

FROM THE EAST

My apologies for taking forever and a half to get this Trestleboard out to you. January is always a very busy month for me.

Looking back at the past year, I can say it was one of the best years in Masonry that I’ve had. Together as a lodge, we did a lot of great work within and outside our lodge, and we did it with peace and harmony prevailing. In my own personal journey, I got to sit in lodges in Idaho, Nevada, Missouri, Montana, Hawaii, and Germany to meet new brothers and learn from them. I love what this fraternity affords. Thank you for being a part of it. We are off to a sprint this year from the momentum we have been building.

I have this beautiful artwork hanging in my office that says:

Craftsmanship: Preserve The Past, Forge the Future

It struck a chord and resonated with me. It wasn’t directly masonic in nature, but had so many direct analogies. As Freemasons, we are craftsman. Both symbolically after the ancient builders of the past, and craftsmans of our own time building our personal character, our families, and our communities.

What makes a craft beautiful?

I find that beauty is found in the details – the wrestle of ideas and the time it takes to put thought and intent into action. This is true in all things – from the rituals we perform, the construction and management of our buildings, to the relationships we build with one another. We will continue to grow our lodge with the energy and efforts we put into it with wisdom, strength, and beauty.

Twin Peaks Celebrates her 62nd birthday on January 24. I often wonder what vision the original brothers had when they decided to form? Where do we see it in the next 62 years? We preserve the past by honoring the history of our lodge and the brothers that came before us, as well as the future that we are building.

Watch this 5 minute video about Jake Weidmann, the youngest master penman who created this beautiful piece of art. What are your thoughts about being a craftsman?

On the Square,

Ephraim Sng, Worshipful Master

FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK

Happy New Year to the Brethren of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32.

151st Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Utah

Annual Communication will be held on Friday, February 3rd, starting at 9:00 am, and will conclude on Saturday, February 4th after the installation of the new Grand Master and his officers. Cost for registration will be $50 for delegates and visitors. The form does not indicate whether Lunch will be included in this fee as it was last year. I will try and get more information for you. Be aware that the Grand Secretary must receive your registration by January 27th and no Brother without a registration will be permitted to participate. There is a Ladies Program at no charge, and there is also the Ladies Luncheon on Saturday for $48 and the Grand Master’s Banquet on Friday Evening for $70. IF YOU PAY ELECTRONICALLY VIA PAYPAL, PLEASE ADD 3% TO YOUR TOTAL COST. (For example: If you just want to pay the delegate fee of $50, then you need to send $51.50, which is $50 + ($50 x .03 or $1.50).)

To the Brethren who have already paid their 2023 dues, THANK YOU! In late November, our 60 year-old Lodge seal finally broke, which has prevented me from sending out about eight 2023 dues cards so far, however, we have taken delivery of our new Lodge seal and I will be sending those dues cards out during the week of 1/9/22 thru 1/15/22. For those of you who have not yet paid your 2023 dues, please take a couple of minutes now and get that resolved. You can pay electronically using our Pay Dues page, or you can send a check for $91 to Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32, PO Box 8132, Midvale UT 84047-8132.

Glen Van Steeter, PM – Secretary

Twin Peaks Officers for 2023

The following Brethren have been installed as elected or appointed officers for the 2023 Masonic Year.

Elected

Worshipful Master	WBro. Ephraim Sng, PM
Senior Warden	WBro. Robert Hartman, PM
Junior Warden	WBro. Lyle Miller, PM
Treasurer	MW Bro. Frank Baker, PM
Secretary	WBro. Glen Van Steeter, PM
Three-year Trustee	Bro. Frank Glade Keller III
Two-year Trustee	WBro. Stephen Horman, PM

Appointed Officers

Senior Deacon	Bro. Frank Glade Keller III
Junior Deacon	–
Senior Steward	WBro. Ric Wailes, PM
Junior Steward	Bro. Jaysen Roundy
Chaplain	WBro. Steve Horman, PM
Marshall	Bro. Chris Kingsley
Tyler	WBro. Jay Roundy, PM

Masonic Anniversaries

These brethren were raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in the month of December.

• Brother Kevin Royce Brown, raised on January 27, 2003 and has 20 years of service.
• Brother Craig H. Smith, raised on January 21, 2008 and has 15 years of service.

Happy Birthdays!

These brethren were born in December. Make sure and wish them a “Happy Birthday!” when you see them this month!

• Brother Edward Kordas, Snr, who was born on January 1st.
• Brother Michael Martin, born on January 10th.
• Brother Austin Stoker, who was born on January 11th.
• Brother Robert Jones, who was born on January 29th.

UTAH FOOD BANK PROJECT – JANUARY 14th FROM 8am to 10am

Twin Peaks Lodge is once again supporting the undernourished in the Salt Lake County area by volunteering to sort and package food and other items at the Utah Food Bank, located at 3150 S 900 W, S. Salt Lake. We need about 15 people to help out! Please contact W. Bro. Robert Hartman to let us know if you can assist. As usual, the following apply:

• You will being performing moderately physical work, including packing and moving packed cartons of food and other items.
• You should dress accordingly. Do not wear open-toed shoes. Sneakers or light boots are best. T-shirts and work pants like denim are good.
• You can wear a mask if you like, however the UFB is not requiring them at this time.
• Parking is limited. Carpool if you can. We will be leaving the Midvale Temple at 7689 S. Center Square at about 7:25 am to arrive at the UFB at about 7:55 am.
• Do not leave valuable items in your vehicles and make sure that you lock them before you enter.

Meetups

Zeal for the Institution

As soon as a man is made a Mason, he is admonished not to let his zeal for the Fraternity to lead him into arguments with those who may, through ignorance, ridicule it.

As long as Freemasonry has existed it has had its critics. It likely always will. While it can be tempting to engage these critics in arguments or attempt to defend our Craft against the negaticve comments that others may make, we are instead charged to exercise due restraint and civil silends instead of engaging in impassioned arguments.

The Christian leader Saint Francis of Assissi is reported to have told his followeres, “Wherever you go, preach Christ. If necessary, use the words “He knew that the most powerful witneess for his religion was not the words of his followers but their actions and behaviors.”

So is it with Masonry. We defend our gentle Craft by living good and moral lives that others respect. This lifestyle will do all that is needed to defend Freemasonry from its detractors and encourage other good men to seek admission into our Order.

— Submitted by Worshipful Brother Robert M. Hartman, Sr. Warden of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32

How Should I Wear my Masonic Ring?

Submitted by Glen Van Steeter, PM – Secretary of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32, Midvale Utah

This question reminds me of a popular quote: “If you get three Rabbis together and ask them a question concerning Talmudic Law, you will get six opinions.” There are obviously only two ways that you can wear a ring that has the Square and Compasses etched on it. Either with the points of the compasses pointed up your arm towards you, or with the points of the compasses pointed down towards your fingertips. Well, there is a third way. You can wear it on a chain around your neck, but we won’t consider this option for the purposes of this discussion.

An article on this subject from THE MONTANA MASON, printed in 1936 on page 15, asserts that the ring should be worn with the points “down” towards the fingertips, and provides the following argument:

If you were hanging the American flag, would you put the stars down?

The unnamed author then points out that when the Master of the Lodge looks at the Square and Compasses on the Altar during tyled Lodge, that the points of the compasses are pointing AWAY from him, and that this is right and proper. He further states that the Square is an emblem of earthly dominion, while the Compass represents heavenly perfection, whereby the violent nature of man is circumscribed by the teachings of the Craft, by which our passions are duly bounded and controlled. Therefore, when the hand is at its natural resting position, which is hanging by the side of the body, the points of the Compasses should be pointing down.

This is an opinion. And as such, I recommend that if an individual Brother of the Craft sees validity in the assertion, then by all means, he should wear his ring thusly.

I had a wonderful discussion with two Past Grand Masters of Arizona while I was residing in that jurisdiction. These Most Worshipful Brethren were James Rowan and James May , who are both extremely knowledgable Master Masons and further, were still serving the Grand Lodge of Arizona as Grand Secretary and Assistant to the Grand Secretary respectively. In that discussion, they were both of the opinion that the orientation of the Square and Compasses on the ring is a clue as to the perspective of the Brother wearing it.

In the case of the Brother who wears his ring in the manner described in THE MONTANA MASON, he is proudly proclaiming that he is a member of an ancient and prestigious brotherhood of men, dedicated to the principals of right and moral living.

In the case of the Brother who wears his ring with the points of the Compasses towards himself instead of his fingertips, every time that he looks at the ring upon his hand, he is reminded of the many lessons inculcated within our Lodge rooms and that he needs to apply those moral virtues in every transaction in life towards all mankind, especially our Brethren in Masonry. Think of this as an “internal compass”.

I therefore recommend unto you, my dear reader, that the orientation in which you wear your ring is not nearly as important as what that ring means to you and how you use the lessons that it represents to become an influencer for good and right living in your family, your vocation and your community.

I hope that as a result of reading this article that you find that when you look at that piece of temporal jewelry on your hand, that it is a constant reminder that all of your actions throughout your life should be uplifted by our morality and philosophy and that your consequence as a Mason isn’t that you are one, but by the example of good and moral living that you exhibit among all who come into the circle of your acquaintance.

Friend to Friend in Wartime

Inspired by an article by Brother Richard E. Shields, Jr, a member of Waxhaw Lodge No. 562 in Waxhaw, North Carlona, which was further inspired by the writings of Allan Roherts in his book “House Divided”. The account of General Lewis Armistead’s mortal wounding and commending of his personal affects to his dear friend General Winfield Scott Hancock is noted in “The Better Angels of Our Nature: Freemasonry in the American Civil War”.

The High Water Mark of the Confederacy

This is the story of two Freemasons, who ended up on the opposing sides of the bloody national catastrophy known as the “United States Civil War”.

General Lewis Addison Armistead was a member of Alexandria Lodge #22 in Alexandria, Virginia. General Winfield Scott Hancock was a member of Charity Lodge #190 in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Prior to the Civil War, Armistead and Hancock both attended West Point at the same time and became close personal friends while serving on the same post in California. Armistead also worshipped Hancock’s wife, Almira. It was while they were in California that the dissolution of the States began with the secession of North Carolina. The writing was on the wall. Armistead was born in New Bern, North Carolina, while Hancock was a son of Pennsylvania. It was clear that the officers of the U.S. Army who were from the seceeding states were going to resign their commissions to support the Confederacy. For Armistead, this personal dilemma was of particular anguish, for he knew that his best friend in the Army would undoubtedly stay in the Army, and that they would end up on the opposite sides of the conflict. Popular legend has it that prior to his departure, Armistead told his friend Hancock that “If I ever raise a hand against you, may God strike me dead.”

Armistead eventually rose through the ranks of the Confederacy, becoming a Brigadier General in the Army of Northern Virginia. Hancock rose even higher, becoming a Corps Commander in the Army of the Potomac.

At the fateful Battle of Gettysburg which occurred from 1-4 July, 1863, Armistead commanded a brigade under General Pickett, while Hancock was in temporary of the I, II, III and XI Corps. Thus, on July 3rd, when General Longstreet’s Corps, commanded by Pickett made that fateful charge against the Union Center, Armistead’s Brigade became the vanguard, leading the charge. Armistead famously led his brigade from the front, shoving his sword through his hat and holding it high while yelling “Give them the cold steel, boys!” Armistead and elements of his command managed to survive the horrendous fire from Union artillery and aimed rifled muskets and penetrated far enough into the Union center lines to actually take command of a Union artillery piece. It was at this point that Armistead was mortally wounded by rifle fire. This would become known as the “High Water Mark of the Confederacy”, and there is a marker at the Getttysburg National Military Park that shows this exact spot.

As he fell, he cried out a phrase, long known in Freemasonry, which I will not include here. Men of the 69th Pennsylvania rose up and came to the stricken general’s aid. Captain Henry H. Bingham, a physician and officer in the Union army, was brought in to assist Armistead. Captain Bingham was also a Mason, a member of Chartiers Lodge No. 297 of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. History records that General Armistead inquired as to the health and safety of General Hancock, and was devestated to learn that General Hancock, who had been mounted on his horse behind his front lines as inspiration to his men, had been shot by a Confederate rifle and was also down, but it was believed that the wound was not mortal, which turned out to be the case.

General Armistead then requested that his personal effects, consisting of a Masonic watch and personal papers, be conveyed to General Hancock out of his love and respect.

General Armistead would succumb to his wounds two days later, while being treated in a Union hospital at the Spangler Farm.

General Hancock would survive his wounds. He retired from the Army in 1867 and served in the U.S. Congress for 33 years. He ran for the U.S. presidency but lost to James Garfield. He passed in 1912, aged 70.

This annal of brotherly love and affection has been memorialized with a monument at Gettysburg, known as the “Friend to Friend” marker.

Honor Answering Honor

Three days after General Robert E. Lee had surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Union General U.S. Grant, Confederate General John B. Gordon, a Freemason and member of Gate City Lodge No. 2 of Atlanta, Georgia, marched his troops in columns towards the Union formation, who were waiting for the Confederates to stack arms and to honorably retire their colors. General Gordon was alarmed when he heard a shifting of arms. However, his astonished eyes, instead of beholding rifled muskets aimed at him and his troops, found that the Union troops had assumed the position of “honor answering honor”, which is standing at attention, rifle held at the high carry, left forearm held parallel to the ground with hand resting upon the stock. Gordon’s troops immediately snapped to attention to return the honor.

The command of “honor answering honor” was given by none other than Major General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a Bowdoin college professor turned soldier who had famously held the Union left flank on the hill of “Little Round Top” against the 15th Alabama Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg. General Chamberlain was a member of United Lodge No. 8 of New Brunswick, Maine.

It is unlikely that Chamberlain or Gordon knew that they were brethren in Freemasonry, but many years later, Gordon said that “Chamberlain was the most gallant officer of the Union Army.” The act of “honor answering honor” by Chamberlain can be said to be the first act of reconciliation between the North and South after the end of the Civil War. And that act was initiated by a Mason.

Joshua Chamberlain was a profoundly godly and educated man. He entered Bowdoin College after teaching himself Greek, and graduated in 1852. He studied at the Bangor Theological Seminary for three years, mastering Latin, German, French, Arabic, Hebrew and Syriac in pursuit of his tudies. He married the adopted daughter of a local clergyman. He returned to Bowdoin as an instructor, and taught nearly every course in their curriculum, with an emphasis in logic and natural theology. He became a professor of rhetoric and oratory. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in commanding the 20th Maine Regiment at Gettysburg. After the war, he served as the Governor of Maine for four one-year terms.