Happy June Brethren and Friends of Newport Mesa #604! It turns out I misspoke in the previous month’s Trestle Board Article when I stated that was the last time I would address an email to “Brethren and Friends of NM #604”. At our June Stated meeting I will be announcing the ballot counts and we will proceed to consolidate our lodges with the first stated meeting of our new lodge of Newport Mesa #241 being held in July. I am very much looking forward to completing this process as I feel our newly formed lodge will benefit and serve all of its members.
This past month we raised Bro Darwish to the sublime degree of Master Mason, coincidentally it turned out to be a day away from being the exact one year anniversary of his initiation into Freemasonry. We will be holding our Sweethearts Luncheon on Sunday June 11 at 1pm at Newport Rib Company in Costa Mesa, please contact our Senior Warden Bro Castellano if you plan to attend so that he can reserve an appropriate amount of seats. Although we have yet to get our usual summer weather, that is not going to stop us from enjoying the outdoors. We plan to go golfing again on Saturday June 17th, if you are interested in joining us please contact our Treasurer Bro Hugo Zusho as he is coordinating this event. I sincerely hope all of my fellow fathers have an excellent Father’s Day on June 18, my father has been a tremendously positive influence throughout my life and I am fortunate and grateful to still have him in my life at age 85. I think there is no greater job in the world than raising a child and I want to acknowledge all the men, and women, who take on this awesome responsibility.
Lastly I want to take a minute to address the passing of Brother John Armstrong. I would imagine most every person reading this email knew John personally as he has been one of the pillars supporting this lodge for many many years. John’s constant presence in our lodge will be missed however his time spent here and the many memories we all have of him should bring smiles to our faces. I want to remind everyone of some of the core beliefs that we share as Freemasons. We believe in a supreme being aka “GOD” and we also believe in the continuity of life and of the soul. When I think of John’s passing I think he is with the good lord right now in a much better and brighter place and I also think of the fond memories and times that I was fortunate enough to have with him. So I choose not feel sadness at his passing but rather gratitude for the time and space I was able to share with him over the years. We will all make this journey for ourselves eventually, the best we can hope for is that this journey talks place after a long and well lived life, like the one Bro John Armstrong led.
S&F Wor Charles Kelly
Bro. Jeff Castellano
Brethren and Friends,
We lost a cornerstone of our Lodge, John Armstrong, our friend, Brother, and mentor. He was the first Brother I spoke to at Newport Mesa. I sent an email expressing interest in joining and quickly got a call back from John. We chatted for about an hour, something I learned quickly would become the norm whenever we would talk on the phone. He invited me to my first Lodge event, and when I arrived, he became the first line signer on my application, an honor I will always cherish. In the next eight years of our friendship, he helped guide me through my masonic journey, helped me with my ritual work, and always expressed how proud he was of the Mason I became. I learned so much from him, from how a lodge functions to how to be a good Mason. He was a Brother I looked up to and strived to emulate. I will miss him dearly, and I was fortunate to not only call him a Brother but a friend as well.
Masonry teaches us about the natural pathways of human life and how we will one day become members of the sacred Lodge above. We must never forget that one of Masonry’s principal teachings is to learn from and emulate each other, to help one another to be better men and Brothers. If John or some other Brother from the Lodge inspired you somehow, continue their work and legacy. Ensure you are helping foster the current and next generation of Brothers. In doing so, we can keep the memory of these great Brothers who came before us alive and strengthen the fraternal bonds of the Lodge. I hope to continue John's amazing work while he was here, and I hope to work with you in inspiring the next generation of Masons, giving them a piece of what John taught us.
Until next time,
Jeff Castellano
JUNE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Sunday June 4th at 1pm: K1 Racing Event
Wednesday June 7th at 6pm: Stated Dinner
Wednesday June 7th at 7pm: Stated Meeting
Sunday June 11th at 1pm: Sweethearts Lunch
Tuesday June 13th at 6pm: 3rd Degree Practice
Wednesday June 14th at 6pm: 3rd Degree Practice
Saturday June 17th: Golf Event
Saturday June 24th: Lodge Work Party
Please visit our online calendar below for the most complete and up to date information.
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Chances are it will be an overcast and cloudy day, so it sounds like a great time for K-1 Racing with the Jobies this Sunday June 4th at 1pm at K-1 Racing in Irvine.
17221 Von Karman Ave
Irvine, CA 92614
Hope to see you there!!
Sweethearts Lunch
Join us for our Annual Sweethearts Lunch, where we will be celebrating our Lodge Widows and Spouses. Lunch will be held at Newport Rib Company in Costa Mesa on Sunday June 11th at 1pm. Please RSVP by the evening of Wednesday June 7th so we can make the reservation at the restaurant. Hope to see you there!
