Burlingame Lodge No.400 Trestleboard (October 2022)

TheMaster’sMessage

Greetings from the Oriental Chair,

Ihope that all of you are doing well and that the pox (monkey) has not affected any of you or your families. I hope that the Supreme Architect of the Universe is still continually blessing and watching over you and your families.

We just had a great lodge event that was well-attended by our lodge members, significant others and our friends. I wish to specially thank Brother Robert Whyte for overseeing such a good event. Thank you very much for executing my vision to near perfection! I had received many positive comments about that event and all the credit goes to our Brother Junior Warden and to the brothers and sisters who helped in setting up and getting the hall ready.

What a treat it was to hear MW John Cooper III, PGM speak about some Masonic education. It was interesting to hear about the great con orchestrated by one person and also what we know about being a past master is less than what we think. It was really a good lecture by MW John. I do hope that we can do more fun events in the coming years.

Things are really shaping up well for our lodge. We still have a few prospects that are eagerly participating in our activities and events. Please do look out for them and make sure to greet them and get to know them. Show them what makes our beloved lodge special. Let us be welcoming and be good examples of what masons should be. Let us continually invite more friends to come participate in our events.

The month of October is an exciting one, with the World Series being played, international coffee day (my favorite!) and of course, Halloween. We always root and

hope that the Giants go to the World Series. Coffee is always a good beverage to have specially with some Hawaiian Macadamia nut cookies. (I know a gal) and what can we say about Halloween? Be safe out there when you bring your kiddos to go treat-or-treating. And if you are doing adult parties, may you have the best costume and have a great night out! Just remember to do everything in moderation. :). We also have Annual Communications happening this month. I hope that everyone can attend, if able, to show support for our incoming Grand Master, and to meet old friends from other lodges.

October is also the time for the advancing officers of the lodge to start reaching out to our Officers’ Coach , WB Joe Becker, to get qualified with our Inspector. I am looking forward to our 2023 line of officers and I know that they will have a great year. The next few years looks good for our beloved lodge. If all go according to plan, we should have a succession of good leaders for the next few years. Let us all continually support and assist them as they go through their years.

I do hope that the Great Architect of the Universe will continually shower you and your families with manifold blessings and comforts. As always, stay safe, be good and love one another. I hope to see you all very soon.

To quote our brother Benjamin Franklin: “He that would live in peace & at ease, must not speak all he knows or judge all he sees.”

Fraternally yours and by the Square

humble servant of Burlingame lodge No 400, Joshua L. Cusing, P.M. Master

Brethren,

Masonic lodge, often termed a private lodge or constituent lodge, is the basic organizational unit of Freemasonry. It is also commonly used as a term for a building in which the members meet. Every new lodge must be warranted or chartered by a Grand Lodge; but is subject to its direction only in enforcing the published constitution of the jurisdiction.

A Freemason is generally entitled to visit any Lodge in any jurisdiction in amity with his own. He is first usually required to check, and certify, the regularity of the relationship of the Lodge, and be able to satisfy that Lodge of his regularity of membership. Freemasons gather as a Lodge to work the three basic Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason.

Awith new members, conduct business, and install new line officers. It also provides our members with the opportunity to freely gather while conforming to the law, rules, and regulations of our fraternity.

What is more important than a Charter? “The answer is the men who make up the pillars of Lodge, our appointed position members, and the ability to confirm a degree. When rendered down to the most basic element a lodge that does not have a line of officers proficient in the ritual of our Craft can neither confirm new members nor support the Charter that is the structure of our Fraternal order.

Burlingame Lodge is now at a point where we elected to conduct business meetings only four times a year. I would strongly suggest that the first Tuesday of every month that a stated meeting is not required should be set aside for ritual practice.

Burlingame Lodge does not need a large membership base. What is required is the efforts of a few to maintain our charter. We have been good custodians of our finances, took care of our building, and fielded a proficient line of officers following in the footsteps of those before us.

The past history of our Lodge is the cornerstone of our future. Remember the door is always open to those who desire a more vested interest in our Lodge by committing to a position in our line of officers.

Joseph J. Becker, P.M.

Senior Warden

Our charter is portable, we can confirm degrees, with dispensation from our inspector, at other locations under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California. Burlingame Charter is an instrument that can be used to populate our lodge

Fraternally,

A Warm Greetings my Brothers,

The Masonic Cornerstone STURDINESS ◊ MORALITY ◊ TRUTH

or Masons, the Cornerstone is a symbol of sturdiness, morality, and truth. The north-east corner of the Lodge is an important and integral part of any Mason’s journey. The figurative cornerstones signify the unity of the North (darkness), and the East (light). Masons are taught and come to understand the necessity of integrity, stability of conduct, of truthfulness and uprightness of character, and of purity and holiness of life.

All Masons are charged with maintaining these vital virtues throughout his life. These characteristics (uprightness of character, purity, and holiness of life) are all associated with the strength and durability of the physical cornerstone.

From the earliest days of our Fraternity, it is customary for Masons to lay the cornerstones of public buildings through ceremony – traditionally with the stone placed in the northeast corner of the foundation.

Ftion of many federal buildings and seats of state government since the beginnings of our country.

Physical cornerstones used in ceremonies in which Masons are erecting buildings traditionally show the date, the name of the Grand Lodge, the Grand Master, and the Masonic emblem. Cornerstones have been part of the construction or dedica-

Most Worshipful Brother Benjamin Franklin, while Grand Master of Pennsylvania, established the tradition beginning with the cornerstone laying of the state house in Philadelphia, followed thereafter by Worshipful Brother George Washington who laid the cornerstone of the Capitol building.

Today, Freemasons all around the country are proud to carry on the tradition that our forefathers began centuries ago. We are also proud to uphold one of the most important principal tenets of our Craft; namely, “Truth” and the moral characteristics associated with the cornerstone. By doing so, we understand the necessary sacrifices that are required to better our lives and communities, and in the process, improve ourselves in Freemasonry.

Robert O. Whyte Junior Warden

Fraternally,

Burlingame Lodge original cornerstone on

Burlingame Avenue. Photo: Marty Cusing, PM

Gary

Brother Peter Van Scherpe is a retired Surveyor Assistant and Production Sound. You may find Scherpe’s name familiar as he worked on a few movie productions. He is originally from Fullerton, CA and currently resides in Foster City, CA.

He was initiated on September 27, 2022. Please give him a hearty welcome to the fraternity!

Master

Joshua L. Cusing, P.M. jlcusing@gmail.com (650) 826-9065

Senior Warden

Joseph J. Becker, P.M.2 jbdesignsinc@gmail.com (650) 291-6220

Junior Warden

Robert O. Whyte rwcm@msn.com (650) 417-5274

Treasurer

David D. Jones, P.M. Jonesaccountancy@sbcglobal.net (650) 548-4040

Secretary

David R. Jolliffe, P.M. drj715@hotmail.com (650) 773-5034

Chaplain

Aidan Cotter acotter@marketbc.com (415) 517-6668

Assistant Secretary

Marty M. Cusing, P.M. martycusing@gmail.com (650) 218-6088

Senior Deacon

Vincent D. Chan, P.M. hydroz1@gmail.com (510) 332-2015

Junior Deacon Martin Chavez nobadpit@gmail.com (510) 621-3135

Marshal Gary L. Stephens, P.M. glstephens5@gmail.com (650) 255-9140

Senior Steward

Jaeson S. Cusing jaeson.cusing@gmail.com (650) 703-5001

Junior Steward Renato G. Alferez renay0814@att.net (650) 740-1884

Organist

Jack J. Burrous, P.M. jb38banjo@yahoo.com (650) 583-5182

Tiler

Roberto Diaz, Jr., P.M.2 drrobdiaz58@yahoo.com (650) 245-7338

Officers’ Coach

Joseph J. Becker, P.M.2 jbdesignsinc@gmail.com (650) 291-6220

Burlingame Masonic Hall Association, Inc. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Timothy D. Martin, P.M. Vice President James L. Cutsinger

Gary L. Stephens, P.M.

Treasurer

David D. Jones, P.M.

Ex-Officio Joshua L. Cusing, P.M. Master Mark “The Whit” Stephens

Secretary

David R. Jolliffe, P.M.

Ex-Officio Robert O. Whyte Junior Warden Aidan Cotter

The Hall Association meetings are usually held on the fourth Thursday of the month, are generally open to all members of the Lodge and commence at 6:30 PM

Trestleboard Editor – Marty M. Cusing, P.M. Trestleboard Co-Editors – David R. Jolliffe, P.M. & Aidan Cotter Content Contributor

Roberto Diaz, Jr., P.M.2

October

David R. Jolliffe, PM

Richard M. Steiger

Jason P. Overacker

Dean J. Zaracotas

Hans Geiger

Sakir T. Megreal

Gary L. Stephens, PM

Master Mason Anniversaries

October

Jonathan Goodier Jr.

Joseph R. Davidson, P.M.

James L. Pollard

Robert H. Highsmith

James L. Lester, P.M. Joerg Koschyk, P.M.

James A. Tassos

David C. Lobinsky

Charles Drechsler, P.M. Michael A. Mancuso, P.M. Christopher S. Kaufman Charles S. Grech, P.M. Christopher T. Kourtoglou

Luis E. Araneda

John A. Clover

Gregory P. Dutil Cameron D. Douraghy Vincent D. Chan, P.M. Eric H. De Jesus James L. Cutsinger

Roberto Diaz Jr., P.M. Michael J. Nafziger Richard E. Ato Abraham T. Rafanan Jr. Derek A. Caturay Jason P. Overacker Nicholas A. Consola Martin Chavez Cris P. Advincula Jr.

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