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No. 7

May 2

016 May 2016

Trestle Board

St. John’s Lodge No. 1

Portsmouth, NH

The Master’s Message

Greetings Brethren, For the past two decades, Masonry seems to have placed a great deal of emphasis on membership numbers. We frequently hear about the “golden era” of Masonic membership (1945-1965) when our numbers in the United States alone exceeded 4,000,000. Today we dwell on that element of our past and spend a great deal of time and effort to offer reasons as to why that number has retreated to 1,211,183 (*), and how we can reverse this trend. Since the early 1990’s, our smaller membership numbers have been presented time and time again as a completely negative experience for Freemasonry. At this point, I am going to “stick my neck out” and offer a contrarian view. Does this mean I am going to build a case whereby smaller numbers may actually be a good thing????- yes! Often the larger an organization the more impersonal it tends to be. I am sure we all know somebody who has worked in the world of large corporations or government agencies and expressed that feeling of being just another “faceless cog in the machine.” Those of us who may have attended the “mega-high” schools in the various states we grew up in, remember the fact that “social survival” depended on finding a “clique” we could fit into: and an exhibit of school spirit by the overall student body – well let’s face it - most of that was usually delegated to the “jock and cheerleader” clique”. In talking to those people who graduated from those “Class S” or “Division III” high schools, I often hear how cohesive their class or even entire school was simply because it was small enough for everybody to get to know and interact with everybody else. I think this is also why so many of these smaller high schools have very strong alumni associations. So, can these drawbacks of large organizations be found in Masonry? Several years ago a lodge member with many more years in Masonry that myself told me that “back when” St. Johns could point to 500 plus members, the chances of advancing through the chairs was very limited (due to “the waiting line” to enter the chairs) and that members sought offices in the appended bodies (York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shrine, etc.) to have the opportunity to hold an office. Last year I found a photo from a magazine in the W.P. Tavern Museum of a Masonic banquet held in London in 1925. It was billed as the largest single banquet ever held anywhere, with over 8,000 masons attending. I found myself thinking, what an impressive show of numbers, but as individuals how much did each of those attending really get to enjoy the event? How much chance did they really get to meet, talk with and really get to know each other. I also found myself thinking if N.H. was still near its pinnacle in numbers (which was over 10,000), would I be still be having a one-on-one breakfast with the Grand Master such as I did a few months ago? Would I have had the opportunity to move through the chairs as I have had the past six years? Would I have had the opportunity to serve as curator for the William Pitt Tavern or as District Education Officer? Would I be as recognized and have as close friendships as I have developed in lodges all over the first and fifth districts? For those who may counter with the argument “Oh, but you need the larger numbers

to make things work in the lodge”, I would direct them to review the results of this year’s St. John’s Out of Hibernation 5K Road Race. After several years of declining donations, a handful of brothers took it upon themselves to turn the Road Race around and set what seemed like an impossible goal of raising $10,000 for the race with all proceeds, after expenses, going to charity. Well, with only a few brothers involved - they did not meet that goal…..they exceeded it! Brethren, if anything, we need to concentrate more on the brothers we have, than those we do not have. If we continue to build opportunities, programs, and a fraternal closeness for our current body of dedicated brothers, we do not have to find “the numbers”: they will come to the door and find us! *(2014 MSANA figures)

Fraternally Yours,

Wor. Rod MacDonald Worshipful Master

Master’s Message continued

Glenn R. Gordon Secretary

glengordon@comcast.net Bob Sutherland 603-828-5246

Greenlandbob@gmail.com

Roderick MacDonald Worshipful Master

RodMStJohnsNo1@comcast.net (603) 436-4071

Contact Information:

Ward/Day Education Foundation Applications for the 2016 Ward/Day Education Foundation are now being accepted. The deadline is May 30, 2016.

Answer to April Trivia— The Scottish Rite template in Guthrie, Oklahoma May Trivia: What Lodge office/officer is unique to Masonry (meaning- it/he is not found

in any other organization fraternal, social, business, or civil) ?

Masonic Trivia Stated Communication —Open in EA Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Dinner 6:00——Baked haddock dinner ($10) Lodge Opens 7:00PM

Officer dress—White tie and tails

Tales from the Vault Presented by Anniversary Lodge of Research

Saturday, May 7, 2016 5:00PM-6:30PM

$20 per person, includes BBQ dinner

SJMA Meeting/Lodge Officer Meeting Wednesday, May 11, 2016

SJMA—6:30PM Officer Meeting—7:00PM

Special Communication—Fellow Craft Degree Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Dinner 6:00——Spaghetti and Meatballs ($10) Lodge Opens 7:00PM

Officer dress—White tie and tails

May 21, 2016 Grand Lodge 9:00 AM

2nd Fellowship Pot-Luck Dinner

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 No charge—just bring a main dish Family and friends are welcome

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May 2016

St. John’s Lodge Historical Sketch

Charles Ransom Brothwell, Jr.

There used to be a company called the Macallen Company over on Bay Road in Newmarket, NH. Also known as Macallen Mica, the company, established in 1891, manufactured electrical insulation in various forms including tapes, segments and insulators using a shiny silicate mineral with a layered structure called mica. Mica is found in granite and other rocks, and sometimes as crystals on the ground; it has excellent thermal and electrical insulating properties. Thin transparent sheets of mica called "isinglass" were used for peepholes in boilers, lanterns, stoves and kerosene heaters because they were less likely to shatter than glass when exposed to extreme temperature gradients. Franklin McDuffee wrote in his History of the Town of Rochester, NH, published in 1892, that New Hampshire’s Isinglass River is "probably named from the mica in its bed or along its banks." Isinglass is a synonym for mica; it makes the rocks at the Isinglass River sparkle. Most of the raw mica used by the Macallen Company was imported from India, the world’s leading source of the mineral. The company used special equipment to transform the mica flakes into sheets which were then cut, punched or formed into components that were mainly used in the electrical industry. The material was used in automobiles, diesel electric locomotives, airplanes and space craft; and in household applications that included toasters, coffee percolators and hair driers. In 1963, the company developed a product called Miciglo, a special grade of mica that was fabricated into attractive lamp shades and decorative screens that were very popular across the nation. The company was very successful in large measure to its 1st Vice President of sales and manufacturing, Mr. Chug Brothwell. Charles Ransom Brothwell, Jr. was born in Chester, CT on March 30, 1919, the son of Marjorie Brooks and Charles R. Brothwell, Sr. Chug, as he was nicknamed, went to local schools and graduated from Kent School. Located in Kent, CT, the school is a college preparatory boarding school affiliated with the Episcopal Church of the United States. In 1927, the Kent School Boat Club was the first American school crew to row at the British Henley Royal Regatta and compete for the Thames Challenge Cup. In 1938 when Chug rowed in an eight-man crew for Kent, the school won that prestigious prize. In December 1940, Chug married his dear wife, Henrietta "Rieta" Lockwood of Manchester who had that same year graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY with a degree in Art. In the summer of 1941, Chug received his draft notice into the United States Army and ten days after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, he was deployed to Bora Bora where he helped build a refueling station. Bora Bora, a small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti, was a strategic point along the sea lanes to Australia and in January 1942, six transport and cargo ships arrived at the island with 4,400 men including Chug, a Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-aircraft) and a Naval Construction Battalion with 20,000 tons of supplies. The men built the refueling station and a garrison equipped with eight 155mm coastal defense guns. By early 1943 they

also had completed construction of an airfield with a 5,000' runway. Later in 1943, Chug was reassigned to officer training school and in January 1944, shortly after receiving his commission, he was dispatched to England. A few months later, on June 6, 1944, D-Day, Lieutenant Brothwell led his men ashore onto Utah Beach in the third wave of that most famous battle. For his heroic and meritorious service to his country, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Chug and Rieta were married for more than 60 years and lived in a lovely old home overlooking the mouth of the Piscataqua River in New Castle, NH that they purchased in 1960. They were both very active members of the community and parishioner at St. John's Episcopal Church in Portsmouth. Chug died on Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at their home in New Castle after several months of declining health; he was 84 years old. Rieta lived for eight more years and passed away peacefully at their home on Monday, June 6, 2011; she was 93 years old. Not too long ago, their old home in New Castle was torn down to make way for a new luxury home. Charles (Chug) Ransom Brothwell, Jr. was a good man, a good husband, a good citizen and a successful businessman. He was also a brave patriot who helped save the world in World War II as part of the Greatest Generation. Brother Chug was also a dedicated and active Freemason, and you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that he was a long time member of St. John’s Lodge, No. 1 in Portsmouth where he was Raised a Master Mason on November 16, 1966.

Alan M. Robinson, PM Historian