THE TRESTLE BOARD
The Villages Masonic Lodge No. 394 F. & A.M.
May 2026
From the East
My Brothers,
As I mentioned in my trestle board article last month, and we announced at the April Stated, we have very good news. A substantial inheritance has been graciously bestowed upon our Lodge through the Trust of our departed Brother, Richard Conlin, whose devotion to the Craft endures even beyond the veil, and it is with deep gratitude and solemn respect that we acknowledge this extraordinary act of generosity.
In October of last year, we were formally contacted by Raymond James with the unexpected news that our Lodge had been named as a beneficiary in Brother Conlin’s Trust. Since that time, we have completed the necessary legal filings and administrative steps, and on March 3rd of this year we were honored to receive a distribution in the amount of $1,341,007.83.
Our Lodge was one of four beneficiaries selected by Brother Conlin, alongside the Florida Masonic Home, Shriners Children’s Hospital, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital—an inspiring reflection of his lifelong commitment to charity, relief, and brotherly love.
To safeguard this extraordinary inheritance and ensure it strengthens our Lodge for generations to come, we established an Investment Committee composed of the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Treasurer, and Secretary. We are entrusted with pursuing a conservative, long‑term investment strategy designed to honor Brother Conlin’s legacy, preserve the principal, and provide a sustainable financial foundation that will support the Lodge’s future labors and benevolent works.
We are still in the planning phase and will send periodic updates to the craft as our plan develops. I want to thank our Treasurer, W⸫ Brother Hawkins, for taking on this monumental task of getting us legal and started.
Based on that, we made a motion to revoke our dues increase that had been previously approved by the Craft and will vote on that motion at the May Stated, after the required 30-day holdover period.
Don’t forget about the Gun Raffle that we will be drawing at May’s Stated. A S&W .357 Magnum. One for $10, Three for $25.
Once again, it takes the entire Lodge Team to be successful, so please don’t hesitate to provide any input to make OUR Lodge better. As always, if you would like to get in the Line, fill a chair in the future, or sit on a committee, please let us know.
Fraternally,
Brother Bruce Ferri
Worshipful Master
(559) 287-8332 or VML394WM@gmail.com
From the West
April is just about in the books. We completed a successful Fellow Craft catechism, celebrated our annual Widows Night dinner and were introduced to R⸫W⸫ Bobby Kickliter who presented his vision as a candidate for Florida Grand Lodge Junior Warden.
May brings another busy month of Lodge activity. The monthly Men’s Breakfast on Friday the 1st. A called communication is scheduled for Saturday May 9th to confer the Master Mason degree on Brother Ian Ganci. Our regular stated meeting on Monday the 11th. Social Dinner scheduled for Monday May the 18th. Also, District activities that all can attend, Open Books on Wednesday the 13th, and Masters and Wardens & Memorial Lodge on Wednesday the 20th. The big event will be the Grand Lodge Communication scheduled for Monday May 25th thru Wednesday May 27th. Your Lodge officers will be attending as your elected voting lodge representatives, however, all brothers are welcome to attend any of the sessions which will be held at Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Drive, in Orlando.
Once again, we are inviting all Master Masons of our lodge to attend Ritual Practice which we hold every Thursday between 12 and 1:30pm at the Lodge. All brothers are welcome no matter what your experience level may be, even if you just want to observe.
I continue to pursue re-establishing our presence in the Villages Town Squares, Once we have the go-ahead from The Villages, we will need brothers to come out and share the values and benefits of Free Masonry for our retired brothers moving to and living in the Friendliest town in Florida.
I want to paraphrase something from The Freemasons Community:
M“People talk about 'one shot.' One Opportunity. But life doesn’t work like that. You don’t get one chance. You get one M"today and another tomorrow and another the day after. Growth isn’t built in a single breakthrough, it’s built in repetition, M"in showing up again, in trying again. In adjusting, refining and continuing. Most people don’t fail because they missed M"one moment, they fail because they stop returning. Because they treat the process like a single event instead of a daily M"practice. But if you understand this, something shifts, the pressure drops and the responsibility becomes clearer. You M"don’t need to get everything right, you just need to show up and use the chance you’ve been given today.”
PS: If you are in need of a ride to Lodge, please contact any one of your elected officers and we will get you a ride for our next Stated meeting on Monday, May 11th.
Fraternally,
Carl Chew
Senior Warden
(215)285-1048
vml394sw@gmail.com
sprs33@verizon.net
From the South
BROTHERS, IT’S NOT TOO LATE!!
A wise man once said to me, “John, you know a stone doesn’t get made smooth by itself.”
Huh?
Of course, he was talking about me. I had all these grandiose ideas in mind of the person I wanted to be. But how was I going to be this kinder, better person? And waddaya mean I had rough edges? Who’s supposed to be smoothing my rough edges, anyway? Only one person. And he was looking right at me.
“Not to worry, John. You want to be better? It’s never too late to start— never mind the past,” he said. “Just start. But start NOW!”
As Masons, we hear all about working tools and the actions they represent. “Get working on your rough ashlar stone with those tools. You know, John, the ones you learned about as you went thru the Degrees.”
“Oh, is that what they’re for?” I said. I won’t repeat what he said.
Our next Social Dinner will be on Monday, May 18, at The Legacy Restaurant at Nancy Lopez Country Club, 17135 Buena Vista Boulevard, in The Villages. Social Hour at 4:30, dinner at 5. To help prevent seating confusion, please RSVP by texting 410-746-1105 with just your name and how many are coming.
Our First Fridays Breakfast Bunch this month will be May 1st, at 9:00 am, again at the Bob Evans Restaurant off CR 466. No agenda, no wives, just Brothers with Brothers.
And don’t forget to visit our website early and often. It always has up to date information and details on all Lodge events. (villagesmasoniclodge.com)
Fraternally yours,
John Markel
Junior Warden
(410) 746-1105
jsmarkel1000@gmail.com
Masonic Education
Yes, we have it!
Lodge Events in May
1 – First Fridays Breakfast Bunch at Bob Evans (off CR 466), 9:00 AM
7 – Officers Rehearsal at the Lodge, 12:00 PM
9 – Called Communication to raise Brother Ian Robert Ganci, 11:00 AM
11 – Stated Communication, 12:30 Lunch, 1:30 Meeting
18 – Social Dinner, Legacy Restaurant at Nancy Lopez Country Club, 4:30 PM
25-27 – Grand Lodge Annual Communication, Orlando
From the Secretary
We have much to do today!
