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Naval Lodge 87
Free and Accepted Masons ä Vallejo, CA ä Grand Lodge of California
April 2015
Publishing Information
NAVAL LODGE No. 87
VISION STATEMENT
Naval Lodge
attracts and brings together good men of diverse generational, racial, religious, and cultural backgrounds
for self improvement, friendship, and service;
The VÌllejo Masonic News
Because,
We provide an authentic initiatory experience and
engaging education programs based on a tradition
of living and animate speech to effect a personal
transformation that inspires each man to a principle
driven way of life based on brotherly love, relief and
truth.
Cover: Eye of Providence
Publisher: Wor. Rick Lauziere
e-mail: rmlauziere@aol.com
Editor: Bro. Brent Wolke
e-mail: naval87secretary@gmail.com
Issue: April 2015
Volume 22, Issue 4
Published Monthly (except July)
By Naval Lodge No. 87
Free and Accepted Masons of California
Officers of Naval Lodge 87
MASTER
Rick A. Lauziere (Michelle)
707-751-1803
rmlauziere@aol.com
SENIOR WARDEN
JUNIOR DEACON
Guadalupe Thomas (Anita)
Salvatore C. Petersen (Sherri)
510-375-7126
707-704-1977
guadalupet1951@gmail.com
salsez@comcast.net
JUNIOR WARDEN
SENIOR STEWARD
Armand B. Ballesil (Vergie)
Manuel ‘Sam’ C. Sarmiento (Marilyn)
415-370-6537
707-421-2687
armandballesil@yahoo.com
sigsam0601@comcast.net
TREASURER
JUNIOR STEWARD
Jeffrey L. Massingham (Sherrill)
Preme F. Monta (Inzviminda)
707-746-6533
707-334-1847
jlmass49@aol.com
premfmonta@gmail.com
SECRETARY
MARSHALL
Brent Wolke (Vera)
Dennis A. Timmons (Lolita)
707-342-5072
415-606-1938
naval87secretary@gmail.com
dennis.a.timmons@sddc.army.smil.mil
SENIOR DEACON
CHAPLAIN
Rollie Q. Caabay (Sophie)
Gerald L. Bettman PM (Dana)
707-558-8793
707-747-0906
caabayr@comcast.net
bettmanbenicia@sbcglobal.net
ORGANIST
Charles Bailhache (Mary)
707-644-1560
charlesabailhache@prodigy.net
TILER
Barry Hughes PM (Judy)
707-333-7866
barryhughes@sbcglobal.net
OFFICER’S COACH
Albert Lawson PM (Belinda)
510-921-4629
alawson@kellymoore.com
INSPECTOR OF THE
131st MASONIC DISTRICT
John L. Wasson PM (Pat)
707-552-2869
jwas134@gmail.com
Committees of Naval Lodge 87
AUDIT: LODGE
Albert Lawson PM, Michael Woodruff PM, &
Guadalupe Thomas
AUDIT: SMTA
Tom Langford PM, Salvatore Petersen, &
John Snell PM
CANDIDATE COACHING
Guadalupe Thomas
CHARITY
Rick Lauziere WM, Guadalupe Thomas, &
Armand Ballesil
ENTERTAINMENT
Rollie Caabay, Joe Crudo, & Rick Lauziere WM
FINANCE
Joe Crudo, & William Hems III
FUNERAL
Barry Hughes PM, Tom Langford PM,
Eric Mosness, John Wasson PM, &
Keith Wattles PM
LIBRARY
Colin Amato
MASONIC FORMATION
Salvatore Petersen
MASONIC HOMES ENDOWMENT
William Hems III
PHONE TREE
Rick Lauziere WM, & Brent Wolke
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Charlie Bailhache, & Gerry Bettman PM
RETENTION
Rollie Caabay, Jeffrey Massingham, &
Guadalupe Thomas
SCHOLARSHIP
Gerry Bettman PM, & Jeffrey Massingham
SMEF
Rollie Caabay, Jose Ferrer, Jim Jaeger, &
Glenn Munkres PM
TRESTLEBOARD
Rick Lauziere (publisher), & Brent Wolke (editor)
TRESTLEBOARD COMMITTEE
Joe Crudo, William Hems III, Rick Lauziere WM,
& Frank Petersen (Chairman)
TRUSTEES
Armand Ballesil, William Hems III (Chairman), &
Preme Monta
WEBMASTER
Frank Petersen
YOUTH GROUPS
Gerry Bettman PM, & William Hems III
Greetings Brothers,
From the East
I am writing this having just returned from the
Masters and Wardens retreat. Once again, I
found it to be an enjoyable and educational experience and I thank our lodge for recognizing
the value of sending its Master and Wardens to
this rewarding event. In the future, I suggest that
our lodge strongly consider sending our Senior
Deacon to this retreat, as many lodges currently
do. I feel that the knowledge and skills that are
obtained at the retreat would greatly assist the
Senior Deacon in his preparation for the Pillar
Offices.
I would like to congratulate Bros. Carlisle and
Lintag on their Third Degree conferrals, and
thank all the Brothers who helped set-up, prep,
cook, serve and clean-up at the Inspectors retreat that Naval Lodge hosted in early March.
I, as Master, asked for all hands in and received
nothing short of that. We did raise some money
that all members of our lodge will see the benefit
of, by us not having to charge to attend our Past
Masters dinner and our first ever in-house Master Mason of the Year Award dinner later in the
year. Again, truly excellent job and I thank you
all, with an extra big thank you to our very own
5 star chef, Wor. Barry Hughes; you rock the
kitchen, Brother!
This month we will balance work and play as we
will be conferring a double First Degree and a
Challenges for the True Mason
Author Unkown
Third Degree and we will have a Brothers movie
night as well as a gun range trip. Please consult
the Calendar for times and dates.
Over the next 8 weeks we will see 4 new Brothers
receive their First Degrees and begin their journey
in our Lodge and our fraternity. I already have
very positive and strong feelings for Mr. Cruz,
Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Abeja, and Mr. Zumwalde.
It is my belief that our lodge and its members,
whether they be Master Masons, Fellow Crafts,
Entered Apprentices, or new candidates are seeing
the positive benefit and outcome of adopting our
three visits before application rule, and I thank
you all for having the foresight for doing so.
In parting this month I would like to say I hope
you all are enjoying this Masonic year as a member of Naval Lodge #87 so far, I will tell you that
I am. I appreciate all the support and hard work
that I feel and see from all of you, my brothers, and
as I will continue to try and balance our working
activities with fun activities please let me know if
there is something you might like us as a lodge to
try and do.
Worshipful Master,
Rick A Lauziere
I will do more than belong
I will participate
I will do more than care
I will help
I will do more than believe
I will practice
I will do more than be fair
I will be kind
I will do more than forgive
I will forget
I will do more than dream
I will work
I will do more than teach
I will inspire
I will do more than earn
I will enrich
I will do more than give
I will serve
I will do more than live
I will grow
I will do more then be friendly
I will be a friend
I will do more than be a citizen
I will be a patriot
From the West
Congratulations to Bros. Tyler Carlisle and
Virgillo “Billy” Lingtag for receiving the
Master Mason Degree in the month of March.
Additionally, I am sure that I speak for the Worshipful Master when I thank those brothers that
assisted in degree conferral. Your hard work is
truly appreciated and you can feel proud of your
contributions in delivering the best degree conferral possible.
GOOD STANDING REQUIREMENT
From the South
Brethren,
We are about to approach the 2nd quarter of this
year. I must say, all systems are running smoothly
and normal. We have encountered a bit of snags
here and there but immediate solutions were applied and took effect. Of course, with the guidance of the 2 Inspectors, the Past Masters, and
all the brothers unselfish devotions to our Craft
especially during the degrees, stated and special
meetings. Not to forget the effort we all shared
during the District Inspectors Conference. Everyone who came by, played a role, did a very exFraternally cellent job, in the kitchen, in the dining room and
Bro. Guadalupe Thomas also the brothers who took as their responsibility
Senior Warden to tour our visitors around. Brother, more challenges are about to come, and the “Going will get
tougher”. With this kind of brotherhood we are
displaying, can I say then, “when the going gets
tough, the tough gets going”? Have a blessed day
Brethren.
No member may make a motion, second a motion,
speak on a motion, vote on a motion, recommend
anyone for membership or ballot on membership
at a Lodge meeting unless he is then a member in
good standing of that Lodge. He must present a
current dues receipt to the Tiler to demonstrate
that he is a member of the Lodge in good standing or be verified by the Master, Senior Warden,
The following is intended to enrich our lesser in- Junior Warden, Secretary or Assistant Secretary as
formed brethren:
a member of the Lodge in good standing.
DECISION OF MASTER
There shall be no appeal to the Lodge from any
decision of the Master. Objections to a decision
of the Master may be presented to the Grand
Master and dealt with by him.
DUTY TO ATTEND FUNERAL
It is the duty of every member, Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft to attend the funeral of a
deceased member of his Lodge or any other Master Mason residing within the vicinity of his
Lodge at the time of death, if he can do so without great inconvenience.
Armand Ballesil
Junior Warden
P.S. Don’t forget April 25th, our day at the range.
More info regarding which will be available on
the Tilers desk.
Subdued Passions, Tattoos, and Masonic Pride
This month my brothers I would like to share
with you something I experienced at the Masters
and Wardens retreat. Those of you who know me
visually will have a better understanding then
those of you who don’t.
I then added to my response by telling him that
I tell brothers who think that way that there are
things in life that I feel very passionate about such
as my family, as I pointed out the names of my
wife and sons on my arm, and my faith, as I pointed out my cross and prayer hands, or like him (as
Let me start by saying the dress code for the en- I pointed first to his 49er ball cap and then to my
tire weekend was (much to my and many of my 49er tattoo), or in this case my passion for not
brothers appreciation – thank you Grand Lodge) only our craft but my lodge as well, as I showed
casual, and the weather all weekend was a perfect him our Naval Lodge #87 brand tattoo.
78 degrees plus. Needless to say the average attire
to which I contributed too was cargo shorts and I then told him that like a hat or shirt or a ring,
Hawaiian or polo shirts.
tattoos are just my way of showing my passion for
things and to consider this, that unlike a hat or
While walking to one of the elective classes of- shirt or a ring this square and compass tattoo I
fered I was stopped by a senior (in years as well as can not take off. And I would like to think that
lodge office) brother, who asked me if I ever get if I am observed in public doing something good
any comments from brothers on my square and even something as little as holding open a door for
compass tattoo. I told him, yes, sometimes. He someone or offering some sort of assistance or usasked me if any of them were ever negative and I ing simple civil niceties like saying “thank you” or
said a few, to which he wanted to know, how so. “have a nice day” which (unfortunately) in much
I responded by telling him that while most peo- of society these days is uncommon. They might
ple, not just brothers, that do comment on my art catch a glimpse of this square and compass and
work like it. But, I have had a few brothers ask that it will have a positive reflection on our craft or
me if I didn’t think I should be a little more con- better yet start a conversation and give me opporservative or subdued in my display of affiliation tunity to talk about our beloved fraternity. On the
and/or affection for our craft.
flip side it also keeps me in check knowing that
while I am constantly displaying it I am in public
I noticed a facial expression and a slight nod of view.
his head that made me think he either agreed
with this line of thought or was letting me know The brother then told me that he would never
he knew what I was talking about. I was not sure had thought of it that way and that he liked my
which.
response to his question. He then added that he
liked my square and compass tattoo and walked
away.
I am still not sure if he initially felt that way or if
what I said caused him to change his opinion on
the subject but either way I just thought I would
share the experience with you.
Rick Lauziere
Worshipful Master
Movie Night
The Freemason
Monday, April 20th at 7:00 PM
Everyone is welcome!
By most objective criteria (e.g. acting, editing,
plot, etc), this is a poorly made film, but one
made in earnest by a fellow Mason, Bro. Joseph
James of Utah.
His stated goal was to make a movie that dispelled
the myths of Freemasonry while showing the public
what we and our rituals are really like, while entertaining with a murder mystery.
Of note, Bro. James sent the script to the Grand
Master of Utah, who gave his approval.
The movie runs 1 hour and 35 minutes, and there
is a 15 minute ‘Making of..’ afterwards where you
get to hear Bro. James speak about his goals.
Afterwards there will be a discussion for Masons
only about the movie; whether we liked it or not
(and why) and whether the movie reached the
objective of Bro. James.
Snacks and soda provided.
Participation and Fellowship
An all too common refrain for a brother who cannot make lodge night is that they are busy, with
family, with work, with school, or some other obligation. Fair enough, and no quarrel with such
obligations. Only officers are under any serious
commitment to attend every meeting. Yet, Thursday nights are not the only way to participate
with your Lodge. A multitude of ways exist, and
it remains only for the brother to avail themselves
of the opportunities to participate and enjoy the
fellowship of Naval Lodge No. 87, even if it is not
on a Thursday night.
Rehearsal Nights: Can’t make Thursday nights,
but Monday is open? At least once a month,
sometimes twice, Monday nights at 7:00 PM our
officers rehearse for various degrees, and we are
always in need of a ‘candidate’ to practice on.
There is usually a light meal before the rehearsal
starts, and socializing afterwards.
The Pre-Stated Meeting: Usually the Monday
night before the Stated Meeting, the Master, Secretary, and Treasurer get together to plan the
agenda for the Stated Meeting; organize bills and
deposits; and get anything else in order that will
be needed for the Stated Meeting. It doesn’t last
more than an hour or two, but everyone is welcome to observe and comment.
SMTA: Thursdays and Mondays no good? The
third Tuesday of every month is the Springbrook
Masonic Temple Association meeting. At such
meetings, the practical business of managing the
physical building is handled, and while only board
members may vote on issues, anyone may comment and make their opinion known. Sometimes
snacks even make an appearance.
Fellowship outside the lodge: Beyond all this,
nothing says you can only participate in the fellowship of your brothers at the lodge. Organize a
movie night; a poker night; a lunch or a dinner;
or some other fun activity with the brothers on
any night that works for you.
Social Events: Some, but not all, lodge events
are on a Thursday or Monday. Some, such as last The point is, a Lodge is not a building...
months Brewmaster’s Tour happened on a Saturday. Sometimes there are Sunday or Saturday
...it is the brothers...
breakfast and lunch fund-raisers or other events.
If you have the time, come to them. They are great ...and our brotherhood is not limited to Thursday
opportunities to socialize.
nights. Hope to see you soon!
Fraternally
-Bro. Brent Wolke
Secretary
Ritual Conference
On March 6th and 7th, Naval Lodge had the
honor of hosting the Northern California Ritual
Conference for District I, II, III, IV, and VI. This
was put on by the Grand Lecturer, Very Worshipful Jack Rose, and the Assistant Grand Lecturers
for the above districts. If you are not familiar with
how the state is divided into districts, I will let
you know it covered the state from the Oregon
Border to just below King City. Over the Friday
night session and all day Saturday, the Inspectors
exemplified all 3 degrees, and Worshipful Keith
Wattles and I put on a class in the performance pressed them. Both the Grand Lecturer and our
of the Lodge Room Funeral Service. There we Assistant Grand Lecturer, Worshipful Bill Mcsome 60 Inspectors in attendance.
Broome, particularly congratulated the Lodge
on the fine food and hospitality shown to the atNaval Lodge put forth one of its best efforts in tendees. We owe a real debt of gratitude to the
hosting this event. The lodge cooked and served a brothers who came before us, from their selection
fine dinner on Friday night, and a light continen- of our site to their financial responsibility for the
tal breakfast and full lunch on Saturday. We heard condition of our Lodge.
nothing but great comments on the food, the
appearance and condition of our facility, and of I would like to recognize the following memcourse the view at sunset Friday night really imContinued next page...
24” Gauge
...continued from previous page.
bers of the Lodge for their assistance in putting
on this event: Worshipfuls Rick Lauziere, Barry Hughes (aka the Chef), Gerald Bettman,
and Albert Lawson, and Brothers Guadalupe
Thomas, Armand Ballesil, Jeff Massingham,
Brent Wolke, Sam Sarmiento, Preme Monta,
Edwin Vera, Elmer Vera, Mervyn Nicholas, William Hems III, Ralph Lindeman,
John Pamplin, and Enrico Caramanzana. If I
missed anyone, you have my apologies.
The following Brethren have reported as being ill, injured, or indisposed. Please feel free to call, drop off food or medicine, visit, and/
or send a card. Call the Master, or the Secretary, if you need phone
numbers and addresses. Please notify the Senior Warden to provide
an update or report any Brother not on this list.
Peter Axtman
James Crane
Brad Larson
Ken McKendry
Glenn Munkres
Russell Parker-Taft
Leo B. Paule
William A. Pratt
Gus Quezon
Rey Santiago
John Snell
Stan Talbot
Horia Tanasescu
As the District Inspector, I want to personally
thank the Lodge for allowing this event to be
held at Naval Lodge, and to also express the great
pride I felt both in that position and as a member
of such a great lodge.
Fraternally Yours,
Ï
John Wasson
Inspector of the 131st Masonic District
From the Secretary
Greetings Brethren
At the time of this writing, we have 66 Brothers
of our lodge who have not yet paid their dues
of $174.50. Delinquent dues notices have been .
mailed. Please, if you have not already done so,
pay your dues now. They can be handed to me in
person or mailed to:
Naval Lodge 87
101 Temple Way
Vallejo, CA 94591
Fraternally
Bro. Brent Wolke
Secretary
Birthdays
Brother
Marcus Jones
Charles Gardner PM
Laurence Hoback
Frank Brown
Gary Thomas
Russell Parker-Taft
Jonathan Throne
Gerald Bettman Jr. PM
Michael Pamplin
Frederick Regala
Ray Raymundo
Apolonio Luna
Donald Radder
Stanwood Talbot
Harold Pierce PM
Eric Thomas
Harry Royer
Dennis Timmons
Birthday
02
04
04
05
05
08
08
09
12
14
15
18
23
23
26
27
29
29
3rd Degree Anniv.
Brother
Peter Axtman
Jack Saunders
Laurence Hoback
Donald Foss
Bobby Harmon
Archie Martinez
Robert Foley Jr.
Howard Sweatfield
Wyatt Windom
Thomas Anderson
Robert Quintero Jr.
Jack Renfro
John Hull
Richard Nickelson
Frank Petersen
Years
56
54
50
48
47
43
40
39
38
34
31
31
28
27
6
Welcome to the Light
Everywhere about us, at work, at home, and at our
lodge, exist common place objects. Most contain
no significance what-so-ever. Most are purchased
from big box stores and are disposable. Yet, there
are some that are special, older, and they hide a
forgotten past. It remains for us to shine the light
and illuminate it.
to spread the doctrine of “Boost One Another”, a
slogan of fellowship and cooperation.i Like Lodges or Chapters, they grouped themselves into
‘Pyramid’s. Pyramid No. 7 was situated in Vallejo
and rented space at the Masonic Hall downtown.
Sitting outside the door to the minor lodge room
of Naval Lodge 87 is a Tiler’s desk. It has a hinged
lid, but the lid itself was screwed shut and covered
over in lacquer, dirt, and grime of many years use.
Opening this lid uncovered bits of scrap paper,
dust, and splinters. Written on the underside of Vallejo itself was a hot bed of fraternal activthe lid, in pencil, are the words;
ity since World War I. The application in 2012
for historical status of the Old Masonic Temple
noted Vallejo had an “unusually high number of
E A Skillings
fraternal organizations”ii and quoted the Vallejo
Pyramid No. 7
Times-Herald back in 1954 as saying Vallejo was
“one of the strongest cities in the state for fraternal organizations.”iii
Have you ever looked at your smartphone and
considered what the undoubtedly Chinese man
or woman looked like who put it together? Are
they happy with their work? Sad? Are they, like
recent news reports inform us, actual prison labor? Have you ever purchased a genuine antique
and wondered who built it and why? Who has
possessed it all these many years and what wonders or horrors did it bear witness to? Was it a gift
to a loved one or an expression of longing to see
something manifest that did not exist before?
Although the connection between Pyramid No. 7
and Naval Lodge No. 87, the last remaining regular Masonic Lodge in Vallejo seems obscure, if
not entirely forgotten, now, it was at one time a
power-house chapter of the Sciots.
In 1905, a Masonic concordant body was established in San Francisco, California, and by 1910
had changed their name to The Ancient Egyptian
Order of Sciots. Their purpose was to unite all
Master Masons in closer bonds of friendship and
In 1922, a local newspaper noted that more than
200 Sciots from around the San Francisco Bay
Area would travel by car and ferry (the first Carquinez bridge was still 5 years away at the time)
Continued next page...
...continued from previous page.
to Vallejo for a reception and banquet for a Masonic brother of Vallejo who had been elected the
Supreme Pharaoh of all Sciots in the state.iv
While at one time popular, with dozens of Pyramids within this state alone, sadly the organization has only 7 total remaining for the entire
United States.
E. A. Skillings is Earnest A. Skillings, born in
1864 in Indianav, and passed on to the celestial
lodge in 1938 in Vallejo.vi Just three years before
his death, at age 71, on a Wednesday night, he
was installed as Neokori (essentially the Tiler for
the Sciots) of Pyramid No. 7.vii
Whoever, and whatever, else Bro. Skillings was is
currently lost to time. Perhaps if more could be
uncovered, we might learn what compelled him
to leave his mark on the underside of the desk. If
one were to conjecture; as essentially the Tiler of
his Pyramid, he would have had plenty of time
by himself outside the meeting whereby either in
a moment of boredom or sense of ownership, he
scrawled his name and why he stood watch.
From time immemorial, across all continents,
and all cultures, men and women (usually traveling) have taken it upon themselves to leave a
mark of graffiti to signify then and there, they
had passed by this place for posterity that they
might not be forgotten in ages yet to come. Maybe, at age 71, alone outside a meeting, Earnest A.
Skillings felt his time was short, and he needed to
leave his mark before he left this world.
An unknown Sciot in regalia, from San Diego. Circa 1920
Regardless, his name and purpose has been uncovered and brought forth literally from darkness.
Welcome back to the light, Bro. Earnest. It’s been
a long time.
Fraternally,
Bro. Brent Wolke
References
i. Sciots Pyramid No. 1, “About Us”, www.sciots.
org/About-Us.html (accessed date 3/9/2015)
ii. Office of Historic Preservation, http://ohp.
parks.ca.gov/pages/1067/files/vallejo%20
old%20masonic%20temple%20nomination.
pdf (accessed date 3/9/2015)
iii. No Author, “Masons In Vallejo 99 Years,”
Vallejo Times Herald, September 16, 1954, 96C.
iv. No Author, “Sciots to Greet Pharoh in Vallejo,”
Berkeley Daily Gazette, December 7, 1922.
v. No Author, “United States Federal Census
1920”, 1920
vi. No Author, “California State Death Index
1905-1940”, 1940
vii. No Author, “Sciots Install Officers In Vallejo,”
Oakland Tribune, January 25, 1935
Sunday
Ap ri l C a l en dar
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Rainbow Advisory
Thursday
2
7:30 PM
Naval Lodge
Dinner
Friday
S at u r d ay
3
4
10
11
17
18
6:00 PM
Stated Meeting
7:30 PM
5
6
Naval Lodge
1st Degree Rehearsal
7
8
Thimble Club
9
12:00 Noon
7:00 PM
DeMolay
7:30 PM
Rainbow
7:30 PM
12
13
14
Royal Arch
15
7:30 PM
19
20
Naval Lodge
Rusty Trowel
6:00 PM
Movie Night!
21
SMTA
22
7:00 PM
27
Naval Lodge
3rd Degree Rehearsal
7:00 PM
Thimble Club
7:00 PM
16
Naval Lodge
OSI
7:00 PM
23
12:00 Noon
DeMolay
Naval Lodge
DARK
(no meeting)
7:30 PM
Rainbow
7:00 PM
26
DeMolay Council
7:30 PM
Naval Lodge
Double 1st Degree
Conferral
Mr. Cruz
Mr. Ruiz
7:30 PM
28
29
30
Naval Lodge
3rd Degree Conferral
Bro. Vera
7:30 PM
24
OES
7:30 PM
25
Naval Lodge
Yolo Shoot