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February 2017

Trestle Board

St. John’s Lodge No. 1

Portsmouth, NH

The Master’s Message

Greetings Brethren, As February draws near, the more eager I am for Spring and with it the wonderful warm weather. With that, our “Out of Hibernation 5K” should be on our minds. The event this year will be taking place on April 8th. This is one of our biggest charity drives and I look forward to making it even bigger. The committee that has been put together will hopefully also create some continuity with the event for the future. The committee will be co-chaired by our Junior and Senior Wardens, Gregg Annis and Rob Johnson. If there are any questions, please contact either of them. February also marks Brother George Washington’s Birthday and the annual Four Square. Starting in 1962, Four Square has been our annual celebration of Washington’s Birthday by the Masonic Lodges on the Seacoast. This year’s event will be hosted by St. Andrew’s Lodge on Monday the 20th. Wor. Rella of St. Andrew’s Lodge will be presenting the program. If any Brother has not been to one, I suggest that you make an effort to make it. The night is always very educational and a lot of fun. Our very own Wor. Nelson Hersey, HPM of St. John’s and a 65-year Veteran Chaplain of both Portsmouth Lodges, is the only surviving originator. Traditionally, the final Wednesday of February is our annual game night. This year’s event will have to be put on hold due to the ongoing renovations on the third floor. Though the work has slowed due to the holidays, our game room will soon be fully operational. In lieu of game night, your line officers will be making our first drive to contact all of the Brethren of St. John’s. We are doing this to reach out to you all and make sure everyone is in good spirits and to update everyone as to the goings-on at St. John’s Lodge.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Worshipful Floyd Caron

The lambskin apron derives from the working apron of the ancient stone masons. Thus, the apron is proudly compared with the noblest dec-orations of ancient Rome and of both ancient and modern Europe. But what, exactly, is the Golden Fleece, Roman Eagle and Star and Gar-ter? The Order of the Golden Fleece was of high repute as an Order of Knighthood. It was estab-lished in Flanders, France in 1429 by the Duke of Burgun-

dy, a member of the then royal family, who selected the fleece for its badge because wool was the staple production of the country. Since that time, it has been considered as one of the most illustrious Orders of Europe. The badge of the Order, is a sheepskin suspended from a jeweled collar of firesteels in the shape of the letter B, for Burgundy, linked by flints; with the motto “Pretium Laborum Non Vile” (“No Mean Reward for Labours”) engraved on the front of the central link and Philip’s motto, “Non Aliud” (“I will have no other”) on the back. The Roman Eagle was to Romans the ensign of imper ial power . Made of silver or bronze, the Roman Eagle was placed atop the pole of the military standards (flags). The eagle was a symbol of strength, courage and immortality. The eagle was believed to be the king of the birds that could ascend above the storm and become the messenger of the gods. According to ancient mythology, the eagle would carry the soul into the presence of the gods, Zeus to the Greeks, Jupiter to the Tomas and Odin to the tribes of Germania. The Star and Garter. The Star and Gar ter are actually two different or -ders. Order of the Garter is the highest order of chivalry existing in England and is dedicated to the image and arms of St. George . King Edward III founded the Order of the Garter in 1348 as a no-ble fraternity consisting of the King, the Prince of Wales and 24 Knights Companion. The Order of the Star was created by King John II of France in 1351 and was an imitation of the English Order.

Master Mason Apron

Alan M. Robinson, PM Historian

Historian’s Article

11th Annual Out of Hibernation Road Race

Saturday, April 8th

There are a lot of jobs to do between now and race day

Sponsors—We need brothers to help solicit

sponsors for the race, particularly from other lodges in the area. Registrations—We also need brothers to help with registrations the night before the race (Friday, April 7th from 5:00—8:00) and again Saturday morning before the race, starting at 7:00AM. Race Day—Lastly, we need brothers to help with the race, guiding runners, manning water tables, setting up food and drinks for the runners, etc.

Stated Communication Wednesday, February 1, 2017

(Dinner 6:00, Open 7:00) Dinner—Haddock Chowder ($10) Officer dress—White tie and tails

SJMA Meeting

5:00 PM

Special Communication Fellow Craft Degree

Jude Augusta Wednesday, February 15, 2017

(Dinner 6:00, Open 7:00) Dinner—Filipino Spaghetti ($10)

Officer dress—White tie and tails

Four Square Monday, February 20, 2017

(Dinner 6:00, Open 7:00) Dinner—TBD ($10)

Officer dress—Business Suit

Robert L. Sutherland, Jr. Secretary

robert7615@aol.com (603) 828-5246

Floyd Caron Worshipful Master

Floyd.stjohns@yahoo.com (207) 577-3028

Contact Information:

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February 2017

St. John’s Lodge Historical Sketch

Thomas S. Bowles

If you need to lay out your property boundaries today, a surveyor will probably use an electronic instrument that relies on propagation, reflection and reception of either light waves or radio waves. With this instrument, measurements of distance and direction can quite easily be obtained. The range of a measuring device that uses light is about 3 km and it has an accuracy of ± 10 mm over that distance. Other similar devices use microwaves and have a range of 100 km. Surveyors also use automatic levels and devices that can access the Navigational System with Time and Ranging Global Positioning System (NAVSTAR GPS) or simply GPS. The working tools of this craft are high tech; but they haven’t always been that way. In the early 19th century, land surveying was very important, particularly as properties were arranged for the first time. Distances and bearings were measured and then plotted on paper maps. To measure distances, surveyors used chains. A standard chain measured 66 feet in length, equivalent to 4 rods of 16½ feet each. With chains, each divided into 100 links, the surveyor could readily calculate the area of each lot of land, 10 square chains being the same as 1 acre. Half chains of 50 links (33 feet or 2 rods) were used in the woods. The surveyor would measure the direction or bearing of a boundary with a compass, which measured with respect to magnetic north. The quality of these instruments was very important in order to achieve the best possible accuracy. Only the highest skilled craftsmen manufactured and sold these instruments. A company in Portsmouth did just that. The T. S. Bowles company located at 9 Daniel Street in Portsmouth manufactured mathematical, optical and surveying instruments and made beautiful and functional nautical instruments, including: brass and ebony sextants, quadrants, spyglasses, calipers, gauging rods, board rules, and superior quality compasses. The company also maintained this gear and for a fee would clean and repair their equipment. Being a

precision manufactory, they had the equipment to turn steel, iron, brass, ivory and wood and did so for various applications and clients. Some of the precision instruments made by T.S. Bowles survive today. Some are in private collections while others are displayed in museums including at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. Thomas Salter Bowles was born in New Hampshire on May 29, 1785. He first married Hannah Ham of Portsmouth on September 21, 1809 and their home was on Austin Street. She died during childbirth on June 5, 1811 at the age of 21 years. Their infant and unnamed son died two months later on August 16, 1811. Hannah and her infant son are buried together in Portsmouth’s North Cemetery. Tom married for a second time to Abiah Emery Bradley on September 29, 1813 in her home town of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Together they had six children, including: John D., Hiram A., Stephen B., Benjamin F., Moses E. and Thomas Bowles. Tom was a hardworking and generous citizen and like many other good men in the 19th century, he joined the Masonic fraternity. He was an active member of St. John’s Lodge, No. 1, F&AM in Portsmouth and was a charter member and the first Master of Pythagoras Lodge, No. 33, F&AM also located in Portsmouth. He served the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire as a District Deputy Grand Lecturer and as District Deputy Grand Master. In 1825, he left Portsmouth and moved to Bath, Maine. In Bath, he affiliated with Solar Lodge, No. 14, F&AM and was soon after elected Master of that Lodge. Continuing as a very active Freemason, he served the Grand Lodge of Maine in various offices including Grand Steward, Grand Lecturer and Grand Secretary. Worshipful Brother Thomas Salter Bowles died on July 24, 1851 in Wiscasset, Maine. He is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Bath. On his gravestone above his name is an engraving of a right hand with the index finger pointing to heaven just like we do during a masonic funeral service after depositing the sprig of acacia.