Birthdays
February
Danny Battershell Dennis Parker Billy Hanks Robert Barker March Frank Stowell Jr. Scott McArthur Larry Thompson Harold Pye Randell Kelley William Standlee Jesse Davis Harry McIntosh Harland Roy |
Anniversary's
February
John Baker Charles Salls Joe Wheeler Jr. March Richard Gilbert Donald Gillett William Standlee Richard Sutherland Donald Toney Scott Watson |
February has arrived and with it the Traveling Gavel arrived at our Lodge via Table Mountain #124 who showed up with a contingent of 5 brethren!
In the absence of Worshipful Dan Norton, Sr. Warden, John Davis, accepted the Gavel for Forbestown |
As you can see, by the smiles on their faces, Table Mountain was quite happy to pass that gavel along! It is understood that they have had that Gavel passed to them approximately 3-4 times in about as many weeks! Must be a record! Forbestown successfully passed the gavel on.......
|
Quite the crowd of visitor's joined us for potluck and Stated. Of our regular crowd, some were out of town and others ill. The flu has been taking it's toll on the area's Lodges. Our potluck did not suffer! As usual it was delicious and fed everyone! There is always help with cleanup many hands make the job lite!
Stated Meeting was enjoyed by all and went well with Sr. Warden John Davis sitting in the East for his very first time. |
Forbestown freed it's self from the Gavel on the evening of the 5th of February. The brethren and wives attended a wonderful Lasagna dinner at Oroville Lodge. The Lasagna was prepared by Brother Steve Ricketts whose wonderful wife Kristy assisted him. After this dinner the Jobs Daughters had their fantastic Cupcake Auction fund raiser! The competition between the brethren was wonderful and all in great spirit and fun! It was fun to listen to the bids climb! We hope the Auction was a great success for the girls! We left the auction a little lighter in the wallet, heavier in the hips and after Oroville's Stated Forbestown was sans the Traveling Gavel. Mission accomplished.
|
History Corner......
Having had a few opportunities to research a little history of the Yuba, Butte and Plumas county areas, it is fun and very interesting to stumble upon tidbits of history of some of the Brethren and the local Lodges. The photo included in this trestleboard of the funeral of Bro. B.W. Barnes in 1897 a member and Past Master of Jefferson Lodge in La Porte, California (Jefferson consolidated with Forbestown) is also in the dining hall at Forbestown Lodge. At first it is just a photo of a brother's funeral, nothing really unique in that. However, little tidbits of Brother Barnes life surfaced with the latest tidbit supplying a shocking end to Brother Barnes. I thought it would be interesting to include in this, and future Trestleboards, some of these tidbits of history, including Bro. Barnes, for the armchair history buffs who enjoy the stories but don't have the time to search them out....
Who was Benjamin Wilcox "Pappy" Barnes? He was born in the town of Turin,Lewis County, New York on March 6th 1820. "In his early life with the flush of hopeful manhood upon his brow, turned from his native State and journeyed to this western land and by unselfish efforts helped to lay the foundation of our Commonwealth....." These are just a few words written in honor of this man in his Memoriam.
He was "ever ready to extend a hand to the unfortunate." "his words were of pity, not of censure to those who had deviated from the path of right" and my favorite portion done so beautifully in a way which was only done in the past "Friendly to all unkind to none, with a purpose always honorable, he climbed the slippery hill of life, paused for a moment on its summit to drink of the glories of successful life then turning again toward the West, journey down its sunny slope and with the dying rays of setting sun kissing his manly cheek, sought rest in peace at its foot". Brother Barnes became a member of Jefferson Lodge 97 in 1863 He was elected Master of Jefferson Lodge six times. He served as it's treasurer for 17 years, 3 months and 6 days. |
Next month I will wrap up the brief, yet interesting history of the much loved B.W. Barnes |