The Trestleboard is an official publication of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32, which is a legally constituted Masonic Lodge operating under charter granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Utah. The Trestleboard is published for the sole and exclusive use of the members of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32, and any other use is expressly forbidden.  The editor of The Trestleboard is Glen Van Steeter.  Submissions of educational articles or other announcements may be sent to the editor at [email protected], and if selected for publication, will be given full attribution. All submissions are subject to the approval of the Worshipful Master of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32 and the editor of the Trestleboard.

The Lodge Secretary tries to keep our roster as current as possible. If you are moving, changing your mailing address, phone number or email address, please update your information in Grandview or notify the Secretary so that we can keep your information current.

Happy New Year from Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32!

Sickness and Distress

James D. Wadley, Past Grand Master of Utah and Past Master of Twin Peaks Lodge

Brethren, MWB Jim is doing well in assisted living. His wife visits him frequently. He is still ambulatory and was able to enjoy the Christmas holiday in his home. He does tire easily. He is unable to read letters, but his wife happily reads any correspondence from members of the Lodge. Jim devours these message, and is tremendously happy to receive them. As this is a public facing website, I cannot put his mailing address in this Trestleboard, but if you create letters, either W:. B:. Robert Hartman or W:. B:. Glen Van Steeter will be happy to forward them to his wife. If you have registered on Grandview, you can get Jim’s mailing address directly. Please write to him. This Mason has given his entire adult life to Masonic Service. Let us honor him.

If you are aware of any members whom are in distress, please notify the Lodge Secretary using our Contact page “Email Us” form. Please put “Brother in Sickness and Distress” and then provide details in the “Message” box. This information will be immediately received by multiple members of the Lodge when the “Submit” button is clicked.

From the East

Brethren,

As we begin another year of labor together, I want to take a moment to reflect on the strength, dedication, and unity that define our Lodge. January is already setting an impressive tone for the year ahead. With four degrees to confer this month, we once again demonstrate that we are an active and engaged Lodge—one that takes its obligations seriously and works diligently to pass on our Craft with care, precision, and brotherly love.

None of this happens by chance. It is the result of countless hours of preparation, practice, and teamwork. I am deeply grateful to each of you for your commitment, whether you assisted with ritual work, mentoring candidates, attending practices, or simply being present to support the work of the Lodge. It is truly an honor to serve as Worshipful Master of such an amazing and successful Lodge, and I am proud to stand in the East among Brothers who consistently rise to the occasion.

Looking ahead, I am incredibly excited about what the coming year holds for us. We have a full calendar, meaningful work planned, and many opportunities for fellowship, education, service and growth. I encourage every Brother to take a few minutes to review the calendar and note our upcoming events. Your presence and participation are what make our Lodge thrive.

Thank you, Brethren, for all that you do and for the spirit you bring to our Lodge. I look forward to continuing our work together in the months ahead.

Fraternally yours,
Frank Keller
Worshipful Master

From the West

Brothers all,

As we embark on a new Masonic year I am excited to see the excellence in ritual that Twin Peaks Lodge has long maintained. Our lodge has a long and storied tradition of having some of the best ritual work in the state. I know you will all work diligently to uphold that.

In January we have FOUR MM degrees! This is very exciting. We will be raising Bros. Coleby O’brein, Adam Humphreys, Joshua Price and Phillip Lami to the sublime degree of Master Mason. These degrees will be held in the Moorish Room of the Salt Lake temple on Saturday January 3rd and Saturday January 10th 2026, both at 8am.

I encourage all of you to work this year on learning something new in the ritual as well as your appointed and elected positions. I am here as a resource to all of you, whether you would like guidance on what to learn or if you need help learning a part.

 If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me.

On the square,

Michael Hartman, Senior Warden

From the South

I hope that your holiday season has been filled with love, joy and great memories with family and friends. We are on the cusp of beginning our 2026 Masonic Year with a whole new corps of officers. I’d like to take a moment to talk a little about the current condition of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32.

First, I imagine that all of you will be happy and relieved to know that per our 2022 bylaws change, 2026 will be the last year in a while where our annual dues will increase. For at least the forseeable future, our dues will remain at $165 a year. This makes us neither the cheapest nor the most expensive Lodge in Utah to be a member of. Because of this action, we are no longer required to pull cash assets out of our investment fund just to pay our bills. As one of the members of the committee that originally proposed this legislation, I am profoundly grateful for the fact that the vast majority of our members have complied with the dues increase, and in fact, we have more members now than we did in 2022 when we proposed it.

Second, unless my memory be mistaken, while we had a net loss of one member for the year, this was due to three Twin Peaks Masons being recalled home to their Great Creator. These brethren were Worshipful Brother Robert Jacob Shearer, Worshipful Brother Stephen “Steve” Charles Horman, and Worshipful Brother Jerry Acton Reed, Senior. Once again, because of the generosity of a handful of our brethren, we did not suspend any brother for non-payment of dues for the 2025 Masonic year. We have three Entered Apprentices and seven Fellow Crafts, of which FOUR will be raised to the Degree of Master Mason in January! And we have five gentlemen who are actively investigating our Lodge for membership. It is very possible that our official membership will climb above 70 for the first time in seven years in 2026.

This means two things: LOTS of opportunities for our younger Masons to get actively involved in the presentation of our degrees to candidates, which is also excellent preparation for advancement in the chairs. And with many hands, the work load becomes lighter. With this growth in membership, it is time for our Lodge to consider expanding our philanthropic efforts. It also means that we sure can use help with mentoring these fine new Masons. If you are interested in helping advance a candidate, please reach out to either the Worshipful Master, Frank Glade Keller III, or our Senior Warden, Michael Edward Hartman.

Finally, while the calendar is not yet fully set, you can expect some fun social activities during the year. In the summer, we will be holding a multi-month bowling series. We will be inviting members of other Lodges to join us, and we will have trophies for the high series and high game. We will also be holding our annual Masons at Work picnic. We already have a lot of Masonic oriented items for the silent auction fundraiser, as well as some items of greater to interest to non-Masons.

I don’t want to steal much more of our Master’s thunder, but I see EXCITING THINGS happening for Twin Peaks Lodge in 2026.

Fraternally, Glen Van Steeter, PM – Junior Warden

Calendar-at-a-Glance

Please look for detailed information below the calendar in this Trestleboard.

• Monday, December 29th @ 7 pm: MM degree practice at the South Valley Masonic Center (SVMC).
• Tuesday, December 30th @ 7 pm: Officer’s Virtual Meeting*.
• Saturday, January 3rd @ 8 am: Dual MM Degree at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple (SLMT).
• Monday, January 5th @ 6:30 pm: Fellowship Dinner at the SVMC, followed by our January Stated Meeting at 7:30 pm.
• Saturday, January 10th @ 8 am: Dual MM Degree at the SLMT.
• Monday, January 12th @ 7 pm: Degree practice. Could be either the EA or FC.
  • Note: Due to the heavy January schedule, this practice may be cancelled. Keep an eye on the Calandar!
• Thursday, January 15th @ 7 pm: Esoteric Education Virtual Meeting. See the Calendar for connection information.
• Saturday, January 17th from 8 – 10 am. Utah Food Bank service project at 3150 S 900 W, South Salt Lake, Utah.
• Monday, January 19th @ 7 pm: Degree practice. Could be either the EA or FC.
• Monday, January 26th @ 7 pm: Fellowship Meetup at Chubby’s Cafe, Riverton.
• Wednesday, January 28th @ 7 pm: Officer’s Virtual Meeting*.

* The officers will receive invites to attend the officer’s virtual meetings. Please pay attention to your emails.

DEGREES – January 3rd & 10th (8 am) at the Salt Lake Temple

Additionally, we currently have degree practices scheduled for January 12th* and January 19th at the South Valley Masonic Center located at 7390 Creek Road, Sandy, Utah. The doors will open at 6:30 pm and we want to kick off the practices as soon as possible. Even with the two Master Mason degrees on the 3rd and 10th, we still have five brethren working on the Entered Apprentice or Fellow Craft proficiencies. We foresee holding degrees for at least the next two to three months.

* Note, due to the heavy calendar for January, the practice sheduled for the 12th may be cancelled. Keep an eye on the Calendar!

January Stated Meeting – 7:30 pm on Jan. 5th at the SVMC.

Our January stated meeting will be held at 7:30 pm on January 5th at the South Valley Masonic Center located at 7390 Creek Road No. 203, Sandy, Utah. Recommended attire is business formal or business casual. We will probably open on the 1st Degree of Masonry. As this is the first meeting of the year, the meeting is expected to run somewhat long. We will be approving the 2026 budget, and we may have Grand Lodge code amendments to read. As always, the doors will open at 6:30 pm for Lodge setup and there will also be a light dinner served prior to the meeting.

Officer’s Virtual Meetings

Dates: Tuesday, December 30th and Wednesday, January 28th at 7 pm.

DATE: January 17th at 8 am at the South Salt Lake Warehoure at 3150 S 900 West, South Salt Lake, Utah address. SAVE THIS DATE! We need 15 volunteers. Please contact W:.B:. Bob Hartman if you would like to help out. Make sure you put “Utah Food Bank” in the subject line so we don’t miss it! Friends and family are always welcome! This is our primary philanthropic effort, so we really need your help to support it. Dress for light to moderate warehouse work. No open-toed shoes. It’s fun and it really helps our community. The Utah Food Bank distributed 54.6 million meals in 2024, and are able to make $1 stretch to over $7 in real delivered value through 182,549 volunteer hours, or the equivalent of 88 full time employees. Please plan on arriving fifteen minutes early in order to register and sign the waivers.

Happy Birthdays

This is a list of brethren who were born in the month of January. Many happy returns, brethren!

Masonic Anniversaries

The following brethren were raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in the month of January. Thank you for your service to the Lodge!

• Brother Craig H. Smith was raised on January 21, 2008 and has 18 years of service.
• Brother Kevin Royce Brown was raised on January 27, 2003 and has 23 years of service.

An Officer’s Place In The Lodge-The Tyler

I frequently find myself meditating on the various meanings relative to the placement of
officers in the Lodge, and I today found the Tyler to be a most appropriate subject worthy of
this indulgence. Our ancient brethren located an armed man outside the Lodge to protect the
brothers from interruption by cowards and thieves who craved the secrets of Masonry, so
they could obtain higher wages than otherwise they would be entitled to receive. Even today,
such protection from the profane is required as conspiracy theories abound, in the internet
and beyond, about the events transpiring inside a Lodge meeting, resulting in some
belligerents taking this to physical extremes.

My interest goes beyond such mundane issues, and tends to drift somewhat metaphysical, for
we as Masons are taught to look beyond the traditional explanations and diligently search
ever deeper, letting the connections from a physical subject lead us to more enlightened
reasoning.

The Lodge represents the whole of the individual Mason, with the duties properly ascribed to
the officers replaced by the mental force of human intelligence. Viewed with this
perspective, the Tyler becomes the monitor of our mind’s door, which we should by necessity
keep securely guarded. Our happiness, to which all are ultimately entitled, comes not from a
collection of physical components, but from a satisfaction within ourselves that we are ever
striving forward to a greater good, to a place where we can adequately demonstrate the
satisfaction of our existence, and receive the just rewards for the life we have wrought.
It becomes therefore essential that we keep an ever-vigilant guard against the subversive
influence of the words and actions of others, that we do not follow false impressions into
unwise actions. Preeminently, we are required to protect our happiness from any mental
practice that allows the errors of our past to dictate our thoughts and actions of today and
tomorrow. Brother Rob Morris explained “. . . life’s experiences, coming thick and fast, are
the soul’s appointed means of growth. .. “ and one may draw from this a conclusion of the
proper placement in our minds of those experiences, and the important lessons which we
should draw from them.

As we are all bombarded by the unlimited physical and mental distractions surrounding our
lives and thoughts, it is critical that we keep the image of “the Tyler at the entrance to the
Lodge” at the fore, to assist in protecting our physical and mental well-being, allowing us to
continue with the work of constructing that house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens.

Fraternally submitted — W:.B:. Robert Hartman, Past Master of Twin Peaks Lodge No. 32 (x5)

The Ancient Duties of the Stewards of the Lodge

The Senior and Junior Stewards, since very early times, assisted the Junior Warden in the duties associated with the hospitality of the Lodge when it was called from labor to refreshment. One of these duties was to oversee the distribution and service of the victuals served during a festive board or table lodge, and to see that every brother is suitably provided for. It is notable that the term “steward” is also a title used on ships, and those who served in this position were principally devoted to seeing to the comfort of the passsengers under their charge.

Additional duties anciently assigned to the Stewards were to introduce visitors, to collect subscriptions and other fees, and to keep an exact account of Lodge expenses. As such, the Stewards frequently assisted another officer of the Lodge, again usually the Junior Warden, by serving on the Lodge auditing committee, whereby any requests for disbursements made by the Secretary and Treasurer by direction of the Lodge members be investigated to ensure that such monies owed were in accordance with the customs, traditions and work of the Lodge

Due to the nature of the duties of the Junior Deacon to act as the inner sentinel or guard of the Lodge proper, and of the Senior Deacon to receive and conduct candidates or visitors, neither Deacon could resonably be expected to leave the Lodge while Tyled. Therefore, Stewards were also assigned the duty of assisting the Tyler and Senior Warden to examine all visitors by due examination and Masonic information, as well as the preparation of candidates for the Degrees. These duties are more in keeping with the duties of the Senior Warden than the Junior Warden.

Per Masonry Defined: A Liberal Masonic Education Easily Obtained, by E. R. Johns @ Sections 224 and 890, published in 1930 by the National Masonic Press, Inc., that the ancient duties of the stewards were enumerated in the Old York Constitutions of 926 CE, where the Steward is directed “to provide good cheer against the hour of refreshment.”, and to render a true and correct account of all expenses.

There are two Twin Peaks Lodge documents written by two different members of the Lodge, that also detail the modern duties of the Stewards. Let’s examine them separately.

Lodge Officers Reference – A Guide for the Master and Officers of Twin Peaks Lodge #32 F. & A. M. of Utah

This document was written by Frank C. Baker, PGM of Utah who served the Lodge as Master in 2004.

Summary of general duties of the Senior Steward:

He will assist in the preparation of candidates for the degrees, assist the Jr. Warrden in providing, serving and cleanup of refreshment at all regular Lodge and Degree meetings. They will assist the Jr. Warden with all social activities of the Lodge. Ritual expectations include:

• Memorize all the Sr. Steward’s parts in the Utah Standard Work, including the Sr. Steward’s Lecture to the Candidate.
• Learn the floor work of the Jr. Deacon for all degrees.
• Become proficient in the Jr. Deacon parts for opening and closing on all degrees.
• Become proficient in one of the Degree lectures.

Summary of general duties of the Junior Steward

He will assist the Sr. Deacon and Sr. Steward in preparation of candidates, assisting the Jr. Warden and Sr. Steward in providing, serving and cleaning up refreshments at all regular Lodge and Degree meetings.

• Learn the procedure for examining visitors and serve on two committees.
• Learn and give the Apron Lecture.
• Become proficient in the Sr. Steward’s Lecture to the candidate.
• Learn the floor work of the Sr. Steward.
• Begin learning one of the Degree lectures.
• Be familiar with Grand Lodge Code & Lodge by-laws, particularly regarding visitors.

Lodge Officer Training – Specific Dutes

Written by Glen Van Steeter, Past Master in 2011 and revised in 2018.

Summary of the general duties of the Senior Steward

With the Jr. Steward, assist the Jr. Warden with the social and hospitality of the Lodge including meal preparation, including setting up and cleaning up all meals at Lodge meetings, and to prepare candidates for degrees. While there is not an expectation of progression, he is encouraged to do so. His duties include:

• Be proficient in the ritual of the Sr. Steward.
• Become proficient in giving the Charge to the Candidate in all three degrees.
• Become proficient in the Sr. Steward’s Lecture to the candidate.
• Proficiently be able to prepare a candidate for all three degrees.
• Become proficient in the Jr. Deacon’s floor work and ritual for opening and closing in the event of the Jr. Deacon’s absence.
• Become proficient in one or more of the following ritual parts:
  • Apron Lecture
  • One or more of the minor parts of the second section of the Master Mason degree
  • Begin learning one of the Degree lectures.

Summary of the general duties of the Junior Steward

Assists the Sr. Steward with the social and hospitality of the Lodge including meal preparation, including setting up and cleaning up all meals at Lodge meetings, and to prepare candidates for degrees. While there is not an expectation of progression, he is encouraged to do so. His duties include:

• Be proficient in the floor work and ritual of the Junior Steward.
• Begin learning the floor work and ritual of the Senior Steward.
• Begin proficiency in the Charge to the Candidate in all three degrees.
• Consider becoming proficient in the Senior Steward’s Lecture to the candidate.
• Assist the Sr. Steward in preparing the candidate in all three degrees and become proficient in this task.
• Become proficient in one or more of the following ritual parts:
  • Apron Lecture
  • One or more of the minor parts of the second section of the Master Mason degree.

Both the Sr. and Jr. Steward should pay special attention regarding synchronized floor and rod work during the obligation of the candidate in all three degrees (including “clearing the north and south” and forming the “arch”), and again during the second section of the Master Mason degree, especially with regards to the processional. When taking their places (seats), the Jr. Steward should always key off of the Sr. Steward.

Grand Lodge of Utah – Invitation to the 154th Annual Communication

Delegates, Brethren, Partners, and Honored Guests,

It is my pleasure to invite you to the 154th Annual Communication of the Most
Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Utah, which will commence
promptly with the fall of the gavel at 9:00 AM on Friday, January 30th, 2026, and conclude on
the evening of Saturday, January 31st with the Installation of our new Grand Master, Brother
Samuel L. Harris.

Festivities will begin on Thursday, January 29th, with a tour of the Salt Lake Masonic
Temple at 6:00 pm, followed by a Friendship Banquet at 7:00 pm. Dress is business casual
for both events.

The Grand Master’s Formal Banquet will be held on Friday, January 30th beginning
with a no-host social at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner at 7:00 pm at the host hotel. Dress is
formal.

The Installation of Officers will be held on Saturday, beginning at 7:00 pm with
refreshments to follow. Dress is Sunday best.

Partner’s events will be held on both Friday and Saturday, including a visit to the
oldest and largest AZA-accredited Aviary in the United States: Tracy Aviary. Dress is casual.
Each evening all attendees are invited to join us at a Hospitality Suite hosted by the
hotel in the Ambassador Room starting at 9:00 PM.

Brethren, it has been an incredible year. I appreciate all of your brotherhood,
friendship, and support. I look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Joseph A. Milner
M∴W∴ Grand Master

154th Annual Communication – Registration Information

Pursuant to MWGM Milner’s invitation, here is some information on how to register, and expected costs and timeline for Annual Communication.

Conference Registration

You must be a registered user of Grandview in order to submit a conference registration. Once you are logged into Grandview, you can use this address to access the registration page: https://ut.grandview.systems/ac2026

Below, you can find a table of information regarding agenda times and costs.
Details*: Locations refer to the following:

• “Hotel” – DoubleTree Suites @ 110 W 600 S, SLC, UT 84101
• “Temple” – Salt Lake Masonic Temple @ 650 E South Temple St, SLC, UT
• “Aviary” – Tracy Aviary @ 589 E 1300 S, SLC, UT 84105

Event	Details*	Cost
Thursday Registration	Thur., Jan 29th from 3pm to 4:45 pm at Hotel	None
Thursday Friendship Banquet Business casual	Thur., Jan 29th. 6:00 pm: Tour of SLC Temple 7:00 pm: Dinner @ Temple	Tour: Complimentary Dinner: $30 per person
Friday Main Session Suit and Tie with Apron	Fri., Jan 30th @ Temple 7:30 am: Registration 9:00 am: Gavel Drops	Registration: $45 per person, includes Saturday Lunch: Complimentary
Friday Partners Event Casual	Fri., Jan 30th @ Aviary Meet at Hotel at 10:00 am	Aviary Admission: $15 Lunch: Buy your own
Grand Master’s Banquet Formal	Fri., Jan 30th @ Hotel 6:00 pm: No Host Social 7:00 pm: Dinner	Social: Cash bar Dinner: $80 per person (no walk-ins)
Saturday Main Session Suit and Tie with Apron	Sat., Jan 31st @ Temple 7:30 am: Registration 9:00 am: Gavel Drops	Registration included with Friday Lunch: Complimentary
Saturday Partners Event Business casual	Sat., Jan 31st @ Temple 12:00 pm: Lunch & Activity	Activity with lunch: $25 per person
Installation of Officers Suit and Tie with Apron Sunday Best	Sat., Jan 31st @ Temple 7:00 pm: Installation begins Refreshments to follow	Refreshments complimentary

Hotel Registration

For those that are interested, the Grand Lodge of Utah has secured special rates for those who would like to stay at the hotel where the banquets will be hosted. To book the special rate, click here.

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown
110 West 600 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
+1 801-359-7800

Proposed Constitution and Bylaw Changes to be Acted on at the 154th Annual Communication

Brethren of Twin Peaks,

Be prepared for a long-ish stated meeting on January 5th, as we must review the proposals to amend the Constitution and Bylaws of the Grand Lodge of Utah. I cannot provide detailed information in this forum, but here are the titles of those proposals. If you are registered on Grandview, you can view them at your leisure.

• Proposed Bylaws amendments:
  • 2026-01: Section 3-8-7 Proficiency
  • 2026-02: Section 3-8-14 Use of Utah Standard Work
  • 2026-03: Section 2-5-3 Dues from Constituent Lodges
• Proposed Constitutional amendments:
  • 2026-01: Article VII Section 1 and Article III Section 1
• Proposed Trial Code amendments:
  • Proposal to update the Trial Code of the MWGL of Utah
    • Trial Code with changes after Jurisprudence Review