Trestleboard

The Masonic Beehive
by

Brother Eric C. Steele.

The Beehive often brings to mind a well-organized group of insects working together for a common goal. The term generally associated with it is Industry. Not in the modern sense of massive machines working to stamp out multiple like items, but in the more ancient sense of a group of individuals working to create something.

To our ancient operative brothers who came from the guilds of the middle-ages, Industry in the old meaning was how things were accomplished without modern heavy machinery. Individuals were assigned specific tasks based on their skill level. Some simply carried stone or other materials. Often placing it in the care of their more experienced brothers who fashioned the proper piece for the structure. Others still put their skills to planning how the structure was put together. Assigning tasks to help complete the structure. No one group was the linchpin to the project or structure, yet all were critical to make the project a success.

Fast forward to the arrival of speculative masonry and you have a hive of a new kind. Still you have a structure requiring workers on all levels to make the hive (in this case hive is a synonym for lodge) function and be successful. More experienced brothers in the craft share their knowledge with newer "workers" in the hive. All the while realizing they have their own task in the hive. Each doing their part to make the hive function properly. Working on projects to bring success to the endeavor and the lodge. There is also the leader of the hive, in the case of a Masonic lodge, the Worshipful Master, who reads and creates the plans and guides the workers on all levels to a successful project.

Whether you are talking about our ancient operative brothers or the modern hive (lodge), the end goal is still the same. A group of individuals working together for a common goal, the success of any one individual is important since it helps the larger structure of the hive succeed. Even with the opportunity for individual success and growth we still see the need for the overall structure of the hive to succeed. The hive must succeed otherwise the individual accomplishment has a reduced meaning, possibly even making the individual success meaningless. The idea for the hive is to assemble those who can best work together and best agree on the common goal of the hive.

It is through this concept of Industry our ancient operative brothers were able to create grand cathedrals and other enduring structures. It is also how modern Freemasonry makes successful lodges, some enduring for hundreds of years.

Order Of The Eastern Star Of Arizona

Verde Valley Chapter No7

534 S 12th St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326

Secretary: Barbara Wunder, PGM

602-290-9547 barbara.wundervv7@gmail.com

Stated Meetings: First Tuesday at 7:30PM

Dark: July and August

2025-2026 GRAND LINE OFFICERS

Grand Master Most Worshipful Leigh Creighton

Deputy Grand Master Right Worshipful Roger Biede III

Senior Grand Warden Right Worshipful Eric Dupree

Junior Grand Warden Right Worshipful James Xie

Grand Secretary Very Worshipful Greg Vasquez, PGM

Grand Treasurer Very Worshipful Ron Richards

Deputy Grand Secretary MWPGM Jim Baker

Deputy Grand Treasurer Brother John Olson

Senior Grand Deacon Worshipful Brother Reed Houge

Junior Grand Deacon Worshipful Brother Steve Bracety

Senior Grand Steward Worshipful Brother William Carnell

Junior Grand Steward Worshipful Brother Michael Flutty

Grand Lecturer WB David Fierro

Grand Chaplain VR WB Nathan Schick

Grand Orator WB Thomas Carpenter

Grand Marshal WB Lew Ivy

Grand Standard Bearer David Aguayo

Grand Sword Bearer WB Timothy Strasser

Grand Bible Bearer WB Harold Lindamood

Grand Pursuivant WB DJ Arps

Grand Organist Jonathan Edward D’Emilio

Grand Editor WB George Balady, Jr.

Grand Tyler WB Augustin Delgado

Grand Counsel WB Richard Leland Brooks

Grand Photographer WB Allen Nichols