FROM THE EAST Brethren - Exciting because every day the challenges and responsibility of leading St. John's Lodge is a task that embraces a great number of people. There are many issues and charities that require the sometimes-immediate attention of many members of our Lodge. Whether it be a charity concern, a Trustee issue, a financial evaluation or just a scheduling conflict, our members, officers and trustees are busy at work, it seems, 24 hours a day. I can check my e-mail at 11:00 at night or when I arrive at work at 6:30am and there are Brothers passing on information of the work in progress. Rewarding for me because as I attend more functions, charities, or other lodge's stated communications, I am discovering the rewards that fellowship has to offer. Meeting new brothers with ideas that can be applied to our lodge, or shared together as joint functions or degrees. Being part of a sing-a-long at John Rogers Elementary and having parents and faculty members who I have never met, stop me in the hallway and inform me that St. John's Lodge has made a difference in their child's life by helping to give them the gift of reading. WOW! We really do a lot of cool stuff! I want to thank all of our lodge officers for their extra effort to learn their parts well, and performing them with fantastic pleasure to myself and the fraternity at our Grand Master's official visit. All of our officers are working hard to complete the lodge proficiency examination to be turned in, as our pledge to the Grand Master, before he leaves office in June. We have a great year planned with fun activities, dinners, picnics, speakers and celebrations, many of which can be shared with friends, families, and potential Masons. So, if anyone of you knows or has heard of someone that has asked about Masonry, invite him to attend one of our activities and see if we can raise some new brethren this year. Again, I am thankful to be able to serve you as Worshipful Master. I hope I can make all of the brethren of St. John's Lodge No. 9 proud of the work that is being accomplished throughout this year.
W. F. MEIER CRAB FEED TO PRECEDE FEBRUARY STATED MEETING Members of St. John's Lodge No. 9 are reminded that our February 7th Stated Communication will be preceded by dinner at 6:30pm, and not at 6pm as is our usual custom. We will be enjoying the annual Crab Feed sponsored by Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281. The menu will feature fettuccine w/white clam sauce, vegetable and all you can eat Dungeness crab! St. John's members should pick up their tickets at the door of the Scottish Rite dining room. Members are encouraged to bring any prospective Masons to this fabulous annual festive table. Worshipful Master Jeff Lane was especially pleased to see the turn out for our Grand Master's official visit to his home Lodge last month. The officers did a nice job, the meeting was full and ran at a brisk pace. Our organist WBro. Orrin Niles entertained the brethren with a wonderful piece on the piano, after which we all joined together in singing "Happy Birthday" to four of our January birthday brothers who were present. The evening concluded with an inspirational message from our Grand Master, MWBro. Richard Mecartea. Visitors are always welcome at our meetings. Our next Stated Communication will be Wednesday, February 7. The following month, we will receive our District Deputy, VWBro. David Campbell, who will be making his official visit to the Lodge. A Table Lodge is scheduled for the first Wednesday of April.
SEATTLE SCHOOL LEVY Seattle voters will have the opportunity and responsibility to vote on two propositions from the Seattle schools, Tuesday, February 6. Masonry has always been supportive of the public schools, and St. John's is a supporter of John Rogers Elementary School. Vote Tuesday!
Coming Events:
ATTENTION!!! ALL MUSIC LOVERS
The Masonic Retirement Center is pleased to announce the 6th Annual Thornton F. McElroy "Springtime in Winter" concert to be held on Saturday, the 17th of February, 2001, from 2 p.m. to 4. p.rn. at the Masonic Retirement Center in Des Moines, Washington. The first portion of the concert will be an ensemble from the Federal Way symphonic Orchestra under the supervision of A. Brian Davenport, Conductor. Following a short intermission, the audience will be entertained with songs from various decades by T.F. McElroy's and Masonry's own troubadour, Mr. Mark J. Peters. As is the custom following the concert, light refreshments donated by Dilettante Chocolates of Seattle and the MRC kitchens will be served. The MRC "Cheer Fund" will be the recipient
of the donations contributed by those attending the concert. Donation is tax
deductible. Please make out your $10.00 per ticket donation to "MRC Cheer Fund"
and forward to: Upon receipt of your check, tickets will be sent to you. If you have any questions please contact Bro. Smith at the address above or call (253) 838-7250.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY On Saturday morning, January 6, a "Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony" was held for the Saint John's House in Thurston County. This is the first house that Masonic Lodges in the State of Washington have entered into partnership with Habitat for Humanity. There were sixty or more present for the ceremony, including RWBro. John Keliher (Grand Secretary), WBro. Jerry Fugich (Master of Ceremonies), WBro. David Owns (speaking for Grand Lodge), and VWBro. Chuck Brockway (St. John's Lodge No. 9). Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to building well made basic housing for low income families. The family selected must provide work equity and also pay for the house. However, they are able to buy the house for what it costs to build and with a 0 interest loan. Habitat holds the mortgage. These houses are able to be built because of donations of cash, materials, services and Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Grand Lodge of Tennessee is the first Grand Lodge to get behind this program. The Grand Lodge of Washington is perhaps the second. Our Lodge has committed money to assist King County Habitat for Humanity. A work schedule is available by calling WBro. Fugich at (360) 894-2227 (work).
DUE IT TODAY! If you don't have a 2001 Dues Card, then you are delinquent in your dues. Please send $19 payable to St. John's Lodge No. 9 and mail it to 1155 Broadway E., Seattle, WA 98102.
The Secretary would like to lay this to rest!
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