I hope all of you, your families and friends are doing well after the earthquake most of us experienced in the Puget Sound region. During these "shaky" times of our lives, we can reflect on how blessed we are that there was minimal injury and damage sustained.

We are approaching daylight savings time and spring has arrived. We are kicking off our April Stated Communication with a Table Lodge (Dinner at 7!) and all members and Masons are invited to join us.

Our line officers have been working hard through these winter months and have just completed the first portion of the Lodge Proficiency examination to be turned in to our Grand Master. This is the first time, that I am aware of, that an entire line of officers completed this exam, and I am proud of all of you for your diligence.

Our JW Terry Grove just returned from the Wardens Seminar in Wenatchee where he received instructions and information to better serve our lodge as his term approaches. I want to suggest to all of our line officers to "look ahead" at your soon-to-be respective stations and start practicing your parts. Not only will this be upon you sooner than you might expect, but also I am going to have everyone step-up one night at our Stated Communication J.

We have balloted favorably to receive WBros. David Carlsen and Denis Lane (no relation, but a great name) for plural membership and one candidate, Iain Cameron, to receive the degrees of Masonry. We will have already started the Joint Degree Program by the time you read this and I will keep you informed of the progress of the six lodges involved (St. John's No. 9, Doric No. 92, Greenlake No. 149, Maritime No. 239, Queen Anne No. 242, and Greenwood No. 253).

Our "Company Store" has even more items now as we have purchased St. John's Lodge T-shirts, hats, aprons and a variety of products that we can wear with pride. You can view most of these items on our website at www.seattlemasons.org, and all items are sold at cost; you can use your St. John's Lodge "Bucks" that you receive at each Stated Communication.

I want to close by saying "Thank you all" for your work in progress and let's keep it up by attending lodge functions and inviting new and old members and potential Masons to all of our activities.

ROYAL COURT OF KING SOLOMON TO CONVENE AT ST. JOHN'S APRIL STATED --Table Lodge

Dinner to be served at 7pm; stated meeting to open at 7:30

Let your imagination take you back 3,000 years! Imagine yourself among friends and fellow Temple workers, gathered around a festive table in King Solomon's Temple. You are part of the drama designed to discover and share Good Fellowship, Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. It is a time to feast; it is a time to toast; it is a time of delight and merriment.

Let us eat, drink, and be merry. And in so doing, we shall become even better friends, made stronger with that "mystic tie."

There shall be no strangers among us, no emptiness or gloom, no tired and listless faces when craftsmen from the quarries assemble within the Royal Court of King Solomon. Music, laughter, and an abundance of toasts (with a little business thrown in for good measure) will be the order of the day at our April 4 stated meeting.

Often clouded in myth and fantasy, legends surrounding the origin and growth of Freemasonry are abundant Some historians trace the beginning back 3,000 years to the building of King Solomon's Temple; others to Egypt; to Greece; to even earlier periods.

Perhaps.

But this we know: In the earliest dawn of history, there came into being men skilled in the art and science of building with stone. Before the beginning of recorded history, there were buildings and monuments of such magnitude that only men of considerable skill in engineering and geometry could have erected them. Their work was dangerous and risky. Only an expert, one trained and qualified, could be entrusted to produce that which would be useful, beautiful, and withstand the test of time. Much evidence points to the fact that it was through King Solomon's support that these men who worked with and carved freestone organized into the building craft guild called Masonry. We will assume their place as we combine our evening meal with our Stated Meeting, thereby enjoying a festive Table Lodge.

So, we solicit your presence and your imagination and invite you to share our table as we recreate an evening shared among the builders.

This is a stated meeting in conjunction with our dinner, which will be served at 7 p.m. Only Masons, Entered Apprentice or above, will be allowed to share our festive board. No ladies or non-Masonic guests this month, please.

DINNER THEATER TO BENEFIT MASONIC RETIREMENT CENTER

Looking for an entertaining evening? Try the "World Famous" steak dinner and evening of theater to benefit the Masonic Retirement Center, Saturday, April 7.

The good times begin at 6:30pm at Viking Hall, Silvana, WA. Take I-5 to exit 208, SR 532 to Silvana.
Tickets are $25, available through Michael Ashley, 1818 Pioneer Highway, Stanwood, WA 98292.

ST. JOHN'S TO HOST DISTRICT 5 RECEPTION FOR THE GRAND MASTER

The District 5 reception for the Grand Master will be held at the Seattle Scottish Rite on Saturday, May 5. Dinner will begin at 6:30pmn. VWBro. David Campbell, Deputy of the Grand Master for District 5 invites and encourages all Masons in this District to come out and show our appreciation for the dedication and efforts our Grand Master MWBro. Richard Mecartea has exhibited this year on behalf of Freemasonry in our jurisdiction.

The Grand Master and many of his elected and appointed Grand Lodge officers will be present. A few will speak to the current activities of the Grand Lodge and Masonry in our area. Reservations for the dinner must be received by April 15. The menu will feature pot roast, soup, salad and apple pie! The Lodge will host any member of St. John's Lodge for this event. Please return the enclosed post card for your dinner reservation.

LODGE PRESENTS CHECK TO CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT

On Wednesday morning, March 28th, members of our Lodge presented a check for $15,700 to the Seattle Fire Department for the purchase of a Thermal Imaging Camera. The presentation was made in the presence of the news media at a "controlled burn" demonstrating the benefits of the camera. This camera assists firemen to search for victims and to identify weakening integrity of support structures in burning buildings. The camera is heat sensitive and able to "see" through heavy smoke. It can transmit images back to a command center outside of a burning structure.

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!