Like most of the Masters before me, I have spent eight years going through the chairs to reach the East. I have gained valuable knowledge and wisdom along the way, mainly from the beneficial assistance of you, my Brethren.

This Masonic experience is one which is difficult to put to words. It affords fantastic pleasure to be part of an organization that truly benefits mankind.

It is really quite an experience to be able to travel this nation, as I do during my racing season, and meet brother Masons who I have never before met, and be invited into their lodge, their business, or their home, and be treated as if we had known each other for a lifetime.

We are blessed in this lodge to have a great group of peers and an abundance of young men who brainstorm together and create great ideas to guides us through these rapidly changing times.

We have a considerable presence in our community by our involvement with youth groups, DeMolay, scholarship programs, Little League, and over 40 different civic and Masonic annual charities. I want St. John's Lodge to be the premier lodge in Washington.

We have great new ideas being implemented. We have a new web site that anyone with access to a computer can go online and see what and when activities are taking place. We are creating a company store to offer St. John's identifiable merchandise.

A new updated book of our history is well under way to bring us up to present times. This will be the second book revisiting our past.

We stay open for business twelve months a year now because of the amount of time and energy that is being put forth by our members, trustees, and line officers.

These are times that I am proud to be a member of St. John's Lodge and can only hope that I serve you as Master of a lodge with good and noble causes to better ourselves and our community, like my father and brother have done before me.

We are going to have a fun year ahead with great activities, good speakers, picnics, brunches, and dinners. And I hope that all of you can attend our Masonic functions throughout my year as Master.

NEW OFFICERS TO LEAD ST. JOHN'S AT DECEMBER STATED

A new corps of officers will lead St. John's Lodge No. 9 into its 141st year, Wednesday, December 6. WBro. Jeff Lane, assisted by his Senior and Junior Wardens Skip Albertson and Terry Grove, looks forward to a good year for the Lodge.

At this meeting, a resolution will be presented for adoption to adjust some bumps in the road with the 2000 budget. (See related article). Also, the 2001 budget will be presented for approval. Charities for the coming year will also be addressed.

As usual, an excellent dinner will be served at 6pm. The Stated business meeting will be held at 7:30. Both the dinner and the meeting will be held at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center on Capital Hill, 1101 Broadway E., Seattle.

WBro. Lane hopes to have a guest speaker on hand to enrich the program following dinner and prior to the meeting.

CORRECTION

Correction regarding Masonic Funeral/Memorial Services: In 1992, Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts were extended the privilege of Masonic Services.
24.01 (2) BL

GREAT ARCHITECT CALLS 21 BROTHERS TO CELESTIAL LODGE IN YEAR 2000

The following Brothers, having completed the designs laid down upon Life's Trestleboard, have answered the last summons of the Grand Warden of Heaven and entered that Celestial Lodge above over which the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides:
 

David Allen, Harry Bolson, William Carley, Norman Curtis, Gerald Farrell, Andy Fredrickson, Lloyd Hufnagle, Howard Kienle, Per Larsen, David Luchsinger, Gerald McAfee, Knut Olson, Harry Rae, Morris Reibman, Gordon Sandvik, John Saunders, Harold Shoemaker, Samuel Stearns, Stanley Wagner, Archie Waterbury, Heinz Wehl.

With firm faith in the Supreme Grand Master of the Universe, we know that we shall meet again. Until then, dear friends and Brothers, until then, farewell.

Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas

BUDGET AMENDMENT RESOLUTION TO BE ACTED UPON DECEMBER 6

Whereas it is desirous that we maintain greater scrutiny of our financial matters as pertains to annual lodge expenses and the budget, and,
Whereas the members of St. John's Lodge No. 9 have recently passed a bylaw amendment requiring such scrutiny in that each line item of the budget is considered fixed and unalterable without additional resolution, and although the said amendment is pending review and approval of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, and being nevertheless desirous to conform to the wishes of the members St. John's Lodge No. 9 as pertains to financial matters,
Therefore, be it resolved that the following line item expenditures of the calendar year 2000 budget be amended as follows:

Payroll taxes increased from $2500 to $3500
Office Supplies increased from $3200 to $3700
Anniversary Dinner increased from $8500 to $9800
Degree Refreshment increased from $1000 to $3000
Degree Rental increased from $1500 to $2200
Grand Lodge Travel increased from $3000 to $3200
Financial Review increased from $3500 to $8550
History Update increased from $2000 to $3500

TWO TO BE RAISED MASTER MASONS

Two Brothers, John DuWors and David Israel will be raised Master Masons, Saturday, December 2. The Lodge will open at 8:30am, with the two degrees to follow immediately thereafter. Members of the Lodge (and all Master Masons) are encouraged to be a part of this eventful journey.

LODGE OFFICERS INSTALLED

Approximately 60 were in attendance Saturday, November 25, to witness our Grand Master, MWBro. Richard Mecartea, install the officers of St. John's for 2001. WBro. Jeff Lane follows his brother Ken Lane, Jr. in the East.

CHRISTMAS WREATHS: Order form below is also available in the printed Trestleboard. Orders accepted by mail only.

Please make checks payable to:
MASONIC SERVICE BUREAU, INC. (4736-40th Ave. S. W., Seattle, WA 98116-4502)
The Bureau may be reached at (206) 937-1445 M-F mornings, or by FAX (206) 937-1454