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From the East
Happy April Fools Day!! Hopefully, you will not fall for the same tricks played on you in years past. It's just another day for your 'friends' to show their appreciation and give you the attention you so richly deserve. Just go with it and appreciate the recognition. Fortunately, it's only one day a year, however - and rather unfortunately, there are some who literally take on the responsibility of enduring this recognition on a more regular basis (you may know someone who fits this description).
| To me, April is the beginning of spring. Daylight Savings time begins April 6th! Palm Sunday April 13th, followed by Easter on April 20th. It's time to dust off the golf clubs, fix or upgrade that old fishing gear, find your sports equipment and begin making excuses to justify why you need a new boat, car, truck or toy to play with. It's also a time we need to start planning on those yard or household improvement projects. Bearing this in mind, we need to set aside some time to assist those who cannot help themselves. Acts of charity are always paid back ten fold. | |  |
Masonry has successfully carried on due to our commitment to the ancient craft. We all need to keep in mind three (3) thoughts: fellowship, friendship and fraternalism Most Masons will quickly admit that upon becoming a Mason, their immediate joy and satisfaction resulted from friendship and fellowship with their brethren. For many of us - this fraternalism (brotherly love and affection) continues. Hopefully, you will invite a brother to participate in some recreational event within the coming months. It could be as simple as going to a Mariners baseball game, going fishing, camping, or enjoying a family barbeque or picnic. It is an opportunity to meet with a brother and get to know him a little better. The bond of brotherhood should never be broken.
Keeping this in mind, we are providing the events whereby you can rekindle your friendships. The month of May will provide several fun events for you and your family's enjoyment. Starting with the FABulous Family Brunch at Ivar's on Lake Union, followed by King Solomon Golf Tournament (scramble best ball foursome), the 60th Anniversary of the Seattle Youth Symphony Concert at Benaroya Hall and the March to St. Marks on the Sunday prior to the nation's first of our summer Holidays - Memorial Day - to remember our veterans and those who made the supreme sacrifice for their country.
On April 2nd, MW Grand Master James N. Reid will make an official visit. Please join us for dinner at 6 pm. At 7 pm, there will be a check presentation to the President of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. Our business meeting will start at 7:30 pm. If you have not attended lodge recently, please contact our secretary, VWBro Jim Russell at 206-623-0261 to reserve a seat for dinner. Our officer line is looking forward to seeing you in lodge - come and join us!
waiting for? Plan your calendar. Get involved! See you in lodge!!
Terry Grove, Master
| It's a fact: A ten gallon hat holds less then a gallon of liquid! |
Grand Master James N. Reid to Visit
 | | MW James Reid Jr. will make an official visit to St. John's Lodge No. 9 on Wednesday, April 2. WBro. Terry Grove invites all Masons to join with us in making MWBro. Reid's visit a most pleasant stop on his journey through the Grand East! We will be especially pleased to have our Grand Master share his thoughts as we approach Grand Lodge communication in June.. |
That evening will also feature a presentation of a check to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. SYSO President Mike James will be present to receive our civic contribution to the arts as we pay special tribute to the young and talented musical members of our community. St. John's has offered support to the SYSO for over forty years, initially inspired by our late Past Master and one of its earlier presidents, MWBro. George H. Bovingdon. Mr. James is a former KING and KIRO television news anchor, and ran for U.S. Senate in 1994. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the SYSO.
Lodge Charities Benefit Children
| Two programs that touch the hearts of St. John's members are the Scottish Rite Clinic for Speech and Language Disorders and the Blue Nile Children's Organization. | | The Scottish Rite Masons in the State of Washington have made a strong commitment to treatment of speech and language disordered children. Centers housed in the Seattle Scottish Rite Masonic Center (and the Masonic Temple in Spokane) are clinic facilities specially designed for the treatment of language disordered Children. | |  |
In each facility, treatment rooms have separate observation areas with one- way windows where therapy can be monitored by parents and other clinic staff. Individual diagnosis and treatment is carried out with up-to-date materials and therapy procedures. Treatment programs are also provided in Kennewick, Vancouver, Wenatchee, and Yakima.
Children are considered for services without regard to family income or Masonic affiliation. Through national endorsement and local efforts, Scottish Rite Masons raise funds to support these centers and programs, whereby services are provided without charge.
St. John's Lodge No. 9 has supported this program for many years.
The Blue Nile Children's Organization is a Seattle-based non-profit designed to support orphaned children in northwestern Ethiopia. The organization 's mission is to:
- Provide the initial funding to build a residential school
Be managed and staffed by Ethiopians
Be self-supporting by 2004
Have volunteers from the US help provide technical advice and assistance in education, healthcare, computer technology, agriculture, micro-enterprise development and entrepreneurial skills.
Be replicated in other needy communities in Ethiopia and East Africa
Become a vital part of the community
Their plans call for a compound that contains separate dormitories for girls and boys, and a common kitchen and dining area to accommodate 30 students and staff. Eventually, there will be a library, gymnasium, chapel, workshop, classrooms, an infirmary, and a community clinic. The land will support an orchard, small animal compounds, and crops.
 | | A good start:
- A permanent home for orphaned and homeless children
- Well-trained, dedicated and loving staff
- An educational program that provides training in skills needed for these children to grow into independent, productive citizens
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District Workshop April 5
From Our Deputy of the Grand Master, VW Bro. Gale Kenney
A last reminder for everyone to attend the joint workshop on April 5th, put on by District No. 4 and District No. 5, at Queen Anne Masonic Center located at 1608 4th Ave. W. in Seattle between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and noon. We have a lot of good information to impart; from committee information to floor work to balloting to meeting some of the Brothers aspiring to the Junior Grand Warden's station. Please join VWBro. Bob Jensen and myself for this morning workshop.
Lane Opens Dragster Season In Fine Style
 | | WBro. Jeff Lane, Past Master of St. John's (2001), recently opened the 2003 Dragster season with a win at the NHRA Superstock race at the Pomona Winternationals. For his fine performance, he made the cover of National Dragster Magazine. Note the Square & Compasses and "St. John's Lodge" on the (left) rear fender.
Picture courtesy of the National Hot Rod Association. National Dragster Magazine cover from Issue 7, February 28, 2003. |
Invitation
Fabulous Family Appreciation Brunch Returns In May
Act Today!!
St. John's Lodge No. 9 extends a cordial invitation to you and your family to be its guests on Sunday, May 4, for our 9th annual FABulous Family Appreciation Brunch at Ivar's Salmon House from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Ivar's Salmon House is known throughout the Northwest and beyond for its fine cuisine and alder-smoked salmon.
For our Brothers, as the name implies, all members of your immediate family, living at home, are invited. We encourage the kids to join us.
For the Widow of our departed Brother, we invite you and your family members to share in this springtime celebration. We encourage the grandchildren to join us.
Reservations are mandatory and are limited. Enclosed is a reservation card. Please print your name and that of your guests on the pre-addressed card and mail it to Joseph Lund, postmarked by April 24. Late reservations after this date cannot be honored.
Didja Know?
At the end of 2002, our Lodge had 324 members. Of those 324, eighty (nearly 25%!) have been members of the Fraternity for at least fifty years. Forty have been members for ten years or less. Bro. Joe Westall is our oldest at 103; Bro. Nick Mitchell the youngest at 23. |
Professor Scott Noegel
Professor Scott Noegel will be our guest speaker at the May 7th stated. His topic will be along the lines of the Ark of the Covenant and Egyptian Parallels: "The Ark of the Covenant in the Light of Ancient Egypt." Candidates for Junior Grand Warden have also been invited to speak to us during the meeting.
Cedar Way Elementary
 | | Several members of the Lodge presented a check to Cedar Way Elementary School in Mountlake Terrace to continue our support of its Accelerated Reader program. The presentation was made at a school assembly attended by over 500 students and 60-70 parents and teachers. The children presented the Lodge with a colorful scrapbook expressing their appreciation. | | For many years, St. John's has been the primary source of revenue for John Rogers Elementary Accelerated Reader, and more recently has added Cedar Way to its charities. |
Masonic Park Receives Support From St. John's
| On February 25, 2003, WBro. Bill Collison presented a check from St. John's Lodge No. 9 to WBro. Jerry Kunkle, Park Manager at the Masonic Park. The check is designated for the re-furbishing of the playground structures . Jerry said, "this should do it." WBro. Collison told him to be sure and let us know if they have a work party for this endeavor. "I will come and others may be joining me." Ten years ago when Ionic Lodge "came home" they donated $10,000 in the name of Ionic and St. John's members for the playground. | |  |
In the background of the picture you will notice the beginnings of a new sign at the entrance of the park. WBro. Austin Waddell crafted the stainless steel square and compass in the background. Behind the "G" he has placed a sheet of copper for contrast. It is a beautiful piece of art.
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Find Out What's Happening Today!!
Do we have your email address? Have you been receiving messages from the Lodge each month? If not, please "drop a line."
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Coming to dinner? Please call 206 623-0261. Help us keep a reign on our dinner budget
Contact Us Here
Worshipful Master: Terry Grove 425 337-7134
terryagrove@seattlemasons.org
Secretary Jim Russell: 206 623-0261 stjohns9@msn.com
Webmaster Charlie Tupper: 206 459-8236 webmaster@seattlemasons.org
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