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From the East
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Final greetings from the East!! My brothers, this will be my last column as your Worshipful Master. It has been an honor and privilege to represent St. John's Lodge for the past twelve months. I have had the opportunity to visit many district lodges, fellowship with brethren within the Greater Puget Sound area, and participate in many worthy civic and Masonic events. All the while practicing by example - friendship, fellowship and fraternalism.
When I first took the solemn obligation to serve as your Master, my first concern was to not screw-up my term. My focus was to visit other lodges within our district, attend communications with our youth groups and participate when and where needed. My travels to DeMolay, Jobies and Rainbow were quite pleasant experiences. Through these many visitations, we benefited from reciprocal visits from sister lodges.
Our financial portfolio has grown. It was quite a challenge to sustain support for our many Masonic and Civic charities while still keeping our lodge operations within our
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| lowered budget. We have even managed to come well under budget. |
We had significant representations at Homeless Teen Feed in April, the official visit by our Grand Master James Reid, Doc Maynard tombstone rededication, FABulous Family Appreciation Brunch, King Solomon Golf Tournament in Auburn, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra 60th anniversary celebration, march to St. Marks Cathedral, annual Grand Lodge in Tacoma, Freemont Summer Solstice Festival (with Daylight Lodge), Lafayette Golf Tournament at the Nile, annual Family Picnic, our 143rd Anniversary and tribute to the King of Rock & Roll, oyster feed at the Masonic Retirement Center, the Youth Halloween Dance/Party where 276 youth enjoyed themselves at the Scottish Rite Center, and once again fed homeless teenagers in November.
Along with these many fun events, St. John's managed to capture two Grand Lodge Pillars of Progress awards - the first one on February 1st for Technology and the second one on October 31st for Community Involvement.
We are getting many inquiries from our website and have initiated, passed and raised new Master Masons. We are in good shape. However, your participation and involvement is very much needed that we may continue in the future.
As many of you may know, our lodge is subject to a change of location, if, or when, Scottish Rite elects to sell the facility. In the event we are forced to relocate, your brethren need your input. We have recently been meeting as a Long Range Planning group to focus on tentative locations, membership growth, and lodge programs. Volunteers are still needed to explore these areas.
I invite you to join us Friday evening, December 12th, when your new Master-elect Mike Rust and his 2004 officer line will be installed.
I thank you for your participation and support this past year. May each of you and your family enjoy the coming Holiday Season.
Terry Grove, Master
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NEXT STATED MEETING TO ADOPT 2004 BUDGET
 | | Master Terry Grove invites all Masons to share in our customary 6 p.m. dinner preceding our 7:30 p.m. Stated Communication, December 3. The operating and charity budgets for 2004 will be presented for adoption at this meeting. Master-elect Rust has drawn up a budget that anticipates $25,000 to be distributed for scholarships, $74,100 for charities, and $113,185 for operations.
Following dinner and prior to the meeting, Bro. Helmuth Svoboda promises to keep us |
entertained and enlightened with a program focused on Bro. Wolfgang Mozart.
Two petitions for the degrees will receive action. Our new Masonic Carpet will be unveiled.
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MEMBERS WORK ON THE G.A.R. CEMETERY
| Worshipful Master Terry Grove, Past Master Ken Lane, Sr., and Junior Warden Joseph Lund of St. John's Lodge toiled in the wind and rain alongside Friends of the Grand Army of the Republic to clean up and restore the G.A.R Cemetery located near Lakeview Cemetery. KING 5 TV caught the entire crew in the act. St. John's provided $2,000 to this community | |  |
| project that has been two years in the making. Plans also include an interpretive center on the site. |
WHO SAID LIFE'S A DRAG?
WBro. Jeff Lane finished 2nd in the world standings, and 1st place in the North West Division 6 region for Pro Stock dragsters. The race car looks great with the St. John's square & compasses flying high!
144TH ANNUAL INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS WILL BE FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12; TEXAS BBQ DINNER TO PRECEDE
| Worshipful Master Terry Grove and Master-elect Michael Rust extend a warm invitation to attend the 144th annual installation of officers for St. John's Lodge No. 9, Friday evening, December 12. The installation will take place at the Scottish Rite, with a Texas BBQ dinner at 6pm preceding the 7pm ceremony. This will be an open installation. Ladies (and children) are invited, as well as any other friends and guests. VWBro. Coe Tug Morgan will honor us as the Installing Officer, with assistance from several Past Masters of St. John's, including MWBro. Richard Mecartea. | |  |
Bro. Rust will be the 126th Master to serve the Lodge since 1860.
Other officers to be installed are Bros. Joseph Lund, SW; Mark Campbell, JW; WBro. Ken Lane, Jr, Treasurer; VWBro. Jim Russell, Secretary; Bros. Ken Wehl, SD; Jim Wold, JD; Nick Mitchell, SS; Morgan Jones, JS; Webster Kavanaugh, Chaplain; Adam Mackler, Marshal; VWBro. David Julian, Organist, and WBro. Terry Grove, Tyler. VWBros. David Campbell and Charles Brockway, and WBros. Allan Pinch and Bill Collison continue to serve as elected Trustees.
Those who will be attending the dinner (hosted by St. John's) are requested to let the secretary (206 623-0261) know by Tuesday, December 9th.
ST. JOHN'S GIVES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO LOCAL SEA SCOUTS, CUB PACK
 | | Over forty civic and Masonic charities receive support from St. John's each year. Among those who received financial assistance the last couple of years are the Sea Scouts, a division of the Boy Scouts of America. Last month the Lodge elected to sponsor the re-constituted Cub Scouts Pack in Renton, where Senior Warden-elect Joseph Lund will be a Pack leader. |
| VWBro Richard Oslund was awarded the 2003 Grand Masters Achievement Award at the recent District 5 reception for the Grand Master. St. John's was presented a Grand Lodge "Pillar of Progress" award for community involvement. | |  |
LODGE RECEIVES TERRITORIAL CORPORATION RECOGNITION
 | | On Monday, November 10th, Secretary of State Sam Reed presented WM Terry Grove with a Washington State Sesquitennial Celebration certificate of Corporation for St. John's Lodge No. 9. The certificate recognizes the Lodge as one of the Pioneer Corporations of Territorial Washington. We are the 6th oldest corporation in Washington. The Worshipful Master was |
accompanied by several members of St. John's Lodge and the Grand Master had given permission for the members to wear aprons at this event.
The certificate will be on view in our display case in the entryway to the Quick Room at the SRC. Masonic lodges are some of the oldest corporations in the State.
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NEEDY FAMILIES BENEFIT FROM MASONS' HELP;
MORE HELP NEEDED
 | | We were pleased to again provide food and clothing for families at Thanksgiving, and will again distribute food, clothing and toys for the children at Christmas. We look forward to this annual opportunity to provide dignity, care and compassion to those families struggling to meet the bare necessities. |
| Brethren of the Lodge get to know the families and find out how we best can help. Then we shop and distribute the gifts. Joy and gratitude by the families are only exceeded by the level of good feeling among our Brothers. | |  |
| Contact Bro. Michael Rust for participation in the Christmas side of this project. |
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS
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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