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From the East
For those not present at our last Stated Meeting in May, St. John's Lodge No. 9 voted unanimously to sponsor the creation of Esoterica Lodge to Grand Lodge for dispensation. There is more at work here than just the creation of another lodge. As I met with the brothers who have come together to form this new lodge to set into motion our papers for dispensation, I looked around the room and saw the common bond within us all. We live Masonry. Only we lived it long before we knew what Freemasonry was.
| As a young teenager growing up on the Oregon Coast, I was exposed to some very powerful and influential teachings in Tibetan Buddhism. My mother was part of a prayer group that hosted the Dalai Lama, the self exiled leader of Tibet, at our home in Seal Rock, Oregon. As I listened to his translated message it became amazingly clear - and very simple. Most major religions touch upon the one simple rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This became the very foundation of how I wanted to lead my life. I set to work, building my | |  |
foundation, unaware of what I was building, or to the "Undiscovered Country" that it might take me to....Freemasonry.
When I first came to dinner at St. John's, I saw the fellowship and brotherhood that I always wanted. I knew that as all things happen for a reason, that this was my path. Thus I laid my cornerstone. As I gazed around the room at the brothers of Esoterica, I saw that they were me; that they too had been Masons even before joining the fraternity. And I feel it in my very soul that these brothers represent the voice of Freemasonry for tomorrow, that we are the future that will endure the ravages of time. We are what Masonry is becoming, and we are pulling Masonry back to its roots.
There are many veteran Masons who have been waiting for this - to see the fire rise up in the hearts of this new generation of Masons. They are eager to join and pass on the knowledge that they have held for so long. There may be some not wanting to see us succeed, but they become fewer in number as more and more brothers reach out for their piece of that undiscovered country.
Come Senators, Congressman, please heed the call
Don't block up the doorway, don't block up the hall
For he who gets hurt will be he who has stalled.....
Oh the times they are a changing
Bob Dylan
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Joseph Lund, WM
MOVE TO GREENWOOD ANTICIPATED
Members of St. John's will decide the direction our lodge will take for the foreseeable future when action will be taken on a proposed resolution to our bylaws. At this next stated communication on Wednesday, June 1, a vote will be held to move our meeting place to the Greenwood Masonic Center, 7910 Greenwood Ave. N., and for our meetings to be changed to the 3rd Wednesday of every month. (See Resolution immediately following this article)
Also that evening we will hear from Dr. Irl Hirsch, Medical Director of the University of Washington Diabetes Care Center who will describe the work of the diabetes care facility and offer suggestions how we can become involved as volunteers to help those with this growing disease. Diabetes affects the whole family, and is a growing problem throughout the United States. Dr. Hirsch will describe how each of us can participate in the UW programs. St. John's contributes annually to the Care Center.
Following unanimous approval at last month's meeting to choose Greenwood as our meeting location, a bylaw amendment will be considered to meet at Greenwood on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. If passed, and once approved by the Grand Master, we will begin to meet at the Greenwood Masonic Center on Wednesday, September 21. Greenwood Lodge No. 253 meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month, and thus our meting dates would need to be changed if the bylaw resolution to move to Greenwood is approved.
Lafayette No. 241, Walter F. Meier No. 281, and Esoterica U.D. are also considering a move to Greenwood.
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Bylaw Resolution
Whereas the Seattle Valley of the Scottish Rite has given notice to all its tenants to vacate the premises by March 1, 2006, and
Whereas it is imperative that St. John's Lodge No. 9 by this notice to vacate must establish a new place to meet, and
Whereas it is our desire to maintain a presence as a "Seattle Lodge," and
Whereas following a full review of available locations, convenient to the majority of our active members and meeting a number of desired criteria,
Therefore Be It Resolved that the by-laws of St. John's Lodge No. 9 be amended as follows:
Article II - Communication
Section 1. The Stated Communication of this Lodge shall be held on the third Wednesday of each month at the hour of 7:30 p.m.
Section 2. All communications of this Lodge shall be held in the Greenwood Masonic Center, 7910 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle, Washington.
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Come To Lodge
The Master invites all Masons to share with us in our deliberations, and to mark your calendars to catch our June meeting. Those who attend our 6:00 dinner infrequently should phone the Secretary at (206) 623-0261 to assure that we have enough food and beverage for all.
If you need a ride, we will be happy to find one for you. Do you know of a Brother who has not attended Lodge in a while? Call him and ask if you can pick him up and bring him to Lodge. His number is available from the Secretary.
TOUR UNDERGROUND SEATTLE
Members of St. John's and their families will enjoy a tour through Underground Seattle on Wednesday, June 15. This is an opportunity to invite our non-Mason friends and our families to join us for a look at historic Seattle. Bill Speidel's underground tour is a leisurely, guided walking tour beneath Seattle's sidewalks and streets. While you roam the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle, tour guides regale you with humorous stories our pioneers didn't want you to hear. It's history with a twist!
The tour begins at 6:30pm, with a seated introduction inside Doc Maynard's Public House, a restored 1890s saloon. Then you walk outside through historic Pioneer Square to three different sections of Underground - about three blocks in all.
Starting at Doc Maynard's, we will conclude with fish & chips at Ivar's on the waterfront. Reservations are a must, and need to be placed with our Junior Warden WBro. Charles Tupper (206 406-8670) no later than June 5. Admission to the Tour will be paid by the lodge; cost of the meal following will be bourne by the participant.
A word of traffic caution: The Mariners will be hosting the Philadelphia Phillies at 7:05pm at Safeco Field!
COMING MEETINGS
The Master announces that attire for our June stated will be business casual. Open shirt and Docker jeans are acceptable - no shorts or sandals. Our July stated will be Herb's Night, with an emphasis on Hawaiian attire. The Seattle Youth Symphony String Quartet will be featured. In August, we will return to more formal attire as we will host the student recipients of our scholarships and their families. In September, we expect to be meeting at Greenwood.
FREMONT FAIR
Members of St. John's will be working with those from Daylight Lodge No. 232 and Doric Lodge No. 92 in staffing an information booth at the Fremont Fair, June 18-19. Those who want to help in this opportunity to spread the word about Freemasonry should contact VWBro. Jim Russell 206 623-0261 or VWBro. Coe Morgan 206 632-2970. What a great opportunity to spread the good word about Freemasonry.
ANNUAL COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE
Several amendments to the Masonic Code will be considered during the annual Communication of Grand Lodge in Wenatchee, June 9-11. Among those on the legislative agenda is 2005-4, which would change the titles of Grand Lodge Organist and Lodge Organist to "Musician." Also, 2005-5 would require the Masonic Service Bureau of Seattle and any other Masonic relief organizations in this Jurisdiction to provide an annual report to its member lodges by February 15 which would include (1) an earnings report for the previous calendar year, (2) how they were distributed, and (3) a budget for the current year. 2005-9 would make a Master Mason a voting member of GL one year following the date of his becoming proficient in the MM Degree. 2005-13 would allow the GL General Fund to receive 1% of the value of the Masonic Home Endowment Fund annually, the same as is received from the other GL funds. The purpose of this action would be to reduce the current Grand Lodge operations deficit by about $320,000 per year. If this resolution is adopted, Resolution 2005-15 will be withdrawn. 2005-15 would assess lodges $18 per member for 3 years to make up the GL operations deficit reported in Resolution 2005-13.
Appointments to the Grand Lodge team for 2005-2006 have been announced. VWBro. Chuck Brockway will be Grand Marshal and VWBro. David Julian has been reappointed to Grand Organist/Musician. Both are members of St. John's No. 9. Other members of our lodge who have been named to serve under MWBro. Alvin Jorgensen are VWBro. Michael Davis, Deputy of the Grand Master for District No. 5, and committeemen WBro. Terry Grove (Charity), VWBro. Julian (Leadership Training), VWBro. David Campbell (Youth), and VWBro. Gale Kenney (chairman of Long Range Planning).
ST. JOHN'S TAGGED FOR OPEN AIR DEGREE
WBro. Frank Pascoe of the Granite Falls Masonic Park Board has informed us that St. John's Lodge No. 9 has been selected to confer the Master Mason Open Air degree at the Masonic Park in 2008. The Masonic Park is a 245-acre tract of land located on Canyon Creek four and one half miles east of Granite Falls, Washington. The Park is owned by the Master Masons Club, composed of the Masonic Lodges of Snohomish and Island Counties, plus one Lodge in King County.
An outstanding degree team is selected to confer the Master Mason degree in an open-air lodge "room" on the first Saturday of August each year.
Coming Events
- June 1 (6pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated
- June 9-11: Grand Lodge of Washington (Wenatchee)
- June 15: Underground Seattle tour
- June 18: Fellowcraft Degree
- June 18-19: Fremont Fair Booth (with Daylight No. 232)
- July 9-11: Family campout at Granite Falls Masonic Park
- July 13 (6pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated Herb's Night
Contact Us Here
Worshipful Master: Joseph Lund (425) 271-3173 yosiflund@earthlink.net
Senior Warden: Mark Campbell (425) 398-1398 mark.katherine@verizon.net
Junior Warden: Charles Tupper (206) 406-8670 webmaster@seattlemasons.org
Secretary: Jim Russell (206) 623-0261 stjohns9@seattlemasons.org
Webmaster: Charles Tupper (206) 406-8670 webmaster@seattlemasons.org
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