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September 2005
From the East
Honor and respect…. from the heart, not by the arm.
| Since the time I first joined St. John's Lodge No. 9, I have heard stories about our landmarks and how they have been interpreted by those outside of our lodge.
The landmark which disturbs most brothers from outside our lodge is how we escort all visitors - Masons of all stations - as we do candidates, by the right arm. Only the Grand Master, or his Deputy on his official visit, do we escort by the left arm. This "ancient usage" goes back to 1860, when St. John's was chartered. Our intention is not now, nor has it ever been, to offer anything but the utmost honor | |  |
| and respect to those taken by the arm, whether they are conducted or escorted. To break this tradition would bring disrespect to our lodge fathers and brothers. Honor and respect are given from the heart, regardless of the arm. If we give the same deference to all Masons, then we are truly treating all Masons on the level. |
When a visiting Brother Mason is escorted by the right arm, and feels dishonored or disrespected, he is making a choice. He is choosing to consider that a personal affront is being made towards him. When he is accorded the same honors as any other Mason, whether it be on the right arm in this lodge, or by the left arm in other lodges, he is always accorded honor and respect. To say he is not creates dissension which leads to disharmony. Harmony is the strength and support of all institutions, more especially this of ours. To bring dissension and disharmony into the lodge is not what Masonry is about. To force change in a lodge, through dissension and disharmony, is misguided and as un-Masonic as it gets.
We are here to improve ourselves in Masonry, so lets do that. No more picking about how to change one of the oldest lodges in the jurisdiction and make it homogeneous, like many have become. We are unique, we should be proud of our heritage, and not chip away at its foundations, or cause dissent among its members.
May the God of Love and Peace delight to dwell with you and Bless you.
So Mote it Be!
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Joseph Lund, WM
NEW DAY, NEW LIFE, NEW BEGINNINGS MARK ST. JOHN'S NEW HOME
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
- Morning has Broken
St. John's greets a new era when we open our meeting at Greenwood Masonic Center, Wednesday, September 21. Worshipful Master Joseph Lund invites every member within the Greater Seattle area to come and celebrate with us as we re-create ourselves and mark a new chapter in the long history of Seattle Masonry.
Besides a change of location, we also have a change in meeting day. For 133 years, this Lodge met on the last Saturday of the month, then changed to the 1st Wednesday when we merged with Ionic Lodge in 1993. Now, because Greenwood Lodge also meets on the 1st Wednesday, we will be meeting on the 3rd Wednesdays.
Photo by WB Darrel Womack
We also will be changing our start time for dinner. In order to give our brothers better opportunity to find parking in the Greenwood area, our dinners will be starting at 6:15pm. Street parking is scarce, but a half-block to the west is parking made available after 6pm by St. John School, a part of St. John (Evangelist) Catholic Parish.
Guest Speaker at Stated
Our first meeting will open with guest speaker Ms Amber Wade from Mentoring Children of Promise (MCP), a program for children with incarcerated parents. Studies show that children with parents in prison in Washington state are seven times more likely than other children to become incarcerated themselves; this program is designed to help break the cycle of incarceration and give hope to our next generation.
A mentor is an adult role model, someone to talk to and have fun with during a time when the child's family is stressed by having a parent in prison. A mentor allows a child to see another perspective in life that could give them hope and possibly change their life. Children with mentors show dramatic improvements in school performance and personal relationships (with family and peers) after only a few months of hanging out with a mentor because of an increase in self-esteem and confidence. This mentor program is one-on-one, providing the children with someone paying sole attention to them - something that some of these children have never had before.
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SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
Members of St. John's will be attending an evening at the Seattle Art Museum on Thursday, September 29. This is another opportunity to invite a friend who may be interested in the fraternity. The tour will start at 6:15 at 100 University Street Reservations will need to be made by Thursday, September 24.
We will primarily be touring the European art section of the Library and the tour is about an hour to an hour and a half long. We will be going out for coffee for about a half hour following the tour.
The Art Museum has a wonderful collection including Renoir's "Last Supper," works by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Degas, Botticelli, Chagall, Monet, Picasso, Matisse, and many other famous artists. It will be an experience - especially for those who have never been to the Seattle Art Museum.
For roughly 300 years, from about 1200 to 1500, most European paintings were devotional objects, commissioned to occupy sacred spaces in Christian churches and private chapels. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the nobility and upper classes joined and then replaced the Church as major patrons of artists. All of these developments are reflected in the European collection at the Seattle Art Museum.
Suggested parking: Harbor Steps Parking Garage (1200 Western Ave). Entrance on Western Avenue. This is an ADA accessible garage, it has an elevator that will leave you on 1st Ave and University Street. Right across the street from the Seattle Art Museum.
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Your lodge is moving effective in September
Please remember to take a little time to re-adjust your sights when heading for our next stated communication. Our new address is 7910 Greenwood Ave. N. That's just a few blocks south of the main intersection of N. 85th and Greenwood N., on the east side of the street.
OFF TO THE RACES!
Past Master Jeff Lane is a co-owner and driver who races nationally and regionally in the competition eliminator and pro stock NHRA dragster circuits. In July, his '90 Oldsmobile Chevrolet 320 won the competition eliminator national event at Pacific Raceways in Kent, clocking at 7.89 seconds, 170mph in one of the qualifying rounds.
Winning a national event is one of the toughest challenges in racing. Congratulations, Jeff! And, by the way, the St. John's logo adorns the Hancock & Lane Racing Team truck and cars.
The following resolution will be acted upon at this month's communication:
- Whereas the Trustees annually perform a mid-year review of our annual budget, and
- Whereas changing our stated meetings from the 1st Wednesday to the 3rd Wednesday will cause our 2005 installation of officer
- expenses to come payable this year and not next, and
- Whereas we underestimated the fees necessary to manage our investment portfolio, and
- Whereas it is our desire to make criminal background checks on petition applicants,
- Therefore be it resolved that the following increases to our Operating Budget be made:
- Increase Installation Ceremony $1,500
- Increase Oppenheimer Management Fee $35,000
- Add Petition Processing $300
New Lodge Location and Location of Parking
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Greenwood Masonic Center is just south of N. 80th & Greenwood Ave. N. Parking is available at St. John School, in the middle of the block west of Greenwood, off 80th. Parking is also available on the street. Going south on I-5 take the NE 80th street exit; going north, take the N 85th street exit.
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Coming Events
- September 21 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated (first meeting at Greenwood!)
- September 28 (5pm): Trustees meeting - Greenwood Conference Room (2006 budget)
- September 29 (6:15pm): Seattle Art Museum tour
- October 8 (8:30am): Regional Workshop, Everett Masonic Center
- October 12, 5pm: St. John's Lodge No. 9 Trustees meeting - Greenwood Conference Room
- October 12 (7pm): Officers meeting or degree
- October 19 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated
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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