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 | | Our third meeting at Greenwood Temple began on a crisp November evening. Members began arriving at about 6 PM and by the dinner start time of 6:15 most were present. Every seat in the dining room was filled. MWBro Sat Tashiro offered a prayer and everyone sat down to our Past Master's Night supper. |
| This month we enjoyed a prime rib dinner in honor of all of our Past Masters. These dedicated men have supported the Lodge throughout their Masonic lives and we try to let them know that they are really appreciated each year on Past Masters night. | |  |
 | | This month we had the LAP at John Rogers and the Principal of Cedar Way Elementary Schools at our dinner. They came to express their appreciation for the support that St. John's Lodge No. 9 gives their schools through our sponsorship of the Accelerated Reading Program. Hawkins Cramer, Principal of Cedar Way Elementary School spoke during dessert as he had to get | | home to his family which, we understand, is shortly going to become one person larger. We congratulate him and his bride on their prospective family addition. |
| After everyone had finished dessert the Lodge adjourned to the Lodgeroom where Debbie McDonald, LAP of John Rogers Elementary School, spoke to us about her experiences this year with the Accelerated Reading Program. She said that many of the purchased books went home with students and never came back. For this reason she asked the Lodge | |  | | for funds besides the regular update funds for the program to replace many of these missing tomes. |
Following this presentation our guests left and WM Joseph Lund opened Lodge on the First Degree for his last meeting as Master of St. John's Lodge No. 9. The minutes of the previous meeting were read, bills were paid, and the treasurer's report was heard. Visitors were introduced and given a warm welcome. A visiting WM and the Grand Lodge team members were separately introduced and all accorded the Public Grand Honors.
 | | The Master instructed the Senior Deacon to present the Affiliated Past Masters of St. John's west of the altar. Seven brothers were introduced and the Master extended his appreciation for their support of our lodge and their home lodges. | | |
| As a special tribute to the Past Masters of St. John's, the Master directed the Senior Deacon to arrange the Past Masters in a semi-circle west of the Altar. Sixteen of 59 living Past Masters, representing St. John's No. 9, Ionic No. 90, Elliot Bay No. 257, and T. H. Roosevelt No. 229 were in attendance. . Each Past Master was greeted and given a red carnation by Worshipful | |  | Master Lund, accompanied by an expression of sincere affection and appreciation for his past and current support of the Lodge.
The Master then placed five white carnations upon the Altar in memory of those Past Masters who have advanced to the Celestial Lodge above.
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 | | Bro. Wesley Gordon Presho was escorted to the East, where he was presented a 50 year pin issued by the Grand Lodge of California. Presenting the pin and a certificate was VWBro. Mike Davis, Deputy if the Grand Master. MWBro. Sat Tashiro presented Bro. Presho with a lapel pin issued by our Grand Master, MWBro. Alvin Jorgensen. . Bro. Presho said that his father | | had been an active Mason in the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, and the Shrine. |
A petition for plural membership was then read and an investgation committee appointed.
VWBro. Dave Campbell reported that the Trustees held their quarterly meeting and framed a 2006 budget for the lodge to approve. One line item occupied the bulk of the discussion, that of travel expenses to annual Grand Lodge. It was agreed that the principal officers, Past Masters of St. John's, and those members who are part of the Grand Lodge team should be assisted financially in their representation at Grand Lodge. Resolutions and candidates will be reviewed at the May meeting prior to the annual communication, and those delegates who receive our support will be expected to report back to the lodge at our next communication. It was agreed to purchase an ice maker and refrigerator as our gift to the Greenwood Masonic Center.
The Junior Warden announced that there will be a Master Mason degree on Wednesday, December 14. We expect that there will be two of our candidates and one from Queen Anne Lodge raised at that time. A practice will be held on Wednesday, November 30.
WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. requested those who will be assisting in the Thanksgiving Charity to meet with him following the meeting.
Ballots were distributed for the election of officers for 2006 and one Trustee whose term will expire in 2009. Forty-five members were present and voting. MWBro. Sat Tashiro and Bro. Wesley Presho served as the tally committee. The result of the ballot was:
- Bro. Mark A. Campbell W.M.
- WBro. Charles H. Tupper S.W.
- Bro. James Wold J.W.
- WBro. Kenneth M. Lane, Jr. Treasurer
- VWBro. James F. Russell Secretary
- WBro. Jeff Lane Trustee 2009
Each graciously accepted the honor and responsibility entrusted to them.
While the ballots were being counted a favorable ballot was spread on MWBro. Satoru Tashiro for plural affiliation. The petitioner had received a unanimous favorable recommendation by the investigating committee.
VWBro. Charles Brockway will again lead the brothers in presenting Christmas cheer to needy families at Fort Lewis. Assisting VWBro. Brockway will be WBros. Hans Wehl, Allan Pinch, Ken Lane Jr., Darrel Womack, VWBro. Mike Davis, and Bros. Jim Wold, Ken Wehl, William Isabelle, Brian Downie, Mark Campbell, Chris Carney. Food and toys will be distributed to selected families on Saturday, December 17.
Officers will be installed on Saturday morning, December 10. It was m/s/p that the 2005 installation of lodge officers be open to the public. MWBro. Richard Mecartea will be leading the installing team. Practice for the installation will be December 6 at 7pm.
WBro. Tupper was authorized to purchase a key safe to be installed to hold keys to access our archives, Tyler's locker, and degree paraphernalia/company store rooms. The combination is easily changed and should afford us the security and access we need well into the future.
VWBro. Brockway has met with WBro. Jeff Lane to prepare signage for the Royal Arch Mason Park shelter roof we have repaired, and will also prepare a sign to be used for the Granite Falls park, where we have erected a shelter in the name of John and Lila Houck.
The lodge has often had programs which have required the use of a DVD projector for Power Point presentations. On some occasions we have borrowed a projector, and earlier this year we rented one. Other programs would have been enhanced had one been available. It is also desirable to have a VCR recorder and player. WBro Bill Collison was authorized funds to purchase them for the Lodge.
The University Street Ministry, which organizes the daily schedules for local charity groups to serve hot meals to the homeless teens in the University District, has made a list of "wants" to be available to the young people this winter. We have participated in serving these young people over the last four years. Bro. Jim Wold was authorized funds to purchase selected items from this list. Bro. Wold purchased six sleeping bags, wool socks, flashlights, phone cards and Discmans and batteries which were on the list.
The Treasurer presented the Trustees' recommended budget for 2006 which, following some discussion, was approved unanimously.
VWBro. Charles Brockway proposed a resolution to be presented for action at the annual Grand Lodge communication next June. In the early history of the Territory of Washington, some Masonic Lodges were incorporated by Special Acts of the Territorial Legislature. St. John's has been a corporation since the Territory of Washington passed an act specifically establishing such in 1865. Later the Masonic Code was amended to state in Sec. 12.05 B.L. Incorporation of Lodges. No Lodge shall form itself into a corporate body without permission from the Grand Lodge. It is important to our lodge that we maintain our corporate status. A rough draft was presented to the lodge to address this issue, and it was m/s/p to prepare a resolution to permit this lodge and similar lodges to retain their corporate status. (Adopted 28-0)
Bro. William Isabelle presented a second resolution to be considered at Grand Lodge. This resolution is prepared to amend Sec. 14.03 By-Laws. Subsection 2 reads "By-Laws can be amended after adoption only at a Stated Communication and after written notice of the proposed amendment has been mailed to each member of the Lodge at least ten days before such Stated Communication…." In this day of electronic communication, it seems desirable to permit lodges to use electronic mailings to inform those brothers who are so linked. This save postage, paper and time. It was m/s/p to support this resolution to add electronic media as an option for communication. (Adopted 27-1)
VWBro. Michael Davis inquired whether there was support in the lodge to hold a reception for the Grand Master at Benaroya Hall, hiring the Seattle Youth Symphony to provide an evening (or afternoon) of entertainment. Cost to hire the SYSO would be $5,000, and could be split up among the several lodges in five local districts. Each lodge's share would be approximately $250. The Master referred this proposal to the Board of Trustees for its recommendation.
The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:
- November 22 (7:30pm): King Co. Masonic Library (Delta-White Center No. 172)
- November 30 (7pm): MM Degree Practice
- November 30: Masonic Service Bureau
- December 6 (7pm): Installation practice
- December 10 (10am): Installation of Officers (Saturday morning)
- December 10(1:30pm): Secrets of the Chair (Following the Installation reception)
- December 14 (6:30pm): Master Mason Degree
- December 21 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated
2006
- January 11 (5pm): Trustees meeting - Conference Room
- January 12 (7pm): Officers meeting/practice
WBro. Joseph Lund, who has had a successful year as Master of St. John's, concluded the evening with a few remarks. He identified this year's experience as our Master as "one of the most fulfilling times in my life." He was accorded a standing ovation as a recognition of his leadership in this full and successful year.
The Lodge was then closed by selected Past Master's at 9:50 p.m., peace and harmony prevailed as it always does at St. John's Lodge No. 9.
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