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January 2006
From the East
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In DeMolay
With apologies to Robert Fulghum and his book with a similar title, I have found that my years spent in DeMolay taught me several invaluable lessons that I use on a daily basis. During my Masonic journey, these lessons learned in my youth have been reinforced and given new meaning and relevance.
It is rather difficult for me to imagine what it must be like for someone to enter a lodge room for the first time. Since I was 13 years old (longer ago than I'd like to admit) square corners, secret words and handshakes and people stationed in the
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| East, West and South have all seemed very normal to me. The similarities between DeMolay and Masonry are extensive and, therefore, made my transition to Masonry relatively simple. How strange it all must seem to a candidate's first exposure to our ritual and traditions. |
However, the afore-mentioned lessons go well beyond floor work, protocol and ceremonies. They are precepts (more specifically the seven cardinal virtues of the Order of DeMolay) that every person of high moral character should use as rules and guides to their actions.
1) Filial love: love for one's mother and father. Remember the sacrifices that they have made for you and strive to repay them with obedience, courtesy and consideration.
2) Reverence for sacred things: a reminder to make time in our daily lives to give thanks for the bountiful blessings bestowed by our Creator.
3) Courtesy: kindness and generosity to all with whom we come in contact.
4) Comradeship: the importance of being a tried and true friend.
5) Fidelity: faithfulness to trusts, ideals, obligations and friends; integrity to all that we have promised.
6) Cleanness: a clean heart, mind and body; free from all that is blasphemous and vulgar.
7) Patriotism: love and devotion to one's country. Moreover, a special remembrance for those that have offered their lives in defense of our nation's honor.
As Masons, these seven points may seem rather obvious and redundant, nothing we haven't heard before. Our ritual and ideals reflect all of these principles. But now imagine the lasting impact of these ideals upon the mind of a young man. These are things he may have never heard before. Or maybe he has some level of familiarity with them and through memorization and repetition the true importance of their meaning is understood.
Frank S. Land, the founder of DeMolay, was once asked if there is actually anything that sets DeMolay apart from other youth organizations. "There certainly is," Land said. "It's ritual - a dramatic and yet solemn presentation that impresses an obligation on a boy to live and do right." May we as Masons continue our support of DeMolay, Job's Daughters and Rainbow and the ideals and principles that they instill, promote and engender.
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Mark Campbell, WM
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WELCOME TO ST. JOHN'S
The Master welcomes all to St. John's for our Stated Meeting of January 18. Dinner begins at 6:15. Please let the Secretary know you and a guest will be in attendance so we can give the chef an accurate count!
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Coming Events
- January 12 (7pm): Officers meeting
- January 15 (3pm): Officers Reception for Grand Master at Scottish Rite
- January 18 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated
- January 26 (7pm): Fellowcraft degree
- January 27: Quarterly meeting of Masonic Service Bureau
- February 15 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated Official Visit of District Deputy
- February 25: Regional Districts 4 & 5 Meeting at Greenwood
- February 28: MM degree at Esoterika U.D. (St. John's Lodge No. 9 courtesy candidate Scott Yerger)
FELLOWCRAFT DEGREE
Bro. Brian Downie will be receiving his Fellowcraft degree on Thursday, January 26. All brothers, Fellowcrafts and Master Masons, are invited to participate in the degree or to offer their support from the sidelines.
Coming up, but no date assigned, will be an Entered Apprentice degree and possibly a Master Mason degree. Bro. Scott Yerger will be receiving his Master Mason degree by Esoterika Lodge U.D. as a courtesy candidate to give that lodge an opportunity to demonstrate its proficiency in the work. This will meet one of their requirements leading to a charter as a new lodge in Washington.
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Milestones
Last year, we received word that nineteen Brothers left us for that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns:"
Col. Edward Anderson, Francis Bean, Wilfred Bergman, Oscar Bradley, Francis Cushman, Robert Dinwiddie Jr., Max Flores, J. David Hampton, Ernest "Sam" Harding, William Hull, Albert Levy, John Levy, Richard Oslund, Isaac Ovadia, George Price, Glenn Swingler, Jack Treglown, Edward Wagner, Joseph Westall.
Until we meet again, dear Friends and Brothers, until we meet again, farewell.
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HOMELESS TEENS STORY KEYNOTES JANUARY STATED
Four years ago, newly-elected Master Skip Albertson asked this lodge to help feed many of the homeless teens who lived in and around the University District. Since then, along with many others, we have been sharing our talents to help those who struggle with the bare minimums of daily living.
At our January 18 Stated Communication, we will hear from Ms. Megan Gibbard, Direct Services Supervisor for University Street Ministries. These are the folks who coordinate all the volunteers and offer the support so necessary to serve the young people of our community.
University Street Ministries set about to reduce the risk our youth encounter daily. The ideal aim might be housing and education … but you can't climb the mountain in one step. We must begin where a youth is at. Encourage youth who are sexually active to use protection. Educate youth who are using drugs about clean needles, safer ways to use, and, when they are ready - treatment programs. Encourage youth to apply for food stamps to better their nutritional access, or to stop by a clinic for illnesses. Each small positive change is one step closer to a healthy life, and, ultimately, life off the streets.
What do kids on the street need? Kids on the street need clean socks. They need nutritious food. They need shelter. They need harm reduction services and medical care. They need transitional housing options to help them learn the living skills to make it on their own. They need substance abuse treatment options. They need jobs, and educational opportunities. They need compassionate, respectful services and volunteers who can offer support and healthy relationships. They need to be heard and considered, not silenced and discarded. They need to be recognized as young people with potential and value, not just as homeless youth.
This message and success stories will be told at our next stated communication. Dinner will be served at 6:15.
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Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Prosperous New Year!
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LODGE WEBSITE A BIG HIT
For those who might be interested in how our website usage fares, WBro. Charlie Tupper (webmaster and Senior Warden) reports the individual user index page view numbers for the week in early December:
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Date | | Page Views |
| December 10, 2005 | | 432 |
| December 09, 2005 | | 479 |
| December 08, 2005 | | 589 |
| December 07, 2005 | | 431 |
| December 06, 2005 | | 472 |
| December 05, 2005 | | 469 |
| December 04, 2005 | | 463 |
| Total | | 3,335 |
This projects to about 175,000 verifiable users per year. Of these users, almost all viewed more than just the index page. "Over the past year I have watched an increase of over 70% in the users of our website and the trend continues to rise as time goes by," WBro. Tupper writes.
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Dues Reminder
Dues for 2006 were due and payable by December 31, 2005. If your address label is circled in blue, you still have not paid your dues for this year! Please remit $12.00, today.
Where do your $12.00 St. John's dues dollars go?
$4.28 Charity
$2.78 Investment management, insurance, and fees
$1.05 Special Events
$1.04 Salaries
$ .95 Membership promotion
$ .93 Rent and Dinners
$ .46 Administration
$ .29 Grand Lodge dues, subscriptions
$ .21 Reserves
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250TH BIRTHDAY OF A MASONIC MUSICIAN
John Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756. A musical genius, he went to his grave before the age of forty, buried in a pauper's grave, deserted by friends, his Masonic brothers, and even his wife. He was the Master of composition. A strict formalist, an impeccable master of counterpoint and of opera where he brought the brilliant qualities of a consummate musician to be combined brilliantly with a sense of drama. The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and the Magic Flute all testify to his musico-dramatic genius.
DISTRICT MEETING FEATURES SYSO
Districts 4 & 5 are going to raise money for the kids at the SYSO and have fun doing it. There will be a joint reception for the Grand Master on February 25th at Greenwood Masonic Center. This reception will not be like any you have been to in the past. The Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra will be providing a string quartet and all net proceeds will be donated to the SYSO to benefit the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra's Scholarship and Marrowstone summer school programs.
Costs for the event are still being finalized, but your editor estimates individual tickets will be under $15. Seating is limited, so get your reservations in early to reserve your seats. You may purchase your ticket at our coming January 18 Stated Meeting, or contact our District Deputy VWBro. Mike Davis 253 255-1874.
SACAJEWEA ACCELERATED READER
Brothers from St. John's will present $5,000 to Sacajewea Elementary at a school assembly Monday, January 23, to continue to advance their accelerated reader program. Last year the lodge purchased a server and a minimum number of computer tests and books to get the program started at this north end Seattle school.
Teachers throughout the school are making use of the accelerated reader program and the tests that this program offers. This latest check will provide needed funding for more tests, books, and related items for the teachers to be able to expand their use of this important program.
Scholarship Trust
A scholarship trust has been established for the son of our late brother, Robert Dinwiddie, Jr. Contributions may be sent to Zachary Dinwiddie Scholarship Trust c/o PO Box 30069, Seattle, WA 98113-0069. Checks should be made payable to Zachary Dinwiddie Scholarship Trust.
Contact Us Here
Worshipful Master: Mark Campbell (425) 398-1398
Senior Warden: Charles Tupper (206) 406-8670
Junior Warden: James A. Wold (425) 357-6867
Secretary: Jim Russell (206) 623-0261 stjohns9@seattlemasons.org
Webmaster: Charles Tupper (206) 406-8670 webmaster@seattlemasons.org
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