May 2007 Trestleboard

Chicken and mashed potato is on the menu and it will be served by the West Seattle Rainbow assembly. They will also shine your shoes while you are listening to the presentation and while you are at the Stated Communication.

· May 6 (8am-10am): FABulous Family Brunch – Ivar’s Salmon House (immediate families, prospective members and their families)

· May 9 (5pm): Board of Trustees

May 11 (6pm): Districts 4 & 5 Celebration of Masonry (Ballard Masonic Center)

· May 14 (7-9pm): Ritual instruction classes at Greenwood Masonic Center

· May 15 (5:30): Little League Masons vs. Lane Hardwood Floors

· May 16 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated; JGW Candidate and GL Resolutions

· May 22 (7:30pm): King Co. Masonic Library (Delta-White Ctr.)

· May 23 (7pm): Officers meeting

· June 12 (7-9pm): Ritual instruction classes at Greenwood Masonic Center

· June 14-16: Grand Lodge (Tri-Cities)

· June 18: King Solomon Lodge No. 60 Annual Strawberry Feed

Puget Sound Update - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Puget Sound, from Top to Bottom
PAST MASTER REVEALS A DIRTY SECRET

There, did that get your attention? Past Master Skip Albertson will be giving a brief overview of the physical aspects of Puget Sound relating to its glacial formation and daily tidal cycles followed by a summary of problem spots (e.g., low oxygen levels) and Gov. Gregoire's Puget Sound Initiative at this month’s stated communication. Guests are invited to join us for our 6:15 dinner and special program.

		Puget Sound’s serene beauty on the surface hides a much darker and sinister story below. Significant declines in salmon, orcas, marine birds and rockfish, continued hard-armoring of shorelines and loss of habitat, identification of “hot spots” of highly contaminated sediments, and the ongoing problems associated with stormwater runoff all contribute to an ecosystem at risk. Our resident Environmental Engineer and Physical Oceanographer Past Master Albertson adds a scientist’s perspective to a dangerous decline in the Puget Sound ecosystem. He will show graphic examples of what many fear to be a dying waterway in our own backyard. Also, during the May 16 communication we expect to meet VWBro. G. Santy Lascano, candidate for Junior Grand Warden, and to
review a few of the proposed amendments to the Washington Masonic Code which will be introduced at the June annual Grand Lodge session.
Worshipful Master Charles Tupper invites all Masons to join us for a full evening of programming and business. 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!*

Several years ago, the story is told of a Mason who always wore his Masonic ring and lapel pin when in public. On some occasions, he rode the bus from his home to the downtown area. On one such trip and when he sat down, he discovered the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, “You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.” Then he thought, “Oh, forget it, it’s only a quarter; who’d worry about this little amount. Anyway, the transit company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a ‘gift from God’ and keep quiet.”

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, “Here, you gave me too much change.”

The driver with a smile replied, “I noticed your Masonic ring and lapel pin. I have been thinking lately about asking a Mason how to join. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. You passed the test. Can you tell me how to become a Mason?”

When the Mason stepped off the bus, he said a silent prayer, "Oh God, Great Architect of the Universe, I almost sold you and my beloved Masons out for a mere quarter.”

Our actions are the only Masonic creed some will ever see. This is a really almost scary example of how people watch us as Masons and may put us to the test even without us realizing it! Always be diligent, whether it be at the theater, restaurant, grocery, service station or just driving in traffic.

Remember, whether it be a lapel pin, a ring, or an emblem on the car, you carry the name of our great fraternity on your shoulders whenever you call yourself a Mason. You never can tell who might be watching!

Worshipful Master Charlie Tupper will be taking the lead in offering a series of classes for those brothers interested in perfecting our Blue Lodge ritual. The purpose will be to make our Masonic ritual meaningful as well as correct. Classes will be held at the Greenwood Masonic Center the 2^nd Monday of each month between the hours of 7 and 9pm. No classes will be held in July and August. All officers and any members of St. John’s who wish to go through a lodge line are encouraged to participate. The classes are open to members of any lodge.

Nineteen members of St. John’s will be attending the 150^th annual communication of Grand Lodge June 14-16 in Kennewick, some as delegates representing other Lodges. A non-binding poll will be taken in lodge of proposed resolutions amending the Washington Masonic Code

Seattle Alternative School has provided a highly successful high school alternative for “at-risk” kids. These students have to deal with and try to overcome a myriad of problems. Most were given no chance to graduate, but dedicated teachers have helped a few thousand earn a high school diploma.

So it was a wonderful surprise when St. John’s came across “the Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools” program. Professional blues musicians come to the school two hours a day for 13 days to teach them the blues, rewarded by a concert at the end. We have sponsored this program for the past two years, and have received kind words and letters from the faculty and students.

THE TEST author unknown