Following the entertainment the WM opened Lodge on the Entered Apprentice degree.  Introductions were done, the bills paid, minutes of the previous communication read, the Treasurer's report received, and communications read and passed around the Lodge.

Bro. Adam Creighton played and sang “The Christmas Song” in excellent fashion.  Due to a prior commitment, he was not able to stay for the duration of the meeting.  He wished all a Merry Christmas, and graciously invited anyone to choose a Christmas tree from his lot at Perrinville Village, Lynnwood, with his compliments. The meeting then resumed.

The Master reported that he has authorized the December Master’s charity to be directed toward the distribution of the Christmas groceries and gifts to local needy families.

VWBro. Charles Brockway reported that Operation Kid Smile again was enjoyed by many families at Fort Lewis.  VWBro. Brockway and his wife Sherla led some of the St. John’s brethren on a fast trip to the PX to purchase groceries and gifts for six families of fifteen children.  Following the distribution, pizza and beer were served at the Brockways to Santa (Hans Wehl) and his helpers Jack Berg, Joseph Lund, Ken Wehl, and Bill and Aundie Collison.  WBro. Helmuth Svoboda and Bro. Jim Wold also personally contributed to the offering.

WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. reported that he, Bro. Wold, and Bro. George Rine shopped for food at Thanksgiving to distribute to four families in the North End of Seattle.  The families were recommended by the Greenwood and Magnolia Food Banks.  These families will also receive gifts and groceries in time for Christmas.

Bro. Wold reported that he had distributed personal “survival gifts” to University Street Ministries to distribute to the Homeless Teens of Seattle.  These gifts were made available  from the remaining unused share of our Teen Feed charity program.  He said that the contributions to the “Secret Santa” program were down this year and that University Ministries was especially pleased that the brothers of St. John’s had “stepped up to the plate.”

WBro. Ken Lane requested that the lodge consider assisting a couple who has been displaced but has found lodging.  The husband has cerebral palsy.  They are in need of a bed.  Some funding has been raised but some assistance is still needed.  The Masonic Service Bureau, which once had beds, lost all they had when they experienced flooding a couple of years ago.  It was m/s/p to authorize some funding toward the purchase of a bed to assist this needy couple.

WBro. Hans Wehl, sporting a new St. John’s jacket and vest, announced that many St. John’s logo items from the company store were set up in the library to view for Christmas purchases.

The Secretary reported that three brothers are still delinquent in their 2006 dues.  The three have each had six notices and two telephone calls this past year.  One is also delinquent in his home lodge (University No. 141).  It was m/s/p to allow the memberships of these brothers to lapse without benefit of waiver or extension

Bros. Chris Carney and Jim Wold reported that the Fellowcraft (1/11/07) and Master Mason (1/24/07) degree teams will be assembled for January, and encouraged the brothers to participate and to attend the degrees to support the candidates.  Bro. Anthony Porter is ready for his Fellowcraft degree, and Bro. James Swift is ready for his Master Mason degree.

VWBro. Charles Brockway reported that the audit committee has examined the 2005 books and will be preparing a report.  The 2006 audit will begin shortly.

Bro. Chris Carney is looking for input from the lodge members for entertainment topics of interest for 2007.  As Junior Warden, he will be responsible for developing programs following dinner at each of our stated communications.  There will be a power point program of interest following the close of this evening’s meeting.

The Master reported that our accelerated reader support, assisted by free bicycles to many of the elementary students, is a St. John’s charity and is not a part of the Grand Lodge Bikes for Books program.  He reported that the drawing for the bicycles scheduled earlier this months at John Rogers elementary had to be postponed because the winter snow storm had caused the closure of the Seattle schools on that day.  WBro. Joseph Lund will be chairing this committee next year.

WBro. Bill Collison asked that we consider giving Christmas  assistance to some of the widows of the lodge.  He asked for recommendations for widows who might need some assistance.  Mrs. Louise (Jewell) Campbell, Mrs. Margaret (Sam) Harding, and Mrs. Pauline (Ray) Kirlin were recommended.  It was m/s/p to allocate $375 to give each widow $100, along with candy and flowers.

MASONIC EDUCATION

The Master spoke to the brothers about the rise of the speculative Mason from the structure of the stone mason.  The stone masons, who worked with their hands, were particularly active in the 1200s through the 1600s and met together as working stone masons in lodges for instruction.  These were not normally places where men of learning would gather.  However, men of learning were considered as potential threats by those who were sitting in seats of local or regional power, and the secrecy of the stone masons offered an opportunity for these men of letters to discuss ideas not always popular with those in power.  The stone masons, by these associations, had an opportunity to rub shoulders with men of learning and the accepted “society” of the day.  The operative and the speculative mason were mutually supportive.

GREETING BROTHERS ON THE LEVEL

The Master called the lodge “free from restraint” for a period of five minutes and invited the brethren to mingle and to greet each other upon the level.

READING OF PETITIONS

A petition for plural membership was received.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Bro. Ken Wehl (12/28/68) was honored with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate achieving one more year in his journey through life.

NEW BUSINESS

Authorization to spend funds

To facilitate the process to plan and make arrangements for two of our annual events, WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. m/s/p to pre-authorize expenses related to the 2007 spring Family Brunch and the 147^th annual anniversary dinner.

Lodge of Sorrow

The Washington Masonic Code, Sec. 23.02 B.L. allows a Master, on vote of a Lodge, to open a Lodge of Sorrow, which will remain open only during his term of office, for the purpose of conducting Masonic funeral rites.  The Secretary m/s/p that a Lodge of Sorrow, for the purpose of conducting Masonic funeral services under such restrictions as provided by the Washington Masonic Code of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, be opened effective immediately.

Habitat for Humanity

WBro. Joseph Lund suggested that if members of St. John’s showed an interest in personally providing labor to assist in a Habitat for Humanity home building project, he would seek some funding for a project under way by the South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity.  Currently, because of so many restrictions imposed by King County, it is virtually impossible for a Habitat project to proceed in this area.  WBro. Lund introduced Bro. Jerry Fugich, construction supervisor for the South Sound Habitat for Humanity, who explained the current nature of the program.  Their homes are nearing completion, but need additional funding.  On inquiry, it was estimated that it cost $80,000 to build a home, $20,000 of which is required permit fees.  No action was taken and will be left in the hands of WBro. Lund to determine if there is interest among the members of the lodge.

Grand Master’s Reception

The District 4 & 5 Grand Master’s Reception will be held at the Ballard Masonic Center starting at 6pm, January 12, 2007  This promises to be a great evening of food, fun, and fellowship as well as some great entertainment in a celebration of Masonry.  The net proceeds will be donated to the Seattle Youth Symphony to support their educational programs.  We have budgeted funds for this reception, but it will not be available until January.  The Master entertained a motion and it was m/s/p to authorize the funds to purchase six tickets to the Grand Master’s Reception dinner.  A program of entertainment will be open to all following dinner.  WBros. Charles Tupper, Hans Wehl, Bill Collison, VWBros. Jim Russell, Chuck Brockway, and Bro. Chris Carney each expressed a desire for a ticket to the event. 

Bicycles for Accelerated Readers

The Master has appointed WBro. Joseph Lund to chair the Accelerated Reader program for 2007.  He will need to purchase bicycles to be donated to the schools for next quarter’s incentive.  It was m/s/p to provide WBro. Lund funds in January to purchase bicycles for the schools participating in the Accelerated Reader program.

MARSHAL COSTUME

In the continuing effort to upgrade our costuming for the Master Mason degree, it was m/s/p to authorize WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. to find and purchase a costume for the Marshal for the Master Mason degree.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WBro. Doug Haughton chairman of the Washington DeMolay Foundation, thanked the lodge for its previous support of DeMolay.  The Foundation has been actively working for the past 30 years to raise money to assist the Washington DeMolay program.  He invited the brothers to attend a breakfast on Saturday, April 7, 2007, which is designed to raise Foundation money.

Bro. Chris DiGiulio invited the brethren to Ashlar Lodge No. 121 for Hospitality Night tomorrow evening.  The brethren were invited to share an evening with Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281, Saturday, January 20.  Bro. Chris Carney reminded the brethren that the Scottish Rite will be holding its second annual Scotch Tasting evening on January 13, 2007.

The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:

January 11 (7pm): Master Mason degree

January 12 (6pm):  Districts 4&5 Celebration of Masonry (Ballard Masonic Center)

January 17 (6:15pm) 7:30pm:  St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated – Official Visit of the DDGM

January 20:  Leadership Training Workshop (Everett)

January 24 (7pm):  Officers meeting/Lodge Officers Proficiency

January 31 (7pm):  Fellowcraft degree

February 14 (5pm):  Board of Trustees

February 15 (7pm):  degree

February 21 (6:15pm) 7:30pm:  St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated – Youth Groups Night

February 28 (7pm):  Officers meeting

March 15 (7pm):  degree

March 21 (6:15pm) 7:30pm:  St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated Table Lodge – Gale Kenney, JGW – speaker

March 23-25:  Warden’s Seminar (Yakima)

GOOD OF THE ORDER

 The Old Time Radio Performers affiliated with The Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound and The Radio Entertainment Network for the Visually Impaired have agreed to sponsor two performances at no cost to raise funds for WA-CHIP's.  Their only request is that the Freemasons provide the location and the audience.  WBro. Vincent DiGiulio requested assistance to compose a letter to invite local major corporations to attend an open meeting where ideas can be shared and hopefully they will come on board with sponsorship.

VWBro. Bill Werner encouraged the brethren to support the Habitat for Humanity program.  Myrtle Lodge No. 108 (Issaquah) has take an active role in their projects.  He expressed his admiration for Lady Diane McQuery’s efforts to send quilts to help those who were victims of Hurricane Katrina.  $123,000 has been raised in the Issaquah area for the Katrina effort.

MWBro. Al Jorgensen announced that many who had lost power caused by the recent windstorm were sheltered in the Masonic Retirement Center for several days, assisted by the Red Cross.  There was substantial damage to the wooded area of the MRC.

WBro. Michael Rust is back at Swedish Hospital for additional chemotherapy.  The medicine to counter infection is “making him a little loopy.”  He continues to enjoy any calls.  We need to help him maintain a positive mental attitude.

CLOSING OF LODGE

The minutes of this communication were read and approved in short form.  There being no further business to come before this Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, the flag was retired and the Lodge closed in due and ancient form by the Worshipful Master at 9:28 p.m., peace and harmony prevailing.