April 2008 Trestleboard

FROM THE EAST

Jim Wold, Master

reetings from the East. I am sure you all enjoyed our annual Table Lodge and have recommitted yourselves to the tenants of our institution. I would like to personally thank WBro. Eric Vogt for the insight and knowledge he presented to us at our last meeting. Thank you WBro. Eric!

April is another special month for us, and its theme is Masonic Youth. We have 3 groups coming to our meeting to perform at our stated communication.

The timing for this couldn’t be any better. As we speak, our Youth Committee, which consists of Mark Campbell (chair), Jim Russell, Dave Campbell, Kevin Smith, Charles Tupper, Darrel Womack, and Ryan Stoulil, are searching for Dad Advisors and an Advisory Board, in order to bring a DeMolay chapter permanently to the Greenwood Masonic Center.

If you would like to participate in this endeavor, please let someone on the Youth Committee know.

I think sponsoring a DeMolay Chapter is a great idea and I am very proud of the work our Youth Committee is doing.

Some of you may not be too familiar with the Masonic youth groups that we support and I would like to take this time to provide you with information that was given to me by the Youth Committee, about who they are and what they do.

International Order of DeMolay

DeMolay is an organization dedicated to preparing young men to lead successful, happy, and productive lives. Basing its approach on timeless principles and practical, hands-on experience, DeMolay opens doors for young men aged 12 to 21 by developing the civic awareness, personal responsibility and leadership skills so vitally needed in society today. DeMolay combines this serious mission with a fun approach that builds important bonds of friendship among its members.

International Order of Job's Daughters

Job's Daughters is an organization of young women between the ages of 11 and 20 who are related to a Master Mason. By holding various offices in Job’s Daughters, they gain valuable leadership experience, learn to be a part of a team, and learn democratic principles. Members of a Bethel elect their own officers, decide their own activities, and plan their own events. In short, Job’s Daughters International offers the qualities that today’s young women want and need from organizations that earn their commitment: fun, friendship, helping others, and the chance to learn organizational and leadership skills.

International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

….is also for young women between the ages of 11 and 20. The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls emphasizes the following: (1) Effective Leadership; (2) Church Membership and active Participation in the church of their choice; (3) Patriotism; (4) Cooperation with Equals; (5) Love of Home; (6) Loyalty to Family and; (7) Service to Humanity.

As you can see, these groups are very important to give today’s youth the tools they need to be good future citizens.

Today’s youth are the Leaders of tomorrow. We need to promote them and help them financially to ensure they have the opportunity to better themselves, just like we do in Freemasonry.

THINK ABOUT IT

This conversation actually happened. The names have been changed to protect the….

Lodge Officer: Why don't more of the older guys in DeMolay join our Lodge?

Youth Advisor: Which guys?

Lodge Officer: You know... the older guys… the ones out of high school...

Youth Advisor: Which older guys... give me some names.

Lodge Officer: Ummm... I don't know any of their names...

Youth Advisor: ...and… you want them... to join your Lodge?

Look in your wallet. If your 2008 dues card isn’t there, send in your $13 payment, today!

CALENDAR

April 8 (5pm): Teen Feed
April 9 (7pm): Fellowcraft degree
April 11-13: Warden’s Seminar (Yakima)
April 14 (7-9pm): Ritual instruction classes at Greenwood
April 16 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated Youth Night and GL Resolutions
April 23 (7pm): District 5 LOMA meeting
April 23 (7pm): Officers meeting/practice EA degree
April 25: Quarterly meeting of Masonic Service BureauApril 30 (7pm): Entered Apprentice degree
May 4 (10am): FABulous Family Brunch – Ivar’s Salmon House
May 12 (7-9pm): Ritual instruction classes at Greenwood
May 13 (6pm): Board of Trustees
May 14 7pm): practice MM degree??
May 21 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated; JGW Candidates

MASONIC YOUTH FEATURED AT APRIL STATED COMMUNICATION

To honor our young people and their Masonic-sponsored organizations, Worshipful Master Jim Wold has invited representatives from the three bodies to join us for a special program leading into our April 16 stated communication. These young people will be demonstrating some of their talents and will be accompanied by those special adults who give so much of their own time and energy to help develop Masonic values in our youth.

The DeMolay will be offering up the Ceremony of Light, the Rainbow Girls will be demonstrating the Ceremony of Colors, and the Job’s Daughters will be performing the Closing Cross. All are deeply meaningful ceremonies and will be of great interest to the brothers of St. John’s.

During the course of the business meeting we will be getting a brief description of some of the resolutions which will be acted upon by the delegates to the annual communication of Grand lodge in June. Your opinions will be welcome!

At St. John’s, we always begin our monthly gatherings with a social hour around 5:30, with a delicious complimentary dinner served at 6:15 followed by an interesting program of education or entertainment prior to our 7:30pm stated communication.

Please make your dinner reservations with the secretary at 206 623-0261 or email stjohns9@seattlemasons.org by Friday, April 11^th prior to the meeting. All dinners are hosted by St. John’s!

Bring a friend!

GRAND MASTER’S ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Past Master WBro. Terry Grove was awarded the 2008 Grand Master's Achievement Award during special presentations at last month’s reception for the Grand Master. WBro. Grove has worked diligently for the good of Masonry in St. John’s Lodge, District 5, the Nile Temple of the Shrine, the Washington Children's Identification Program, and any other place he is asked to help.

WBro. Terry joins an excellent line of recipients from St. John’s Lodge No. 9. Members of the Lodge who have received the Grand Master's Achievement Award in past years are: WBros. Herb White - 1991, Charles Tupper - 1992, J. Michael Wilderman - 1993, John Mead - 1994, Bro. Francis (Frank) Cushman - 1996, VWBros. Jim Russell - 1997, Larry Loughnan – 1999, WBros. Vinny DiGiulio - 2001, Ken Lane Jr. - 2001, Dennis Archambault – 2002, MWBro. Al Jorgensen – 2002, WBro. Orrin Niles – 2003, and VWBros. Ashley Brinkley – 2005, and David Campbell – 2005.

Congratulations Terry on joining this group of Masons who have been recognized for going the extra mile.

GRAND LODGE RESOLUTIONS

Eighteen new resolutions and one carry-over resolution will be presented to the delegates to the 151^st Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand lodge of Free & Accepted Masons, June 12 – 14 in Wenatchee. Included among the many resolutions will be the requirement for all first-time Worshipful Masters to have passed the Proficiency in Lodge Management examination; that all lodges will submit copies of their federal tax returns to the Grand Secretary; and to reconstitute Grand Mound Lodge No. 3 as an Historical Lodge. A number of these resolutions will be presented for discussion at our April stated communication.

MASTER’S WAGES - WHAT ARE THEY?

During the Middle Ages, the apprentice was attached to the master mason to acquire skills to earn the wages of a master mason. Today, the Freemason is concerned only with moral work. His reward, therefore, is found within himself. The spiritual wages go well beyond these and have countless worth. The very heart of being a Freemason and the joy received is a much more meaningful wage. The intangibles of love, friendship, respect, opportunity, happy labor and associations are the wages of a Master who earns them. Not all earn them, hence, the phrase “to pay the Craft their wages if aught be due.” A member may earn as much as he desires, and the more he puts into the Craft, the more he receives.

TEEN FEED

Bro. Ryan Stoulil 425 776-7891 will be looking for help to feed the homeless teens on Tuesday, April 8. Please call him to offer your assistance. This is a real opportunity to show our support for the homeless youngsters in our area. Plan to start work at 5pm at the Methodist Church at 1415 NE 43rd (alley entrance NE 43rd & 15th NE).

TWO DEGREES DATES IN APRIL

Wednesday, April 9, Bro. John Samudio will be passed to a Fellowcraft. Three weeks later, Dr. Bill Feldner will be initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason. All brothers of St. John’s are invited to participate in these degrees, either as members of the degree team or as witnesses to these meaningful times in the Masonic lives of our brother Masons!

“As a man in a relationship you have a simple choice: you can be right or you can be happy.” – Ralphie May (Prime Cut)

FABULOUS FAMILY APPRECIATION BRUNCH RETURNS IN MAY

Act Today!!!

St. John's Lodge extends a cordial invitation to you and your family to be its guests on Sunday, May 4, for our 13th annual FABulous Family Appreciation Brunch at Ivar’s Salmon House beginning at 10 a.m. Ivar’s Salmon House is known throughout the Northwest and beyond for its fine cuisine and alder-smoked salmon. St. John’s members have also discovered their FABulous breakfast buffet!

Ivar's Salmon House is a beautiful cedar replica of a Northwest Indian Longhouse, complete with an open-pit Indian-style barbecue for preparing succulent alder-smoked entrees. Here, in a setting filled with Northwest native artifacts and historical photographs, you'll enjoy memorable meals surrounded by spectacular views of boats cruising on Lake Union with the city skyline in the background.

For our Brothers, as the name implies, all immediate members of your family are invited. We encourage the kids to join us. Don’t forget Mom!

For the Widow of our departed Brother, we invite you and your family members to share in this springtime celebration. We encourage the grandchildren to join us.

St. John’s will be picking up the tab except for alcoholic beverages.

Reservations are mandatory and are limited. Enclosed is a reservation card. Please print your name and that of your guests on the

pre-addressed card and mail it to Jim Russell, secretary,

postmarked by April 24. Or e-mail stjohns9@seattlemasons.org

Home

Worshipful Master: (425) 357-6867
Senior Warden: (206) 732-1234
Junior Warden: (206) 390-2173
Secretary: (206) 623-0261
Webmaster: (206) 406-8670