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EDITED BY: VWB JAMES F. RUSSELL, SECRETARY

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MAY 2008
FROM THE EAST
Jim Wold, Master
 

s spring turns to summer and the gray clouds and rain subside a bit, I would like to take this time to wish you all Happy and Safe travels this summer.  Along with summer, come less attendance and participation at our meetings and degrees.  We are one of the few lodges in our area hat do not go dark during the summer.  That  is because we are always
busy tending to our programs and promoting our craft.

If we are to uphold the standards that we expect, then we need to do our best to attend officers meetings, degrees and practices.  We need to make our best efforts to support our candidates.  To do that, we need better attendance at our degrees.  This month, I would like to pass on an article I found, which relates to this subject.  I want you to remember what it was like when you took your degrees.  Our candidates deserve better than what we are giving them.  They are our future; let’s bring them into this fraternity with a show of support.

They All Came Just For Me

By: Bro. Richard L. Jenkins

 

     Something big is going on here.

Or so I thought that night,

As the Masons came to gather round

the Great and lesser lights.

     One from here and one from there

From places far and wide,

They came to do, I knew not what,

As they gathered there inside.

     But from each man I was greeted

With a smile and voice of cheer.

One said, "so you're the candidate.

The reason that we're here."

     I scarcely knew just what he meant,

For this was my "first degree."

There must be much for them to do

Before they got to me.

     Surely these guys would not travel

for the sake of just one man.

Yes, there must be much for them to do,

Before my part began.

 

     The "Brother Tiler" was my company

As I waited at the door

To step into this brand new realm

I had not known before.

   They shared with me the three Great Lights

and some tools of the trade,

That I might learn a thing or two

of how a man be better made.

     When at last I had been seated

In this brotherhood of men

The Master then began to bring

The meeting to an end.

     And with all things then completed,

They stayed a little more,

To eat and drink and share a laugh

Before heading toward the door.

     But as we left I understood

And then began to see.

That they all came for one reason.

They all came just for me.

     Dear brothers I pray every lodge

Will make new ones like me,

Feel as welcome as these brothers did,

When they held my First Degree.

 

Memorial Day May 26

TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO

On May 18, 1980, Mt. St. Helens demonstrated the devastating power of “Mother Nature.”  The mountain was 9,677 feet tall before the eruption and 8,363 feet after.    The massive ash cloud grew to 80,000 feet (18 kilometers) in 15 minutes and reached the east coast in three days.  Although most of the ash fell within 300 miles of the mountain, finer ash circled the earth in fifteen days.

57 people were killed as a result of the eruption.  Of these, 21 bodies were never recovered from the blast zone.  Your editor knew two of those who lost their lives.  The names of the 57 were:

  • BLACKBURN, Reid Turner, 27, Vancouver, WA, Photographer
  • BOWERS, Wallace Norwood, 41, Winlock, WA (Never Recovered)
  • CRALL, Terry A., 21, Kelso, WA
  • COLTEN, Joel K., 29, Wyncote, PA
  • CONNER, Ronald Lee, 43, Tacoma, WA
  • CROFT, Clyde Andrew, 36, Roy, WA
  • DIAS, Jose Arturo, Woodburn, WA, Logger
  • DILL, Ellen Loy, 53, Kirkland, WA (Never Recovered)
  • DILL, Robert, 61, Kirkland, WA (Never Recovered)
  • EDWARDS, Arlene H., 37, Portland, OR
  • EDWARDS, Jolene H., 19, Portland, OR
  • FADDIS, Bruce Edwards, 23, Bend, OR (Never Recovered)
  • FITZGERALD, James F., Jr., Moscow, ID
  • GADWA, Thomas G., 35, Montesano, WA, Logger (Never Recovered)
  • HANDY, Allen R., 34, Tacoma, WA
  • HIATT, Paul (Never Recovered)
  • JOHNSTON, David A., Menlo Park, CA, USGS Employee (Never Recovered)
  • KARR, Day Andrew, 37, Renton, WA
  • KARR, Day Bradley, Renton, WA
  • KARR, Michael Murray, Renton, WA
  • KASEWETER, Robert M., 39, Portland, OR (Never Recovered)
  • KILLIAN, Christy Liann, Vader, WA
  • KILLIAN, John G., 29, Vader, WA (Never Recovered)
  • KIRKPATRICK, Harold (Butch), 33, Newberg, OR
  • KIRKPATRICK, Joyce M., 33, Newberg, OR
  • LANDSBURG, Robert Emerson, Portland, OR, 48, Photographer
  • LYNDS, Robert, 25, Kelso, WA (Never Recovered)
  • MARTIN, Gerald O., 64, Concrete, WA
  • MOORE, Gerald Lloyd, Kelso, WA
  • MOORE, Keith A., 37, Kelso, WA (Never Recovered)
  • MOORE, Shirley, 49, Kelso, WA
  • MORRIS, Kevin Christopher, 7, Olympia, WA
  • MORRIS, Michele Lea, 9, Olympia, WA
  • MURPHY, Edward Joseph, 62, Renton, WA (Never Recovered)
  • MURPHY, Eleanor Jeanne, Renton, WA (Never Recovered)
  • PARKER, Donald R., 45, Portland, OR (See PARKER, Richard A.)
  • PARKER, Jean Isabell, 56, Portland, OR (SEE PARKER, William Paul)
  • PARKER, Natalie Ali, Westport, WA
  • PARKER, Richard A., 28, Shelton, WA (See PARKER, Donald R.)
  • PARKER, William Paul, 46, Portland, OR (See PARKER, Jean Isabell)
  • PLUARD, Merlin James, 60, Toledo, WA (Never Recovered)
  • PLUARD, Ruth Kathleen, Toledo, WA (Never Recovered)
  • ROLLINS, Fred D., 58, Hawthorne, CA
  • ROLLINS, Margery Ellen, Hawthorne, CA
  • SCHMIDT, Paul F., 29, Silverton, OR
  • SEIBOLD, Barbara Lea, Olympia, WA
  • SEIBOLD, Ronald Dale, 41, Olympia, WA
  • SELBY, Donald James, 48, Lake Stevens, WA
  • SHARIPOFF, Evlanty V., Mt. Angel, OR, Logger
  • SKOROHODOFF, Leonty V., 30, Woodburn WA, Logger
  • THAYER, Dale Douglas, 26, Kelso, WA (Never Recovered)
  • TRUMAN, Harry R., 83, Spirit Lake, WA (Never Recovered)
  • TUTE, James S., Canada (Never Recovered)
  • TUTE, Velvetia, Canada (Never Recovered)
  • VARNER, Karen Marie, 21, Kelso, WA
  • WETHERALD, Beverly C., Portland, OR (Never Recovered)
  • ZIMMERMAN, Klaus, Spokane, WA

 

CALENDAR

  •       May 12 (7-9pm):  Ritual instruction classes at Greenwood Masonic Center

  •       May 13 (6pm):  Board of Trustees

  •       May 21 (6:15pm) 7:30pm:  St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated; JGW Candidates

  •       May 28 (7pm):  Master Mason degree practice

  •       May 28 (7pm):  District 5 LOMA meeting

  •       June 3:  Long Range Planning

  •       June 12-14:  Grand Lodge (Wenatchee)

  •       June 16 (6:30pm):  King Solomon Lodge No. 60 Annual Strawberry Feed

  •       June 18 (6:15pm) 7:30pm:  St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated; Scholarship Night

  •       June 21 (9am):  MM degree followed by lunch

  •       June 25 (7pm):  Officers meeting/practice/degree

  •       June 25 (7pm):  District 5 LOMA meeting

  •       June 28 (noon):  Seattle Underground Tour

JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN CANDIDATES TO SPEAK AT MAY STATED

Seven candidates for Junior Grand Warden have announced their availability to stand for election at this year’s annual Grand Lodge communication, June 12 – 14, in Wenatchee.  At this month’s St. John’s stated communication, we will have at least five of the candidates for Junior Grand Warden speaking to us and expressing their hopes and dreams for Masonry in Washington should they be elected to take that first step to the Grand East.

One of the seven is a member of St. John’s Lodge No. 9 – VWBro. Ashley Brinkley.  Should he be elected, he would join another member of our lodge serving as an elected Grand Officer – Senior Grand Warden RWBro. Gale Kenney who is expected to be elected Deputy Grand Master next month .  Other candidates for JGW are VWBro.  Steven Guffy of William H. Jett Lodge No. 285 (and others), WBro. Andrew (Andy) Olson of Ellensburg Lodge No. 39 (and others), VWBro. Michael Sanders of Washington Lodge No. 4 (and others),   VWBro. John Sleeth of Mount Baker Lodge No. 36 and Lynden Lodge No. 56, VWBro. Dale Spurlock of Hermes Lodge No. 185, and VWBro. Mark Wiggins of Garfield Lodge No. 41 and Whidbey Island Lodge No. 15.

 

Worshipful Master Jim Wold invites all Masons to join us for a full evening of entertainment and business.  Dinner begins at 6:15.  As always, please let the Secretary know you and a guest will be in attendance so we can give the chef an accurate count! 

We may be reading a couple of petitions and will be voting on one other.  If your birthday is in the month of May, we'll greet you with song and good cheer.

MASONIC YOUTH STAND TALL

Over fifty representatives from DeMolay, Rainbow Girls and Job’s Daughters performed in style for the Brothers and guests leading up to last month’s stated communication.  Bothell Rainbow Assembly #47 performed the Colors of the Rainbow ceremony.  West Seattle Assembly #18 performed “What is Rainbow.”  DeMolays from Des Moines, Occidental, and Merle Luther Chapters were represented as Cory Kent, Past State Master Councilor, demonstrated the “Father Talk” as written by State Dad Advisor David Compton.  The Job’s Daughters of Edmonds Bethel #5 and Bothell Bethel #77 performed the Jobies’ Cross while singing “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Onward Christian Soldiers.”

The Worshipful Master congratulated the young ladies and gentlemen for their ritual work and presented each group a check from the lodge to help support their organizations.  Masonic Youth committee chairman WBro. Mark Campbell and MWBro. James Reid, Washington State DeMolay Executive officer, also in attendance, expressed their appreciation that St. John's Lodge never fails to support our young men and women of tomorrow. 

ST. JOHN’S FEEDS HOMELESS TEENS

Last month, the Brothers and families of St. John's Lodge assembled at the University Temple of the United Methodist Church to prepare a steak dinner for the homeless youth in the University District. The Lodge prepares meals periodically for these forgotten youth and tries to prepare for them a steak dinner at least once a year. The chairman of the committee, Bro. Ryan Stoulil, was pleased with the help as 60 homeless youth ate everything in sight. It was a successful endeavor and all who helped put this on enjoyed doing the work.

Helpers included Worshipful Master Jim Wold, Eric & Denise Hinze, Chris Carney, Ryan & Molly Stoulil, Matt LaCroix, Hans & Sharon Wehl, Jack Berg, Dick Cohen, Ashley & Lisa Brinkley, John Samudio, Terry Grove, and Joe Oates.

 

 SEATTLE'S UNDERGROUND TOUR

St. John’s will revisit the Seattle Underground Tour on Saturday, June 28th.  We did this four years ago and everyone loved the tour.  Let's see what we remember from the last one as we get a tour director that knows about the history of St. John's Lodge No. 9 and its ties to the city from the 1860's into the 1900's.

This is the same day as the Greenwood Car Show and you might want to start your day at that affair, have a hot dog or two at Greenwood Lodge No. 253's hot dog stand and then head downtown to the tour. What a great way for the family to spend a summer Saturday!

This year we will have a tour guide who is a Mason in Seattle (Greenwood Lodge No. 253) and is in posession of both volumes of the History of St. John's Lodge No. 9. This should provide for a very interesting and informative tour. Even if you have attended before it will be a different experience and is worth attending.

We will again walk down to Ivar's Fish Bar on the waterfront afterward for a no host fish and chips dinner and waterfront walk.

Call Charlie Tupper (206 406-8670), event chair, for arrangements.

RIDE THE DUCKS

The Seattle Duck Tour is an event that you don't want to miss.  At 10am, July 19th, we will host the Duck Tour except for a minimal charge of five dollars a person and will leave from and be returned to Greenwood Temple for an excellent soup and sandwich lunch following this event.

We’ll take a musical tour of the Emerald City on an amphibious World War II vehicle on both land and water.  We’ll see downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market, historic Pioneer Square, Funky Fremont, then, splash into Lake Union for a spectacular view of the city skyline, luxurious yachts, and Sleepless in Seattle Houseboats. 

  The Duck only holds 36 so you need to get your reservation made in plenty of time.  Once we have the 40 reservations there won't be any more.

This is a wonderful family event and we hope to see children on board as the Duck captains tell us about our city as we wander the streets and waterways of Seattle.  Be sure to get your reservation in to WBro. Charlie Tupper early for this. ($5 payable to “Charles Tupper”.)  No reservation will be taken for this event without payment.

ST. JOHN’S LEAVENWORTH OKTOBERFEST

 

Fun this fall!  The St. John’s Leavenworth Oktoberfest tour will be open to those who want to share this experience with their families.   The bus will leave the Northgate park & ride October 4 about 8:30am and will return that evening.  The brethren of  Zarthan Lodge No. 148 (Leavenworth) will be preparing a sauerkraut and ribs dinner about 5pm.  The cost of the trip will be $10 per person.  ($10 payable to “Charles Tupper”.)  The UW Huskies will be playing an “away” game that weekend.  Sign up now – limited seating

“THE GREATEST OF THESE IS CHARITY”

It’s time to start “lobbying” for your favorite charity and how it may fit or not fit into our lodge 2009 budget.  Generally, St. John’s has sponsored charities which address our young people, education, the disadvantaged, health issues, and senior services.  All requests will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees.  The 2009 budget process will begin it’s initial phase this June.   A form to solicit your request will be found on our website at www.seattlemasons.org.
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 Senior Warden: (206) 732-1234
 Junior Warden: (206) 390-2173
 Secretary: (206) 623-0261
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