July 2008 Stated Communication

July Stated Communication
Written by aid of the official Minutes - Photographs by WB Charles Tupper

The Lodge opened on the First Degree at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16th. The officers were in their stations and places, except that the place of the absent Musician was left vacant. The Master immediately called the lodge “off session.”

The music was followed by Washington historian Paul Dorpat[i] and his co-author Jean Sherrard[ii]. Dorpat (Seattle historian and “head historian” for historylink.org and the author of “Then and Now” in the Seattle Times) and Sherrard displayed Seattle and

Washington State history by contrasting photographs taken a century or more ago with scenes in near-identical locations today. Some of these scenes included a building housing the original St. John's Lodge.

Additional music and book signings were available for our guests when lodge was later called back on session.

The Worshipful Master called upon the Senior Deacon to introduce our Masonic visitors with the exception of Masters, Wardens, and Grand Lodge officers and committeemen. In attendance and receiving a warm St. John’s welcome were three visiting brothers, WBro. Errol Scott (Occidental No. 72), Bro. Gordon Schlicke (Eureka No. 20), and WBro. Ken Figgins (Richmond-Haller Lake Lodge No. 248). Also present was Chaplain Bro. Doug Kelly (Unicoy Lodge No. 259, Hiawassee, GA).

The Senior Warden introduced VWBro. Michael Cuadra and Bro. Todd Smith, Senior Wardens of University Lodge No. 141 and Greenwood Lodge No. 253, respectively. The Master introduced VWBro. Mike Davis, Master of Queen Anne Lodge No. 242, and WBro. Ken Lane, Jr., Master of Esoterika Lodge No. 316. They were accorded the public Grand Honors.

The Master then instructed the Senior Deacon to escort the Grand Lodge officers and committeemen East of the Altar and shook each by the hand as he announced their names. In attendance were WBro. Terry Grove (charity & CHIP), VWBro. Mike Davis (Chmn. CHIP Foundation), WBro. Charles Tupper (technology)(taking picture so not included), VWBro. Charles Brockway (Special Deputy), VWBro. Alden Sarmiento (Deputy of the Grand Master District No. 6), VWBro. Michael Cuadra (Deputy of the Grand Master District No. 5), WBro. Anthony Monaco (Grand Sword Bearer), VWBro. Coe Tug Morgan (Asst. Grand Secretary Emeritus), MWBro. Richard Mecartea (Past Grand Master), MWBro. Satoru Tashiro (jurisprudence), MWBro. Al Jorgensen (jurisprudence), RWBro. G. Santy Lascano (Senior Grand Warden), and RWBro. Gale Kenney (Deputy Grand Master), all of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. They were accorded the public Grand Honors.

Trestleboards and letters of communication were distributed. Concerning each, the Secretary reported the following:

We have received word from WBro. Doug Crosby that he is in need of a heart operation and that his wife Billee Crosby fell and fractured disks in her back. WBro. Crosby would have received his 50-year pin this evening.

WBro. Fred Hutchinson sends his regrets that he will not be able to be present to receive his 40-year pin. He and Ruth are visiting in Hyannis, MA at this time.

Bro. Ken Wehl will be the featured entertainer at Frasier’s Bar & Grill in Everett this Friday. Frasier’s was recently purchased by WBro. Boe Lindgren. Both are members of St. John's.

Grand Lodge has sent a schedule of blanket insurance coverage for all constituent lodges. This includes among other coverage $5 million aggregate as well as employee theft and forgery.

Also, the MW Grand Lodge of Washington and the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction invite all brothers to attend an annual Unity March and joint church service on Sunday, August 3, in DuPont, WA.

The Granite Falls Masonic Park Board invites all Master Masons to witness the 44^th annual Open Air degree at the Masonic Park, August 2, 2008. A breakfast from 7am to 10am at Damascus Lodge No. 199 in Granite Falls will precede the degree. Registration at the Park gate will open at 8am. The degree will be performed by the St. John’s Lodge degree team. Dinner will be served from the end of the degree until 5pm at the Rainbow Chalet. Members of St. John’s will receive free parking for the day. The Park will need a list of names from our lodge who will be attending.

The Seattle Cancer Alliance announces volunteer opportunities with cancer patients and families. This is a partnership between the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington Medicine, and Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center. University Street Ministry announces that it is in search for an Outreach Support Coordinator. The search will close this Friday.

RWBro. Carl Banks, Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Nevada, sends his greetings and thanks the lodge for our gracious hospitality on his visit last month. He sends a lapel pin from the Nevada Grand Lodge to WBro. Jim Wold and adds that we have a beautiful lodge and “warm and friendly brothers.”

We have received a request from Bro. Nick DEletto of Doylestown Lodge No. 245 in Pennsylvania for a St. John’s pin. Bro. DEletto is assembling a board of lodge pins from each state and country for display.

Communications and thank you’s have been received from Mercy Corps, Rite Care, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras, and one of our scholarship recipients.

I have included an Everett Herald news article about one of our scholarship recipients which tells of her gift from the lodge. Also included are newsletters and trestleboards from Conversay, the HOPE Heart Institute, Phinney Neighborhood Association, and Diamond Lodge No. 83. Please take home one of the extra copies of the HOPE Heart newsletter for healthy reading.

The Master reminded all the brethren about the open air degree at the Masonic Park on Saturday, August 2. There will be a couple of practices between now and then. We will hold an informal practice Saturday afternoon, July 19^th following Ride the Ducks and lunch. On Saturday, July 26^th, we will be conducting a full-scale rehearsal at the Park, beginning at 10am.

WBro. Charles Tupper asked if there were any interested in walking with the Masonic Float during the Torchlight Parade on July 26. This is the same day that we will be practicing at Granite Falls. It was suggested that perhaps one of the DeMolay Chapters could provide some manpower to carry the St. John's banner in the parade.

WBro. Tupper announced that there will be a change in meeting place for those who will be taking part as “Quackers” to Ride the Ducks in Seattle and onto Lake Union, Saturday, July 19. We will meet at Gas Works Park instead of at the Greenwood Masonic Center. Following the 90-minute tour, we will return to the Park and then go to Greenwood for lunch. Practice for the open air degree will follow lunch.

Seats on the chartered bus to Leavenworth to celebrate Oktoberfest are still available. Cost is $10 each. The lodge will be subsidizing the bulk of the day’s expense. The bus will leave the Northgate P&R at 8am on October 4. Zarthan Lodge No. 148 will be furnishing a sauerkraut and brat dinner at 5:30. Twelve spaces remain available on the bus.

The recent Seattle Underground Tour sponsored by St. John's was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who participated.

Bro. Joe Oates reported that he has most of those who volunteered last year available to work on the lodge picnic, which will be Sunday, August 10, on the grounds of the Nile Shrine. The popular “bouncy house” will return and our magician Bro. Ken Wehl will help entertain the kids and adults. Bingo will also be a popular feature that returns. Everyone should get their reservations in to the secretary by Wednesday, August 6.

WBro. Hans Wehl encouraged the ladies and guests to visit the company store, which has jackets, caps, mugs, pens, shirts, etc. on display in the library. We need to move out the old merchandise to bring in some new.

The Master encouraged the brothers to attend the 148^th Anniversary Dinner on September 13. Neil Diamond impersonator Bobby Bruce will be our featured entertainment. The event will be held at the Ballinger Lake Golf Club in Mountlake Terrace.

The Master extended his appreciation to Junior Warden Nick Mitchell for the outstanding entertainment he arranged for this evening. The guests were excused and the lodge was called on session on the 1^st degree.

The minutes of the previous communication were read in short form and were available in full as posted at the Tyler’s door. The minutes reflected the following:

The Lodge opened on the first degree at 7:32pm, thirty-four members and sixteen visitors in attendance. The Grand Master was received. The minutes were read in short form and approved as posted; the Treasurer reported that our accounts are in order. Expenses of $7,632.41 were approved. Communications were read; committee reports were received. An Excalibur sword entrusted to the Tyler was presented to the lodge by Charles Tupper. Favorable ballots were spread for Mr. Jonathon Davis Munday for the degrees and VWBro. James Randolph Maher for plural affiliation. It was agreed to advance $400 for the Seattle Underground Tour expenses. The Grand Master addressed the lodge. The lodge was closed in Ample form by the Grand Master at 9:25pm., peace and harmony prevailing.

The Treasurer reported that our portfolio gains which we saw in late May and early June have receded. Our portfolio value has dropped 11.63%. He recommended that we continue to support the charities we have committed to this year, however we should not solicit or encourage new requests at this juncture. We should be as frugal as we can this year, pushing as many operating expenses which are not critical to our operation out as far as possible.

The following bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (Bro. Chris Carney, WBro. Hans Wehl, Bro. Joe Oates, Jr.), were submitted to the Lodge for approval. After the chairman, Bro. Carney, attested to the accuracy of each bill or invoice, he stated the expenditures were in order and moved for the payment of the bills. On vote of the brethren, the bills in the amount of $11,789.14 were approved for payment. Itemized below are the expenses for the month of July:

A petition for the degrees was received from Mr. Aren Hakobyan. He was born in Armenia, August 5, 1982, and is a citizen of that country. He is single and resides in Kirkland, Washington. He has been a resident of this state for five years. Mr. Hakobyan is self employed as an investor and developer of real estate. His petition was sponsored by VWBro. Jim Russell, Bro. David Flood, and Bro. Richard Heston.

A committee was appointed to visit Mr. Hakobyan and to report back to the Lodge by the next Stated Communication.

A favorable ballot was spread on WBro. Errol Scott for plural affiliation. WBro. Scott had received unanimous favorable recommendation by his investigating committee. Following his election, WBro. Scott was invited to sign the by-laws and to pay his dues for this year.

In order to facilitate the preparation for the annual lodge picnic of August 10, it was m/s/p to issue a check to picnic chairman Bro. Joe Oates, Jr.

WBro. Tupper has received an estimate from Robert Powell of Powell’s Specialties to build a cabinet to house the Tyler’s Sword which he presented to the lodge at our June stated communication. The glass-fronted coffin-style cabinet would be made of cherry wood and felt-lined. The estimate also includes re-enforcing the wall where the sword will be hung during lodge communications. It was m/s/p to approve money for the wall preparation and construction of the sword cabinet.

VWBro. Jim Russell, at the request of the youth committee, asked that $250 be allocated to support the Washington State DeMolay softball tournament this weekend at Fall City. We have been asked to serve or sponsor one of the four meals. It was m/s/p to pay Washington State DeMolay $250.00 for a meal for the weekend WACUP 2008 softball tournament

Bro. Nick Mitchell invited the brethren to attend the stated communication of Esoterika Lodge No. 316, Tuesday, July 22. Also, Alba Lodge No. 315 will be meeting at Doric Masonic Center, Thursday, August 16.

WBro. Boe Lindgren invited the brethren to attend the Nile Shrine picnic this Sunday.

VWBro. Mike Cuadra read a card from Grand Master MWBro. Doug Tucker expressing his appreciation for the fine hospitality extended to him and his Grand Team at our June stated communication. MWBro. Tucker also noted that we offered an “excellent meeting and ritual. It is a pleasure to visit a lodge where the brethren take pride in their work.”

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.

[i] PAUL DORPAT is a longtime Seattle resident. Paul has produced documentaries for local television, lectured widely, and since 1982 has written the weekly column, "Now and Then" for the Seattle Times. Included among his dozen published books are three volumes of Seattle "now and then" comparisons drawn from his column and Building Washington, an illustrated encyclopedic study of the state's historical development that he co-authored with Genevieve McCoy. Dorpat's collaboration with Jean Sherrard began in 1999 with the production of bumberchronicles, a video history of Bumbershoot, Seattle's annual arts festival.

[ii] JEAN SHERRARD has worked as an actor, writer, director, photographer, teacher, carpenter and private detective. Co-founder of the Globe Radio Repertory, he wrote and directed scores of radio plays for National Public Radio and has trod the boards of Seattle's finest theaters. His photos and articles have been featured in numerous publications. With Paul Dorpat, he co-produced Bumberchronicles, a KCTS-9 documentary, and co-wrote Legacy, a commemorative history of the Kreielscheimer Foundation. Currently, Sherrard teaches drama and writing at Hillside Student Community, a private secondary school in Bellevue, Washington.