December, 2007
FROM THE EAST
Jim Wold, Master

	nother year has almost passed us by. Now it is time for looking back on our achievements and giving thanks for a job well done.  First off, I would like to thank WBro.  Charlie Tupper, last year's Master of our lodge. I could always count on Charlie, whether it is for allocating money from
his budget to fund programs I wanted to start or allowing me the opportunity to open and close his lodge.  His understanding of the craft and the ins and outs of lodge workings were priceless to me, Charlie for that I am eternally grateful to you for your insight and counsel.

 

Speaking of lodge workings, our secretary VWBro. Jim Russell has been keeping our lodge running smoothly, for many years. I don't have the space here to list out everything he does, suffice to say, he does just about everything.  Jim, thank you for your service to our lodge and for your knowledge of the craft.  For doing what needs to be done and for whispering good counsel in an erring Masters ear.   To our Treasurer, WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. and Trustees, VWBro. Chuck Brockway, WBros.  Bill Collison, Hans Wehl and Jeff Lane. You oversee our assets, which is a big job in itself.  Thank you for all the time and effort you put in to ensure

our lodge stays solvent.  The decisions you make are difficult but made in the best interest of our lodge.  Thank you for your dedication to our lodge.

 

      To our committee chairmen and committee members, your service to our

Lodge is very important.  You are the representatives of our lodge, the faces people see, when you are out making presentations.

 

Thank you for the hard work that you perform to make our world a better place to live in.

 

And lastly, thank you to our members both here and in the Celestial Lodge above.  Your support and love for the craft has allowed our lodge to stay strong and viable.

 

One theme, I hope you have found while reading this message, other than the thank you's, are the words, "our lodge."  I didn't say "my lodge."  I didn't say "this lodge."

 

This is "our lodge."  I want everyone to feel a part of what we are trying to do here.  And that is, to make ourselves better men, to enrich our communities and to make the world a better place to live in.

 

My Blessings, to you all, this Holiday Season.  I look forward to working with everyone this upcoming year.

 

Thank you for the confidence you have shown in me.

 

I will do my best to uphold the traditions, character and prestige of our lodge.

LODGE ENDS YEAR WITH NEW LINE OF OFFICERS

St. John's brothers are encouraged to participate in this month's stated communication as we conclude our year with a kick-off to a new year.   Members of our new leadership team were installed into their stations and places at the December 8 installation of officers.  Stepping into the East for the first time will be WBro. Jim Wold who has just completed his eleventh year as a Master Mason.  He comes from a line of Master Masons, including a grandfather and two uncles.

Assisting WBro. Wold will be Bro. Chris Carney as Senior Warden and Bro.  Nick Mitchell as Junior Warden.  VWBro. Jim Russell will be entering his twelfth year as Secretary, while WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. will serve as Treasurer for a fifth year.  Other officers are Bros. George Rine, Senior Deacon; Joe Oates, Jr., Junior Deacon; David Flood, Senior Steward; Rick Heston, Junior Steward; David Long, Chaplain; Brian Downie, Marshal; Adam Creighton, Musician; and WBro. Terry Grove, Tyler.

VWBro. Charles Brockway was re-elected to complete another four-year term as Trustee, and re-joins WBros. Hans Wehl, Jeff Lane, and Bill Collison.  WBro. Charlie Tupper also serves on the Board of Trustees as the Immediate Past Master.

Come prepared to ask questions and challenge our representatives from Oppenheimer & Co.  Oppenheimer is a leading national investment company that provides financial services and advice to high net worth investors, individuals, businesses and institutions, including St. John's.  For over 120 years, they have provided investors with the necessary expertise and insight to meet the challenge of achieving their financial goals.

HEAVENLY QUARRIES GAIN SIX ST. JOHN'S LABORERS We will miss these brothers who were called to the Celestial Lodge in 2007: Glenn R. Cramer, John P. Digby, Irving I. Israel, Glenn S. Lee, Dio P. Richardson, Albert H. Solomon.   Thy day of toil on earth, my Brother, is over.   Thou hast entered upon a greater field of labor and of love.

2008 DUES  St. John's dues for 2008 have gone up a buck to $13, and are payable by December 31 of this year.  In this lodge, those who have been members of the Fraternity for 40 years, are Life Members, or who have served as Master of St. John's (including our consolidated lodges) are no longer obligated to pay dues.

BROTHERS EXTEND THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS CHEER TO NEEDY FAMILIES

Members of St. John's again provided food and clothing for families at Thanksgiving, and will distribute food, clothing and toys for the children at Christmas.  Families given assistance at Thanksgiving were in the Seattle area.  For Christmas, we add many families living at Fort Lewis, whose loved ones are serving our country in Iraq.   We call this Operation Kid Smile, and it really does bring happy expressions to the faces of the children and their parents. WBro. Hans Wehl will play Santa Claus for the fourth year, mixing in a little of his own Jewish culture with the spirit of Christmas.

Our volunteers will meet at the Brockways at 8am Sunday, December 16, and divide into three teams to purchase food, clothing (the ladies), and toys.  Those wishing to assist should call VWBro. Chuck Brockway 253 686-2309.  WBro.  Ken Lane, Jr. 206 783-6966 will lead the team to assist Seattle families.

OUR LODGE AS WE CLOSE THE YEAR

Here is a brief over-view of the year 2007 for St. John's Lodge.  We held twelve stated meetings during the year with the average attendance 34.4 members and 9.3 visitors.  A special program of interest was offered prior to each meeting and the Master spoke on a Masonic topic of interest at each meeting.  We conferred thirteen degrees during the year, raised six as Master Masons; five demonstrated their proficiency.  We had one affiliation and no demits from membership.  We will end the year with 293 members, a net gain of one.  One candidate is waiting to be passed to a Fellowcraft; a few others have apparently lost interest.

Six brothers have been called to the Celestial Lodge.

Membership facts of the Lodge as we start 2008:

The average age of the lodge members is 67.7 years.  The average age of the active members is 60.2.  The average age of the three principal officers is 33.7; of the appointed officers is 49.

HOCKEY NIGHT IN DISTRICT 5

Masons in District No. 5 will be attending the Seattle (Hockey) Thunderbirds vs.  the Vancouver Giants, Saturday, January 5, 2008 at Key Arena.  The doors will open at 6pm and the game time is 7:05.  We will be sitting in a private seating area at ice level, so these are terrific seats.  Tickets for this event are $25 per person.  Family, friends and prospective members are welcome.  To reserve your seats, contact directly via email or by phone at 206 818-9015.

LODGE OFFERED FREE OUTINGS AT MASONIC PARK FOR NEXT 20 YEARS!

At our November stated communication, WBros. Frank Pascoe and Fred Turner of the Masonic Park (Granite Falls) read a citation expressing deep appreciation to the brothers of St. John's Lodge No. 9 for our financial support following the flooding disaster at the Park.  WBro. Pascoe, treasurer of the Masonic Park Board, announced that this lodge has been granted the rights for one free summer outing each year for the next twenty years, subject to pre-agreed-upon dates.

Jim was born in Seattle on March 14, 1964 and grew up in Ballard.  He graduated from Ingraham High School in North Seattle and later attended Lake Washington Technical College where he earned a certificate in Industrial Plant Maintenance.

He has spent his working career as a mechanic in the automotive, marine, industrial, and aerospace industry.  Jim currently works for Colliers Intl. as a Chief Building Engineer, overseeing some of their many North End properties.

Bro. Wold was initiated into St. John's No. 9, July 8, 1996, passed to a Fellowcraft, August 10, 1996, and raised a Master Mason, October 12, 1996.   His Masonic influences began in his childhood with his grandfather Clarence A Wold, member of Ravenna lodge No. 275 and his uncles Warren J Wold, Past Master of Ionic Lodge No. 90 and Alfred J. Wold, also a member of Ionic No. 90 and its Secretary from 1966-1970.  All were members of the Seattle Valley Scottish Rite and Nile Shrine.

Jim has worked the quarries of Freemasonry, providing leadership in St. John's charities to help feed the homeless teens in the University District and offer support to the seniors of the Phinney Neighborhood Association.

Jim married his wife Janet on October 2 1993 and they have 2 children - son Tyler, age 9, and daughter Torie, age 6.

Gene Autry

Catoosa Lodge No. 185, Catoosa, OK.  He was a 33° Scottish Rite and a member of the Al Malaika Shrine, CA.

• The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
• He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
• He must always tell the truth.
• He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
• He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
• He must help people in distress.
• He must be a good worker.
• He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
• He must respect women, parents, and his nations laws.
• The Cowboy is a patriot

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