Greetings my Brothers.  June, the beginning of summer, is traditionally a time of change.  It transitions us from spring storms to summer warmth and, in many ancient cultures, was celebrated as such.  So too, this June brings change to St. John’s.  As many of you may already be aware, in May, our Worshipful Master Chris Carney was deposed by our Grand Master, MWBro. Doug Tucker.  Under my obligations as Senior Warden, I am now “acting Worshipful Master” of St. John’s and will endeavor to be of service to you and the lodge. 

It is a sad day in Freemasonry when any Master is deposed, but I feel in some ways it is even more so because it happened to St. John’s – my “Mother Lodge.”  To my knowledge, in the almost 150 years of St. John’s Lodge’s august history, both in Seattle and in Washington Freemasonry, it has never lost a Master to deposement; the seriousness of this situation deserves solemn self-reflection – both as a lodge and as individuals.

Accordingly, I appointed an internal investigative and reporting committee to generate an accurate and unbiased record of events and actions over the past few years that resulted in our current situation.  I believe the committee's work to be in the best interest of our lodge and I ask Brothers to understand that.  I sincerely thank WBro. Helmuth Svoboda, WBro. Skip Albertson and Bro. Brian Downie for their service; the Lodge owes you all a debt of gratitude for this unenviable task.

The committee has the authority to contact any Brother it feels necessary to generate a complete and accurate record and, if it so chooses, to make recommendations to ensure this does not happen again.  No Brother is required to cooperate and there shall be no repercussions for not doing so; however, I hope Brothers do cooperate in the earnest belief that the more information available to the committee, the more complete the record.  If you would like to contact the committee, please do so before our July’s Stated Communication by either: a) sending an e-mail to StJohnscomm@live.com; b) writing a letter and mailing three copies and evidence to St. John's Committee, c/o H. Svoboda, 815 First Ave #197, Seattle, WA 98104; or c) come in person before the committee.

Additionally, VWBro. Steve Pennington has been appointed by our Grand Master as a Special Deputy to assist in restoring peace and harmony.  I will be meeting with VWBro. Pennington very soon and look forward to working with him; I expect all Brothers of St. John’s to extend him every courtesy.

It is disheartening that I am forced to take up the mantle of leadership in this fashion.  Like many of you, St. John’s Lodge is my home – I was raised here and learned here.  I removed myself from line at other lodges with no hesitation to be of service to St. John’s when needed and I am truly saddened by what has happened.  I know we will get through the current challenges and rise as a stronger lodge, but while we heal, I ask for your support.

June’s Stated Communication is our Scholarship Awards Night and you will have an opportunity to meet recipients and their families.  St. John’s has a long tradition of supporting academic success and our scholarship program is perhaps our most “direct effect” charity.  I look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate these students.  Also, as June is the start of summer, the dress of officers and members will be business casual; no ties – no tuxes!  Be well Brothers.

 

Online Trestleboard  Do your part to help reduce the cost of operational expenses.   If we can deliver your monthly Trestleboard to you online rather than by mail, please let the secretary know at stjohns9@seattlemasons.org

 

CALENDAR

 

With the high cost of continuing education, students scramble for any means of funding that doesn’t require repayment. The scholarship committee seeks to identify candidates that have not found other significant sources of funding (i.e., parents, guaranteed student loans, etc.).  Our objective is to “make a difference” in a student’s life and to financially “tip-the-scales” so a student may be able to continue on a path of formal education.

Our bylaws were last addressed in 2007, when we changed our meeting place and week of the month.  While most of the proposed changes in the bylaws are minor, annual dues will be significantly impacted as well as fees for plural and affiliated petitioners.

Please make your 6:15pm dinner reservations with the secretary at stjohns9@seattlemasons.org or 206 623-0261 by Friday (June 12^th) prior to the stated meeting.  Invite a brother to accompany you to lodge.

 

Proposed Bylaws Changes

These are the principal proposed changes to the bylaws; however there are many additional changes which are minor and could be considered “housekeeping” in nature.  For a full text, contact Nick Mitchell at 206 390-2173 or nicholasjamesmitchell@gmail.com.

Article III, Section 2.  The fee to accompany the petition for plural membership with this Lodge shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00 USD) and the current year’s dues as described in Article III, Section 3, below.

Article III, Section 3.  The annual dues for each member shall be Forty Dollars ($40.00 USD) plus any and all assessments levied by Grand Lodge rounded up to the nearest higher dollar amount.  Any dues paying member of the Lodge age sixty-five or above on January 1, 2010 shall be exempt and his dues shall continue to be one Dollar ($1.00 USD) plus any and all per capita assessments levied by Grand Lodge.

Forty year members and Past Masters of St. John's continue to have all dues forgiven (no change).

Article IV, Section 1.  In addition to any other regular standing committee, the Worshipful Master, at the communication designated for the installation of officers, shall appoint a committee to be called the Finance Committee.  This Committee shall consist of at least three but not more than six members.

Article V, Section 1.  For local community relief, and for members of the Lodge or their families, the Worshipful Master is empowered to draw upon the funds of the Lodge for sums not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00 USD) in any calendar month, and at the next Stated Communication he shall report all such disbursements to the Lodge, and when requested, provide details of said expense.  In no case shall payments be made to any one individual or any one family for more than six consecutive months unless duly authorized by the Lodge.

Article VI, Section 2.  At each annual election of officers of the Lodge there shall be elected one Trustee who shall serve a term of four years from the date of such election, and until his successor is elected and qualified.  If a Trustee is unable to complete his term in office, notice will be given to the Lodge members and a special election held.  The newly elected Trustee will complete the remaining term of the Trustee he is replacing.  Qualification shall consist of oral acceptance of the office in open Lodge or written acceptance thereof filed with the Secretary. 

Article VI, Section 3.  Unless a Trustee is appointed by the Worshipful Master, the Worshipful Master shall serve as the ex-officio Chairman of the Trustees.  The Secretary shall serve as the ex-officio Secretary of the Board.  Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article VI, Section 3 (b)  To review the annual budget as prepared by the Senior Warden with assistance of the Treasurer and submit the budget to the Lodge with its recommendation for approval;

 Any and all proposals to amend or repeal these bylaws must be presented at a Stated Communication, read, and held over until the next stated communication, when they shall be acted upon.  All members shall be notified by the Secretary of the proposed amendments or repeal.  When adopted by a majority vote of the members present, they shall become immediately effective when approved by the Grand Master.

 

The 17th Annual GREENWOOD CAR SHOW - Free Spectator Admission
On Seattle's Greenwood Avenue North from 72nd Street to 87th Street.

Saturday, June 27th, 2009
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

June 27th from 10am-4pm  - Over 500 of the coolest show cars grace the streets of Greenwood Ave during the Greenwood Car Show - this is a great family event because the streets are closed and there are lots of kid events and local food vendors.   It's also an excellent way to take in the neighborhood while oogling over the Hot Rods!  Swing by the Greenwood Masonic Center for a cool beverage and hot dog.

The Greenwood Car Show is the "granddaddy" of Seattle collector car shows hosting over 500 cars and 20,000 spectators on Greenwood Avenue in north Seattle. Founded by a small group of car guys who paved the way for more and more car enthusiasts to spend a wonderful Saturday enjoying their passion and hobby, the Greenwood Car Show has grown to be a community wide event for families and car enthusiasts from as far away as Spokane, Oregon and British Columbia.

Lining the avenue from 72nd Street north to 87th Street, you'll see Hot Rods, Customs, Classics, Muscle Cars, and Stock models of all makes.  Motorcycles and trucks can also be seen in the show.  Also, this year, the car show will be nationally televised on Lance Lambert's The Vintage Vehicle Show.

The Greenwood Car Show includes food and beverages offered by local businesses, shopping in the gift and antique shops, and other events such as the Kid's Zone and local Live Music. Fun for the whole family. All the street events are FREE.  A charitable financial contribution to the Greenwood Food Bank will be given from a portion of the proceeds.  An on-site food drive has been added, so bring your non-perishable food items to help contribute to this great community service.

FAB FAMILY BRUNCH

Last month’s FABulous Family Appreciation Brunch was enjoyed (and appreciated) by 119 adults and many youngsters at Ivar’s Salmon House.  Be sure to mark this on your calendar again next year.

Bro. Glenn Wonders, whose collapse due to low blood pressure gave many of us some cause for concern, reports that he is doing well.  WBro. Chris Carney presented WBro. Jim O’Conner a 50-year pin and thanked him for his many years as an active leader of the lodge.

 

A PEEK IN AND BEYOND THE LODGE ROOM

Our caterer for the past fifteen years, Steve Hofer, has announced his intention to retire…  The annual open air degree at the Masonic Park has been announced for Saturday, August 1.   The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Masons will be conferring the Master Mason degree...  Masons will be recognized at a special Masonic Lodge Night at the Tacoma Rainiers, Sunday, August 16...  LuzViMinda Lodge No. 317 is sponsoring a celebration of diversity at Granite Falls Masonic Park, August 21 – 23 and invites the brothers’ participation...  Popular Herb’s Night returns July 15 when our ladies will be invited to enjoy an evening of entertainment. 

 

Why Would a Lodge own a Cow?

A woman doing her dissertation on Freemasonry in federalist Connecticut came across an odd item in the Masons' list of holdings: a cow. "Why would a Masonic lodge have a cow?  That was odd.  So she researched, and it turns out that a member of the lodge died and left a widow and two children," Brent Morris, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide  to Freemasonry,  explains.

In those days, Calvinists dominated Connecticut, and one of the tenets of Calvinist theology was that material success reflected on a person's state of grace.  Someone who relied on charity had fallen out of God's favor.

"So the lodge bought a cow.  And they didn't give the cow to the woman" - that would be charity, after all - "they kept the cow.  But they said, 'Would you take care of the cow for us? Now, you'll have to milk the cow every day, and every spring you'll have a calf. If you don't mind the hassle of the calf and the milk every day, then we'd appreciate if you'd look after our cow for us.' "

It might not be as seductive as conspiracy theories regarding the nation's founding, but the real story about the Masons is our commitment to helping our fellow man.

DISTRICT FIVE LOMA

Your District 5 Lodge Officers and Members Association (LOMA) is busy, busy, busy!

Recently the Executive Director of Washington Self Help Alliance (CASH) informed the LOMA body

about the great history and work of this non-profit organization.  CASH provides the business training, supportive community and capital to help enterprising individuals with limited financial resources to gain self-sufficiency through small business ownership.

LOMA also served pizzas to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra members during one of their rehearsal breaks.  LOMA helped staff the recent University District Street Fair, has been doing outreach on behalf of Masonry into the University Greek fraternal community, is coordinating Masonic Youth picnic participation with the Nile Shrine, and continues to provide a Halloween dance for all the Masonic youth organizations.

 

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: KING SOLOMON NO. 60

WBro. Donald E. Downing, Master of King Solomon Lodge No. 60, has invited the brethren of St. John’s to attend the King Solomon annual strawberry feed, Monday, June 15.  Shortcake will be served at 6:00.  Several brethren from St. John's will be smacking their lips all the way to Auburn! MWBro. Al Jorgensen reports that the strawberry feed has been a King Solomon tradition for 70+ years, and that St. John’s has taken part in the event for many of those years.  In the early 1930s,  St.  John’s  had  announced  at  a  Grand  Lodge  annual

communication that we desired assistance in raising a brother to Master Mason who would shortly enter the military.  King Solomon Lodge volunteered to add the brother as a courtesy candidate on the night they would be holding their strawberry feed.  Many brothers from St. John’s came out to participate in both the festival and to witness the degrees.  Few opportunities have been missed to dig into those delicious strawberries over those many years!

 

WORD OF CAUTION

At a recent Job’s Daughter’s installation,  a young couple made off with some apron cases and other stuff while the meeting was in session at Occidental Masonic Center. VWBro. Michael Cuadra warns all to be wary of strangers milling about before Lodge meetings. Now that they know that the Lodges are open during meetings and the inner doors are closed they may repeat their  crimes at other Seattle Lodges. 

NORTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE

Standings on Tuesday, June 2 (latest posted)

Majors

Team	W		L						Win %
Lane Hardwood Floors	10	3								0.769
Seattle Ski & Snowboard	10	4								0.714
Fischer Plumbing	4	9								0.308
Top Banana	3	8								0.273
Masons	2	10								0.167

Minors

Team	W	L				Win %
Broderick Architects	10	2				0.833
Roth's Legal Eagles	10	3				0.769
Fischer Plumbing	7	5				0.583
National Dry Cleaners	5	7				0.417
Swansons	5	8				0.385
Masons	4	8				0.333
Phil's Autobody	2	10				0.167

The Masons Seniors are 14 W, 3 L, 1 Tie; no team standings are available.

 

MONTH OF JUNE

The earliest record of a "speculative Mason" being admitted to a lodge is that of the Lodge of Edinburgh, June 8, 1600, when John Boswell, the Laird of Auchenleck, attested his presence with his mark.

Masons in “modern days” dedicate their lodges to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.  St. John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth; the day, which is celebrated in his honor, is June 24^th.

St. John the Evangelist was Galilean by birth, the son of Zebedee and Salome. We commemorate him on December 27^th.

According to the 1879 bylaws of St. John's No. 9, Article IV, Section 1:  Stated meetings of this lodge shall be held on the last Saturday of each month and on the twenty-fourth day of June and the twenty-seventh day of December of each year.

 

Who or What are the Masons?

"Masons are men who voluntarily asked to join a lodge. They were accepted because they were good men who believe in God and hold high ethical and moral ideals. They go to meetings which they call the lodge, in order to learn and to teach what 'friendship, morality, and truth really involve, and to practice on a small scale the reality of brotherhood. They also have meetings open to their wives, children, and friends where they promote an understanding of the serious nature of the Fraternity by entertainment and sociability. Practical programs for charity and relief are planned and executed. The special kinship they feel for each other as a brotherhood is their deepest satisfaction."

From the Short Talk Bulletin of the Masonic Service Association of the United States

The original e-mail version of the Trestleboard is found in this PDF file. Click the link. (631,863 bytes)

 

 

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