From the East
By: Bro. Nicholas J. Mitchell
Acting Master
reetings my Brothers. I hope you all survived the heat wave
that gripped the Puget Sound; I do not know about all of you, but 103° is a
little too warm for me. We continue to seek a replacement for our retired
caterer, Bro. Steve, and have narrowed down the search to two potential
candidates – more details to follow. This month will be a busy month for
the officers, trustees and members of St. John’s. We are having an
officers’ meeting, a trustees’ meeting a Fellowcraft degree and a Stated
Communication. My thanks go out to all Brothers who are able to participate
in our endeavors and I hope you will be able to attend the upcoming
Fellowcraft degree we will be presenting with Queen Anne No. 242. Brothers
Giddens and Letarte have worked very hard on their Entered Apprentice
proficiency and it is always nice to have as many brothers there as possible
to congratulate them on their progression within the Craft. As a reminder,
it is summer and the dress of officers and members for August’s Stated
Communication will be business casual; no ties – no tuxes.
This month I want to remind Brothers of the words of our
distinguished Brother Rudyard Kipling. While a member of many Masonic
lodges, Bro. Kipling first joined Lodge of Hope and Perseverance, No. 782,
English Constitution in Lahore, Punjab India in 1885. In 1896, Bro. Kipling
wrote the poem “If.” A masterpiece in its own right, this poem, in my
opinion, reflects the best tenets of our Craft and encapsulates the virtues
of taking a risk, doing the right thing, and standing upright, as a just man
regardless of the consequences.
IF by Rudyard
Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about
you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams
your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your
winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep
your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!
WHY WE MEET We meet for the
purpose of admitting members to our fellowship, to instruct them in the
lessons and principles (of Masonry) and to strengthen each other in
adherence thereto, said George W. Speth, in a public lecture in 1892. We
meet to hand down to succeeding generations the knowledge and practice
of certain ceremonies, which we have ourselves inherited from our
Masonic ancestors, and the analogues of which can be traced in the
remotest antiquity... Lastly we meet to practice our three grand
principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
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EVERGREEN STATE FAIR AUGUST 27 –
SEPT. 7
Did you know that the Evergreen
State Fair in Monroe is ranked #1 in Washington State county fairs and #12
nationally in average daily attendance? Don’t miss stopping at the Nile
Shrine food booth for a leg of turkey!! Say hello to several of the Shrine
workers who are members of St. John's. |
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CALENDAR |
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·
August 9 (11am – 4pm): Rust Memorial
Lodge picnic at Nile (Sunday)
·
August 10 (7-9pm): Ritual instruction
classes at Greenwood Masonic Center
·
August 11 (6:30pm): Officers Meeting
·
August 12 (6pm): Board of Trustees
·
August 13: Joint FC degree at Queen Anne
·
August 19 (6:15pm) 7:30pm:
St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated
(casual dress)
·
August 26 (7pm): District 5 LOMA meeting
·
September 8 (6:30pm): Officers Meeting
·
September 14 (7-9pm): Ritual instruction
classes at Greenwood Masonic Center
·
September 16 (6:15pm) 7:30pm:
St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated
NEXT STATED COMMUNICATION
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19
3rd Wednesday in August!
Dress will again be “business casual” for our August 19
stated communication.
Master Nick Mitchell assures us that dinner will be available
at 6:15 even though we no longer have the services of retired caterer Steve
Hofer and his crew. Pizza for August? Maybe so.
As always, please let the Secretary know you (and a guest?)
will be in attendance so we can have an accurate count for whoever will be
providing the meal!
This should be a relatively brief meeting and will allow an
opportunity for fellowship.
Did
you know that it wasn’t all that long ago that officers at St. John's wore
the Prince Albert coats and striped pants even during the heat of the
summer? They switched to modern tuxedos in WBro. Doug Knight’s second term
in 1994. Tuxedos were continued to be worn throughout the summer
communications until 2004.
Frock (Prince Albert) coats emerged around 1816
and were probably originally of military origin, worn buttoned to the neck with
a standing “Prussian” military collar. They were worn as informal wear during
the early decades of the nineteenth century, and became increasingly popular
from the 1830s onwards.
A frock coat is a man's coat characterized by
knee-length skirts all around the base, popular during the Victorian and
Edwardian periods. The double-breasted style is sometimes called a Prince Albert
(after the consort to Queen Victoria).
LODGE FAMILY PICNIC HELD ONCE AGAIN AT NILE
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Families
of St. John's again enjoyed one another’s company and friendship on Sunday,
August 9, at the Nile picnic grounds. Bro. David Flood coordinated the efforts
of many brothers to make the annual outing a success. 63 adults and 14 children
enjoyed the good weather, food and games.
Recognizing the need to trim the budget, some of the “extras” of previous
years were eliminated, but it was agreed by everyone
who participated that the summer would |
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have been incomplete without the Michael Rust Memorial Picnic hosted by St. John's.
è Online Trestleboard St. John's Trestleboard is moving to
an expanded e-mail format in 2010! If you wish to continue to receive St.
John's Trestleboard in print format after December 2009, please contact Jim
Russell at 206 623-0261.
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TWO TO RECEIVE FELLOWCRAFT DEGREES
Bros.
Ben Giddens and Simon Letarte will be passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on
Thursday, August 13. These brothers will receive their degrees courtesy of
Queen Anne Lodge No. 242, which will be passing one of their own brothers at
Queen Anne Masonic Center.
Queen Anne meets at 1608 – 4th
Ave. W. on the top of Queen Anne Hill. The ceremony will begin at 7pm, with
refreshments being served beforehand at 6.
Bros. Giddens and Letarte will be most
pleased to see a number of brothers from St. John's present for their
conferral.
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FAMILY MEMBERS ENJOY MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
Sixteen brothers and family members
enjoyed a tour of the Seattle-based Museum of Flight on the first Thursday of
this month. VWBro. Ashley Brinkley arranged the tour as an opportunity for
members of St. John's and their families to enjoy an early evening together.
The Museum of Flight is based at
Boeing Field, just south of downtown Seattle. The airfield is a working
airfield, with lots of light aircraft, some civil/freight jets, and new Boeing
jets frequently landing or taking off.
The Museum has an excellent collection
of WWI, WWII, and postwar military aircraft, as well as a genuine Concorde, the
very first 747, and the original Air Force One. But more than just the
aircraft, the museum does an excellent job of educating the visitor on aviation.
Topics such as the laws of flight and air traffic control are explained in
terms everyone can understand. There's also a very nice display of Boeing's
history.
WBro. Michael Sanford, Master of
Southgate Lodge No. 100, is a supervisor at the museum and took the St. John's
visitors on a private backrooms tour of the facility before releasing everyone
to their own enjoyable browsing.
HERE
AND ABOUT
Franklin Lodge No. 5 and Port Townsend
Lodge No. 6 will be celebrating 150 years as lodges within our Grand
Jurisdiction on Saturday, August 15. The reconstitution of Franklin Lodge will
open at 10am at Port Gamble; that of Port Townsend Lodge will follow at 2pm in
Port Townsend. Members of Franklin Lodge played a major part in helping to
establish St. John's Lodge No. 9.
Garfield Lodge No. 41 invites all to
attend an annual salmon BBQ, Thursday, August 20, at Pioneer Park in LaConner at
6pm, followed by a 7:30 stated meeting at the Lodge.
Bro. David Flood
(chair) and WBro. Allan Pinch have been appointed to the Audit Committee.
Bro. Fred
Hutchinson has donated a couple of dozen beautiful baseball caps embroidered
with the square & compasses and our Lodge name.
WBro. Boe Lindgren is on the ballot
this month seeking election for position 2 commissioner of the Alderwood Water
and Wastewater District.
MASONIC LODGE DAY AT TACOMA RAINIERS
Masons
will be recognized at a special Masonic Lodge Day at the Tacoma Rainiers,
Sunday, August 16. Game time is 12:30pm. Cheer on the Grand Master Gale
Kenney as he throws out the Ceremonial 1st Pitch! Tickets are
infield reserved seats behind home plate.
All tickets include a reserved seat to
the game with all the WA lodges, and a food voucher good for a hot dog, chips,
and soda ($9.50). You can add a limited edition Rainiers baseball cap for an
extra $5.50 ($15 ticket).
Call 253 722-1038 for tickets. Let them know you are a Freemason
of Washington.
NZ MASON JAILED OVER SORCERY CLAIMS
The Masons
were told they could be jailed for 48 hours without charge.
Photo / Rotorua Daily Post
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A New Zealand man spent a "wretched"
night in a Fiji prison cell after frightened residents and police raided his
Freemasons meeting, suspecting witchcraft and sorcery.
The
man, who didn't want to be named, blamed "dopey village people" for the raid in
which 14 members of the Freemasons Lodge of Lautoka were herded into police cars
and jailed for the night.
Police
also seized lodge paraphernalia, including wands, compasses and a skull.
Yesterday, the man told the Herald that Tuesday night's meeting was
"interrupted by a banging on the door and there were these village people and
the police demanding to be let in". |
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Nothing sinister had been going on but "such is the nature of life in Fiji" they
were taken to a nearby police station, he said.
The
Masons were told nothing of the allegations against them, but were warned that
under Fiji's emergency decree, they could be jailed for 48 hours without charge.
The
lodge secretary showed police a copy of the permit allowing the meeting, but was
told the permit was not the problem.
The
commanding police officer then disappeared, leaving the 14 men to spend the
night in the cells.
"It
was hot and wasn't very comfortable, because there was nowhere to lie down," the
man said. "The officers who were guarding us were pleasant, though, chatting
away to us."
At
8.30am yesterday, an officer let them go, saying the Prime Minister's office had
ordered they be released.
The
man said he was outraged that overly suspicious villagers had been able to
convince police to "totally abuse their power".
He
said the police should have told the villagers to calm down.
"The
stupidity is overwhelming. Virtually unlimited power is placed in the hands of
bungling police, who have no judgment or sense of balance, so, at the whim of an
uneducated villager, 14 senior members of society had to spend a night locked
up."
A
police spokesman said the men were arrested because police had been tipped off
that a meeting was being held and there were "some strange goings-on".
And he dreamed that there was a
ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold, the
angels of God were ascending and descending on it! (Gen 28:12)
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During summertime the Milky Way stands erect on the horizon and
forms a ‘Stairway to Heaven’
or Jacob’s Ladder. The idea of representing the Milky Way as a
stairway or ladder leading to Heaven was a very common theme in ancient times.
This idea was expressed as a rope, a tree (World Tree) or a ladder leading into
the skies. The Maya called the Milky Way the Wakah Chan during summer sunrise
‘the raised up sky’ and it was represented as the World Tree.
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On the website the Scottish Rite Freemasons speak about ‘The
Volume of the Sacred Law’
appearing on the table with the circle and dot (Sun) supporting Jacob’s ladder.
The Volume of the Sacred Law is a reference to the Holy Bible containing the
Masonic square and compasses.
Milky Way erect during summer
It seems like a yearly happening
and it is happening again. Someone is making phone calls soliciting funds.
They say they represent Olympus Lodge No. 45 or Seattle Lodge No. 45. It
is not legit. As every one of us should be aware, Masonry does not solicit
funds in this manner. Ignore the call should you get one.
FIVE POINTS OF FELLOWSHIP
by William "Ray" Fischer
There are duties owing by every Mason
to his brethren. By allusion to certain points of the body, we are taught "The
Five Points of Fellowship."
1
To serve
2
Pray for
3
Keep the secrets of
4
Support
5 Counsel
We
must be constantly reminded of these points so we will not lose sight of them,
once we leave the Lodge. More the brother who does not attend than he who
attends regularly.
As always, we forgive the brother who
does not frequent the Lodge. We should, because we know not the reason for his
absence.
The five points of fellowship are a
daily responsibility, and should become a habit. They should be so familiar to
us, that we would act upon them with no more thought than would be give to
washing your hands or opening a door.
We constantly help, or serve our
family, our brothers, our friends, and even strangers when we see the need.
We pray for others and ourselves, for
strength and for peace.
We diligently keep the secrets from
our detractors, from the ignorant, from the obsessed.
We support those who try to make life
better, and we support those who fail. Then we counsel them, so they may have
more knowledge, more understanding …… more light.
Founded in 1860, St. John's Lodge No. 9 is approaching its 149th
birthday (September 4th, 2009). It was the first Masonic Lodge in the Seattle
area. The following is excerpted from the 2nd volume of lodge
history, edited by Alexandra Rust.
Just Who Are These Masons?
The first Masonic Lodge in Seattle (St. John's Lodge No. 9) has
been the home to many known names in our community. Seattle was but a village
when the Lodge was founded (1860), and most of the population was male. The men
who joined St. John's included many who shared responsibility for laying the
foundations of the future city, and the roles they played in Seattle's
development then and afterward were significant.
Many left their marks on the city, and their names remain
familiar to us now. Hanford Street, Horton Street, McGraw Street, Phinney Way,
Maynard Street, Bagley Avenue, Blanchard Street, Howell Street, Smith Street and
Leary Way all are named after members of the Lodge. Neighborhoods that bear the
names of Lodge members include Ballard, Phinney, and Georgetown. Landmarks
named after St. John's members include Piper's Creek, Piper's Canyon, Smith
Cove, and Meydenbauer Bay and Creek. Coe and Bagley Elementary Schools and
Sharples, McClure, Meany and Asa Mercer Middle Schools all bear the names of
Lodge members.
The same is true for many of Seattle's
buildings, including some no longer in existence. Among them: the Dexter
Horton Building, Bagley Hall, Meany Hall and Theater, Moore Theater and
Hotel, Butler Hotel, Hotel Stevens, Meydenbauer Center and the Frederick &
Nelson Department Store.
Lodge members platted and homesteaded Maynard Town, Ballard,
Latona, University Heights Addition, Brooklyn Addition, Abrams Addition, Furth
Addition, Renton, Capitol Hill, Phinney Ridge, Plummer Addition, Frank Pontius
Addition and Beacon Hill.
Dexter Horton
MASONIC LIGHT
by the Rev. Dr. James M. Floyd, Jr.,
MPS
Evergreen Lodge No. 713, F. & A.M.
Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research, U.D., Indiana F. & A.M.
Are you a source of light, or of
darkness?
We create our own reality. What we
expect from life is what we receive. If we expect and look for the trouble,
disagreement, and negativity in situations that is what we are sure to find. If,
however, we expect and look for the good, cooperative, and positive outcomes in
situations that is what we will experience.
Life cannot, and does not always go
smoothly. We cannot appreciate the good times and the joys that life brings
without the rough times and the sadness that must cross our path on occasion. It
is3222sponse to these times that defines who we are.
Brothers, I am guilty of being a
source of darkness. That is, in seeing and focusing only on the problems in
lodge that I perceive need to be corrected. And in being privy to, and a part
of, the occasional personality conflicts that are destined to arise in any
group.
Yes, there are problems in every
lodge. Yes, we do not always agree with, or get along with each other. This has
always been, and always will be. But we cannot be negative about these
difficulties. Our negative thoughts are like a cancer which spreads and weakens
us, and those around us, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
It is easy to fall into the trap of
negativity or darkness. But, with effort on our part, and the assistance of the
G.A.O.T.U., we can instead choose to open our eyes to the light. My Brothers,
that light is Brotherly love. Love is being positive and expecting the best life
has to offer. Love is knowing that, although our human frailties will result in
disagreement, where there is hope and understanding there can be the peace and
harmony to work together towards a common goal.
So, for the sake of the Fraternity and
your well-being, I urge you to make the commitment to change your life, to
become a source of Masonic Light, that, like the Sun in the heavens, all the
world can see.
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