August 2009 Stated Communication

Following dinner and prior to opening of Lodge, presiding Master Bro. Nick Mitchell welcomed WBro. Helmuth Svoboda, expressing his gratitude that WBro. Svoboda could join us following surgery earlier this month. WBro. Svoboda addressed the brethren, acknowledging the impending 400^th anniversary of the development of the telescope[i] by Bro. Galileo. A Dutch eyeglass maker, Hans Lippershey, has been given credit for the invention of the telescope in 1608; when he offered it to the government for military use, they required that it be converted to binocular form. By 1610, Galileo announced the telescopic observations of the moon and planets which signaled the end of the theory of a sun-centered solar system. Galileo’s telescope was a simple refractor, employing two lenses in a tube. His discoveries and those who followed him have led to our observations of our own and distant galaxies. “We are traveling upon the Level of Time to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns.”

The Lodge opened on the second degree at 7:40pm, thirty-six members and seven visitors in attendance as per Tyler's Register.

The American flag was presented by the Marshal and deposited in a place of honor in the East. The Worshipful Master called upon the Marshal to lead the brethren in the pledge to the flag.

The Junior Deacon announced an alarm at the door and upon opening the door the Grand Master entered. MWBro. Gale Kenney was escorted from the altar to the East by the Senior Deacon. He was accorded the public Grand Honors and offered the gavel. MWBro. Kenney thanked the Master and instructed him to proceed with the evening’s business.

Bro. Mitchell thanked Bro. George Rine for arranging for this evening’s dinner.

Following the Tyler’s standing invitation to tile the outer door and join his brethren at the inner door, the Worshipful Master called upon the Senior Deacon to introduce our 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, Bros. Carl Cook, (University No. 141), Alex Jouravlev (North Hill No. 210), and WBro. Jim Lumsden (Greenwood No. 253). Also present was Musician Bro. Adam Creighton (Greenwood Lodge No. 253).

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. Darrel Womack (photography chair), WBro. Charles Tupper (technology), WBro. Hans Wehl (public schools outreach), VWBro. Charles Brockway (membership development), VWBro. Jim Maher (Landmark on the Sound Trustee), VWBro. Mike Davis (Chmn. CHIP Foundation), VWBro. Marv Pearson (Deputy of the Grand Master District No. 4), VWBro. Michael Cuadra (Deputy of the Grand Master District No. 5), VWBro. Steve Pennington (Special Deputy), VWBro. Jim Russell (Junior Grand Steward), and MWBro. Al Jorgensen (jurisprudence), all of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. They were accorded the public Grand Honors.

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

The Treasurer reported that our financial portfolio is down from last year at this date, but that it has increased 6 ฝ% over last month. We are in a positive upswing and “are solvent.”

EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญAUGUST

The following bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (WBro. Hans Wehl, VWBro. David Campbell, Bro. Joe Oates), were submitted to the Lodge for approval. After the acting chairman, Bro. Oates, 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 were approved for payment.

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

We have received a nice letter from Mrs. David Moffat, who lets us know that she is doing well and also how pleased she is at receiving the monthly Trestleboard from St. John's. Mrs Bill (Aundie) Collison has sent her appreciation for the beautiful flowers sent by the Lodge hoping for a speedy recovery.

Several of our charities have sent requests or thank you messages, including the folks from Teen Feed, the Ballard Food Bank and the Blue Nile Children’s Organization.

Grand Lodge of Washington has sent a synopsis of the 152^nd annual communication of Grand Lodge in Spokane. This includes a brief description of legislation passed, carried over, and defeated; awards and presentations, and of course who was elected to serve the Grand Lodge for 2009-2010.

A letter has been issued by the Grand Master to be read at the stated communications of all lodges in Washington. [Letter regarding no direct contact with foreign jurisdictions read in full]

We have received newsletters and Trestleboards from the Phinney Neighborhood Association, the HOPE Heart Institute, the City of Hope, and Daylight Lodge No. 232. Please take home one of the copies of the HOPE Health Letter for healthy reading.

Bro. David Flood reported that the annual Lodge picnic at the Nile was considered to be a fine success, coming well under budget and well-received. He added that the picnic was successful due in large part to the assistance of many hands and advice, including Bros. Brockway, Grove, Rine, Hans Wehl, and Ken Wehl. Mrs. Sharon Wehl was of great value in sorting and arranging.

Bro. Matt LaCroix reported that the media packet is at the printer. He will have samples available for viewing at the anniversary dinner next month. Master Nick Mitchell offered his congratulations to Bro. LaCroix for completing his bar exams.

VWBro. Mike Davis offered his thanks to the brothers of St. John's for assistance with Queen Anne’s August 13 Fellowcraft degree. Our two brothers Ben Giddens and Simon Letarte were passed as courtesy candidates alongside a Queen Anne brother. WBro. Ken Lane, Jr., assisted by several brothers from St. John's, conferred the degree.

Bro. Mitchell announced that the 149^th anniversary dinner will be held at the Crowne Plaza Suites hotel on Saturday, September 12. Social hour will open at 6pm, followed by dinner at 7pm. A no-host bar will be available, with music and dancing. Parking is available as well as over-night accommodations at a special rate for those who wish to stay downtown following. Reservations for the dinner (and accommodations) are necessary.

WBro. Jeff Lane reported that the Board of Trustees met last week. Representatives from Oppenheimer were available to discuss our investment portfolio. The Long Range Planning committee will begin planning our 150^th anniversary. A committee to study and prepare resolutions to Grand Lodge will be formed. Bro. Mitchell announced that in an effort to restore harmony within the Lodge and the Trustees, backroom politicking, backbiting, slander, libel and character assassinations, when collaborated, will first result in a consultation with the Worshipful Master, and if such conduct continues, a request for charges will be made to the Junior Grand Warden against the offending brother. Bro. Mitchell also requested, in an effort to promote harmony, that trustees refrain from changing votes between Trustee Meetings and Stated Communications. Liz Lamb and Alex Rust have agreed to execute their respective Service Agreements. WBro. Tupper will report to the Trustees before deciding whether or not to agree to a Services Agreement. Three caterers are under consideration to replace our former caterer. A more conservative approach to our budgeting process was proposed for future budgets. A proposal was presented for significant financial investment in local lodges and youth organizations. The lodge charity survey results were presented. Bro. Mitchell presented the 2010 budget to the Trustees and requested suggestions by September 25. The next scheduled meeting will be held to prepare the 2010 budget, Wednesday, October 14.

Master Nick Mitchell re-iterated that if a brother disagrees with another brother on an issue, open debate is healthy. Proposing a policy or disagreeing with a policy does not mean that you wish ill toward the Lodge. Backroom politicking, backbiting, libel, slander, character assassinations or other conduct that is unbecoming of a Mason is not healthy for the lodge. We must treat each other by the Golden Rule (among many: "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Luke 6:31)

The Master announced that he will shortly be appointing members to the 150^th anniversary committee.

The Master stated that all agenda items for Stated Communications must be submitted to him prior to the Wednesday afternoon of the stated communication. This includes new business items, committee reports, presentations, awards etc. If a Brother does not send Bro. Mitchell such items prior to setting the agenda, they will not be included on the agenda and will not be heard during the Stated Communication.

Three motions were presented in preparation for the 149^th anniversary dinner, September 12: It was m/s/p that checks be written

for the anniversary dinner evening. It is anticipated that the check to the Crowne Plaza will exceed the actual costs and the overage will be returned within a few days of the event.

The Master announced that anyone wishing to run for office should submit his candidacy to the Secretary’s desk by October 1^st. Candidates and their qualifications will be printed in the November Trestleboard prior to the November elections.

It was m/s/p to re-imburse Bro. George Rine for his out-of-pocket expenses for this evening’s dinner of pizza and soft drinks.

Bro. Brian Downie called for a vote to authorize checks for this year’s scholarship recipients. It was m/s/p to authorize checks issued to the colleges and universities

Bro. Joe Oates will be contacting those caterers who have expressed an interest in providing our dinners before the stated communications. He will choose one to provide the September dinner, with others for the October and November dinners. RSVP’s should be directed Bro. Joe’s direction.

VWBro. Michael Davis invited the brethren to attend a special communication of Queen Anne Lodge No. 242 for an Entered Apprentice degree, Thursday, August 27. Dinner will be provided at 6pm with the degree starting at 7pm.

The minutes of this communication were read and approved in short form. There being no further business to come before this lodge of Fellowcraft Masons, the flag was retired and the lodge closed in due and ancient form by the Worshipful Master at 10:12pm, peace and harmony prevailing.

[i]

Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1643) was the oldest of seven children born to a gifted Pisan composer and mathematician. As an impoverished student, he turned from medicine to mathematics and science, and was known for both brilliance and trouble-making. He began his career as a professor in the University of Pisa, but was soon in conflict with the authorities and was forced to transfer to Padua. He never married but his mistress provided him with three children. He was always in financial difficulties of one sort or other and because he could not afford dowries for his illegitimate daughters he had them placed in convents. In 1609 Galileo learned of the invention of the telescope, built a three power instrument, which he quickly improved to eight, twenty and then thirty power. These were the most powerful instruments of his time and with them he made the discoveries that established Copernican system.

ท Galileo was the first person to use his new telescope. Galileo made many discoveries with his telescope. He discovered that the moon had mountains and was pitted much like the earth is. He learned that like the moon the planets all have phases. (Phases are the stages that the moon goes through - from full to new and back again.) He paid very close attention to the phases of Venus more than those of any other planets. He also found out a lot about Jupiter. One night while looking through his telescope he saw four moons orbiting Jupiter. He called these four moons the Medicean Planets. He named them after the Medicis who at that time were the ruling family of Florence, Italy. Another thing he found with his telescope were the four biggest satellites (moons) of Jupiter. Galileo also discovered sunspots, lunar mountains, and lunar valleys through his telescope. Galileo realized one night that the Milky Way (the earth’s galaxy) was made up of millions of stars. Telescopes were important to study outer space because there was no other way to study outer space at that time.

There evidently was a competitive atmosphere surrounding the introduction of the telescope. Although printed news about this two-lensed tube that made far-away objects appear bigger and closer was relatively sparse, verbal reports spread rapidly across Europe. Its significance was immediately recognized. Galileo Galilei, professor of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Padua, Italy conducted scholarly experiments and then crafted his own 3X magnification telescope in the early summer of 1609. He made further refinements in August 1609 and presented an 8X instrument to the Doge and the Venetian Senate in the bell tower of San Marco. Galileo gradually improved the power of his telescope by grinding lenses himself and was able to begin studying the craters of the moon. In November 1609 he built a superior telescope with almost 30X magnification and made additional major discoveries. In January 1610 the observations found that Jupiter had at least four satellites of its own, that sunspots exist and that Venus has phases.

Galileo desired recognition for his discoveries and insights so he published (in Latin) the scientific story of his telescope in the Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger) in March 1610. This book was dedicated to Cosimo de' Medici and it included the first illustrations of the heavens (The Milky Way) and especially our own moon. The idea that the moon had a mountainous and cratered surface and was not perfectly spherical was proven by the use of his telescope. The book also contains the results of Galileo's early observations of the Moon, the stars and Jupiter’s moons.

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