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

On a stormy December 17th, twenty seven members and visitors met at Greenwood Temple for WM Chris Carney's first Stated Communication as Master of St. John's Lodge No. 9.  After an excellent supper the WM had our musician play Christmas music and handed out the words to the carols to the assembled Brethren for singing.  It was fun to get together and sing together.

The Lodge opened on the third degree at 7:35pm, twenty-one members and six visitors in attendance as per Tyler's Register.  The above officers were in their stations and places, except that Bro. Brian Downie filled the place of the absent Chaplain, Bro. Doug Lidz took that of the Junior Steward, and WBro. Joseph Lund took the place of the absent Senior Deacon.

PRESENTATION OF THE FLAG

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.

INTRODUCTIONS

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 five visiting brothers, Bros. Robert Paulsen (Eureka Lodge No. 20), Mark Walters (Kirkland Lodge No. 150), Carl Cook (University Lodge No. 141), and WBros. Jim Lumsden and Larry Blake (Greenwood Lodge No. 253).   Also present was Musician Bro. Adam Creighton (Greenwood Lodge No. 253).

Other presiding brothers present, but not introduced, were WBro. Errol Scott, Junior Warden of Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281, and WBro. Joseph Lund, Master of Esoterika Lodge No. 316.  The brothers are members of St. John's Lodge No. 9.

The Master asked any visiting Grand Lodge team members who were not also members of this lodge to stand for recognition; there were none present.  Present but not recognized was WBro. Charles Tupper (technology), of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington and this lodge.

The Master then asked that all brothers present who were members of other appellant and concordant bodies stand for recognition.  He thanked them for their participation in the wider community of Freemasonry.

The Past Masters of St. John’s Lodge No. 9 were asked to stand and be recognized and were thanked for their dedication to the Lodge.  They were accorded the public Grand Honors.

 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION

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

TREASURER’S REPORT

The Treasurer reported that our financial portfolio continues to reflect the trends of the market.

EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­DECEMBER

The bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (VWBro. David Campbell, WBros. Allan Pinch and Joseph Lund ), were submitted to the Lodge for approval.  After the acting chairman, VWBro. Campbell, 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.  Itemized below are the expenses for the month of December: 

COMMUNICATIONS

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

We have received a request from Washington State DeMolay to place an ad in the 2009 DeMolay Convention program.  Copy deadline is February 1, 2009.

The Grand Lodge of Washington announces the death of MWBro. Sidney Kase, Past Grand Master of Washington 1990-1991.  Grand Master MWBro. Douglas E. Tucker will be present to celebrate St. John's Day Winter Festival hosted by Bremerton Lodge No. 117 on Saturday, December 27.

In response to a request by EA Bro. Michael Thomas Moen, we have granted a Certificate to release him as a candidate from our lodge and this Jurisdiction in order that he may petition Melbourne Lodge No. 143 of the Grand Lodge of Florida for the remaining degrees.

We have received a thank you card from Laurel Assembly No. 144 of Black Diamond for a recent contribution to that Rainbow Assembly.  We received an invitation to Greenwood Lodge No. 253's  87^th Installation of Officers, December 6, and to the Job’s Daughters Bethel No. 45 Installation of officers December 13.

We have received newsletters and trestleboards from the HOPE Heart Institute, the Phinney Neighborhood Association, the Blue Nile Children’s Organization, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras, University Lodge No. 141, Lafayette Lodge No. 241, and Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

The Secretary reported that a brother, remains delinquent in his 2008 lodge dues.  This brother will be dropped for non-payment of dues if he has not become current by the end of the year.

The Junior Warden solicited volunteers to participate in our next Master Mason degree which will be held either Tuesday, January 6 or Thursday, January 8.  Brothers stepped forward to fill the necessary rolls.  Bros. Aren Hakobyan, Jon Munday, and Carl Tokarek (a courtesy candidate from Lakeside Lodge No. 42, Sandpoint, ID) are anticipated to be ready for the degree.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Bro. Phillip See (12/30/60) was honored with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate achieving one more year in his journey through life.

MASONIC EDUCATION

The Master addressed the brethren with his overview of his term year.  He said that he wanted to get “back to basics.”  He wants to build on the lessons learned at last year’s Leavenworth retreat by some of the key officers.  The principal tenets coming out of that meeting were measuring the success of our performance by data collection, followed by analysis, goal setting action planning, and re-measurement.  He wants to develop a better definition of our organizational structure and processes; to use constructive feedback by listening, asking appropriate questions for clarification, staying focused on possible solutions, and talking to each other about a problem and to avoid talking behind one’s back.  He intends to initiate Officer and Committee training and wants to develop “clockwork” floor work in our ritual performance and to gradually re-incorporate the lectures into the regular officer line training.  Lastly, he challenged each of the brothers to look up the definition of “speculative,” especially as it applies to Freemasonry.

The Master also brought to the brothers’ attention the Scottish Rite Research Society as a source of Masonic light.  Annual dues are $40, with a quarterly newsletter.

NEW BUSINESS

Lodge of Sorrow

The Washington Masonic Code, Sec. 23.02 B.L. allows a Master, on vote of a Lodge, to open a Lodge of Sorrow, which will remain open only during his term of office, for the purpose of conducting Masonic funeral rites.  It was m/s/p that a Lodge of Sorrow, for the purpose of conducting Masonic funeral services under such restrictions as provided by the Washington Masonic Code of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, be opened Saturday, December 13, 2008.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:

·         December 21 (meet 8am):  Operation Kid Smile at Fort Lewis (meet at Brockway’s)

·         December 23 (6:30pm):  wrap Christmas gifts for Seattle Christmas Families

·         December 24 (throughout the day):  deliver gifts to Christmas Families

·         January 6 or 8 (7pm)  MM degree

·         January 12 (7-9pm):  Ritual instruction classes at Greenwood Masonic Center

·         January 21 (6:15pm) 7:30pm:  St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated

·         January 23:  Quarterly meeting of Masonic Service Bureau (election of officers)

·         January 28 (7pm):  District 5 LOMA meeting

Brothers George Rine, Phillip See (Heidi) and David Flood volunteered to be part of the Operation Kid Smile team.  They will be accompanied by Bro. Raymond Gehrig (Debbie), MWBro. Al Jorgensen (Nancy), WBro. Skip Albertson, WBro. Hans Wehl (as Santa) and VWBro. Chuck Brockway (Sherla).  WBro. Charles Tupper reminded the brothers to take photos of the team in action.

The Master has yet to fix a date certain for his first officers meeting, but acknowledged his desire to have one prior to our next stated communication.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

WBro. Charles Tupper said that the ritual instruction classes are gaining in popularity, especially with brothers from St. John's and Greenwood Lodge No. 253.  He also said that our website encountered some virus attack when sought out by a search engine, but that issue has been resolved satisfactorily and the culprits have been apprehended.

WBro. Errol Scott invited the brethren to attend a crab feed dinner sponsored by Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 289 on January 17, honoring our Grand Master Doug Tucker.

Bro. Richard Heston encouraged all brothers to attend the Master Mason degree next month.  He reminded them how important it is to have a full house to welcome the raising of our brothers.

CLOSING OF LODGE

The minutes of this communication were read and approved in short form.  There being no further business to come before this Lodge of Master Masons, the flag was retired and the lodge closed in due and ancient form by the Worshipful Master at 8:55pm, peace and harmony prevailing.