PRESENTATION OF THE FLAG

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

WELCOME BY THE MASTER

On assuming his rightful station in the Lodge, WBro. Jorgensen welcomed all brothers to this evening's stated communication and thanked VWBro. Russell for his opening work in the East 

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 two visiting brothers, Bros. Steve Lowe (Greenwood Lodge No. 253), and Jim McQuinn (William Jett Lodge No. 285).   Also present were Chaplain Bro. Alex LaBarba (Doric Lodge No. 92), and Musician Bro. Adam Creighton (Greenwood Lodge No. 253).

The Master introduced WBro. Michael Mann, Master of Alki Lodge No. 152.  He was accorded the public Grand Honors.

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

The Master then instructed the Senior Deacon to escort the Grand Lodge officers and committeemen East of the Altar and extended a hand to each as he announced their names.  In attendance were WBro. Charles Tupper (technology, photography), WBro. Hans Wehl (public schools outreach), VWBro. Charles Brockway (membership development), VWBro. Jim Maher (finance, MRC Trustee, long range planning), WBro. Terry Grove (CHIP chair, charity),  WBro. Larry Blake (credentials), VWBro. Jim Russell (Junior Grand Steward), MWBro. Richard Mecartea (Past Grand Master), and MWBro. Al Jorgensen (Masonic Retirement Center Trustee, jurisprudence), all of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington.  They were accorded the public Grand Honors.

GRAND MASTER RECEIVED

The Master then instructed the Senior Deacon to seek out the Grand Master.  MWBro. Gale Kenney, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, was escorted to the Altar where he was received by the Master and escorted to the East.  He was accorded the public Grand Honors, offered the gavel which he declined, and invited to remain in the East.

TREASURER'S REPORT

The Treasurer reported that our portfolio has grown 4.6% since the first of the year.

EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

The following bills, having been reviewed by three members of the finance committee (VWBro. Charles Brockway, WBro. David Campbell, and WBro. Bill Collison), were submitted to the Lodge for approval.  After the acting chairman, WBro. Collison, 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.

COMMUNICATIONS

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

We have received thank-you notes from the Rainbow Girls of Washington Idaho for supporting their annual convention with an ad in their convention program.  RiteCare of Tacoma also sends a thank-you for our support of its program to help children with speech difficulties.

Mercy Corps requests our support, as does the Assistance League of Everett.

Financial requests have been received for the Miss Washington Job's Daughter pageant and from Job's Daughters Bethel No. 5 of Renton.

The Masonic Service Bureau is asking for volunteers to assist with Masonic funeral services and will provide training.

Daylight Lodge No. 232 invites our participation in their Masonic information booth at the Fremont Street Fair.  Mark P. Waterman Lodge No. 177 of Vashon will be reconstituting their Lodge on June 26^th and invites us to attend this event in recognition of their centennial year.  Lux Vi Minda Lodge No. 317 invites everyone to a weekend of Masonic celebration at the Granite Falls Masonic Park August 27 - 29.  Activities and services will include face painting, a licensed barber, a licensed massage practitioner, a disc jockey and an open roasting of a full pig.

The annual open air degree will be held at the Masonic Park on Saturday, August 7.  The First Section of the Master Mason degree will be led by brothers of Lakeside Lodge No. 258.  The drama will be performed by the degree team of the Nile Shrine.

We have received newsletters and trestleboards from the HOPE Heart Institute, the Masonic Service Association of North America, Eureka Lodge No. 20, Lafayette Lodge No. 241, and Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281.  Please take home an extra copy of the HOPE Heart newsletter for healthy reading.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

VWBro. Charles Brockway reported that the Board of Trustees met last week with  Mr. Lance Rounds and Mr. Darrel Lynch of Oppenheimer to discuss our investment portfolio.  Our portfolio has improved 3.85% from the previous quarter.  The Secretary reported that our Trestleboard costs are below budget because fewer issues are being mailed to out-of-state members.  The Treasurer reported that our 2009 Form 990 has been completed and that our Family Appreciation Brunch expenses were well below budget.  The Master will attempt to meet with other Masters to encourage them to join us in assisting with Garfield Lodge's roof replacement.  Further business was conducted for our 150^th anniversary recognition.  Recently acquired media kits were reviewed with some disappointment.  Recommendations will be made to the Lodge to expense $1,700 toward the Grand Master's hospitality suite and $300 for refreshments for the golf tournament preceding the annual communication.  Request for assistance from a new charity was discussed and will be referred to our Everett members for possible sponsorship.  Bro. George Rine will meet with the Secretary and Treasurer to begin preparations for the 2011 budget.  The next scheduled meeting will be held Wednesday, August 11, at 6pm.

VWBro. Brockway also provided an update on plans for the 150^th anniversary recognition and celebration.  A 150^th logo has been adopted and approved by the Grand Master.  Wine glasses, center pieces, pens, and money clips will all display 150^th designs.  A proclamation is being written for Governor Christine Gregoire's signature to declare September 11, 2010 to be "St. John's Lodge No. 9 Day."�  The Lodge will be reconstituted the afternoon of September 11 and Ill. Bro. Jim Tresner will speak at a dinner to be held on the 75^th and 76^th floors of the Columbia Tower.  Dinner entres will be selected next week, and a band for the occasion is under review.

Bro. Carl Tokarek reported that the scholarship committee has completed its work and has selected twelve fine young students to receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $4,000.  A brief synopsis of each selected student is posted on the bulletin board at the Tyler's register.  A couple of brothers added that they felt this was the best selection of well-qualified students we have seen in years.  Several students have Masonic connections and all have excellent grade points.  2009-2010 scholarship recipients were all encouraged to submit their transcripts and apply for 2010-2011 grants.  Three students are carry-overs from last year.  It was m/s/p that the twelve students and their scholarship grants as recommended by the scholarship committee be accepted.  We will be honoring these students and their families at our June stated communication.

WBro. Hans Wehl thanked Bro. Simon Letarte for his photos of our merchandise in the company store and said that WBro. Charles Tupper will be adding these to the www.seattlemasons.org webpage soon.  WBro. Tupper will explore the possibility of using PayPal as a means to purchase the merchandise online.  PayPal performs payment processing for online vendors, auction sites, and other commercial users, for which it charges a fee. 

In the absence of Bro. David Flood, in charge of the Entered Apprentice degrees, the Master reported that Mr. Ron Woodall, Jr. will be initiated as an Entered Apprentice next Wednesday, May 26.  The Lodge will open at 7:30pm.  He expressed hope that all brothers have been assigned their roles and encouraged everyone to attend the degree.  Bro. Joe Oates reported that a Fellowcraft degree will be held at 7pm on Monday, June 7, to pass Bro. John Louderback to a Fellowcraft.  He is in the process of putting together the degree team.

MEMORIAL SCROLL

 A memorial scroll was read for WBro. Glenn Dale Wonders, followed by remembrances from MWBro. Richard Mecartea and a memorial service by the Chaplain.  Bro. Adam Creighton offered an appropriate dirge on the piano.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Visiting Bro. Jim McQuinn, celebrating his birthday on this date, was honored with a rendition of "Happy Birthday"� to celebrate achieving one more year in his journey through life. 

MASONIC EDUCATION

The Master opened discourse on the recognition of regular lodges or jurisdictions of Grand Lodges throughout the world.  It is the function of the Fraternal Correspondent (in Washington, MWBro. James O. Wood) to formally investigate the regularity of any Grand Lodge which wishes to be recognized by our Grand Lodge and then to recommend a course of action by the members of our Grand Lodge.  It is tradition that the junior Grand Lodge approach the senior Grand Lodge for such recognition.

Recognized Grand Lodges derive their regularity from the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) based on the following criteria:

•          Regularity of origin is established by a duly recognized Grand Lodge or three or more regularly constituted Lodges.

•          A belief in the Great Architect of the Universe and his revealed will shall be an essential qualification for membership.

•          That all Initiates shall take their Obligation on or in full view of the open Volume of the Sacred Law, by which is meant the revelation from above which is binding on the conscience of the particular individual who is being initiated.  (In Washington, the VSL is identified as the Holy Bible.)

•          That the membership of the Grand Lodge and individual Lodges shall be composed entirely of men; and that each Grand Lodge shall have no Masonic intercourse of any kind with mixed Lodges or bodies which admit women to membership.

•          That the Grand Lodge shall have sovereign jurisdiction over Lodges under its control, i.e. that it shall be a responsible, independent, self-governing organization, with sole and undisputed authority over the Craft or Symbolic degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason) within its Jurisdiction; and shall not in any way be subject to, or divide such authority with, a Supreme Council or any other power claiming any control or supervision over those degrees.

•          That the three Great Lights of Freemasonry (namely, the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square, and the Compasses) shall always be exhibited when the Grand Lodge or its subordinate Lodges are at work, the chief of these being the Volume of the Sacred Law.

•          That the discussion of religion and politics within the Lodge shall be strictly prohibited.

          

• That the principles of the Ancient Landmarks, customs and usages of the Craft be strictly observed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

District 4&5 Grand Master's Reception

On Saturday, May 22, District 4 and District 5 will be hosting our Grand Master MWBro. Gale Kenney for his visitation to the two Districts.  A short meeting of all Masons will open at 6pm, with dinner for brothers and ladies served at 6:30.  Entertainment, district reports, and awards will follow in the Lodge room.  This all takes place at University Lodge.  The Secretary has one remaining ticket available.

Hospitality Suite at Grand Lodge

Our Lodge brother MWBro. Gale Kenney will be completing his year as Grand Master in June at the 153^rd annual communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington.  Grand Lodge has rented space for a hospitality suite to accommodate distinguished out-of-state guests as well as delegates from around the jurisdiction.  St. John's will assist in the staffing of the suite.  It was m/s/p to contribute for the Grand Lodge hospitality suite and for soft drinks for the pre-convention golf tournament.  Soft drinks not used at the tournament will be available for the hospitality suite.

NEW BUSINESS

Officer Collars

WBro. Hans Wehl reported that our officer collars are in need of repair.  He has replaced chains, links to chains and other pieces as necessary.  Ms Aundie Collison has been sewing and re-attaching the jewels to the collars where necessary.  New jewels sell for $75 each; repairing the jewels will be $100.  However, the new jewels will still be pewter links, whereas repaired jewels would be with silver links and can be soldered.  The Master will take these options under advisement and return to the issue at a later date.

Fremont Fair Masonic Education Booth

Masons of Seattle will again be staffing a booth at the Fremont Solstice Fair Saturday and Sunday, June 19 and 20.  This is an opportunity to spread the word on our fraternity and enjoy the good fellowship of brothers from other lodges in the area.  This annual event financially supports Solid Ground, one of King County's largest non-profit social services organizations for those in need.  A new charity, The History House Museum in Fremont, has been added this year. 

At the request of the Master, VWBro. Jim Maher presented the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that St. John's Lodge No. 9 contribute $1,000 toward the expenses of the Fremont Fair Masonic Information Booth. 

This resolution will be published in the June issue of the Trestleboard for action at the next stated communication. 

Stated Communication Dinner Expenses

Pies and ice cream (for dessert) and pizza and soft drinks (for the Masonic Youth) were purchased out-of-pocket by VWBro. David Campbell, Bro. George Rine, and WBro. Mark Campbell.  It was m/s/p to re-imburse David Campbell $41.96, George Rine $4.99, and Mark Campbell $162.36 for additional expenses for this evening's dinner.

150^th Anniversary Logo

Ms Katie (Mark) Campbell designed three logos that will be used in connection with our 150^th anniversary.  They were approved by our Grand Master, MWBro. Gale Kenney.  It was m/s/p that Ms Katie Campbell be paid for the 150^th anniversary design.

Greenwood Food Bank

The Volunteers of America manage the Greenwood Food Bank, which we have supported since our move to the Greenwood area.  They have recently changed locations and need new signage.  Quotations have ranged between $1,958 and $2,489 (excluding taxes and permit costs) to install two signs, one that is Volunteers of America lettering over the north end of the building, and the Volunteers of America logo over the food bank warehouse.  St. John's will assist with a check which WBro. Charles Tupper has volunteered to deliver on our behalf. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS