Home - Archive Index - 2010 Archives - December Stated Communication
December Stated Communication OPENING OF LODGE The Lodge opened on the first degree at 7:35pm, twenty-three members and nine visitors in attendance as per Tyler's Register. The above officers were in their stations and places, except that MWBro. Sat Tashiro filled the place of the absent Junior Warden. 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 four visiting brothers, Bros. Alex Jouravlev (North Hill Lodge No. 210), Neil Quinn (Rainier Lodge No. 189), Steve Lowe (Greenwood Lodge No. 253), and Carl Cook (University Lodge No. 141). Also present were Chaplain Bro. Alex LaBarba (Doric Lodge No. 92), and Musician Bro. Adam Creighton (Greenwood Lodge No. 253). The Junior Warden introduced his counterpart, Bro. Mark Walters, Junior Warden of Kirkland Lodge No. 150. The Senior Warden introduced WBro. Errol Scott (Walter F. Meier Lodge No. 281). All guests were accorded a warm St. John's welcome. 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. Charles Tupper (technology), WBro. Hans Wehl (public schools outreach), WBro. Darrel Womack (photography chair), VWBro. Charles Brockway (membership development), VWBro. Jim Maher (finance, MRC Trustee, long range planning), WBro. Terry Grove (CHIP chair, charity), VWBro. Mike Cuadra (Deputy of the Grand Master District No. 5), VWBro. Steve Pennington (public relations chair, Special Deputy), VWBro. Jim Russell (Junior Grand Steward), MWBro. Satoru Tashiro (CHIP Foundation, jurisprudence), 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. 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. The Master requested that the Minutes reflect the satisfactory examination of proficiency by committee for Bros. Simon Letarte and Alex Tokarek early Saturday, December 12. He expressed his expectation that these brothers will demonstrate their proficiency in the three degrees in open Lodge at the January stated communication. INSTALLATION OF TRUSTEE The Master directed the Senior Deacon to conduct MWBro. Sat Tashiro east of the altar, where, in his fiduciary capacity as a duly elected Trustee (2013), he was sworn to the careful stewardship of the Lodge resources. (Bro. Joseph Oates, still out of town on business, will be installed as Junior Warden at the first opportunity.) TREASURER’S REPORT The Treasurer reported that our financial portfolio has increased 4.77% to $4.3 million. An audit review of the Lodge records is currently in process and its report should be available by the January stated communication. EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER The following bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (VWBros. Charles Brockway and David Campbell, and WBro. Darrel Womack), were submitted to the Lodge for approval. After the acting chairman, WBro. Womack, 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: The Nile Shrine invites all brothers to attend the open installation of officers, Wednesday, January 6, starting with a reception at 6pm in the ballroom of the Nile Shrine Center. The 8pm installation will be preceded by dinner at 7pm. St. John's brother MWBro. Sat Tashiro will be installed Potentate for 2010. On January 17th, the Seattle Valley Scottish Rite will be honoring our Grand Master Gale H. Kenney, at a reception to be held at the Bellevue Masonic Center. The 2010 Wardens’ Conference will be held March 12 - 14 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Yakima. Wardens and Senior Deacons from all lodges are encouraged to participate in this educational weekend. We have received a most favorable letter from a brother outside our jurisdiction regarding a petitioner for the degrees who was recently rejected by our Lodge. The staff of the Grand Lodge of Washington sends holiday greetings. Requests for support come from the Neighborhood Health centers, Mercy Corps, and Hope Health Institute. “Thank you” letters have been received from the Volunteers of America for our contribution to the Greenwood Food Bank and from Dr. Irl Hirsch for our contribution to the University of Washington Diabetes Care Center. The Phinney Neighborhood Association will be honoring their retiring Executive Director after 28 years of service. The Job’s Daughters of Anchorage, Alaska, are promoting a drawing to raise money for their annual programs. Tickets are available for purchase at the Secretary’s desk. Washington State DeMolay is seeking advertising revenue in their convention program. We have supported this for the past several years. Solicitations have also been received for Masonic blanket sales and coasters, plaques, and custom gifts. Newsletters and Trestleboards have been received from the Phinney Neighborhood Association, The HOPE Heart Institute, Teen Feed, the Seattle Youth Symphony, University Lodge No. 141, Lafayette Lodge No. 241, and Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281. Please take home one of the extra copies of the HOPE Heart newsletter for healthy reading. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Master called on WBro. Charles Tupper to describe the circumstances upon which the Master’s Charity was expended in November. Bro. George Rine, as acting Master during that time and on the recommendation of WBro. Tupper, authorized the fund to be used to relieve a widow and orphan. Thanksgiving Family Charity was extended by the Lodge under the care of WBros. Tupper, Darrel Womack, and Hans Wehl; and Bros. Eric Koteles, Ken Wehl, and George Rine. Food and necessities were supplied to two families. These families will also be recipients of our Christmas Family Charity this coming weekend. Brothers are encouraged to meet at the Greenwood Masonic Center at noon Sunday for assignments to purchase food and wrap gifts for Christmas. Bro. George Rine reported that two brothers, Benjamin Giddens and Simon Letarte, were raised Master Masons on Tuesday, December 1. The Secretary reported that two brothers remain delinquent in their 2009 dues. The Secretary has sent four notices to each. WBro. Charles Tupper has attempted to contact the brothers and has been unsuccessful. Bro. Doug Ashby (Tacoma) cannot be reached by telephone. Bro. Michael Gustafson brushed off WBro. Tupper’s telephone conversation. These brothers will be dropped from the rolls if they have not become current in their dues by December 31. VWBro. Charles Brockway reported that the 150th anniversary committee has met to consider various options for celebration. September 11, 2010, has been chosen as a day to re-constitute the Lodge by the Grand Master. That evening we will hold a dinner for members and their ladies and selected guests. Members of the committee are VWBro. Brockway (chair), MWBro. Al Jorgensen, VWBro. Jim Russell, VWBro. David Campbell, WBro. Hans Wehl, WBro. Bill Collison, and Bros. Mark Campbell, Ian Cameron, Ken Wehl, and George Rine. READING OF PETITION A petition for plural membership was received from VWBro. Donald Jacob Campbell. VWBro. Campbell is a member of Steilacoom Lodge No. 2 and Mt. Tahoma Lodge No. 190. He is employed as the Assistant Grand Secretary of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, F&AM. He is recommended by Bros. David C. Campbell (no relation), Hans U. Wehl, and Alvin W. Jorgensen. A committee will be appointed to visit VWBro. Campbell and to report back to the Lodge by the next Stated Communication. The Master announced that if any brother wishes to share information on any petitioner, he is more than welcome to approach the Master who will direct his concerns to a committee member. BALLOTING ON PETITION A favorable ballot was spread on Mr. John M. Louderback for the degrees. Mr. Louderback had received unanimous favorable recommendations by his investigating committee. January 12 has been reserved to initiate Mr. Louderback as an Entered Apprentice. BIRTHDAY GREETINGS VWBro. Jim Maher, and Bro. Ken Wehl, were honored with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate achieving one more year in their journey through life. MASONIC EDUCATION By direction of the Worshipful Master, WBro. Charles Tupper demonstrated how one might research any aspect of Freemasonry by the use of the George Washington Memorial website. As an example, he was able to access the Washington Grand Lodge Proceedings of 1861, and read the Grand Master’s report regarding violation of the Masonic Code by members of St. John's Lodge No. 9 and the ultimate suspension of this Lodge’s Senior Warden. MWBro. Jorgensen added that at the cost of approximately 35 cents per page, we could digitize our Minutes for viewing through the George Washington Memorial website. He said that the Grand Lodge Proceedings from 1858 to 2003 were digitized for approximately $35,000. GRAND MASTER RECEIVED During the course of the presentation by WBro. Tupper, MWBro. Gale Kenney, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington arrived and was escorted to the East. He was accorded the public Grand Honors, offered the gavel which he declined, and invited to remain in the East. MWBro. Kenney apologized for his “late” arrival, due to his car engine catching fire as he was about to set out to attend Lodge. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 150th Anniversary Budget VWBro. Charles Brockway, committee chair for the 150th anniversary of the Lodge, introduced a resolution for action at the January stated communication: Whereas St. John's Lodge No. 9 was chartered September 4, 1860 and will celebrate 150 years of Masonry in Seattle, and Whereas it is the desire of the members of St. John's Lodge No. 9 that we celebrate this special anniversary in a style befitting our historic place in the Greater Seattle community, Therefore be it resolved that funds not to exceed $50,000 be authorized for our 150th anniversary celebration including appropriate advertising/news and media coverage. NEW BUSINESS Tree of Life VWBro. Jim Russell requested authorization to add four more leaves to the Tree of Life, our memorial to brothers and friends of the lodge. Each leaf is accompanied by $100 for the Masonic Retirement Center Endowment Fund. It was m/s/p to add four leaves to the Tree of Life in memory of David Karpilow, James Dawson, Larry Loughnan, and David Moffat. Additional Contribution to Operation Kid Smile The Secretary reported that one of our brothers has contributed $100 with the request that it go toward our Christmas charity. Seeking direction, he asked if the brothers had a preference for the money to be added to the local Seattle family relief or to Operation Kid Smile. WBro. Charles Tupper, chair of the Seattle Christmas Family relief, suggested that he had enough resources for what was needed locally, and m/s/p that the $100 private contribution be added to the Operation Kid Smile relief fund. ANNOUNCEMENTS The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:
COMMUNICATION FROM GRAND MASTER READ The Secretary read to the brethren a letter hand-carried by the Grand Master and received this evening. In it, he admonishes St. John's for carelessly accepting inaccurate information that a petitioner for the degrees was not already under the authority of a recognized foreign jurisdiction. He directs the Lodge to apologize to the Gran Logia Valle de Mexico for our error and to request permission to confer the Master Mason degree on their Fellowcraft Kalman Eric Koteles. (Bro. Koteles received his EA and FC degrees approximately 25 years ago in Caballeros del Temple No. 23. We initiated him into St. John's on October 17 of this year.) GOOD OF THE ORDER It was announced that Steilacoom Lodge No. 2 will be installing officers Monday, December 28. MWBro. Sat Tashiro will be installed Potentate of the Nile Shrine on Wednesday, July 6. The Junior Warden invited the brethren for refreshments following the stated communication. WBro. Doug MacKenzie congratulated our two newly-raised and proficient Master Masons for their efforts and thanked them for stepping into the officer line. The Master said that beginning with the February stated communication, his lady Nancy will be offering a variety of programs for the ladies periodically throughout the year during our meetings. Hopefully this will create an atmosphere to get our ladies more involved. He also said that he hopes St. John's will be a Lodge of instruction this year, and that he will afford the opportunity for other brothers, with advance notice, to close Lodge. Declining a gracious offer to close Lodge, the Grand Master announced that effective today, December 16, VWBro. Steve Pennington has been relieved of his obligations as Special Deputy. VWBro. Pennington was appointed to this position by MWBro. Doug Tucker and re-appointed by MWBro. Gale Kenney while the Lodge was in disharmony throughout much of this year. The Master thanked VWBro. Pennington for his council during these turbulent times, and the brothers invited VWBro. Pennington to continue to participate in our meetings and social events The Grand Master also encouraged the brothers to attend the cornerstone laying for the Seattle Valley Scottish Rite at 2:30pm on Saturday, January 23. The new location will be near the intersection of N. 152nd and Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline. Bobby Burns Night will be held that evening at the Nile Shrine. 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 Entered Apprentice Masons, the flag was retired and the Lodge closed in due and ancient form by the Worshipful Master at 9:35pm, peace and harmony prevailing.
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