Masonic Tribune Grand Masters Visitation 2018 - 2019 - Grand Lodge of Washington
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Masonic Tribune
A quarterly News and Information Publication of:
Grand Lodge of Washington
VOLUME C No.2 - Winter 2019 ISSUE
FREE & ACCEPTED Masons
Grand Masters
Visitation
2018 - 2019
MWB James H. Kendall
Grand Master
A few words from the Chair
Guidelines for submission of articles for the
Grand Master’s Message................3
Washington Masonic Tribune
1. Articles can be submitted in MS Word format. Please do not do too much
Deputy Grand Master....................4
special formatting when writing your article because your layout will be
subject to change depending on which page your article will be placed in the
Senior Grand Warden....................5 publication itself.
Brethren,
2. Please always do a thorough spell check of your document especially names
Junior Grand Warden.....................6
T he life of the Masonic Tribune can only be sustained by having as much
In This Issue
that are not common in the built in spell checker of software applications.
3. Please make sure you only use Arial in all your fonts in the document, as
content contribution from the leadership as well as the membership of
the same. I hope that we can continue and pursue its purpose in the future
the publication body text will all be produced in Arial type font only. If you
Grand Secretary.............................7 days to come.
use another font, some special characters might not translate properly when
converted to Arial. This typeface is pretty much Universal. The previous issue of Washington Masonic Tribune (WMT) received quite
Junior Grand Warden Candidates.......8 4. Include the pictures you want used in your article in the Word document a few good comments from the membership. There will be a limited num-
layout, but also please attach the original digital photo file as a separate file ber of WMT printed this time as unfortunately, funds continue to be limited.
The Educator..................................9 in the email. When we have the opportunity to mail to your copy of the WMT to your
5. Make sure the name and author of the article is reflected on the bottom of the mailboxes, we will. The Masonic Tribune is the best means to communi-
DDGM Reports............................10 article content. cate to the membership efficient and effective ideas, best practices and
successful programs that were promoted in your areas. Help us help you
6. Video clips are acceptable. Please send me a separate email so we can ar-
and the rest to be well informed by submitting articles for this publication.
range for the transmission of your video media footage (g.santy@comcast.net)
DDGM Reports............................11 I give great thanks for articles submitted, time take and love of our craft.
7. When sending your article, your email subject field should say “Masonic Tri-
bune Summer 2017 – Your Name or Committee Name or your GL Title should WB Dean Markley Chairman Washington Masonic
Sudoku Puzzle..............................12 be contained in the article.” Tribune
8. Your article is important to us. Please help us protect its accuracy according to
Views and Opinions.....................13 your intended subject.
The next date to get articles in by is February 1,
2019
Forget-Me-Not.............................14 The Masonic Tribune is an official publication of Grand
WB Dean Markley Chairman
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. Washington Masonic Tribune
Pictorial Revue.............................15
Masonic Tribune Committee:
WB Dean Markley, Chairman
Classified Ads...............................16 MWB G. Santy Lascano Ye’old Masonic
In deepest sympathy we pay trib-
Publication Design & Layout: MWB G. Santy Lascano
Jokes
ute to the passing of this very long This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or in part
time supporter of this publication. without the permission of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of
Our dear friend and Brother, Washington.
VWB Darell’s talents beautified
and adorned the pages of this Liability: While every care is taken in the preparation of this publication, neither
the publisher nor the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washing-
newsletter by the photographs he
ton can be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any
captured through the years. His
consequence arising from it.
kindness, hard work and volunteer
efforts will be missed by many.
Article submission deadlines:
We cherish the memory of his soul
Summer Issue ���������������������������������������������������������������������First of May
in our hearts and his works will Fall Issue.. ������������������������������������������������������������������������� September 1
forever perpetuate beauty in the Winter Issue ����������������������������������������������������������������������� December 1
archives of our organization. Spring Issue ������������������������������������������������������������������������� February 1
VWB Darell Womack
2
Grand Lodge of Washington visit has been rewarding. The most recent visit was with WB As a Grand Lodge Team, we have committed to getting out and
Masonic Tribune Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 3
Curtis Snow and his wife in Richland. We had a very pleasant
half an hour and shared some of our personal Masonic his-
about within the Jurisdiction to visit our Lodges. If you haven’t
seen us yet, and would like a visit, please contact us and we
tories. Worthy Brother Ron Sponseller arranged the meeting will make every effort to come see you.
and joined me. WB Ron is a truly special kind of guy. With 66
Finally, my beloved Brethren and Sisters, I extend to you my
years as a Master Mason (yes, you read that correctly) he was
heartfelt best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a glorious
installed into the East for the very first time. It was a wonderful
and Happy New Year.
milestone for all of us present, and I was happy I could make
the trip. Richland Lodge is a strong Lodge and the Past Mas- Fraternally,
James H Kendall
ters are active and supportive.
While we have accomplished a good deal of work and enjoyed
several events in the past five-plus months, the schedule is go- Grand Master
ing to heat up dramatically in the next few weeks and there is
no slack in sight, at least for the Grand Lodge Team. Our plans
for our trip to Alexandria and Washington DC are firmed up
GRAND MASTER for April. We encourage all who are able, to participate in this
MWB JIM H. KENDALL event. All who have gone on previous trips agree it is a once in
a lifetime sort of event. We are hoping to arrange for us to lay a
My Season’s Greetings from the Grand Master wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and if it works out,
I will lay a wreath on George Washington’s Tomb. In February
we have the Conference of Grand Masters of North America,
W e are nearly at the half way point of the current ma- and there are a couple of sticky issues we are likely to address.
sonic year, and Christmas and New Year’s are upon I am frequently asked if I am enjoying myself, or if I am having
us. November was a busy month when we factor in holidays fun. As for enjoying myself, the answer is yes and no. It is not
(Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving weekend) on top of family so much enjoyment (although it is that, too) as it is a deep
events revolving around those two special observances and sense of satisfaction that we are making very real progress in a
the normal business of Grand Lodge and the Lodges. Early handful of major issues the Grand Lodge has been dealing with
in the month we had back-to-back visits with Lodges celebrat- for several years. First, the Apron Memorial in Grand Mound is
ing our sister Jurisdiction to the north, with Lafayette Lodge now virtually completed; just a few cosmetic additions to com-
reviving International Night, and Lynden-International Lodge plete the project. Next, the MRC sale continues in progress
once again hosting International Night. Both events were well and substantial headway has been made, especially zoning
attended and much appreciated. Each event was unique and correction for the property. On top of which we have enjoyed
provided a wonderful opportunity for fellowship with our Broth- participating in events that our Youth have done, including the
ers from BC&Y. The Grand Master of Prince Hall of Washing- above-mentioned Grand Masters Class for the DeMolay.
ton and Jurisdiction joined us at Lafayette and the immediate
PGM of BC&Y joined us as well, as he missed last year. Overall, I would say that the Fraternity in this Jurisdiction is
prospering, and we are seeing some very real changes and
I was especially honored by the DeMolay Grand Master’s improvement within our Lodges. Yes, it is true that we have a
Class on Saturday, November 17th. What an amazing day with handful of Lodges tip-toeing on the very edge of the cliff and
an amazing group of young men. The class of new DeMolay’s finding a solution that will help salvage some of the Lodges
numbered nineteen this year. It was exciting watching the pro- is difficult and in one case is impossible. We work with these
cess of their entrance into the Order and the skill of the ritual Lodges to offer suggestions and give advice and how to sta-
team was exceptional as well. I extend a hearty “well done!” to bilize and recover. The flip side is that we have more Lodges
all who participated. than ever using the Six-Step Program or a variation to good Table of Contents
As I travel the Jurisdiction, I try to arrange to visit a Brother or a effect and show real growth in numbers as well as the Masonic
widow who perhaps is unable to get out and about, and every Experience. 3
Grand Lodge of Washington that statement is true. Again I ask, why aren’t these numbers The DeMolay Chapter I visit has more women leading the boys
Masonic Tribune Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 4
lower, and are we really working on our retention problem. than Master Masons. When I read the DeMolay Adult leadership
hand book it talks about Master Masons in the leadership roles,
When these potential new Master Masons do not advance on
nowhere does it mention women. There are more women at the
a timely basis, what is the possibility that we will retain them as
meeting than men.
active members down the road? My question to you my Breth-
ren is, does your Lodge have a strong mentorship program, and I know, most of us talk about how bad things are with our youth:
if not, is your Lodge developing one? I believe mentorship is violence, violent video games, gangs and there are more that
one key to correcting our retention problem. As Master Masons, can be listed. I know, somebody needs to step up and do some-
we say we accept good men into our fraternity and help them thing to guide our young people in the right direction. Maybe
to become better men. That is why I believe it is a lifelong com- us, as Master Masons need to be the somebodies. We need
mitment to our new member. Is the Worshipful Master and Sec- to be the somebodies involved and be out there promoting and
retary of your Lodge looking at these numbers as they pertain supporting our youth. Remember what MW Sam Roberts used
to your Lodge and working on moving these potential Master to say, “That it is up to us as Masons to teach and demonstrate
Masons forward? Wouldn’t it be great if those in waiting to be morality and civility to our young people today. We are the front
advanced were active members and attending Lodge on a regu- line.”
Deputy GRAND MASTER lar basis? How much easier would it be to fill the appointed and
I see our youth groups, DeMolay, Job’s Daughters and Rainbow
RWB Charles E. Wood elected chairs within your Lodge?
Girls preparing them to be role models for the rest of the world.
From the table Of Deputy Grand Master By combing mentoring and education, we will have a better Teaching them public speaking, and how to run a meeting. In
chance of correcting our retention problem and increasing our fact, from what I see, most of us could learn from them. I have
N ow that the Holiday Season is behind us, l would like to take
this moment to wish all newly elected Officers of our Lodges
much success during their term in office.
membership with good quality Masons. I fully support the Six-
Step Program and encourage all Lodges to use it. The Lodges
seen many do a better job of running a meeting than many of
our Worshipful Masters. They learn to dress for success and
that have been using this program have seen their retention how to present themselves to impress those they meet and to
I would like to remind my Brethren that the Lodge Leadership problem decrease. deal with life.
Retreat scheduled for March 15 through 17, 2019 at the Red
Ask not what Freemasonry can do for you but what can you These young people are part of our Masonic Family, and fam-
Lion in Pasco, WA is just around the corner. So please keep
do for Freemasonry. ilies stick together and support each other. We cannot do this
these dates in mind when preparing your calendars for the 2019
sitting at home. Remember, our Heritage could be at stake.
calendar year. I would like to encourage all Master Masons that
have not attended a Lodge Leadership Retreat in the last 5 RWB Charles E. Wood
years to attend our next scheduled retreat. The Lodge Leader- Deputy Grand Master WB Doug Schroeder
ship Retreat Committee has been hard at work reviewing class- Grand Lodge Youth Committee
es in order to meet the current needs of our Grand Jurisdiction.
More information will be forthcoming regarding registration and Our Heritage
class descriptions.
I would like to take this moment to address a subject that is
close to my heart. That subject is membership retention, which
we as a Jurisdiction are not alone in facing. I have been using
W hat does our heritage mean to you? Are you proud to show
it? What would you say to someone that said thank you for
giving us our heritage? What would you do to show your appre-
Grandview to look up membership status using the Membership
ciation? There is a prayer given at our Job Daughter’s meeting
Portal and Members Pipeline, while traveling around the state
that says “Bless and protect, we pray thee, the Master Masons
attending District meetings. Here are some interesting statistics:
who give us heritage.” I look around the room and there are no
550 Fellowcraft Masons, 2,181 Entered Apprentices, and 455
Master Masons.
candidates state wide, all waiting to become Master Masons. I
can then look at these numbers at the District level, and even When the Rainbow Girls do an invitation there is a part that men-
then the numbers are amazing. It has been said more than once tions the Apron. How many of you have been to a Rainbow initi- Table of Contents
that we do not have an attraction problem, but a retention prob- ation or meeting? Again, I look around and see no other Master
lem. Based on what I see as I look at these numbers state-wide, Masons. 4
Grand Lodge of Washington Lodge’s Bikes for Books program when a Brother made a siz- He has played himself in the following films and TV: The Boy in
Masonic Tribune Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 5
able donation for that purpose. the Plastic Bubble, The Simpsons (voice), Space Ghost Coast
to Coast, Disney’s Recess, Da Ali G Show, Numb3rs, In the
Another suggested program that your Grand Lodge has cham-
pioned is the Six Steps Program. Like Bikes for Books, the Six Shadow of the Moon, Fly Me to the Moon, 30 Rock, Futurama
Steps Program is something the elected Grand Lodge learned (voice), The Big Bang Theory, and Mass Effect.
about at the Conference of Grand Masters. Lodges are not re- For contributions to the television industry, he was honored with
quired to use the Six Steps Program, but those who are using it a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood and Vine.
are finding that fewer new Brothers are walking away. He was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2007 and
During my drop-in visits to Lodges I have found two that deserve into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame.
special recognition. Whitman Lodge, No. 49 in Pullman has a In 1994, he was anonymously honored on a 29¢ stamp..
successful Six Steps Program. They have several potential
Brothers going through the process. The night I attended their After graduating from Montclair High School in 1947, he turned
stated meeting, one potential member was there asking ques- down a full scholarship offer from the Massachusetts Institute
tions and engaging the Brothers and me. Many of Whitman’s of Technology, and went to the United States Military Academy
Senior GRAND WARDEN potential Brothers are students at Washington State University.
So, after graduation they frequently move away. But the Lodge
at West Point, New York. There he graduated third in his class
in 1951, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engi-
RWB Christopher J. Coffman neering. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the
realizes that if their experience was positive, our new Brothers
What has Grand Lodge Done Lately? will become active wherever they may move. United States Air Force and served as a jet fighter pilot during
the Korean War. He flew 66 combat missions in F-86 Sabres
H ow many times have you heard that the Grand Lodge Another Lodge that is using the Six Steps Program successful-
and shot down two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 aircraft. The June
doesn’t do anything? This is one of the concerns raised ly is Kirkland No. 150. When I attended their Stated Meeting,
8, 1953, issue of Life magazine featured gun camera photos
from the comment/suggestion box from the Annual Communi- there were two potential Brothers in attendance. Again, these
taken by him of one of the Soviet pilots ejecting from the dam-
cation. This isn’t new; similar comments were common 20 years potential Brothers were very involved, asking questions and try-
aged aircraft.
ago. There are a few times that we have seen Grand Masters ing to determine if Masonry was for them. This Lodge had two
direct certain actions be taken. For example, all Lodges were Entered Apprentices waiting for their Fellowcraft Degree and After the war, he was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor
directed to form building corporations if they owned real prop- two Fellowcrafts waiting for their Sublime Degree of a Master at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and next was an aide to the
erty. Our Grand Master saw a need to protect the members of Mason. dean of faculty at the United States Air Force Academy, which
the Lodge from potential individual liability if things go bad. But Fraternally, had recently begun operations in 1955. He flew F-100 Super
generally, most Grand Lodge programs are suggested but not Sabres as a flight commander at Bitburg Air Base, West Germa-
required. RWB Christopher J. Coffman ny, in the 22nd Fighter Squadron.
Senior Grand Warden
Let’s look at a couple of suggested programs that the Grand In 1963 he earned a Doctor of Science degree in from Mas-
Lodge has promoted. MWB Bill Wood thought Bike for Books Famous Mason – who am I? sachusetts Institute of Technology. His graduate thesis was
was a great idea. That was 19 years ago. The program was not “Line-of-sight guidance techniques for manned orbital rendez-
H
immediately widely accepted by the Brothers of this Jurisdiction. ere is famous Mason. He was born January 20, 1930, in a vous”, the dedication of which read, “In the hopes that this work
While I don’t have specific numbers, it appears that over 50% of hospital straddling the line between Glen Ridge and Mont- may in some way contribute to their exploration of space, this
the Lodges in this Jurisdiction are involved in this great program. clair, New Jersey. His birth certificate lists Glen Ridge as his is dedicated to the crew members of this country’s present
This is the result of perseverance and the demonstrated value birthplace. and future manned space programs. If only I could join them
of Bikes for Books (Kindles) as a tool that increases the love of in their exciting endeavors!” On completion of his doctorate,
reading at the elementary school level. As we know, once that He is a Freemason, a member of Montclair Lodge, No. 144 of he was assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force
love of reading is there, the students become more successful. New Jersey and Clear Lake Lodge, No. 1417 of Texas. Also, he Space Systems Division in Los Angeles before his selection as
is a Scottish Rite Mason 33rd degree and a Shriner. an astronaut. His initial application to join the astronaut corps
Additionally, with the consolidation of the various Grand Lodge
charitable activities into Washington Masonic Charities, we are He is of Scottish, Swedish, and German ancestry. was rejected on the basis of never having been a test pilot; that
now able to further support Lodges that participate in Bikes for prerequisite was lifted when he re-applied and
He has received the 2003 Humanitarian Award from Variety, was accepted into the third astronaut class. Table of Contents
Books. For example, Washington Masonic Charities has nego-
tiated a discount program for the purchase of bikes. Washing- the Children’s Charity, which, according to the organization, “is
given to an individual who has shown unusual understanding, He has received numerous military honors: Air
ton Masonic Charities has also acted as a fiscal sponsor for a 5
empathy, and devotion to mankind”. (Continued on page13)
Grand Lodge of Washington
Masonic Tribune “...and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 6
what would happen if that tax break suddenly went away? Well,
that almost happened. The Department of Revenue was going -First Amendment to the United States Constitution
to make it much harder for our Temples to qualify. By knowing
about it in advance, we were able to let them know that some
of our buildings could not survive if the change was made, so RWB Cameron M. Bailey
they backed off. Junior Grand Warden
If your Rainbow Girls raise almost all their money through fire-
works sales each Fourth of July, what would happen if those
fireworks were suddenly outlawed? Well, that almost happened
too. By knowing about it in advance, we were able to point out
that many of our youth group chapters would not survive, and
the change was not considered further.
You pay taxes just like everyone else. Very likely your Ma-
Junior GRAND WARDEN sonic Temple is taxed just like every other building in town.
Shouldn’t your building be considered for possible historic res-
RWB Cameron M. Bailey toration grants, just like every other historic building owned by
a non-profit organization? Well, we can do that now because
O ur Legislative Task Force seems to bring up concern among
some of us; concern that we might be bringing politics into
the Lodge or trying to bring improper influence on political bod-
of the Grand Lodge Legislative Task Force. Why not get back
some small percentage of what we have paid in taxes?
ies. Our Ancient Landmarks prevent us from bringing politics We run wonderful charity programs through Washington Mason-
within the Lodge, and I hope to explain that the existence of our ic Charities, and our Lodges. Bikes for Books, Scholarships, on
Legislative Task Force is in no way an attempt to somehow get and on. Why wouldn’t we want our local Senator or Mayor to
around that prohibition. know about the Bikes we give schoolchildren? Why wouldn’t we
want to let our local Representative know about the services we
The simple fact of the matter is that government at all levels, offer their constituents through Washington Masonic Charities?
City, County, State, and Federal, impacts our Fraternity. Build- Should we hide the good works we do?
ing regulations can impact what we can do with our Masonic
Temples. Tax policy can play a huge role for less financially We want the very best men in our communities to petition our
sound Lodges, perhaps even dictating if they are able to remain Lodges. What better way to ensure these best of men ask for
open or be forced to close. Regulations impact our fundraisers, petitions than by inviting the leaders of our communities, the
everything from free coffee in Rest Areas, to fireworks sales, to men who are most widely respected, into our Lodges to meet
raffles. Utility policies directly impact our costs for electricity, us and see the good work we do. Let’s invite our local Fire
water, and wastewater. Commissioner, our Police Chief, our County Commissioner into
Lodge for dinner. Let’s get to know him a bit and let him get to
We may not like it, but it is an indisputable fact that government know us. He can’t ask for a petition if he thinks that Freemason-
policy has a tremendous impact upon our Lodges, whether we ry died with his Grandfather’s generation.
recognize it or not.
This is the work your Legislative Task Force is doing. It is work
The Legislative Task Force was created some years ago, not to consistent with the principals of Freemasonry. It is positive, and
bring politics into our Lodges, but so that we would know what it will make a difference for our Lodges, our Grand Lodge, and
impacts government was going to have on our Fraternity, in ad- our affiliated Masonic organizations.
vance, and have a chance to minimize those impacts. Table of Contents
This work is honorable and thought honorable enough by our
If your Masonic Temple is one of those that receives a break Masonic Founding Fathers that they enshrined everyone’s right 6
on property taxes because of its availability to the community, to carry it out within our Constitution.
Grand Lodge of Washington you joined this Fraternity and what it means to be a Freemason. Additionally, Freemasonry worldwide has benefited from the
Masonic Tribune Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 7
Remember that a gift does not have to be bought from a store. A
gift does not have to be in the form of money. Perhaps the most
Associations/Committees of the Conference. These include
the Child Identification Program (CHIP), Commission on Infor-
valuable gift that you can give is the gift of yourself. mation for Recognition, George Washington National Masonic
On behalf of the Grand Lodge staff, myself, Jane, Anna and Abigail, Memorial Association, Masonic Renewal Committee, Masonic
we would like to wish each and every one a Merry Christmas, Hap- Service Association of North America, and the National Masonic
py Holidays and happy and prosperous New Year. Foundation for Children.
To make this a successful and memorable event, we are seek-
ing volunteers to be part of the organizing committee. There will
RWB Clint Brown be lots of things to do in the areas of greeting, transportation,
Grand Secretary hospitality, docent, and concierge services – and that’s just for
openers. The plan is to hold our first meeting in March 2019
(location TBA).
GRAND SECRETARY Washington to Host 2021 Conference As a bonus for volunteering, during the Conference you will have
the opportunity to interact with and learn from Masonic leaders
RWB Clinton M. Brown, Jr. of Grand Masters throughout the world of Freemasonry – and we’ll even give you
Masonic Advertising
S ince 1780, Grand Masters from throughout North America a special conference polo featuring the above logo. I hope that
I t’s hard to believe that another year is almost in the books. Gath- have gathered together “to know each other and to learn you are as excited to welcome the Brethren to our great state as
ering with my family for Thanksgiving, I realized how many things how others are meeting and handling the problems of the Fra- I am. If you are interested in being part of the organizing commit-
I must be thankful for. As we draw closer to the holidays, we should ternity in their Jurisdictions”. tee, please drop me a line at jim@mendozaline.net.
take time to reflect on those things we are thankful for and remem- Your consideration is greatly appreciated.
In 2021, they are coming to Seattle! Events will be held from
ber what it means to each of us individually to be a Freemason.
February 20th – 23rd at the Westin Hotel in Seattle and at oth- Jim Mendoza, PGM
A tradition in my family is that after the Thanksgiving dinner is er venues throughout the area This portends to be an exciting
done, we sit down to watch the 1966 classic “How the Grinch Stole opportunity for us to show how we practice Freemasonry in Chairman, 2021 Conference Organizing
Christmas” by Dr. Seuss. My wife says it is because I identify with Washington. Committee
the Grinch and she may have a point. But there is one line in the
movie that has always stood out for me. “It came without ribbons. With a current membership consisting of all states of the United
It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. States of America, including the District of Columbia and Puerto
Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, Rico; the Grand Lodges of the Provinces of Canada; the State
he thought, means a little bit more”. of York, Mexico; and the American-Canadian Grand Lodge of
Germany, the Grand Masters of these Jurisdictions represent
To me, it is amazing how easy it is to lose sight of what the season some two million Freemasons in North America. Additionally,
truly means. No matter what your belief or faith, this is the time of Grand Masters outside of North America, heads of concordant
year to reflect on those things that are important. Every year, we bodies and Masonic organizations, and interested observers
are bombarded with advertisements and programs which promote from many other affiliated groups will be attending.
the idea that the season is about material things. Black Friday
and Cyber Monday have become a part of our nomenclature and The Conference has been the genesis of several programs that
culture. How much we spend during the holidays has become the have made their way to our Jurisdiction: Long Range Planning,
measuring stick for the success of the retail season. Maybe the Bikes for Books, Six Steps to Initiation, and the Masonic Model
season should mean a little bit more. Student Assistance Program come to mind. Additionally, ideas
such as the Lodge Leadership Retreat, Outreach Services,
It is a time to be with family and friends. It is a time to reach out and a photography archive have made their way from our Ju-
to those in need and to those who we may not have heard from in risdiction to other Jurisdictions by way of the Conference. The
a while. It is a time to draw those who mean the most near and Table of Contents
Conference has also been an outstanding forum of discussion
to be thankful for the blessings that we have received. It is a time for topics such as Millennials & Freemasonry, social media, and
to remember who and what we are...Freemasons. I encourage improved public relations. 7
everyone to take time during the next few weeks and reflect on why
Grand Lodge of Washington Mason...I was the youngest man in the room. Most of the mem- As we all know, the modem youth all work on tablets, i-Phones,
and i-Pads. There is very little memorizing that they have to do.
Masonic Tribune Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 8
bers were 60+ years old. I wasn’t sure how to relate to them. It
was not a problem for long. They were excited to see me and It is harder for them to prove up on our memory work, unless
made me feel at home. They greeted me with a warm hand- they can put a lot of time into it. Most of them are from families
shake and introduced me to everyone. They showed me around that have had both their parents a home to be with them. The
and included me in the activities. They even invited me to go dad of modem days takes more responsibility in helping with the
duck hunting with them a month later and I had a wonderful daily routine of raising the kids, taking them to sports practice
time. There was never any question in my mind to attend Lodge. and other extra curriculum events. In the olden days, the father
It was one of my favorite activities. left to go to his meeting and the mother was left in-charge of
the kids.
JUNIOR Preparation is important to make the meetings enjoyable and
productive at the same time. One of the most important parts We have some MM members that, after they take their MM de-
gree we never see them again. What I think we need to do is
GRAND WARDEN
of our meetings is good ritual. “Masonry is music to my ears.”
In my 40+ years of membership I have attended hundreds of involve them in our work in the lodge. Have a mentor for them
meetings. he ritual to me is like an old favorite song that we that is there to help them after their prophecy. I have been a MM
C A N D I D AT E S
have heard on the radio over and over again. When a word is over forty-five years and I am still learning things about our orga-
changed it stands out to me. It is kind of like someone hit a nization. I don’t mean put them in an office, let them learn some
wrong note. It is uncomfortable. Some of our new members part of the degree work and have them help on the next degree.
In your view, what are the two largest challenges currently don’t even realize the difference. But you would be surprised
2. The lodges need to do more Public Relations to get our
facing our Jurisdiction, and how can they be addressed? how many members do. You may ask why I attend meetings
images out into the public view. A lot of the lodges do parades,
to hear the same old ritual over and over. I am not sure I can
breakfasts and other public events. My home lodge takes 1O
explain it. So I will answer with a question. Why do we watch our
meals at thanksgiving and ten meals at Christmas time to the
T
favorite John Wayne movies over and over?
wo of the challenges I see facing our Ju- veterans that live in Forks. We also take food and supplies
risdiction are Participation and Prepara- These are two ideas of many. I don’t have the time or space through out the year to the veteran home in Forks. The home
tion. to explore all of them at this time. I look forward to the next has 15 to 20 veterans at all times.
time we meet so that we can continue this discussion and can
Participation at our meetings is lacking at I think these two items are intermingled, If you do the Public
work together to grow and improve our Honored and Respected
times for several reasons. There is over sat- Relations you will get more men to inquire about our fraternity.
Fraternity...
uration and too many activities are sched- This will help with the membership problem.
uled at the same time or on the same day. Fraternally,
Fraternally,
Members are forced to make a choice of the one to support.
We need to utilize the excellent communication mediums and a VWB Chuck Compton
VWB Darel E. Maxfield Sr.
centralized masonic calendar/message board so we can avoid
conflicts. I know this is not possible in all cases but it will help. In your view, what are the two largest challenges currently
The next step is once members attend, we need to make the facing our Jurisdiction, and how can they be addressed?
meeting experience as positive and enjoyable as possible. I In your view, what are the two largest challenges currently
facing our Jurisdiction, and how can they be addressed?
I
have been a Mason for a long time and I learned early on that think the two most important challenges are
one of the best parts of Masonry was the friendly people. I enjoy Membership and Public Visibility:
seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I try to mingle with
the group and visit with just about everyone if possible. This is
fun for me. However for the new members this may be difficult.
1. We have a lot of EA and FC members
that do not take the rest of their degrees for
B rothers I believe the two largest chal-
lenges we are currently facing in our
Jurisdiction are Membership-Retention and
We need to be sure to reach out to them and bring them into the one reason or the other. We need to see what Grand Lodge Budget Finances. Member-
group so that they can become friends and enjoy the fellowship. they had in mind when they applied for mem- ship Retention is multifaceted. First, we
When I was a new shy DeMolay member in high school, I was bership in our great organization. We need to must ensure the right men
encouraged to shake the hand of everyone in the room before come out of, What some call the dark ages, are admitted into our great Table of Contents
the meeting and to try to speak to as many I could. I know it is and bring to the new members more modem age thoughts, This fraternity. The ‘Six Steps’
not always possible but it is a starter. When I joined Steadfast don’t mean for us to ignore our ancient ideals an customs, Just and investigation process when applied prop- 8
3
Lodge in 1974, I was not only the youngest Entered Apprentice bring new and modem ideas In to our lodges. (Continued on page9)
Grand Lodge of Washington the maximum benefit of the fraternity? How much waste do we Whichever stage in life you are in right now, with time, you will
Masonic Tribune have? Grand Lodge is doing a better job. They have heard loud
and clear that the status quo is not acceptable. I believe we can
face the day when the curtain comes down.
Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 9
Treasure love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your
learn from LEAN principles and take Grand Lodge to the next friends.
level. While some who are familiar may feel that the LEAN pro-
Treat yourself well and cherish others.
cess is just a fad; consider that it has proven its value in many
multi-million-dollar companies and professional organizations. As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, we realize that a $300 or
JUNIOR
a $30 watch both tell the same time.
With budgets we have finances. Nobody, especially Masons
You will realize that your true inner happiness does not come
like hearing the word ‘increase’ especially when associated with
GRAND WARDEN ‘increased dues’ or ‘increased fees’. In some instances, I believe
increases are inevitable. The cost of business continues to rise.
from the material things of this world.
Whether you fly first class or economy, if the plane goes down
(Continued from page8)
C A N D I D AT E S However, if we take the time to evaluate what we are currently
doing, identify waste and become more efficient with what we
– you go down with it.
Therefore, I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies
erly, ensures that we exercise due diligence in admitting only already have, I believe we can keep those increases at bay for and old friends, Brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh
good and qualified men into our gentle craft. a little longer or at the very least be better justified in asking for with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-
The ‘Six Steps’, is a process that when adhered to forces us to them in the first place. east-west or heaven and earth, that is true happiness!
get to know the men who are seeking admission into our frater- Fraternally, Don’t educate your children to be rich.
nity. It provides opportunities for a prospective candidate to be Educate them to be happy.
examined in social settings whereby we can take due notice of VWB Edward C. Woods
So when they grow up they will know the value of things and
his character witnessing first-hand how he interacts with others.
Thorough investigations allow us to further inquire into his char- A Reflection on Life not the price.
acter; ask questions and make a decision as to whether he is a Eat your food as your medicine, otherwise you have to eat med-
good fit for both the Lodge and Masonry. posted by Norm McEvoy icine as your food.
The One who loves you will never leave you for another be-
Deliberate patience ensures we do not admit those with mere
cause, even if there are 100 reasons to give up, he or she will
curiosity or those who may never fully come to appreciate what
find a reason to hold on.
Masonry has to offer. When we admit men for the sake of num-
bers the outcome often times is that they never return to Lodge, There is a big difference between a human being and being
expulsion and or Masonic trial. (author unknown) however it could have been created by many. human.
I
Ritual and degree work are the next part of this equation. Men reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In Only a few really understand it.
come to our fraternity with high expectations. Quality ritual and some others’ eyes, my life is the epitome of success. Howev- You are loved when you are born.
degree work set the tone and define the candidate’s Masonic er, aside from work.
You will be loved when you die.
experience; validating his reasons for choosing Masonry and af- I have little joy.
firming our commitment to be the greatest fraternity in the world. In between, you have to manage!
In the end, my wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed
Mentorship is the mortar that binds and reinforces the lessons to. Comment
taught. Mentors must be at their best and know their Masonry. At this moment, lying on my bed and recalling my life, I realize I don’t believe this paper needs any comment as it applies to
Motivating and inspiring our newly made Brothers while keeping that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, each and every person to whom it refers ====You & Me======
them engaged and supporting their thirst for Masonic knowl- have paled and become meaningless in the face of my death.
edge. You can employ someone to drive the car for you or make mon- Truth at times is very hard to swallow !!!!!!!
The second challenge we are facing is Budget-Finances. Good ey for you but you cannot have someone bear your sickness Norm
budgets demonstrate responsibility. It says there is a plan. for you.
VWBro Norm McEvoy is the owner/publisher of The Educator.
While not all budgets are perfect, they must be well thought out Material things lost can be found or replaced. His Masonic bio can be found at: http://theeducator.ca/au- Table of Contents
and best reflect our needs and intentions. thor-bio/, in this link also you can find the subscription page to
But there is one thing that can never be found when it’s lost – request to be included in his distribution list to receive issues
Are Grand Lodge operations efficient? Are monies utilized for Life. of the publication. 9
Grand Lodge of Washington Message: Washington Masonic Charities has the resources and Masons who are also Shriners regularly encounter friends, fami-
Masonic Tribune Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 10
the knowledge to help your Brother’s family navigate the trou-
bled waters of our final days.
ly, and strangers who are aware of the Shrine Hospitals, and the
good work that they do. Of those, many are surprised to learn
Reports
that all Shriners are also Masons.
September resounded with such a somber note for me this year.
Some of the pillars of my life passed on to “…that building not Today’s technology affords us many opportunities to help those
made with hands, eternal in heavens.” And those words we seeking Light find it. Since having been installed as Deputy
Deputy of the Grand Master have heard so many times over, “…live respected, die regret- of the Grand Master for District 19, approximately a dozen in-
ted,” have even more of a profound meaning to me this year. quiries about membership have been forwarded to me by our
I assert Brothers that you should endeavor to keep that regret Grand Secretary. Similarly, several men interested in Shriners
from being yours. While membership is still an important issue have used their website to be directed to local Lodges. And,
of our day, you can celebrate those men who have left a legacy many Lodges have up-to-date, functional websites through
on your lives, on their community, and in your hearts, while they which seekers can make contact with the Lodge.
can still say thank you. Even so, low-tech methods can be equally effective. Recently,
Gratitude, love and happiness are the feelings we all want to a Past District Deputy reported that, while wearing his Masonic
I was Inspired by the “Can You See Me
Now?” short talk bulletin in the August Ma-
sonic Service Association pamphlet. While
communicate. This ‘love-in-action’ will help your Brothers and
non-Brothers alike to be able to see you and the craft in the
cap at the local Post Office, another patron took notice and be-
gan a conversation which resulted in a visit to the local Lodge.
brightest and best light (for all who seek it). All of humanity wins Community activities, such as cornerstone ceremonies, Bikes
the talk was very motivating, it wasn’t for the when we live that contemplative life whose qualities reflect our for Books, charitable sponsorships, and scholarships, are but
reason you are likely thinking. For those who highest tenants. some of the other means via which we might give opportunity to
haven’t read this bulletin, it is a speech given
Fraternally, those seeking Light.
by MWB Casey Hood, Grand Master of Ten-
nessee, addressing the 2017 Grand Lodge VWB Doug Stamper We should not overlook that, while we do not ask men to peti-
of Kentucky at their Annual Communication. “Can you see me Deputy of the Grand Master tion, we are encouraged to make an “inquiry of worthy, qualified
now?” was a punchline to a funny anecdote told by MWB Hood District Seven persons”. From the Standard Work:
and served to point out how we Masons should endeavor to see INQUIRY OF WORTHY, QUALIFIED PERSONS
beyond a person’s individual circumstance or station, into their
core character. Although, I was struck more by the highest char-
acter men that I can no longer see because they have answered
T his year, our Grand Master’s motto
is “Light to those who seek it”. It is, of
course, incumbent on the individual to fulfill
Masons under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Washing-
ton may properly inquire of a worthy, qualified person “if he had
the roll call of the Great Architect of the Universe. If you recall ever considered petitioning for membership in Freemasonry?”
the seeking. A short paragraph in our Stan- This, or a similarly phrased question, is a proper question to
back at our Stated Communication in June, the list of men who
dard Work, prior to the First Section of the determine intent; this in addition to advising said person that “he
were honored ‘In Memoriam’ scrolled on for what seemed like
Entered Apprentice degree, punctuates the must petition of his own initiative-that he will not be asked to pe-
an eternity. Bear with me – I just want to plant a seed or two.
candidate’s responsibility for “his researches tition.” Further, “that enlightening Masonic literature is available
The short talk bulletin made an important point both about the for light and truth”. and may be furnished upon request.”
example you set, and about how you might discover another’s Even so, it is likewise incumbent on the Brotherhood of Masons
character in your daily life. I seek to broaden that premise be- Therefore, Brethren, we should all be encouraged by our Grand
to ensure those seeking Light have opportunity to find it. The Master’s motto to help those seeking Light find it.
cause that same slide presentation at our Annual Communica- lighthouse on our Grand Master’s logo illustrates this concept
tion in 2019 is going to hold far too many names of our beloved aptly. “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on
Brothers who have disappeared from our mortal sight. Beyond a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.”
just wringing our hands over membership (which we seem to I was introduced to Freemasonry by my dear cousin, WB Fred Matthew 5:15
endlessly discuss), focus on how you can serve our Brothers Davis, when he invited me to Washington Lodge, No. 4’s open
who are getting on in years. Pause for a moment to enumer- Installation of Officers, during which Fred was installed as Se- Fraternally,
ate the men in your Lodge who might be taking their final trips nior Deacon. The event was held at the Vancouver Masonic
around the sun. Now ask yourself, as a Mason, as a Brother, Center on 78th Street. I had never given attention to the build- VWB Gordon Johnson Table of Contents
as a Lodge, “What are you doing to celebrate their lives?” How ing before then, although it had prominent signage and I had Deputy of the Grand Master
are you working with his spouse and family to be a key resource passed it many times before. For me at the time, Freemasonry District Nineteen 10
in this most critical period in this Brother’s life? Public Service was hiding in plain sight.Grand Lodge of Washington Masonry. A great way to learn is to teach. I have found it very The count?? ZERO. None. Even the main street of Odessa,
Masonic Tribune rewarding helping a relatively new Brother start through the Highway 28 itself, gave no evidence of even a single moving
Reports
Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 11 chairs. He is also learning a part in the degree work. He is ex- car. We are a rural District.
cited to learn. I find myself excited to teach him. This energy is Acacia Lodge, No. 58 has just sold its building, thus ending
contagious, and I find I myself also learning more of the Craft. all, “Lodge owned buildings” in our District. Beginning early in
The general attitude of the Brethren and Lodge when a new
Deputy of the Grand Master candidate starts the degrees will influence their view of Masonry.
2019, they will meet in the Davenport Memorial Hall. Consid-
ering declining membership and high maintenance cost of their
If we can find ways to renew the energy in our Lodges, I feel building, left them with little choice. The sale of their building will
we will also find that we will be able to retain our membership. greatly enhance Acacia’s ability to contribute to their city and
If we, as Masons, continue our pursuit in seeking Light, and do develop new programs. Acacia members continue to work hard
our best to exemplify this pursuit to other Brethren and the pub- to continue the good work they have done in the past. Their
lic, we can inspire others pick up this pursuit and become true meetings have always awarded members and visitors with fel-
and faithful Brothers among us. Stay active in your Lodge, your lowship, community involvement and wonderful meals.
A s I am preparing to start a new candidate
through the Degrees of Masonry, I have
been reflecting on the lessons we are taught
District, and your Craft. Remember that there are “labors and
privileges” in Masonry and that they can be one in the same.
Almira Lodge, No. 120 is seeing an influx of Degrees. Addition-
ally, the consolidation with Grand Coulee Dam Lodge, No. 120
VWB Frian Munson is bringing in new activities and interest. The town of Almira
and how it relates to our Grand Master’s mot- has a very modest residential population. The Lodge meets in
to of “Light to those who seek it.” Deputy of the Grand Master
District Twenty-One the Community Center. On meeting nights, the Lodge and one
As we begin our journey in Masonry as En- other building are the only main street structures with “the lights
tered Apprentices, we are introduced to the on.” Almira no longer even has a grocery store. The Lodge is
D
Lights of Masonry. As with all things in our istrict 29 is now comprised of three ac- certainly a visible component of the town. Sporting meals be-
craft, to fully understand the Lights, we must be introspective. tive Lodges having recently consolidated fore each meeting, Almira Lodge is yet another good Lodge to
But we must also ask some questions. Are we following the rule Grand Coulee Dam Lodge, No. 120 into the visit with good ritual and nearly all offices filled.
and guide of our faith? How do we square our actions? How re-numbered Almira Lodge, No. 120. Odessa Lodge, No. 156 has the fewest members of any other
do we stay within due bounds? I had the good fortune to meet Lodge in this District, that being 18. And while turnout is fully a
Our District’s Lodges collectively roster 127
MW Bill Wood during my First Degree. Prior to the meeting, he third of the total membership, very little arithmetic is required to
Master Masons. Lodge sizes range from a
introduced himself and engaged me in conversation. He made a calculate how many are usually in attendance. Most member’s
membership of 18 in Odessa to 81 in Almi-
point to speak with all the Brothers arriving. I felt very welcome. ages and distant living locations prevent them from appear-
ra. Almira membership has grown with the
After the degree, I realized that he really personified the lessons ing in Lodge. Regardless, Odessa Lodge maintains several
completion of the recent consolidation. Town
of the degree. He led by example of how we should use the community programs each year providing the community with
populations range from 1,688 in Davenport to 267 in Almira.
Great Lights. Bikes-for-Books, a Lodge-sponsored complimentary community
Total District general population of the towns wherein we have
As we progress in Masonry, we understand the importance of Lodges, three towns, is approximately 2,866. This tells us we Thanksgiving Dinner, Washington Masonic Charities programs
the Worshipful Master in the. The Master sets the tone for meet- Masons comprise approximately .045% of the population in the and others.
ing, as well as the fraternity in their areas. As we begin through towns where we are located. Lincoln County’s total population This, then, is the state of District 29. We are a rural District, and
the chairs for the first time, we are looking to those Worshipful is 10,312, making it Washington’s 5th least populous county. not alone in our situation.
Masters to model the office. We should also seek the guidance District 29 encompasses ALL Masonic Lodges in this county
of Past Masters and reflect on the lessons of the Great Lights. except for Medical Lake Lodge which is situated on the very Across our Grand Jurisdiction of Washington, if we are to have
We can also learn from Masters in other Lodges. Attend other east edge. For comparison, Snohomish County which is slightly available “Light to Those Who Seek It,” even those of us in
Lodges, talk to them. smaller in land size, by contrast, has a population of 801,663. small, remote Lodges must continue to meet, enjoy our labors
We are a rural District. and display a light in the window for those who are seeking and
See what is working and what isn’t. A Lodge can get stuck doing will follow us.
the same thing because “That’s how we’ve always done it.” The Just this past February 26, on a clear, cool night with dry roads,
I drove up alone to visit Almira Lodge. After Lodge I left and just I am proud of the Lodges in District 29. In a
Craft and its lessons are ancient, but how we apply them doesn’t Table of Contents
outside of town turned south heading home, the route taking difficult rural area, they all continue to improve
have to be.
me through Odessa’s business District. I watched to see how good men and the communities wherein they
We should also remember not to stop seeking Light. And one many other vehicles I would encounter driving those 51 miles. meet. As can be seen in this report, the poten- 11
way to do this is to help our new members in their journey into (Continued on page 12)Views and Opinions
Grand Lodge of Washington 3. What are my ideas?
Masonic Tribune Volume C No.2 - Winter Issue - Page 12
4. How can I offer to assist?
5. What is it to me?
Expressed
(Continued from page 11) Your answers to these questions will make out the possible im-
pact to yourself about this idea. You can judge yourself depend-
tial new member draw from this collective population base is, … Decline In Participation ing on your answers which direction the concept will go.
well, thin. While all our Lodges quest for new opportunities to
be visible in their communities, they are limited by their avail- Lack of full participation also creates the missing link that weak-
able labor, time and their current membership. Yet they soldier
on; Lincoln County would be the poorer without them. This is a I n one of my trips to the fabric store, maybe because of the type
material I was shopping for, a middle-aged lady approached
me and asked me what project I was working on. I replied to
ens the force to succeed in any endeavor. Lets take the example
of a charitable project. We cannot compete with the charitable
District with dedicated Masons. If we have small numbers of institutions that are very successful nowadays in their missions.
petitioners for our small Lodges, those hopeful applicants are her I was making aprons for Freemasons. She responded very This is because they are very established and have well man-
as deserving of our being there for them, as large numbers of interestingly and said she had some friends that were very ac- aged manpower to succeed in their efforts. We do not have the
petitioners in metropolitan areas. “For Every Human Being Has tively involved in the Masonic fraternity and she continued on by participation we need, and the unity, we are but Freemasons, we
A Claim on Our Kind Offices....” And that is why we are here. asking me how come she does not see or hear about the Free- might as well just hide in the clefts of the rocks to save our lives
masons anymore. Anyway, she said, in the old days the Masons as long as possible, if you catch the drift.
“The Light Will Always Shine in District 29” were very prevalent in the society and their presence was very
VWB Dennis Blake Thompson obvious in the community. I agreed with her and said they’re still We should start making an effort for the initiative to effectively
Deputy of the Grand Master around and added as a remark that she made a true statement. work in our lodges, and to constantly discuss and brainstorm
District Twenty-Nine Well, she added, but it’s not just the Freemasons mind you, a about the concept. We all need to build up the participation
lot of the established social groups are obviously experiencing to accomplish our goals as a team. Our mission is to stop the
train from going any further towards our destruction. It is our
SUDOKU SYMBOL PUZZLE
a decline in their membership and a decline in their participation
to their respective organizations. We continued on our little con- responsibility to stop the decline in participation and rebuild our
versation and parted ways to the cashier. membership.
As I drove away from the store, the phrase “decline in their par- Like it is said, “but my Brethren is almost out of sight, I must arise
ticipation” lingered in my mind a little bit. I started thinking that and pursue my journey” -- I just hope we still stand a chance to
despite all that we do, we don’t seem to notice the decline in the raise this institution back on its feet again so our legacy may live
participation in our activities, the records obviously shows the on for the future generation to enjoy.
decline in our membership but we don’t seem focused towards
How many people are like that lady out there thinking the same
resolving this ongoing decline in the interest to sustain and sup-
way? We seem to not pay as much attention and we are more
port our existence.
enthused in doing things that has no relevance in rebuilding
I believe there is a need to create an initiative to open an ongo- and sustaining our existence. As stated in
ing discussion about this matter. An intervention and brainstorm- one of the Masonic charges, but we should
ing process to promote this initiative should be put in place. In all never forget, while enjoying its benefits and
our activities, we struggle in the team building process to make appreciating its values, the duties we owe to
the activity successful. The reason behind is that there exists the order.
the problem of the decline in participation. There are quite a few
Fraternally,
factors to consider in being able to initialize this concept. It is a
G. Santy Lascano, PGM
serious undertaking, but unless we do something, the train will
Sudoku, but like Masonry symbols are substituted. keep on moving towards its way to disaster.
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3 X 3
box contains every symbols shown below:
The first step is to encourage our own selves and ask us these
questions: Table of Contents
1. What do I know about it?
12
(Solution in page13) 2. How much do I care? Look in the mirror.You can also read
