Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Orient of Washington - Valley of Everett THE RITE BULLETIN

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1 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Ill. Carl Smith, 33 Personal Representative of the S.G.I G. (360) Terry Grove, 32, KCCH General Secretary 220 Olympic Blvd Everett, WA (425) Orient of Washington - Valley of Everett Volume 24 October 2015 Issue 10 THE RITE BULLETIN From The Personal Representative Ill. Bro. Carl Smith, 33 October promises to be a very exciting month. First, the Valley will be celebrating the annual Feast of Tishri on Friday, October 9 th. The Feast of Tishri originated not only as a celebration of the harvest and gathering season, but also to commemorate the dedication of King Solomon s Temple. In Scottish Rite it is a celebration of the principal ideals and traditions of our Fraternity and a sharing of our fraternal spirit. Ladies and guests are invited to attend this celebration. A social half-hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner being served at 7:00 p.m. Reservations are necessary so please call the General Secretary, Brother Terry Grove, 32 KCCH, at or him at terrygrove50@yahoo.com by Wednesday, October 7th or sign-up at a prior meeting. The cost for the dinner will be $ Second will be the annual reception of the Grand Master on October 16 th. Most Worshipful Brother Donald G. Munks is an active member of Everett Valley and a very dedicated Scottish Rite Mason. This is an event we should all strive to attend to show our support. Ladies and guests are invited to attend. A social half-hour will begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner being served at 7:00 p.m. Following dinner Brother Richard Jones, 32, will offer an interesting presentation on the Egyptian Pyramids. Again, please make reservations with the General Secretary, Brother Terry Grove, 32 KCCH, at or him at terrygrove50@yahoo.com by Wednesday, October 14th or signup at a prior meeting. The Grand Master and his Lady will be our guests, all other will be charged $ Third, the 32, Master of the Royal Secret, will be conferred on Friday, October 23rd. I encourage all Brethren to make it a priority to attend. Not only to support the Degree team that put considerable effort into this Degree but to welcome our new Brothers. The Royal Secret, Equilibrium, is explained and it is a good opportunity to renew our commitment to our Masonic values. October is a good time to begin increased emphasis on promoting membership in Scottish Rite. Encourage our Masonic Brethren that are not yet members to join. Explain the benefits to be enjoyed and the lessons to be learned. Let them know that in January we will be starting another class and they need to be a part of it. Carl B. Smith, 33 Personal Representative of the S.G.I.G. Washington Masonic Charities Assists Masons, their widows and wives as they navigate stages of aging. Our staff understand that many people prefer to age in their own home but face issues beyond their control that make it difficult for them to age independently and with dignity. Call us at to learn how we can help you or your loved one address a current need or prepare for the next stage of aging.

2 Bro. Ken Gibson, MNPL WA Masonic Charities (253) (Offices) (844) (Toll Free) This is a quick follow up to our September newsletter sent out on Monday. The newsletter sent on Monday was wildly popular with the 400 or so leaders that it was sent to. (we had a 54% open rate, where on average it is only 18% for most other organizations) I've had lots of phone calls and some really exciting conversations about the possibilities of collaborating with Lodges and organizations in the community as a result. Imagine if all 14,000 members of the WA Jurisdiction were also able to have this information? I hear almost daily from Masons who don't know about the work that WA Masonic Charities is doing, which is a shame, because this organization belongs to each of us! This is where you can be a big help... I am asking you to please post this September newsletter (and each future one that comes out) on your Lodge Trestle Board, or if your Lodge has an distribution list to please forward it to the individuals on that list. Consider helping by posting the link to the newsletter on your Lodge's Face Book page. Our services and programs support the efforts of the Brethren, their widows, and the community at large, so it very important to get the word out. Here is the link to the newsletter: I, along with my staff are also available (and truthfully eager!) to visit your Lodge to provide a program, talk, or information on any of the work we're doing, including Masonic Outreach for Seniors, Scholarships, Children's Programs, the Library & Museum and more. Just give us a call and we'll make the visit happen - anywhere! Thanks for your ongoing support! Degree Schedule Director of Works Walt Moody Class Marshall Dan Chadrow 32, KCCH Assistant Class Marshall Christopher Lorenzen nd Degree October 23, 2015 The members of the Valley of Everett extend to all the Brethren listed for the month of October Leslie W Barclay Howard A Christianson Daniel J Dooley Michael W Fenlin Gordon D Garnhart Earl E Greathouse George R Haage James G Hamlin James E Heacock Clyde A Jelinek Russell B Juckett Jr Richard M Kovak James H Larson Warren A Lee John J Lynch David P Lystrom Boyd K McPherson George C Petrie Donald G Rasmussen Steven W Schaaf Steven A Wandel From the Almoner's desk Kenneth Cage, 32º If you know of anyone who is ill, in a nursing home or hospital please let me know so I can send them a card or pay them a visit. May God bless you and be with you or me at: eckc1@comcast.net

3 CELEBRATING FEAST of TABERNACLES October 9, 2015 Bring friends and family to this celebration of the harvest. All are welcome! The origins and significances of the Feast, known biblically as the Feast of Tishri make it the most Scottish Rite of festivals. Although originally celebrated as a harvest and gathering festival, no other occasion epitomizes the character and purpose of the Rite more wholly than our historic celebration, held in conjunction with the dedication of King Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 7:8-10). To marshal the meanings of the feast is to summarize the principal ideals and traditions of our Fraternity. We observe the Feast of Tishri because it is an age-old custom which now has the power of law. Under the Statutes of the Supreme Council, the feast is considered an obligatory observance, a sharing of our fraternal spirit. The rich legendry of the Temple's dedication, held in connection with the Feast of Tishri, is an essential part of the Fourteenth degree. The symbolic details of the Temple's position, design, construction, furnishing, and decoration carry special meaning as they apply to the metaphorical temple of Freemasonry built in the heart of every Brother. Through the symbols of the Temple, we learn to recommit ourselves to building Freemasonry "in the hearts of men" and among nations. The law, legendry, peace, equality, unity and fellowship of the Feast of Tishri combine to make this the Masonic feast of feasts. At the reflection table, all men - Jew, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and others - join in a common voice of thanksgiving where every man can share his gratitude and express his sincere thanks to Him who made all things. The Deity has given us life, the strength to live it fully, and the joy of sharing the beauty and goodness of His creation with our fellowmen. Most of all, He has given us freedom. The Feast of Tishri celebrates this freedom which the Israelites won with the guidance of Providence, despite the shackles of Egypt and the armies of the Philistines. This ancient victory celebrated in the dedication of King Solomon's Temple is kept forever fresh through our keeping of the Feast of Tishri. It promises to all men that the burdens of tyranny are temporary, that the darkness will yield to light, that knowledge will conquer ignorance, and that the Creator intended all men to be free. The message of Tishri comes to us strongly and clearly from across the ages because it has been so preserved in the symbolism and allegory of the Scottish Rite. Through our observance of this great feast of thanksgiving, we, as heirs of Solomon, perpetuate his magnificent Temple of freedom in our lives, our communities, our country and, most of all, in our beloved Rite. Excerpts from: Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide, Third Edition by Arturo De Hoyos

4 A Look into the History and Symbolism of the Acacia Tree Fernando G. Nucum, Junior Warden, Hinsdale Lodge #934 The Acacia tree plays an important role in our Third Degree Initiations. Let us start with a brief history of where the Acacia came from. The acacia, which, in Scripture, is always called shish, was esteemed a sacred word among the Hebrews. From the Acacia Tree, Moses was ordered to make the tabernacle, the Ark of the covenant, the table for the showbread, and the rest of the sacred furniture. Isaiah, in recounting the promises of God's mercy to the Israelites on their return from the captivity, tells them, that, among other things, you will plant in the wilderness, for the relief and refreshment, the cedar, the acacia (also known as the shittah), the fur, and other trees. The acacia has always been consecrated from among the other trees of the forest by the sacred purposes to which it was devoted. By the Jew the tree from whose wood the sanctuary of the tabernacle and the holy ark had been constructed would ever be viewed as more sacred than ordinary trees. The early Masons, therefore, very naturally appropriated this hallowed plant to the equally sacred purpose of a symbol which was to teach an important divine truth in all ages to come. Following are the symbols of the Acacia Tree. The acacia, first and foremost in our mythic system of Masonic Freemasonry, is the symbol of the IMMORTAL- ITY OF THE SOUL. As the evanescent nature of the flower which "cometh forth and is cut down" reminds us of the transitory nature of human life, so the perpetual renovation of the evergreen plant, which uninterruptedly presents the appearance of youth and vigor, is aptly compared to that spiritual life in which the soul, freed from the corruptible companionship of the body, shall enjoy an eternal spring and an immortal youth. Hence, in the impressive funeral service of our order, it is said, "This evergreen is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul. By this we are reminded that we have an immortal part within us, which shall survive the grave, and which will never, never, never die." Such an interpretation of the symbol is an easy and a natural one; it suggests itself at once to the least reflective mind, and consequently, in some one form or another, is to be found existing in all ages and nations. Next, the acacia is a symbol of INNOCENCE. The symbolism here is of a peculiar and unusual character, depending not on any real analogy in the form or use of the symbol to the idea symbolized, but simply on a double or compound meaning. The word for "acacia" in the Greek language signifies both the plant in question and the moral quality of innocence or purity of life. In this sense the symbol refers, primarily, to him over whose solitary grave the acacia was planted, and whose virtuous conduct, whose integrity of life and fidelity to his trusts, have ever been presented as patterns to the craft, and consequently to all Master Masons, who, by this interpretation of the symbol, are invited to emulate his example. Last but not least, the acacia is to be considered as a symbol of INITIATION. This is by far the most interesting of its interpretations, and was, as we have every reason to believe, the primary and original, the others being but incidental. It leads us at once to the investigation of that significant fact to which I have already alluded, that in all the ancient initiations and religious mysteries there was some plant, but peculiar to each, which is consecrated by its own esoteric meaning, and which occupied an important position in the celebration of the rites; so that the plant, whatever it might be, from its constant and prominent use in the ceremonies of initiation, came at length to be adopted as the symbol of that initiation. [Reprinted from Masonic Temple Topics, December 2014, p. 16, Pontiac, Illinois] Copied from SCRL Sep 2015 Quote of the Month The 133rd Psalm, which is recited during the Initiatory Degree, can be said to symbolize unity. It can also be termed a symbol of Brotherly Love, [Masonry's first tenet]. Both are an essential need for that harmony which must prevail in every successful Masonic Lodge. They are just as necessary for a happy life.... The other two tenets, Relief and Truth, join Brotherly Love in a trio that brings out the best that man has to offer the world. Brotherly Love symbolizes the universality of man. It regards the whole human species as one family, regardless of race, religion, or creed. [Excerpt from Allen E. Roberts, The Craft and Its Symbols, Richmond, VA: Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Company, Inc., c. 1974), pp ]]

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6 Valley of Everett C O M I N G E V E N T S Feast of Tishri Friday, October 09, 2015 At the Everett Masonic Center 6:30 PM Punch Bowl 7:00 PM Dinner Members, Ladies and Guest are Cordially invited to attend RSVP Terry Or at Terrygrove50@yahoo.com Grand Master Reception Friday, October 16, 2015 At the Everett Masonic Center 6:30 PM Punch Bowl 7:00 PM Dinner Members, Ladies and Guest are Cordially invited to attend RSVP Terry Or at Terrygrove50@yahoo.com

7 Valley of Everett Calendar of Events Reserve Friday Evenings for your Scottish Rite Oct 09 Friday 6:30 PM Lodge of Perfection Feast of Tishri 6:30 Punch Bowl Social 7:00 PM Dinner RSVP Oct 11 Sunday 1:00 PM Board of Trustee Meeting Sunday 2:00 PM Executive Committee Meeting Oct 16 Friday 6:30 PM Reception for the Grand Master 6:30 Punch Bowl Social 7:00 PM Dinner RSVP Oct 23 Friday 6:30 PM Consistory Stated 6:30 PM Buffet Confer 32nd Degree Oct 30 Friday 6:30 PM Chapter of Rose Croix 6:30 PM Buffet Nov 8 Sunday 1:00 PM Board of Trustee Meeting Sunday 2:00 PM Executive Committee Meeting Nov 13 Friday Lodge of Perfection - Stated Meeting 6:30PM Buffet Nov 20 Friday Consistory Cap N Ring Ceremony 6:30 Punch Bowl Social 7:00 PM Dinner RSVP DISTRICT EIGHT MASONIC HAPPENINGS October 2015 Date Day Time Lodge Event 5 Monday 6:30 PM Everett 137 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner 6 Tuesday 7:00PM Sultan Monroe 160 Stated Meeting 6:00 PM Dinner 6:30 PM Crystal 122 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner 7 Wednesday 7:30 PM Alpha 212 Stated Meeting 6:00 PM Centennial 25 Stated Meeting 8 Thursday 6:30 PM Peninsular 95 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner 13 Tuesday 6:30 PM Damascus 199 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner 14 Wednesday 6:30 PM Arlington 129 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner 19 Monday 6:30 PM Everett 137 Special 20 Tuesday 6:00PM Sultan Monroe 160 Stated Meeting 6:00 PM Dinner 6:30 PM Crystal 122 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner 21 Wednesday 7:30 PM Alpha 212 Stated Meeting 7:30 PM Centennial 25 Stated :Meeting 22 Thursday 6:30 PM Peninsular 95 Youth Feed & Ice Cream Social 27 Tuesday 6:30 PM Damascus 199 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner 28 Wednesday 6:30 PM Arlington 129 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner DISTRICT NINE MASONIC HAPPENINGS October 2015 Date Day Time Lodge Event 1 Thursday 6:30 PM Burlington-United 93 6:30 P M Dinner Stated Meeting 6 Tuesday 6:30 PM Mount Baker 36 6:30 P M Dinner Stated Meeting 8 Thursday 7:30 PM Camanio 19 6:30 P M Dinner Stated Meeting 13 Tuesday 6:30 PM Fidalgo 77 6:30 P M Dinner Stated Meeting 15 Thursday 7:30 PM Garfield 41 6:30 P M Dinner Stated Meeting 20 Tuesday 7:30 PM Whidby Island 15 6:30 P M Dinner Stated Meeting 27 Tuesday 6:30 PM Langley 218 6:30 P M Dinner Stated Meeting 28 Wednesday 7:30 PM District 9 LAO Fidalgo Host Reg. Meeting Note: Brethren take the time to visit your local Blue Lodges and share with them the opportunities that are available to them in the Valley of Everett Scottish Rite

8 F&AM Scottish Rite Bodies 220 Olympic Blvd Everett, WA October Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage paid Mt Vernon, WA Permit No. 147 Future Home of the Valley of Everett Scottish Rite What is Scottish Rite? Although there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason, the 29 degrees of the Scottish Rite serve to enrich the philosophy of the Symbolic Lodge. A Mason who chooses to further his Masonic experience by becoming a 32 Scottish Rite Mason will be expanding upon the fundamental principles of Freemasonry. The moral and ethical lessons will allow him to be constantly reminded of his duty to God, Family, Country, and Fellow Man. IN THIS ISSUE From the Personal Rep October Birthdays 2015 Degree Schedule Upcoming Events Calendar of Events, Valley of Everett Scottish Rite, District Eight and District Nine Masonic Outreach Services, Celebrating the Feast of the Tabernacle A look into the History and Symbolism of the Acacia Tree Further Light Light as Force or Energy, in Masonry flyer Visit the Everett Valley web site. It is located at: DATES TO REMEMBER Feast of Tishri Friday, October 09, :30 PM Punch Bowl 7:00 PM Dinner At the Everett Masonic Center Located at 234 Olympic Ave Everett, Washington RSVP with Terry Grove Grand Master Reception Friday, October 16, :30 PM Punch Bowl 7:00 PM Dinner At the Everett Masonic Center Located at 234 Olympic Ave Everett, Washington RSVP with Terry Grove Valley of Everett Contact List Carl Smith, 33º, Personal Rep of the S.G.I.G. Telephone: (360) Umpire@wavecable.com Terry Grove, 32, KCCH General Secretary Telephone: terrygrove50@yahoo.com Kenneth Cage, 32º Almoner Telephone: eckc1@comcast.net Kenneth Thompson, 32º, KCCH, Editor Telephone: Knthom32@Comcast.net