Brethren, the end of my term is in sight. One final meeting

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1 FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS TRESTLEBOARD GARFIELD LODGE NO. 41 November Tue Calendar November M t. Baker 36 7:30 Stated Election of Officers 6 Thu Burlington-United 93 7:30 Stated Building e Flag Program 8 Sat Langley PM Installation of Officers 8 Sat Fidalgo 77 Toys for Tots Turkey Shoot 9 Sun Valley of Everett Scottish Rite 2:00 Executive Council 10 Mon District 9 Lodge Officers Association Fidalgo 77, 7:30 PM 11 Tue VETERANS DAY 11 Tue Fidalgo 77 Election of Officers 6:00 Dinner, 7:30 Stated, MM Open Step-Up Night 13 Thu Camanio 19 7:30 PM Stated 14 Fri Valley of Everett Scottish Rite 6:30 Dinner, 7:30 Stated; Program 15 Sat Camanio 19 2 PM Installation of Officers 16 Sun Garfield PM Lodge Clean-Up 17 Mon Langley 218 7:30 PM Stated 18 Tue Whidby Island 15 7:30 PM -- Stated 20 Thu Garfield 41 6:30 No dinner, set up for reconstitution and installation, 7:30 Stated st 21 Fri st 21 Fri Garfield 41, 125 Anniversary, Social 5:00 PM, Dinner, 6:30, Re- Constitution 7:30 followed by e Installation of Officers Valley of Everett Scottish Rite Chapter of Rose Croix 14 Degree 24 Mon Royal Arch at Fidalgo Pot Luck 6:30 Stated 7:30 27 Thu THANKSGIVING DAY Master s Message Breren, e end of my term is in sight. One final meeting remaining as M aster of Garfield. While ings seemed to be going raer slowly at first, e last few mons have really gone by raer quickly. It has been a pleasure to serve as Master of such a terrific Lodge as Garfield. The support I have received has been outstanding and I ank all e members. I look forward to my new role as a Past Master and will continue to be active and will support our new Worshipful Master. It is my hope at e Temple Association and its Board will be more active in e coming years. There are a multitude of projects at require our attention. I realize at e Board has a difficult time getting togeer to meet, but travel distances cannot be used as an excuse at e expense of our historic Lodge building. M y term on e Board ends on November 21, but I will attend any meeting in order to be ready to help and provide input. At our next stated meeting ere will not be a dinner so keep at in mind when you come. We will be setting up e dining area for e dinner e next day. M ostly it will be e Ladies setting up, wi us doing some of e grunt work. The meeting will include a run rough of what will be happening during e Reconstitution and how it will flow into e Installation. So, is will be an important meeting and I ask at if at all possible please attend. Please read carefully, e Resolution which our secretary has included in is Trestleboard. It is of far reaching importance and needs your input and vote. Finally, I ank you all again for making is a most memorable year. Fraternally, Paul Steinsiek, Worshipful Master Wisdom from e West Breren, we have gone rough our annual election and it is my great honor to have been selected to serve as M aster of Garfield. We have a dedicated slate of officers ready to begin e New Year and I am very much looking forward to working wi em. I would like to extend my personal anks to WB Bob Seabury for his 26 plus years of service to is lodge. WB Bob was elected Treasurer Emeritus for Garfield Lodge. I would also like to congratulate VWB Mark Wiggins on his election to e position of Treasurer. If my recollection is correct VWB M ark has held every office wiin e lodge wi e exception of M usician and possibly Chaplain. We have new fresh broers in e pipeline and ey need your support and mentoring as ey begin and continue eir lives in M asonry. Come and support ese new breren, give em e benefit of your knowledge and M asonic experience. Had you or I not received is help when we were young Masons, would we be around today. This mentoring and knowledge, will ese new

2 Officers Worshipful Master WB Paul F. Steinsiek...(360) Senior Warden WB Robert Morrison...(360) Junior Warden WB Stephen M. Osborn...(360) Treasurer WB Robert Seabury...(360) Secretary WB David McCuistion...(360) Chaplain MWB James Vannice...(360) Marshal Norm Hamrick...(360) Senior Deacon Martin Leukhardt...(360) Junior Deacon Scott Slater...(360) Senior Steward WB R. V. Digger O Dell...(360) diggero@galaxynet.com Junior Steward WB Aaron Al Steinsiek...(360) Organist (Musician) WB Frank Nelson...(360) ldyeagle@verizon.net Tyler WB Willis Jacobs...(360) Deputy of e Grand Master in District No. 9 VWB Stephen G. Doran...(360) doranss@fidalgo.net broers be around in anoer few years. Help ese broers and your lodge. st On e 21 of Nov your lodge will install its officers for e one hundred and twenty-fif time. In conjunction wi e installation we will re-constitute Garfield Lodge. The festivities will begin at 5 PM wi a punch bowl social hour wi a sit down dinner being served at 5:30; Grand Loges will open at 6:30 to perform e reconstitution of e lodge. Installation should begin no later an 7:30 and we hope to move swiftly rough is process. The evening will wrap up wi an Ice Cream bar and social hour in e dining room. Please make every effort to join us and welcome e Grand Master and Grand Elected to your lodge. Fraternally, WB Robert Morrison Senior Warden Refreshment from e Sou Breren, Ladies, families and friends. After almost four years of Junior Wardening, e torch is passed. Adrienne and I have enjoyed putting togeer some good dinners for everybody, but our time is up (and we shall rest a bit) Thank you all for coming and enjoying e food and decorations. Your enusiasm has been our Masonic Wages in spades. I have been honored wi election to Senior Warden and must get used to wearing a new hat. Chef M arty Leukhardt will be taking up e torch and is planning some bang up meals, so keep coming and show him e same enusiasm you have for us. On e Secretary s Desk. Garfield Lodge No Anniversary Re-Constitution and Installation of Officers. Fraternally, WB Steve Osborn Junior Warden When: November 21, 5 P.M. TRESTLEBOARD GARFIELD LODGE, F. & A. M., No. 41 Editor: Stephen M. Osborn, 26 N Sunset Drive, Camano Island, WA All opinions expressed wiin e Trestleboard are ose of e respective auors alone and do not represent Garfield Lodge s views or policies. Please send any requests for reprinting articles to e Editor. Steve Osborn eplace@wavecable.com or (360) rd Where: Garfield M asonic Lodge, corner of 3 and Benton Streets in La Conner. Grand Master, MW Douglas Tucker and e Grand Lodge Team will re-constitute Garfield and install e 2009 Officers of Garfield. W e have special lapel pins for e event, as well as oer memorabilia and presentations. Breren, we certainly need your support in is important milestone in Garfield s History. M ark your calendars now and plan to attend.

3 The following resolution regarding e You Recognition Program was presented before e Lodge at e October Stated. It is scheduled to be voted on for acceptance at e November Stated Communication. You are encouraged to read e resolution and come to Lodge for e all important vote, which will properly govern and direct our efforts supporting our You in e future. RESOLUTION NO STATEM ENT OF PURPOSE: To establish guidelines for management and administration of e Garfield Lodge No. 41 F. & A. M. You Recognition Program. RESOLUTION: Whereas, guidelines for management and administration of e Garfield Lodge No. 41 F. & A. M. You Recognition Program are necessary to effectively prosecute such a program; and Whereas, Garfield Lodge No. 41 F. & A.M. shall establish a fund, to be named The Garfield You Recognition Fund, e monies of which are to be used to provide monetary and/or material awards to deserving yous or you related programs such as: JROTC, SCOUTS, RAINBOW FOR GIRLS, DEM OLAY FOR BOYS, BIKES FOR BOOKS, SCHOLARSHIPS (scholarships limited to high school Juniors/Seniors), 4H, etc. Now, erefore be it resolved at e following procedures are to be followed in order to administer e Garfield You Recognition Fund (hereafter referred to as The Fund), and to provide for effective management and administration of e Garfield Lodge No. 41 You Recognition Program (hereafter referred to as The Program). This resolution shall replace in total Resolutions No. 1-4 and ARTICLE I THE PROGRAM 1. A committee composed of e incumbent Senior Warden and Junior Warden and an additional ree members, to be appointed by e Worshipful Master, shall comprise The Garfield Lodge No. 41 You Recognition Program Committee, hereafter referred to as The Committee. 2. The Worshipful M aster, at e first stated meeting following e annual installation of Lodge officers, shall make appointments to The Committee. 3. The Worshipful M aster may appoint a member to fill a vacancy resulting from dea, resignation, incapability, or by an incumbent elected and installed as Worshipful M aster, Senior Warden or Junior Warden. 4. The installed Senior Warden shall cause The Committee to meet as soon as possible following appointments and prior to e next stated meeting to elect a Chairman and to commence planning e Programs for e coming year. The Chairman shall not be e incumbent Senior Warden or Junior Warden. 5. A report of proposed programs for e coming year will be given at e Second stated meeting following e annual installation of lodge officers. 6. All business of The Committee shall be decided by a quorum. A quorum is defined as a simple majority of e Committee members at any specific meeting of e Committee called by e Chairman and wi proper notification to e Committee members. The minimum number of Committee members to constitute a legal meeting is THREE. 7. The Committee shall research and plan appropriate programs, prepare a proposed budget, and present it to e lodge for approval. Once approved e following steps shall be initiated: a. Prepare a timeline for e execution of e program wi start and stop dates, if appropriate. b. Notify all interested parties so no bias may be claimed. c. Inform e Worshipful M aster of important milestones so proper publicity/action of e event/award may be considered. d. M aintain records of actions and procedures for historical and accounting purposes. 8. The Fund shall pay for reasonable and prudent program expenses. Dinner costs for awards ceremony, if applicable, shall be borne by Garfield Lodge No. 41 F. &A.M. ARTICLE II THE FUND 1. The Lodge Treasurer shall establish The You Recognition Fund and be responsible for maintaining all records pertaining to deposits and widrawals from The Fund, assuring at ese funds shall not be used for any oer use an to finance programs pertaining to e You Recognition Program as may be directed by e Worshipful Master and approved by e members of e Lodge. 2. Net Profits from e Junior Warden s Fund shall be placed in The Fund. 3. M onies in e form of property, wheer real, personal or mixed, by way of gift, bequest or devise, from any person, firm, trust or corporation may be received into The Fund, if so designated, and shall be credited as such. No gift, bequest or devise of any such property shall be received and accepted into The Fund if its disbursement is limited in such a manner as to require disposition of its income or principal to any person or organization oer an to The Fund or to awards deriving ere from. ARTICLE III AWARDS CRITERIA 1. Applicants for educational support shall be under e age of 22 at e time of application. Applicants shall use Washington M asonic Grand Lodge Scholarship application form. 2. Race, gender, religious persuasion, physical handicap, or enic background shall not be a consideration in e selection process. 3. Oer programs designed to enhance e educational welfare of yous under e age 22 and in support of recognized you organizations are auorized and may be undertaken. 4. M onetary awards for educational purposes shall be issued to e registrars of an accredited upper level or vocational school upon being notified at e awardees have been enrolled. 5. Monetary awards at have been unclaimed for a period of 3 years shall be returned to The Fund. ARTICLE IV AMENDMENTS 1. Amendments to is Resolution may be made from time to time by submittal of e proposed Amendments at a regular stated

4 communication of e Lodge, notification to e membership by or regular mail and a simple majority vote at e next regular communication. SUBM ITTED: Ralph Digger O Dell M ark Wiggins James R. Vannice INVITATION You are cordially invited to Join all in a wedding celebration for Sister Mary Gibson & WB Frank Nelson on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 2 o clock p.m. at The Living Word Fellowship 490 NW Crosby Avenue Oak Harbor, Washington RSVP: , or ldyeagle@verizon.net By December 10 Reception Following Widows and Orphans Annual Dinner M eeting 11/01/08 The annual meeting of e Masonic Widows and Orphans Fund will be held at 6:00 PM at e Cranberry Tree Restaurant 2030 Freeway Drive, Mt Vernon The dinner cost is $ No charge for widows and orphans attending. For reservations, please RSVP David Cooper, (360) , or at dacooper@juno.com We d like to see a good turnout at e dinner is year and if you know a Masonic Widow, please bring her for a nice evening of fellowship and affection Reading Masons and Masons Who Do Not Read WB Albert G. Mackey 33 I SUPPOSE THERE are more Masons who are ignorant of all e principles of Freemasonry an ere are men of any oer class who are chargeable wi e like ignorance of eir own profession, There is not a watchmaker who does not know someing about e elements of horology, nor is ere a blacksmi who is altogeer unacquainted wi e properties of red-hot iron. Ascending to e higher walks of science, we would be much astonished to meet wi a lawyer who was ignorant of e elements of jurisprudence, or a physician who had never read a treatise on paology, or a clergyman who knew noing whatever of eology. Nevereless, noing is more common an to encounter Freemasons who are in utter darkness as to every ing at relates to Freemasonry. They are ignorant of its history - ey know not wheer it is a mushroom production of today, or wheer it goes back to remote ages for its origin. They have no comprehension of e esoteric meaning of its symbols or its ceremonies, and are hardly at home in its modes of recognition. And yet noing is more common an to find such sciolists in e possession of high degrees and sometimes honored wi elevated affairs in e Order, present at e meetings of lodges and chapters, intermeddling wi e proceedings, taking an active part in all discussions and pertinaciously maintaining heterodox opinions in opposition to e judgment of breren of far greater knowledge. Why, it may well be asked, should such ings be? Why, in Masonry alone, should ere be so much ignorance and so much presumption? If I ask a cobbler to make me a pair of boots, he tells me at he only mends and patches, and at he has not Iearned e higher branches of his craft, and en hie honestly declines e offered job. If I request a watchmaker to construct a mainspring for my chronometer, he answers at he cannot do it, at he has never learned how to make mainsprings, which belongs to a higher branch of e business, but at if I will bring him a spring ready made, he will insert it in my timepiece, because at he knows how to do. If I go to an artist wi an order to paint me an historical picture, he will tell me at it is beyond his capacity, at he has never studied nor practiced e comportion [composition] of details, but has confined himself to e painting of portraits. Were he dishonest and presumptuous he would take my order and instead of a picture give me a daub. It is e Freemason alone who wants is modesty. He is too apt to ink at e obligation not only makes him a Mason, but a learned Mason at e same time. He too often imagines at e mystical ceremonies which induct him into e Order are all at are necessary to make him cognizant of its principles. There are some Christian sects who believe at e water of baptism at once washes away all sin, past and prospective. So ere are some Masons who ink at e mere act of initiation is at once followed by an influx of all Masonic knowledge. They need no furer study or research. All at ey require to know has already been received by a sort of intuitive process. The great body of Masons may be divided into ree classes. The first consists of ose who made eir application for initiation not from a desire for knowledge, but from some accidental motive, not always honorable. Such men have been led to seek reception eier because it was likely, in eir opinion, to facilitate eir business operations, or to advance eir political prospects, or in some oer way to personally benefit em. In e commencement of a war, hundreds flock to e lodges in e hope of obtaining e "mystic sign," which will be of service in e hour of danger. Their object having been attained, or having failed to attain it, ese men become indifferent and, in time, fall into e rank of e nonaffiliates. Of such Masons ere is no hope. They are dead trees having no promise of fruit. Let em pass as utterly worless, and incapable of improvement. THERE IS A second class consisting of men who are e moral and Masonic antipodes of e first. These make eir application for admission, being prompted, as e ritual requires, "by a favorable opinion conceived of e Institution, and a desire of knowledge." As soon as ey are

5 initiated, ey see in e ceremonies rough which ey have passed, a philosophical meaning wory of e trouble of inquiry. They devote emselves to is inquiry. They obtain Masonic books, ey read Masonic periodicals, and ey converse wi well-informed breren. They make emselves acquainted wi e history of e Association. They investigate its origin and its ultimate design. They explore e hidden sense of its symbols and ey acquire e interpretation. Such Masons are always useful and honorable members of e Order, and very frequently ey become its shining lights. Their lamp burns for e enlightenment of oers, and to em e Institution is indebted for whatever of an elevated position it has attained. For em, is article is not written. But between ese two classes, just described, ere is an intermediate one; not so bad as e first, but far below e second, which, unfortunately, comprises e body of e Fraternity. THIS THIRD CLASS consists of Masons who joined e Society wi unobjectionable motives, and wi, perhaps e best intentions. But ey have failed to carry ese intentions into effect. They have made a grievous mistake. They have supposed at initiation was all at was requisite to make em Masons, and at any furer study was entirely unnecessary. Hence, ey never read a Masonic book. Bring to eir notice e productions of e most celebrated Masonic auors, and eir remark is at ey have no time to read-e claims of business are overwhelming. Show em a Masonic journal of recognized reputation, and ask em to subscribe. Their answer is, at ey cannot afford it, e times are hard and money is scarce. And yet, ere is no want of Masonic ambition in many of ese men. But eir ambition is not in e right direction. They have no irst for knowledge, but ey have a very great irst for office or for degrees. They cannot afford money or time for e purchase or perusal of Masonic books, but ey have enough of bo to expend on e acquisition of Masonic degrees. It is astonishing wi what avidity some Masons who do not understand e simplest rudiments of eir art, and who have utterly failed to comprehend e scope and meaning of primary, symbolic Masonry, grasp at e empty honors of e high degrees. The Master Mason who knows very little, if anying, of e Apprentice's degree longs to be a Knight Templar. He knows noing, and never expects to know anying, of e history of Templarism, or how and why ese old crusaders became incorporated wi e Masonic broerhood. The height of his ambition is to wear e Templar cross upon his breast. If he has entered e Scottish Rite, e Lodge of Perfection will not content him, alough it supplies material for mons of study. He would fain rise higher in e scale of rank, and if by persevering efforts he can attain e summit of e Rite and be invested wi e Thirtyird degree, little cares he for any knowledge of e organization of e Rite or e sublime lessons at it teaches. He has reached e height of his ambition and is permitted to wear e double- headed eagle. SUCH MASONS are distinguished not by e amount of knowledge at ey possess, but by e number of e jewels at ey wear. They will give fifty dollars for a decoration, but not fifty cents for a book. These men do great injury to Masonry. They have been called its drones. But ey are more an at. They are e wasps, e deadly enemy of e industrious bees. They set a bad example to e younger Masons - ey discourage e grow of Masonic literature - ey drive intellectual men, who would be willing to cultivate Masonic science, into oer fields of labor - ey depress e energies of our writers - and ey debase e character of Speculative Masonry as a branch of mental and moral philosophy. When outsiders see men holding high rank and office in e Order who are almost as ignorant as emselves of e principles of Freemasonry, and who, if asked, would say ey looked upon it only as a social institution, ese outsiders very naturally conclude at ere cannot be anying of great value in a system whose highest positions are held by men who profess to have no knowledge of its higher development. IT MUST NOT be supposed at every Mason is expected to be a learned Mason, or at every man who is initiated is required to devote himself to e study of Masonic science and literature. Such an expectation would be foolish and unreasonable. All men are not equally competent to grasp and retain e same amount of knowledge. Order, says Pope - Order is heaven's first law and is confest, Some are, and must be, greater an e rest, More rich, more wise. All at I contend for is, at when a candidate enters e fold of Masonry he should feel at ere is someing in it better an its mere grips and signs, and at he should endeavor wi all his ability to attain some knowledge of at better ing. He should not seek advancement to higher degrees until he knew someing of e lower, nor grasp at office, unless he had previously fulfilled wi some reputation for Masonic knowledge, e duties of a private station. I once knew a broer whose greed for office led him to pass rough all e grades from Warden of his lodge to Grand Master of e jurisdiction, and who during at whole period had never read a Masonic book nor attempted to comprehend e meaning of a single symbol. For e year of his Mastership he always found it convenient to have an excuse for absence from e lodge on e nights when degrees were to be conferred. Yet, by his personal and social influences, he had succeeded in elevating himself in rank above all ose who were above him in Masonic knowledge. They were really far above him, for ey all knew someing, and he knew noing. Had he remained in e background, none could have complained. But, being where he was, and seeking himself e position, he had no right to be ignorant. It was his presumption at constituted his offense. A more striking example is e following: A few years ago while editing a Masonic periodical, I received a letter from e Grand Lecturer of a certain Grand Lodge who had been a subscriber, but who desired to discontinue his subscription. In assigning his reason, he said (a copy of e letter is now before me), "alough e work contains much valuable information, I shall have no time to read, as I shall devote e whole of e present year to teaching." I cannot but imagine what a teacher such a man must have been, and what pupils he must have instructed.this ARTICLE is longer an I intended it to be. But I feel e importance of e subject. There are in e United States more an four hundred ousand affiliated Masons. How many of ese are readers? One-half - or even one-ten? If only one-four of e men who are in e Order would read a little about it, and not depend for all ey know of it on eir visits to eir lodges, ey would entertain more elevated notions of its character. Through eir sympay scholars would be encouraged to discuss its principles and to give to e public e results of eir oughts, and good Masonic magazines would enjoy a prosperous existence. NOW, BECAUSE ere are so few Masons at read, Masonic books hardly do more an pay e publishers e expense of printing, while e auors get noing; and Masonic journals are being year after year carried off into e literary Academia, where e corpses of defunct periodicals are deposited; and, worst of all, Masonry endures depressing blows. The Mason who reads, however little, be it only e pages of e monly magazine to which he subscribes, will entertain higher views of e Institution and enjoy new delights in e possession of ese views. The Masons who do not read will know noing of e interior beauties of Speculative Masonry, but will be content to suppose it to be someing like Odd Fellowship, or e Order of e Knights of Pyias - only, perhaps, a little older. Such a Mason must be an indifferent one. He has laid no foundation for zeal. If is indifference, instead of being checked, becomes more widely spread, e result is too apparent. Freemasonry must step down from e elevated position which she has been struggling, rough e efforts of her scholars, to maintain, and our lodges, instead of becoming resorts for speculative and philosophical ought, will deteriorate into social clubs or mere benefit societies. Wi so many rivals in at field, her struggle for a prosperous life will be a hard one. The ultimate success of Masonry depends on e intelligence of her disciples. About e Auor Albert Gallatin Mackey 33 was one of Freemasonry's most insightful interpreters, and a voluminous auor. This essay was first published in 1875, and is reprinted from The Master Mason (October 1924 issue).

6 November Birdays WB Benjamin Merrill...11/18 Robert Lanphere...11/13 November Masonic Anniversaries WB Warren Gilbert /26/1948 WB Willis Jacobs...11/17/1987 David Lin...11/18/1993 VWB Mark Wiggins...11/01/1996 Robert Scott...11/19/2002 Martin Leukhardt...11/19/2003 Garfield Lodge No. 41 F. & A. M. Of Washington P.O. Box 759 La Conner, WA GARFIELD ¹ 41 TRESTLEBOARD November 2008