Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

Transcription

1 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Carl Smith, 33 Personal Representative of the S.G.I G. (360) Valley of Everett Charrison Lochaby, 32 KCCH Secretary PO Box 1112 Everett, WA (888) Orient of Washington Volume 18 March 2009 Issue 03 From the Personal Representative CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE AND RENEWAL On Friday, March 20th we celebrate the Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal with a banquet to honor those Scottish Rite Brethren who have passed away during the past year. By so doing we strengthen our ties of Brotherly Love and renew our commitment to love all mankind. By the extinguishing and relighting of candles we represent man's spiritual, intellectual, and moral rebirth, the transition from darkness to light, the arrival of spring. We observe the Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal near the vernal equinox, when nature is in resurrection after winter. We light candles as symbols of our hope and our faith. They express our belief in the Creator as the never failing source of our strength and courage. They represent our love of God and for our fellowman. Through them we assert the wonder of life by the resurrection of spring. There is something about a candle, something about fire itself that has fascinated man throughout the centuries. Elemental, beautiful, both fragile and ferocious, fire inspires awe whether its form is the flickering flame of a candle or a raging forest fire. In many ways fire is like faith, pristine and powerful, a primal force that can bring gentle guidance, like a candle in a window. Freemasons of whatever creed are men of strong faith. We respect religious expression and encourage every man to build his temple of belief from the loftiest plans possible. Thus spring is a special time for us and marks the end of winter. It is a time to express one's faith with special impact and to enter with joy and confidence into another cycle of accomplishments through faith in God and service to our fellowman. What does a candle loose by lighting others? Rather than diminish its radiance, a candle so used creates more light, more faith, more commitment in one's self and others to fulfilling God's law of love on this earth. As a child gazes with wonder at a candle's flame, let us, as Scottish Rite Freemasons and Americans, look into our hearts and strengthen our faith. Let us light our paths and those of others with guiding candles of our confidence, our hope, our faith. Together we can light the way to a time of accomplishment for all mankind. The Everett Chapter of Rose Croix will present the Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal celebration. It will begin with dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by the ceremony at 7:30 p.m. The evening will conclude with the Mystic Banquet. Please give our Secretary, Brother Charrison Lochaby, 32 KCCH, a call at or him at clochaby@whidbey.com to make reservations if you have not already signed-up so that proper preparations can be made. The Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal is open to all Brothers, their families and friends. Carl B. Smith, 33 Personal Representative of the S.G.IG. From the Almoner's desk John Friesen, 32º, If you know of anyone who is ill, or in a nursing home or hospital, please let me know so I can send them a card or pay them a visit. May God be with you. God Bless. I can be contacted at or me at john-friesen@comcast.net Valley of Everett Degree Schedule Mar 13, Mar 27, Apr 17, Apr 24, May 15, th Degree 26th Degree 29th Degree 30th Degree 32nd Degree

2 The members of the Valley of Everett Scottish Rite extend to all the Brethren listed below, born in the month of March a very Happy Birthday! John Bellmore Bruce Biddlecome Richard Blodgett Byron Bollinger Ralph Brigman Henry Brown Daniel Collins James Davidson Christopher Del Riesgo Joseph Garrison Timothy Guernsey Elmer Jamison Theodore Keithahn Edwin Kellison Robert King Francisco Lalas Leo Latlip Ray Lavadia Alfred Luberts Thomas Mead Dwight Needham Brian O'Dell Ronald Quinto David Ramich Jason Rivers Samuel Scott Chester Simcoe John Sutton Dale Thayer Fred Turner Bertum Williams Robert Wright Lodge of Perfection Allen Lowe,33º, Venerable Master Brethren, we recently held another Centennial Celebration committee meeting and would like to report our progress to date. We are still struggling on the Venue/Catering task. We have considered quite a few locations but are once again leaning towards the Everett Holiday Inn on Pacific Ave. The committee has ruled out holding it at the new Tulalip Casino Hotel, as the cost was prohibitive. The Everett Holiday Inn is in the mid-price range and should do nicely due to its central location, catering and the ability to expand by opening adjoining rooms if needed. The problem we ve been running into is that the Hotels do not want to put us on their schedule now unless we agree to block off 50 rooms. Since we will only be reserving a few rooms we don t qualify to preschedule a ballroom until six months or less prior to the event date. That makes us nervous holding out that long without a venue confirmed. We should have it wrapped up soon. We have a lead on where to get tickets designed and printed. You'll notice the wonderful logo that RW Brother Santy Lascano has worked on so hard on for us and we have already ordered 1,000 lapel pins. Other promotional items were suggested, such as, shot glasses, coffee mugs, pens, etched wine glasses etc. There are numerous sources available and the committee will research them. We are initially forecasting sales of at least 150 tickets and will expand to 200 if required. The committee has set the price at $40.00 per ticket with the following scheduled of events: 6:00 PM Cocktail/Social Hour 7:00 PM Dinner 8:00 PM Entertainment Recording Artist, Howie Damron 9:00 PM Program Speakers and introductions of Special VIP Guest) Howie Damron will be selling his CD's at the celebration and we know you'll want to get your own personal copy. The committee also discussed the need of publicity, posters and where to post them as well as the best time. , mailings and word of mouth during lodge visitations by all the Brethren will help ensure a successful event. Get the word out to your fellow Scottish Rite Masons of this upcoming auspicious event you will not want to miss. Director of Works By Walt Moody, 32º, KCCH We have been busy as some of you know, in acquiring a new 6th Degree apron & sash, a Rinferts Costume in the 21st Degree; a 15th Degree Apron and sash; 30th Degree Collars, and have been busy in house cleaning and reorganizing paraphernalia. We have been given permission to put up pictures on the South Wall of the South lodge room and Illustrious Earl Greathouse has taken the job well in hand. Having our Eagle Fly again along with some of the old pictures up again will make it a little homier. I understand there will be room for the other Bodies to display their memorabilia as well. Who knows maybe there can and will be some Real improvements to follow? Well, keep having fun, Hold a good thought, & KEEP HOPING A LIGHT WILL COME ON! Stay well and warm, From Heir Walt, your Director of Works.

3 By Charrison Lochaby, 32, KCCH At the January Executive Council meeting we were discussing our dinners. Dinners that occur every Friday evening on a regular basis and those dinners that are catered for special events such as Sweetheart Dinner, Bannockburn and the Grand Master s Reception. Like everything else our costs are increasing. Mrs. Samuel has been turning out reasonable dinners and Carl and I arbitrarily raised her payment from $4.00 to $5.00 per person a while back but, we did not increase what was collected from the brethren. In looking at the weekly receipts, we do not receive enough money, in the collection tray, to cover her expense. And when it comes to the catered dinners our collections do not even come close to covering the expenses. It was suggested that we needed to increase our charges for the dinners. Several figures were discussed and in the end it was moved, seconded and passed that we increase the price of the regular dinners to $5.00 and the price for catered dinners to $ We also discussed the matter of reservations. A number of our members treat the dinner reservations in a rather haphazard manner. Some of our brothers show up for dinner without a reservation and others will make a reservation and then not show up for the dinner. This is all going to change. Beginning in April, the Friday night regular Buffet dinners will cost $5.00 per person and the special catered dinners will be $10.00 per person with dinner reservations required. If a member shows up for dinner without a reservation he will be served last if we have food available. And, if a member makes a reservation and then does not show up, without canceling his reservation, in a timely manner, I will send that member a bill for his dinner. These dinner changes will become effective in April of For a number of past issues I have encouraged brothers to go to the Internet and Everett Valley s web site and log in to the membership update page and make sure that their Scottish Rite membership information is correct and up to date. This morning it dawned upon me that many of our members may not have access to a computer and the internet and therefore cannot comply with my request. Therefore, I have replicated the page, below, and if you do not have access to a computer or the Internet I ask that you fill in the form and mail to me so I can update your information. Please print legibly so I can read your data. Cut the page out and mail to me at my home address: Charrison Lochaby P. O. Box 193 Langley, WA Last Name: First Name: Preferred First Name: Mailing Name: Perm. Mail Address 1: Perm. Mail Address 2: City: State/Province: Zip / Postal Code: Date of Birth: Preferred Permanent Phone: Work Phone: Cell Phone: Occupation: Wife's First Name: Wife's Last Name: Children's Names: Lodge Name / No: Valley Membership Everett Lodge City / State:

4 Master of Kadosh Bryan Bechler, 32 First off, I thank all the members of the Consistory who were in attendance for the Installation of Officers on Friday, January 9 th. There was a great turnout for the dinner beforehand and all but two members were present for the installation. One of the problems I see in Freemasonry in general is communication. We don t always communicate well with each other, or, if we do, we don t always follow up. There are a few individuals who do not have or even own a computer. We need to ensure we keep these individuals well informed via mail or by telephone calls. The Valley of Everett publishes a monthly bulletin, which has a lot of very valuable information in it. Our secretary, Charrison Lochaby, 32 KCCH, has continually worked on streamlining the mailing to help reduce expenses for the Valley. Today s technology gets the information out much more efficiently and expeditiously. We have a web site as well which people can go to find out what s going on. ( If there is a stated meeting, a special event, or anything else that may arise in the Valley. Don t assume everyone will remember to attend. Participation, either passive or active, is always critical to keep any organization vibrant. The Consistory opened on January 30 th, 2009, after which the degree team put on an excellent 15 th degree. The cast should be commended for their outstanding work for the candidates who were present. The Consistory has several meetings through the end of the year please ensure you have them marked on your calendar! While I m attending the All- Masonic Week in Alexandria, Virginia, I have scheduled an appointment to meet with Ronald Seale, the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. I plan to ask him several questions about where he sees the future of the Scottish Rite and what we, as members, can do to assist him and report back to the Brethren upon my return. Director of Education Master Craftsman Program Hernan Divinagracia, 32 KCCH Brethren, as of February 1 st we have Thirty-four (34) Brethren enrolled in this remarkable, very worthwhile and outstanding program. Four (4) brothers have already completed theirs and will receive a certificate of completion and a lapel pin at special event in the near future. The four Brethren are; Stephen M. Osborn 32, Gerald A. Earl 32, George W. Foster 32 and Richard E. Morgan 32. Also, seven (7) Brethren are in the process of completing theirs within three to four weeks and I m hopeful their certificates and pins will arrive in time to be presented at Ceremony of Remembrance Dinner on Friday, March 20. The Scottish Rite Master Craftsman program consist of six correspondence course lessons administered by the staff of the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., under the guidance and leadership of the Supreme Council, 33, of the A. & A. Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. Reference manuals are The Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide by Arturo de Hoyos, 33, Bridge to Light by Rex Hutchens, 33, Grand Cross. The Program cost $35 plus $15 shipping fees when ordering from Washington, D.C. however, it is available for purchase from our Secretary, Charrison Lochaby, 32 KCCH without paying for shipping and handling. The course is at your own pace to complete each lesson and mail it in to be corrected, then you ll receive the next lesson together with the results of the previous lesson. At 1:00 PM prior to our Sunday monthly Executive Council Meeting, I will hold a study/discussion period for any brothers to expedite in answering their quizzes. All candidates automatically receives the course at their Cap and Ring Ceremony without cost. And those of you enrolled in the program who wishes to get a jump start on the reading before your quiz arrives in the mail, here are the assignments: Quiz 1- Some Masonic and Scottish Rite Basics, Monitor and Guide, pp , 904 Quiz 2- The Lodge of Perfection, Monitor and Guide, pp and A Bridge to Light, (2006 ed.) pp Quiz 3- Chapter of Rose Croix, Monitor and Guide, pp , and A Bridge to Light, (2006 ed.), pp Quiz 4- Council of Kadosh, Monitor and Guide, pp , and A Bridge to Light, (2006 ed.), pp Quiz 5- Consistory of the Master of the Royal Secret, Monitor and Guide, pp and A Bridge to Light (2006 ed), pp Quiz 6- Scottish Rite Honors, Monitor and Guide, pp , , 904 Please give me a call at if you need any assistance on this program and for more information and comments, please visit mastercraftsman.html MASONRY ONLINE Take the virtual tour of the George Washington Masonic Memorial website.

5 SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER ALBERT PIKE Part 2 Prior to Civil War Submitted by Dave McCuistion Albert Pike was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Western Star Lodge No. 2 during the month of August Western Lodge No. 2 was originally chartered by the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Louisiana as Western Star Lodge No. 43 in the latter part of When the Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Arkansas was consecrated on November 27, 1838, it consisted of Western Star Lodge No. 43 and three other Masonic Lodges. Once the Grand Lodge of Arkansas was consecrated, the name of Western Star Lodge No. 43 was changed to Western Star Lodge No. 2. At the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas in November 1850, M.W. Grand Master Elbert H. English announced his desire for Arkansas Masons to create a college for the purpose of educating the Arkansas citizenry in Little Rock. He designated that the college be named St. John s College and appointed a committee to obtain a Charter for the college. One of the members of the committee was Albert Pike. Although Albert Pike is usually recognized for his work in the Scottish Rite, it is interesting to note that his initial effort in the Appendent Bodies of Masonry was with the York Rite. In 1850, the same year that he was Raised to a Master Mason, he received the York Rite s Mark Master, Past Master, and Most Excellent Master Degrees. The following year he was a member of the convention that formed the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Arkansas. In 1852, Albert Pike was one of the Charter members of Magnolia Lodge No. 60, Little Rock, Arkansas. In the York Rite he was elected High Priest. He was appointed Chairman of the Grand Chapter Committee on Masonic Law and its Usage and Chairman of the Grand Chapter Committee on Foreign Correspondence. Finally, he received the Royal Master and Select Master Degrees. In 1853, Pike received appointments in the Grand Lodge as Chairman of the Masonic Law and Usage, Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee to Revise and Collate the Decisions of the Grand Lodge, and Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on Foreign Correspondence. He became the President of the Board of Trustees for St. John s College. Albert Pike was elected Grand High Priest for the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Arkansas in He was the Chairman of the Grand Chapter Committee on the Masonic Library. He was elected the Thrice Illustrious Master of Occidental Council No. 1, Little Rock, Arkansas. Finally he received the Templar Orders and was elected as the first Eminent Commander of Hugh de Payene Commandery. The Scottish Rite Fourth through the Thirty-second Degrees were conferred on Albert Pike by Albert G. Mackey at Charleston, South Carolina in March At the time, Albert G. Mackey was Secretary General; of the Supreme Council, 33º, for the Southern Jurisdiction. Only the year before, Mackey had written A Lexicon of Freemasonry. Albert Pike and Albert G. Mackey had known each other by their association in the committees of the Royal Arch General Chapter. It should be noted that Communication of the Scottish Rite Degrees at that time differed from the present day presentation of using drama, in which the candidate assumes an active role, to confer the degree. At the time the Scottish Rite Degrees were communicated to Albert Pike, the common method of admitting members to the Scottish Rite was to have obligations of secrecy and fealty assumed by the candidate prior to his studying the manuscript for the degrees. Later that year, Pike was made the Scottish Rite Deputy Inspector General for Arkansas. Probably the most significant act in Albert G. Mackey s Masonic career was Pike s introduction into the Scottish Rite. Albert Pike is considered responsible for the current prestige and stature of the Scottish Rite and he was one of the most prolific writers and philosophers of Freemasonry. Although Albert Pike s professional life flourished, his family life deteriorated. Seven of his ten children passed away in their youth. Pike moved to New Orleans to practice law after he and his wife separated in Albert Pike was elected to a number of very responsible offices and appointed to very important Masonic committees in the years prior to the Civil War. These elections and appointments occurred in the Grand Lodge, York Rite, and Scottish Rite. Albert Pike was elected Worshipful Master of Magnolia Lodge No. 60 in After moving to Louisiana, he affiliated with Marion Lodge No. 68 in New Orleans. In the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, he served as Chairman of the Library Committee and Chairman of the Committee to Prepare a System of Laws and Bylaws for Governing Subordinate Lodges in In 1859, he was the Grand Lodge of Arkansas representative to the National Masonic Convention and a member of the Board of Regents of the American Masonic Home for Widows and Orphans of Freemasons in Washington, DC. Albert Pike was the representative of the Grand Lodge of Kansas near the Grand Lodge of Ar (Continued on page 6)

6 ALBERT PIKE (Continued from page 5) Kansas in In the York Rite, Albert Pike was re-elected Grand High Priest and received the Grand Council of High Priesthood Degree for Arkansas in He was re-elected Eminent Commander of Hugh de Payene Commandery in 1854 and He was Chairman of the Grand Chapter of Arkansas Committee on Masonic Law and Usage in 1856 and He represented the Grand Chapter of Louisiana at the General Grand Chapter of the United States at Hartford, CT. He was a member of the Grand Chapter of Arkansas Committee to prepare a procedure for installing Grand Chapter Officers in He was a member of the Grand Chapter of Arkansas Committee on Foreign Correspondence in He represented the Grand Chapter of Arkansas at the General Grand Chapter of the United States in Chicago, IL. He was Chairman of the General Grand Chapter Committee on Foreign Correspondence and a member of the General Grand Chapter Committee on Royal Arch Regalia in Finally he was President of the Convention forming the Grand Council of Arkansas in In the Scottish Rite, Albert Pike was appointed Deputy Inspector General for West Tennessee in He was the Commander in Chief of the Grand Consistory of Louisiana in He received the 33º and was made Special Deputy for Louisiana in In 1859, he was elected Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, 33º, Southern Jurisdiction in 1859 and served until his death in In 1860, he completed revising the Fourth through the Thirty-Second Degrees. Joseph Warshawsky, 32º KCCH, Editor Knoxville Scottish Rite News Valley of Knoxville Orient of Tenn. Occidental Lodge No. 72, Seattle, WA PM, Kyle Lodge No. 422, Whitesburg, TN Americanism & Public Schools By Leonard Martin, 33º David McCuistion, 32º With Spring on the horizon, can the end of the school year be far behind? Obviously, yes, which also means it is time for the annual JROTC Awards presentations at five High School JROTC Units and awards to an Outstanding teacher and student. Each year the Valley of Everett presents the Scottish Rite JROTC Award certificate, medal and ribbon to one male and one female JROTC Cadets who best emulates the ideals of Americanism while a member of their respective JROTC Unit. Awards are presented to cadets at Arlington Air Force JROTC, Snohomish Marine Corps JROTC, Mariner Navy JROTC, Everett Navy JROTC, and Marysville-Pilchuck Navy JROTC during their annual Awards Night ceremonies. The Valley of Bellingham presents JROTC awards to Burlington- Edison and Oak Harbor Navy JROTC Units. If you would like to be part of the awards presentations and view some outstanding young high school students, please contact either Illus. Bro. Leonard Martin or myself. Leonard s phone number is I can be reached at or via at david.mccuistion@earthlink.net. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. This year we are expanding the list of high schools from whom we will seek applications for our annual Outstanding Student Scholarship Award. The schools are Everett, Cascade, Henry M. Jackson, Mariner and Kamiak. Last years winner of the $ scholarship was from Cascade High School and is now attending UC Davis in California. Last years Outstanding Educator winner of the $ award was Theresa Kemp from Evergreen Middle School who exclaimed, That will buy a lot of books. This year the Outstanding Educator Award will be presented to a teacher in either the Everett or Mukilteo School District. We are hoping for more applicants by expanding the number of schools to whom applications are sent. Masonry has always been a staunch supporter of the public schools system. These recognition awards will not only continue supporting our schools, but will also impress upon the local communities our active participation in enhancing public education. In Memoriam Members of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Everett are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the following Brother Harold F. Gibson The Brother has been called to the Great Celestial Lodge above by the Supreme Architect of the Universe. He lived respected and died regretted.

7 Ceremony of Remembrance & Renewal By Wayne Smith, 33º Mystic Banquet Please mark your calendars now for Friday, March 20th and make your reservations for the Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal dinner with our Secretary, Charrison Lochaby, 32 KCCH at (888) or by at This dinner and ceremony is open to all so bring your spouses, neighbors, friends and please invite all of our widows. The evening will begin with a Punch Bowl Social at 6:30, dinner will be served at 7:00 and the Ceremony will follow. The Valley will host our widows and the cost of dinner is $6.00 each for all others. Reservations are required (please make them by 18 March) and if you make reservations and do not cancel them in a timely fashion, you will still obligated to pay the Valley. If you show up without reservations, we will try to feed you dinner but there are no guarantees. The Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal replaces the traditional Extinguishing of the Lights (Maundy Thursday) and Re-lighting of the Lights (Easter Sunday) ceremonies which many of our Brothers will remember from several years past. The Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal is to be observed on or near the Vernal Equinox (in 2009 the Vernal Equinox is 20 March), This new ceremony avoids any conflict with the religious observances of Christian Brethren as Easter is on April 12 th this year. The Vernal Equinox is when night and day are nearly the same length and Sun crosses the celestial equator (i.e., declination 0) moving northward. The vernal equinox marks the first day of the season of spring. The consensus among our Brothers was that by combining the former ceremony of Extinguishing the Lights and the ceremony of Relighting the Lights into the new format was much more meaningful and impressive and it is proper at this time that we remember all of our Brethren who have passed to that Celestial Lodge this past year on this occasion. It is hard to conceive of any rituals more beautiful and inspiring in Masonry or any ceremonies more soul-stirring and profound than the Tenebrae and the Feast of the Paschal Lamb or, as it is often called, the Mystic Banquet or Feast Obligatory. To our Jewish Brethren, it signified the Feast of the Passover, which is an annual reminder of the priceless heritage of freedom and a call to struggle for it by eternal vigilance. To our Christian Brethren, it signified the Last Supper with Jesus which His Disciples attended to celebrate this ancient festival, after which there followed His death and resurrection. As the Ceremony is practiced in Masonry there is no creedal significance. To our Brethren of the Rose Croix, it is known as the Mystic Banquet, and it is obligatory, at least in spirit, for every Knight Rose Croix, on this special day, to break bread with a Brother and partake of a portion of roasted lamb. This beautiful ceremony is but another method of bringing to our minds those great moral truths, which we already have been taught. It is in that spirit that we assemble, as Masons and as Brethren, bound with solemn ties and no thought of any particular creed or religion. Hope to see all of you on the 20 th of March. MASONIC PARK CARETAKER COMMENTS By Fred Turner, 32º As spring approaches and we are preparing for another camping season I d like to take a moment to reflect on the damages we suffered during the fall and winter. The heavy rains of early November did severe damage to our road system washing out the roads at the head of the ponds and the high water of Canyon Creek back flowed to wash out the road to the Maple Grove area. The high water flow also over ran the weirs between the ponds. Then, the heavy snows and rain of December caused considerable structural damage. We had a portion of the roof on our shop collapse; fortunately the lawn mowers and other equipment stored under this portion had minimal damage. The steel awning on the Meldahl trailer also collapsed; again we were lucky as we did not suffer any internal damage to the trailer. During this time we also were without power or water to the park from December sixteenth till January ninth. At the time of my submitting these comments we have restored power and water throughout the park, rebuilt most the roads, and installed new culverts at the ponds; but we know that winter is not over. So all we can do is hope that the worst is over. Rebuilding our shop and the fish weirs is another matter as this is a several thousand dollar expense that we did not have in our budget. So finally my brothers once again we are asking for your help either financially or labor wise. We will be having work parties to clean up the park for the coming season on every Saturday during April and May. Work parties will be from nine a.m. to one p.m. we then will furnish lunch as wages for your labors. Finally my brothers we want to remind you that reservation are beginning to come in so if you desire a particular site for that special weekend please give us a call at or thru our website at masonicparkwa.org Fred Turner, Manager Masonic Park

8 GREATEST GENERATION VALLEY PROFILES: HOWARD CHRISTIANSON By Jim Larson, 33 Born right here in Everett, Howard Christianson began his association with the Arlington area when he moved there to work at his brotherin-law s gas station in He was still in high school, but money being scarce; he felt he should try to make some on his own. His folks always remained in Everett as his dad had his job there. After graduating from Arlington High School, Howard worked as a logger in the area. He would have enlisted in the Navy in early 1942, but they needed Seabees and it sounded too much like the usual heavy equipment work around Arlington, so he didn t join at that time. Howard was drafted in August 1942 and sent to the US Army Armored Center at Fort Knox, KY, where he soon became a platoon sergeant, training recruits. He could have gone to O.C.S. but decided he didn t want it. Later he was sent to Fort Ord, CA, to join the 727 th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, which then went to the south Pacific. Howard says the weather was very hot, but he enjoyed the heat. Late in the war, he served as Section Sergeant over 6 or 7 boats which made 21 landings, starting in New Guinea, through Leyte & Luzon, and ending in Borneo. Howard says there wasn t much enemy resistance by this time, as the enemy s supply convoys were cut off and the little guys (Japanese) were starving. One night while most were sleeping, a group of the little guys silently came and put their rifles in a pile and surrendered. Many of them were too sick to walk. In Borneo Howard s boats went in ahead of the Aussies, who were going to land in LST s. Howard s unit was to bring in sappers to take out defense obstacles (train rails and cocoanut logs) planted vertically on the beach. They were a little concerned because they were warned to expect 60% casualties. However there were no casualties and the sappers got rid of the obstacles with explosives in the usual way. After he left Borneo he was sent to Luzon where he heard the welcome news that the Japanese had surrendered. After this his unit was sent to an island where there were a large group of Japanese waiting to surrender. It was Howard s job to ask them their names and write them down! He could hardly understand anything they said, but says, I just listed the names as best I could. In addition to his theatre ribbons, Howard was awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal. He married Delores ( Skinny as he calls her) after the war, and they had 3 kids, and now there are grandkids and great-grandkids. They enjoyed Norwegian dancing and their family. She passed away a few years ago; they had been married 61 years! After coming back he worked at a sawmill for a while, then on a logging crew for a couple years. For a few years he worked for Monroe Logging as a 2 nd Loader, one of two fools running around on top of logs under heavy equipment! He also drove logging trucks, but before 1950 decided to get out of logging while he was still all in one piece! He went to work for the Union Oil distributor and shortly thereafter bought him out, remaining in the oil business for 35 years till he retired. He began his long association with the City of Arlington as an auxiliary policeman and then eventually ran for City Council and won. He was on the City Council for 12 years, and then from 1972 to 1980 was Mayor of Arlington. The City was much smaller then; population was about 1,400, and they had 2 or 3 policemen, whose wives would often take care of the dispatch & call system. Back then they had a 2-cell jail and he remembers one of the local drunks being embarrassed when taken out by police to a local restaurant to eat! In those days the city had its own crew who did their own street, water, and sewer repairs (nowadays it s all contracted out). Among their larger projects were the water tanks for the large Gleneagle development in the area. He was City Manager for 4 years after He still follows city affairs with great interest. Howard entered Masonry in 1953, so is a 50-year member, and the Scottish Rite in 1959 (so will soon be a 50-year member of Everett Valley also)! He served as Worshipful Master of Arlington Lodge #129 in 1963, and again in 1989, and remains an active member. VW Bro Howard also served as District Deputy of the Grand Master for District #8 during He has served on a number of Grand Lodge Committees: Retirement Center, and Bylaws (where he continues as Chairman), and retains an active interest in Grand Lodge affairs. A distinguished man and Mason, and also a fun guy to talk with! Thank you for your service to our Country, and we re honored to be friends with you, Bro. Howard Christianson, 32!

9 Valley of Everett Calendar of Events Reserve Friday Evenings for your Scottish Rite Mar 08 Executive Committee Meeting 2:00 PM Mar 13 Lodge of Perfection 6:30 PM dinner 25th Degree Mar 20 Chapter of Rose Croix 6:30 PM dinner Ceremony of Remembrance Mar 27 Consistory 6:30PM Buffett 26th Degree Apr 17 Chapter of Rose Croix 6:30 PM dinner 29th Degree Apr 19 Executive Committee Meeting 2:00 PM Apr 24 Council of Kadosh Stated - 30th Degree DISTRICT EIGHT MASONIC HAPPENINGS March 2009 Date Day Time Lodge Event 03 Tuesday 7:30 PM Crystal 122 Stated Meeting Sultan-Monroe 160 Stated Meeting Robert Burns 243 Stated meeting 04 Wednesday 6:30 PM Alpha 212 Stated meeting Centennial 26 Stated Meeting 07 Saturday 8:00 AM Crystal 122 Symbolic Lodge Officer Meeting 09 Monday 7:30 PM Everett 137 Stated Meeting 10 Tuesday 7:30 PM Damascus 199 Stated Meeting 11 Wednesday 6:30 PM Arlington 129 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30 PM Meeting 12 Thursday 6:30 PM Peninsular 95 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30 PM Meeting 17 Tuesday 7:30 PM Sultan-Monroe 160 Stated Meeting Robert Burns 243 Stated meeting Crystal 122 Stated Meeting 18 Wednesday 6:30 PM Alpha 212 Stated meeting Centennial 26 Stated Meeting 24 Tuesday 7:30 PM Damascus 199 Stated Meeting 25 Wednesday 6:30 PM Arlington 129 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30 PM Meeting 26 Thursday 6:30 PM Peninsular 95 Special 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30 PM Meeting DISTRICT NINE MASONIC HAPPENINGS March 2009 Date Day Time Lodge Event 03 Tuesday 6:30 PM Mount Baker 36 Stated Meeting 05 Thursday 7:30 PM Burlington-United 93 Stated Meeting 10 Tuesday 7:30 PM Fidalgo 77 Stated Meeting 12 Thursday 6:30 PM Camanio 19 Stated Meeting 16 Monday 7:30 PM Langley 218 Stated Meeting 17 Tuesday 7:30 PM Whidbey Island 15 Stated Meeting 19 Thursday 7:30 PM Garfield 41 Stated Meeting 26 Monday 7:30 PM Anacortes Lodge Officer Meeting Note: Brethren take the time to visit your local Blue Lodges and share with then the opportunities that are available to them in our valley

10 F&AM Scottish Rite Bodies P. O. Box 1112 Everett, WA Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage paid Mt Vernon, WA Permit No. 147 March 2009 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 Representative From SGIG of WA and AK, Bill Miller From the Secretary Calendar of Events March s Birthdays Lodge of Perfection by Allen Lowe Director of Works by Walt Moody Sovereign Grand Commander Albert Pike Part 2; submitted by Dave McCustion Master of Kadosh by Bryan Bechler Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal, By Wayne I Smith, Master Craftsman Program by Hernan Davinagracia Greatest Generation Howard Christianson, By Jim Larson Americanism & Public Schools by David McCustion and Leonard Martin Web masters' Note: Come visit the Everett Valley web site. It is located at: DATES TO REMEMBER March 20, 2009 The Ceremony Of Remembrance 6:30 PM Punch Bowl Social 7:00 PM Dinner Ladies, Guest and Friends are Cordially invited to attend You have reached the golden age when it takes you longer to get over a good time than it did to have it Uncle Joe, The Chinaberry Tree Philosopher Valley of Everett Contact List Carl Smith, 33º, Personal Representative of the S.G.I G. Telephone: umpire@wavecable.com Charrison Lochaby, 32º, KCCH, Secretary Telephone: clochaby@whidbey.com John Friesen, 32º Almoner Telephone: john-friesen@comcast.net Kenneth Thompson, 32º, Editor Telephone: Kenneth.thompson32@verizon.net