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) Charrison Lochaby, 32,KCCH Secretary P.O. Box 1112 Everett, WA Orient of Washington Volume 17 May 2008 Issue 05 The other night while watching the Twenty Sixth Degree I thought: What are the candidates learning from this Degree?...What am I learning from this Degree?.What have I learned from all the Degrees of Scottish Rite? The Degrees have, for me, tremendously expanded my thirst for Masonry. They have made more clear and understandable the great truths and allegories of Masonry and provided me with more Masonic Light. So, what have I learned? I have learned that I should be faithful to promises made and to the vows that I assume. I learned to be a man of honor and conscience, preferring duty to everything else, to be independent in my opinions, to be of good morals, to be devoted to humanity, to country, to family; kind and indulgent to my brethren, ready to assist my brethren by every means in my power. I learned to be industrious and honest, that idleness is like a lifeless person. I learned that I should take no credit for work I have not done or cannot do, that the rewards which I have received, I have honestly earned. Perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned is best explained by the words of Daniel Webster: If we work upon marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds, and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and love of our fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten to all eternity. MOTHER S DAY BRUNCH The Valley s Annual Mother s Day Brunch will be on Sunday, May 11 th, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Mark this date on your calendar to honor your Lady on her special day. Family and friends are cordially invited so they may honor the very special Lady in their life also. Please let our Secretary, Brother Charrison Lochaby, 32, know if you ll be attending by calling him at or ing him at clochaby@whidbey.com if you haven t already signed-up. HAPPY MOTHER S DAY Carl B. Smith, 33, Personal Representative of the S.G.IG. From the Almoner's desk If anyone knows of anyone who is ill, or in a nursing home or hospital, please let me know so I can send them a card to them or a visit. May God be with you? God Bless. Jim Raymond 32º KCCH, Almoner goflo2004@verizon.net Telephone:

2 Charrison Lochaby, 32º This year, Everett Valley has utilized the Supreme Council s generous offer of mailing out our dues statements and follow up reminders for a nominal fee. The first statement was mailed last August for the 2008 dues. Then a reminder was mailed in December 2007 and another in March Each of these reminders was mailed to members with a balance owing for their dues. This morning I completed a search of the dues owing and in spite of these mailings I found that 46 of our members have not paid their 2008 dues. And 21 of our members owe for their 2007 dues as well as If one does the math.the 46 members owing their 2008 dues amounts to $1, and the 21 who owe for 2007 & 2008 dues equals $1, for a total of $3, that is due to the Valley. Brethren, the Valley is here for your benefit and enjoyment. But, if your dues are not paid, then you will lose the benefit and enjoyment. Some of you I have never seen in Lodge. How about joining us on a Friday evening and renew old friendships as well as making new ones. A SITE TO SEE! By Ken Thompson, 32º Th e Lodge Room It's Ti me To Take A Look At Freemasonry The LodgeRoom.com is a Masonic web site devoted to all aspects of Freemasonry and its appendant and concordant bodies. We have hundreds of articl es and free k WANTED CARETAKERS MASONIC PARK: The Masonic Park in Granite Falls Washington, needs to find a couple that would be interested in becoming full time caretakers for our beautiful park. The position would require maintenance work in the park, management ability and computer skills. Includes salary and nice home. Interested couples can contact any Board Member, member of the Master Mason s club, or send a letter of interest or resume to; Masonic Park, P O Box 1379 Granite Falls, WA The Masonic Park can be visited online at Did You Know? ACACI A by William "Ray" Fischer The Acacia tree is found in the aria known as Palestine during ancient times, today it is found all over Africa. Acacia looks like the mulberry tree, can grow to well over one hundred feet high and is a hard wood. The gum obtained from it is known as Arabic. Acacia is a sacred Hebrew wood known in the scripture as "Shittah." The ark of the covenant was made from it. Acacia is part of our initiation as Master Masons and represents the immortality of the soul, as the soul lives on after our bodies have been put to rest. Acacia can be a bush, tree, or a grove of trees. If you cut it down it grows back, if you burn it, it grows back. If you try to dig it up and leave one root it will grow back. Acacia can live through floods, droughts, and bad soil conditions. There is little doubt to the reason Acacia is our symbol of immortality. From the Webmaster Ed Boress, Webmaster Everett Scottish Rite edbo1@earthlink.net I would like to thank B. Charrison Lochaby keeping your web site up to date. I personally manage many web sites (I have lost count) for various organizations but have yet to see anybody keep a site so up to date without my hounding or interference. It makes the Valley of Everett "look good and on top of it" and keeps the information FRESH which is critical to obtain hits. Your site is not as busy as other sites but your site is a fraternal site and will mainly get its hits from curious people or from the brethren that seek to be updated on events in the Valley. We began tracking hits in January of Through March 28, 2008 your site has received 16,978 hits with the Newsflash and Calendar of Events being the most popular pages on the site. For those interested, the following "search terms" on the web were the most popular to find (my favorite being "Scottish rite password"). 1. valley of everett scottish rite 2. scottish rite password 3. everett valley rite 4. scottish rite washington state 5. everett valley scottish rite 6. scottish rite everett 7. washington scottish rite 8. scottish rite free masonry website 9. valley of the scottish rite On a final note, please go to your site and browse through it. Your NewsLetter is posted on the site long before it is mailed and there is an archive of past NewsLetters at your disposal dating back to January 2005.

3 Exsisto Paratus By David A. McCuistion, 32º The Boy Scout Motto Be Prepared is simple and straight forward, yet conveys a much deeper meaning than the two words imply. When asked what that really meant, Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting said, Why, for any old thing. What he really meant for scouting, which for sure applies to Masonry also, was that Scouts should be ready in mind and body for any struggle, and to meet with a strong heart whatever challenges might lie ahead. 1 The Great Light of Masonry gives us many examples on when to be prepared and for what to be prepared. King Solomon tells us in many of his Proverbs of the merits of being prepared with wisdom, discipline, righteous tongue and lips, and the value of storing up knowledge. 2 In other words, being prepared for any of life s many opportunities of which we are confronted. In Latin, the word be has several meanings to emerge, happen, take place, appear, and the one that to me is selfevident, exist EXSISTO! This seems to imply that to Be Prepared is to be in a state of existence whereby one is ready to the maximum extent possible to meet any and all of life s struggles in a condition of confidence and purpose. So it appears that Exsisto Paratus tells us to exist at a level of preparedness that allows one to meet challenges head-on, without fear of failure. The Apostle Peter tells us Therefore, to prepare your minds for action; be selfcontrolled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 3 Masonically, Peter is directing us to be in a state of life-long learning of M asonic principles, precepts, philosophy, and expertise, either in speci fic areas or in many or all facets of the craft. Historically, this has been the standard level of expertise for Masons. When you look critically at yourself today, how do you match up? For me, I feel unworthy to be a Past Master of my Lodge. As you are astutely aware, 2008 is a national election year in which the candidates are all talking about change is some fashion, some kind of change in a new direction for the country. I think we need a change in Masonry also a change whereby Masons take seriously their Masonic education and expertise, becoming experts in our craft, maintaining an attitude of life-long learners in search of the lost word and a personal revitalization of ritualistic perfection. Yes, that is quite a change for some of us, which means less time in front of the silver box of the living room and more time reading, studying ritual, researching Masonic philosophy, and improving our public speaking and communicating skills. For this change to take place in Washington Masonry, I think we need to ask two questions: (1) Is Masonry relevant to us?, and (2) Am I up to learning, let s say the basic ritual of routine Lodge business? Our own Grand Lodge Vision Statement says, Freemasons of Washington will be recognized as a relevant and respected fraternity, committed to attracting and retaining all men of high quality who strive for self improvement and the opportunity to make a positive difference in their community. Regarding the question of relevance of Masonry, in the paper Is Freemasonry Still Relevant?, RW Bro. Daniel Doron of Reuven Lodge No. 1 of the Grand Lodge of Israel, speaks directly in terms of personal value in one s attitudes and actions, relevance in our present soci ety, and in Freemasonry affect on the future in society. He also asks questions about changing our principles of morality. To all these questions he presents evidence that unquestionably speaks to the relevance of Masonry, and therefore, supports the Grand Lodge Vision Statement. If you agree with the Grand Lodge Vision Statement as do I, the second question I asked above requires a decision by each of us regarding profici ency in every aspect of Masonic Ritual. Evidence exists that says it is easier than we all believe. Worshipful Brother Mark Waks, in his article about learning and memorizing ritual, points out several tools to help with the process. He recommends that you have to figure out the words, understand the speech, learn small parts before attempting large-scale memorization, smoothing it out in the privacy of your car, your garage or some other private place, and finally practicing and acting the part. 5 Does it take effort and practice? O f course it does. In a recent leadership training I attended, the speaker told a story about his visit to Broadway with his wife. The speaker noted to his wi fe after the show how the actors all seemed to be putting forth their finest effort during the performance. His wife reminded him, That is why they are on Broadway! 4 Actors on Broadway are peak performers, always practicing and doing something, especially practicing, to become better in their trade. Are you on Broadway within Masonry? Are you a Mason who is a peak performer someone who is always doing something to make ones self better in Masonry? Or, are you like the new Mason who was telling the Old Tiler how embarrassed he felt in lodge that night when the Worshipful Master had asked him to be the Chaplain for Lodge that evening and that he had to refuse because he wasn t prepared to go to the Alter and pray in open lodge. The Old Tiler gave him a firm and straight-forward lesson on how he needed to overcome his fear of not being able to give an adequate prayer, either from his heart or from the Ritual. 6 Brethren, the Great Light of Masonry exhorts us to be prepared for every calling presented before us in our daily lives. We must prepare our minds for action so that we exist in preparedness, ready for every challenge we meet, so that we won t be embarrassed when called upon to fill a chair in Lodge or in any other Masonic body to which we belong. We must have faith that the Supreme Architect will carry us through every endeavor. We must have faith in our Brothers that they won t think less of us because we perform ed our part in a l ess than peak performance excellence. We must have faith in ourselves that gives us the courage and confidence to step up when called upon to do so. EXSISTO PARATUS Be Prepared! Endnotes: 1. Boy Scout Handbook, 11 th Ed, Proverbs 10, The Leadership Bible, NIV, Ibid, 1 Peter 1: David Rabner, Rabner Resources, Portland, OR, Learning & Memorizing Ritual, WB Mark Waks, Hammatt Ocean Lodge, Saugus, MA. 6. Old Tiler Talks, Carl H. Claudy, Temple Publishers, 2003.

4 The members of the Valley of Everett Scotti sh Ri te extend to All the Brethren listed below, Born in the mon th of May. Steven Anderson Grove Bancroft Louis Bartrand Gary Bermensolo Ronald Britt ain Gerald Earl Ivan Franzen Melvin Freimuth Charles Guilder Robert Heister Gerald Horsman John Joseph James Langus G. Santy Lascano William Lind Bill McCallister Nicholas Mitchell Vern Moen Richard Morey Richard Morgan Dennis Olivarez Lanny Parker Dennis Petersen Robert Quinby Orrie Reed William Roal Marshall Robinson Edward Rouleau Robert Scott Henry Sherman Merle Smith Wayne Smith William Smith Carl Tingelstad Stig Westerlund John Williams Donald Wilson Glenn Wilson The Trowel Author Unknown T is for the tools of the first three degrees R for every rule as each brother agrees; O is for the oath, in making all brothers true W is for the work each one of us must do; E is for the effort to answer every call L stands for love...the most important thing of all; These letters spell TROWEL, and as every brother knows; It spreads love and friendship, wherever it goes. Refrigerator card (Please cut out this card and place it on your Refrigerator as a reminder of upcoming Scottish Rite and other meetings, appointments or events) May 2008 May 2-3 Supreme Council Western Leadership Conference Seattle, W A (SEATAC) May 09 Lodge of Perfection 6:30 PM Buffet May 16 Council of Kadosh 6:30 PM Buffet May18 Executive Committee Meeting 2:00 PM May 30 Consistory 6:30 PM Buffet 32 nd Degree Notes for other Meeting/Events Date Function THE ROAD OF MASONRY by Bro. Douglas Malloch Men build a Road of Masonry Across the hills and dales; Unite the prairie and the sea, The mountains and the vales They cross the chasm, bridge the stream They point to where the turrets gleam, And many men for many a day Who seek the heights shall find the way Men build a Road of Masonry But not for self they build With footsteps of humility The hearts of men are thrilled. This music makes their labors sweet; The endless tramp of other feet The thought that men shall travel thus An easier road because of us. We build the Road of Masonry With other men in mind; We do not build for you and me, We build for all mankind. We build a road, remember, men Build not for Now, but build for When, And other men who walk the way Shall find the road we build today. Who builds the Road of Masonry, Though small or great his part, However hard the task may be May toil with singing heart. For it is something, after all, When muscles tire and shadows fall, To know that other men shall bless T he BUILDER for his faith fulness. Winter Trees Jessica Lensman, Age 11, Frenchtown Trees are like islands in a sea of snow. Old and knowing of creatures below. Mice scurry round at their feet, Looking for something they can eat. The clouds are always high above, As white as a beautiful, peaceful dove. The lakes are all frozen over, As we wait for that first little gopher. All of the deer s tracks are in the snow, Nobody knows where they all go. Wolves are all cuddled up in their dens, Making it seem winter never ends. The trees still stand in a sea of snow, Old and knowing of creatures below. Submitted By Walt Moody, 32º,KCCH

5 Western Washington Degree Schedule 4 14 th Bellingham Bellingham 10/15/2008 Olympia Ev erett 27 Seattle 29 Ev erett 30 Ev erett 5/16/2008 Seattle Olympia 32 Ev erett 5/30/2008 Seattle 5/10/2008 Olympia A Masonic Moment By WB Wally Zink The Real Heroes Nearly 100 years ago the then President Teddy Roosevelt, speaking before the Paris Sorbonne, said: It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how strong men stumble, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit goes to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again and who in the end knows that achievement will ultimately triumph. Today, who are acclaimed and cited as heroes? It would appear that hero s today are those athletic stars who can hit a baseball over a wall, zigzag 40 yards for a touch down, hit a basket from 20 feet out, or rap singers who mumble words and stumble around like they are trying to escape an earthquake. They may be lovely and delightful people, but are they heroes? A real hero is a soldier of the 4 th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. He could have been met by a bomb or a hail of AK-47 bullets. A real hero, and one that stalks the memory, is the COMING ATTRACTIONS U.S. soldier in Baghdad who saw a small girl playing with a piece of unexploded ordnance on the street. He pushed her aside and threw himself on it just as it exploded, leaving a shattered family in California and a small girl alive in Baghdad. T hink of the fireman climbing up ladders at the World Trade Centers as the towers collaps ed. That army of orderlies and paramedics who bring in people wracked in pain; the teachers and nurses who throw their whole spirits into caring for autistic children; that army of com fort, those men and women who work in hospices and cancer wards. These, and all like them, are the hero s!!!! In a world where values have been turned upside down and tossed topsyturvy it is necessary as well as refreshing to again get our values straight. Wally Mother Day Brunch Sunday, May 11, 2008 At the Everett Masonic Center 10:00 AM 1:00 PM Ladies, Guest and Children are invited to attend

6 . Calendar of Events May 2-3 Supreme Council Western Leadership Conference Sea-Tac May 09 - Lodge of Perfection Stated 6:30 PM Buffet - Stated Meeting May 11- Mothers Day Brunch 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM May 16 Council of Kadosh - 6:30 PM Buffet - Stated Meeting 30 th Degree May 18 - Executive Council 2:00 PM May 30 Consistory - 6:30 PM Buffet - Stated Meeting 32 nd Degree June 06 Lodge of Perfection Bannockburn Cap & Ring Ceremony Punch Bowl Social 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Dinner DISTRICT EIGHT MASONIC HAPPENINGS May 2008 Date Day Time Lodge Event 03 Saturday 8:00 AM SLOC Meeting Sultan Monroe Tuesday 7:30 PM Sultan-Monroe 160 Stated Meeting 7:30 PM Crystal 122 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Robert Burns 243 Stated Meeting O VDD 07 Wednesday 7:30PM Centennial 25 Stated Meeting 7:30 PM Alpha 212 Stated Meeting 08 Thursday 6:30 PM Peninsular 95 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30 PM Stated Meeting 10 Saturday Sultan-Monroe 160 Roast of the Grand Master 12 Monday 7:30 PM Everett 137 Stated Meeting 13 Tuesday 7:30 PM Damascus 199 Stated Meeting 7:30 PM Crystal 122 Stated Meeting 14 Wednesday 6:30 PM Arlington 129 6:30 Dinner 7:30 PM Stated Meeting 17 Saturday 2:00PM Skykomish 259 Stated Meeting 20 Tuesday 6:30 PM Sultan-Monroe 160 Stated Meeting 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30 PM Crystal 122 Stated Meeting 7:30 PM Robert Burns 243 Bowling Night 21 Wednesday 7:30PM Centennial 25 Stated Meeting 7:30 PM Alpha 212 Stated Meeting 22 Thursday 7:30 PM Peninsular 95 Special Communication 26 Monday 6:30 PM Everett 137 6:30 PM Dinner 7:30 PM Special 27 Tuesday 7:30 PM Damascus 199 Stated Meeting 7:30 PM Crystal 122 6:30 PM Ritual Practice - Stated Meeting 28 Wednesday 7:30 PM Arlington 129 Stated Meeting DISTRICT NINE MASONIC HAPPENINGS May 2008 Date Day Time Lodge Event 01 Thursday 7:30 PM Burlington-United 93 Stated Meeting 06 Tuesday 7:30 PM Mount Baker 36 Stated Meeting 08 Thursday 7:30 PM Camanio 19 Stated Meeting 12 Monday 7:30 PM District 9 LO A 13 Tuesday 7:30 PM Fidalgo 77 Stated Meeting 15 Thursday 7:30 PM Garfield 41 Stated Meeting 19 Monday 7:00 PM Langley 218 Stated Meeting 20 Tuesday 7:30 PM Whidbey 15 Stated 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

7 This is INCREDIBLE! The picture was taken in It is 18,000 men preparing for war in a training camp at Camp Dodge in Iowa.

8 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Free and Accepted Masons Scottish Rite Bodies P. O. Box 1112 Everett, WA Non- Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 372 Everett, WA May 2008 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 - From the Secretary - Calendar of Events - Did you know? Acacia, Why a symbol of Immortality - Exsisto Paratus By David McCuistion, 32º - Mays Birthdays - The Road Of Masonry by Bro. Douglas Mallock - The Trowel - The Masonic Moment, The Real Heros? by WB Wally Zink - A Site To See!! The Lodge Room by Ken Thompson, 32º Degree Schedule - Incredible Picture, Camp Dodge, Iowa 1918 Webmasters Note: Come visit the Everett Valley web site. It is located at: DATES TO REMEMBER May 11, 2008 Mothers Day Brunch 1000 AM 1:00 PM June 6, 2008 Annual Feast of Bannockburn 6:30 p.m. Punch Bowl Social followed by Dinner at 7:00 PM (by reservation only). I thought nothing of walking three miles to school. Today I have grandchildren who don t think so much of it either Uncle Joe, The Chinaberry Tree Philosopher Contact List Carl Smith, 33º, Personal Representative of the S.G.I G. Telephone: Umpire@wavecable.com Charrison Lochaby, Secretary Telephone: clochaby@whidbey.com Jim Raymond, Almoner Telephone: goflo2004@verizon.net Kenneth Thompson, Editor Telephone: Kenneth.thompson32@verizon.net