THE SLIP KNOT! Maritime Lodge #239 May 2015 Upcoming Events 5/7 - Food Bank deliveries Brothers Flood & Leckie 5/7 - Landmark Lodge #128 Installation of Officers! An electronic Trestle Board The purpose and intent of this electronic trestle board is to develop a monthly source to disseminate pertinent information to our members and provide a venue for you, the member, to express your ideas and opinions, post photos, report news, advertise your business and whatever else you might want it to be. Please don t hesitate to use and share it! An Open invitation.. 5/11 - Maritime Stated, light dinner at 6:15, meeting at 7:30 5/13 - District Four Scholarship Awards Banquet - 6 PM Greenwood Masonic Center 5/21 - Food Bank delivery Brothers Lyman & Hyde 5/23 - District Four Breakfast 8 AM hosted by Rainier Lodge # 189 Maritime Lodge meets on the second Monday of the month for a light dinner at 6:15, followed by the meeting at 7:30 (We are dark July, August & December). Maritime Lodge welcomes all Masons of any degree at our Stated communications. To our members: You are very important and your attendance at Lodge meetings is appreciated. MISSION STATEMENT To collectively practice and preserve the principles, tenets and rituals of Freemasonry to the best of our ability - To promote friendship, morality and Brotherly love among man and Mason - To maintain our commitment to the Seafaring man and, To endeavor as a Lodge to have a profound positive effect in and on our community - 1
Maritime Lodge #239, F. & A. M. of Washington Issue 5, May 2015 WM Jeffery A. Flood And The Master says. Greetings from the Maritime East! Our April Stated Meeting went well, the highlight of which was a great presentation from VWB Ian Hyde. He spoke to us about the history of Freemasonry and the Church of Latter Day Saints. I must say that I learned a lot in 20 minutes. It still amazes me how both groups were treated in the 19th century. If you missed lodge you missed a great, a well researched presentation. Once again I was disappointed at the poor turnout for this stated meeting. I do not understand why my fellow brothers have avoided lodge. I fear that we are losing so much every month that it may be difficult to recover from the loss. I am concerned. I invite every member to reach out to me and express your opinion of our lodge, both positive and negative. I can't do this without your help, support and input. I would like to take this opportunity to thank VWB Marv Pearson and VWB Tom Bulson for not only their visitation but also for sitting in a chair. Lastly, it is with great sorrow that I learned of the passing of our District Deputy VWB Errol Scott. He was a good man and a great Mason. Masonry in general and Maritime specifically has lost a true friend. Fair winds to you my brother. Brother Ken Van-Cooten, Senior Warden A little guidance from the West.. Brethren: As you know, we are already in the month of April and before you know it, the summer will be here. Sunshine, warm temperatures and long days, won't you all agree with me that a great opportunity lies ahead for us to plan some outdoor activities so we can all get together. There are many activities to choose from - it doesn't have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as getting together for lunch at the Master's restaurant or a surprise visit to Brother Arnot's place, but the general idea is to have each of us invite and bring along an inactive Maritime member who hasn't been attending meetings. First let us come up with a list of the inactive members, then each of us select 1 or 2 members from the list who we will persuade to attend. I am prepared to transport my selection(s) to and from their home(s) if I have to. I am not forgetting to mention activities that involve family members. Can't we go on a boat ride and have the lodge pick up half of the cost just once? I challenge each of us to come up with ideas that will bring us together and have us feel that we are part of a group that belong together, and at the same time reminding inactive members that the tug they are feeling is that cable toe yanking them back to the fold. Are you with me? 2
Maritime Lodge #239, F. & A. M. of Washington Issue 5, May 2015 Brother Aaron Cohn, Junior Warden A message from the South Message from the South. I would like to start off by thanking all of the Brethren who joined us for the April Stated Meeting. We had a great presentation by VWB Ian Hyde about Masonry and Mormonism that was both extremely informative and entertaining. Please join us for our next Stated Meeting on May 11th with a light dinner at 6:30 pm followed by the Stated Meeting at 7:30 pm. I also want to remind the Brothers of the upcoming District 4 Masonic Scholarship Dinner that will be occurring on May 13th at 6:30 pm prepared by the BBQ Boyz of Occidental Lodge No. 72. The Awards Ceremony will follow at 7:30 pm with keynote speaker WB Martin Monk of Alki Lodge No. 152. We will be presenting two scholarships to well deserving young students at the ceremony, but more importantly this is a great opportunity for all of the Brothers of District 4 to show support for this very worthwhile cause. So please plan on joining us for a night of fellowship and celebration of these amazing young adults! The Plumb... which is an operative stonemason's instrument used for ascertaining the alignment of a vertical surface, reminds us to maintain upright behavior among Masons and men. ======================================================================== As previously reported, our sister Lodge Landmark Lodge #128, in Maple Ridge, B.C. has changed their meeting days from Fridays to Thursdays. Visitation between our Lodges began in 1951 and has continued ever since, that s 63 years. It has become a traditional custom of the Lodges that in addition to periodic visitation, that we attend and at times participate in each other Installation of Officers. The late MWB C. Grant Wardlaw traditionally installed our Secretary and Treasurer. Since his passing that tradition has been carried on by WB Douglas Potter. I m sure that there were others, but in recent years VWB Ian Hyde, WB Bob Haslan and myself have had the honor by being asked to participate in Landmark s Installation of Officers. Let s keep the tradition going! Landmark s upcoming Installation of Officers is slated for Thursday, May 7, 2015. ======================================================================== Just a little tidbit. Back in 1921, while WB Andrew J. Storrs (Maritime s 1st Worshipful Master) and his friends were petitioning Grand Lodge for a charter other things were going on around the country. Boeing abandons making furniture in response to demand for aircraft, future President Franklin D. Roosevelt contracts polio at age 29 and a Buick touring car sold for $650, while a Cadillac Victoria went for $4,540. 3
Plus a little Lodge news... Our SW, Brother Ken Van-Cooten is in the process of planning for the Installation of Officers and could use some help in filling out his line. You just may hear from him soon or give him a call if you re interested. There is a distinct possibility that the Installation will be held early this year (mid September) in order to accommodate Ken s family who will be coming from New York. WB Gene Ross has been diligently working on a Past Masters Night, which is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2015. RWB Warren R. Schoeben, who will then be the SGW, will be the featured speaker. So, if you re a Past Master, reserve that date because it s your time to shine. For the rest, please come out to honor our Past Masters. On the District level Sadly our District Deputy, VWB Errol G. Scott passed away on Monday April 20, 2015 after a courageous battle with congestive heart disease. May he rest in everlasting peace and let s all keep his wife and family in our thoughts and prayers. WB Tom Bulson of Greenwood Lodge # 253 has been appointed and installed as the Deputy of District Four for the remainder of VWB Errol Scott s term. VWB Bulson will be regularly installed for a two-year term as Deputy of the Grand Master of District Number Four at the Grand Lodge Communication in June. Which leads me to the 2015 Grand Lodge Annual Communication, which will be held in Kennewick, WA. on June 11th, 12th and 13th. Pre-registration is required (including the fee), this can be accomplished either by email at the GL website or by snail mail to the GL office. A message from Brother John Spicher.. Hail Brother! I have enjoyed very much the "Slip Knot" as it keeps me in touch with what the Lodge and Brothers are doing. Keep up the work of a Mason! As for me, reading the February issue Brother Ken's article struck a chord. I was sitting on the airplane heading for my new job at sea. One thing I reflected on was how do I act as a Mason? Now some of you may remember that when I was Raised, Brother Bob Spicher, my father, presented my with my Grandfather's Masonic ring. I had it sized, wore it on Lodge nights, but didn't want to damage it while working. Now with this job there is little chance of damaging the ring that has been passed down through the family...so as a reminder to myself I put on my Masonic ring and that is where it has been since...my reminder to use the tools of a Mason that I've learned in Lodge to stand upright, act on the Square and strive to be a better person. Enjoy going to Lodge, the fellowship with a Brother and the learning about being a Mason. Fraternally, Brother John Spicher The Sunshine Report On a bright note. I m happy to report that VWB Blair Leckie s wife Georgia is making great gains. It has been hard for her, but let s pray that her recovery continues to be strong and swift. 4
Maritime Lodge retains possession of the Traveling Gavel and challenges the other District Lodges to come claim it, so Let s talk visitation. Visitation does take time and effort, but it can be very rewarding. Visitation is a multi-faceted affair. A visit to another Lodge does a number of things: first, upon entry you announce that you and your Lodge are vital and interested, that you care about your Masonry and that you have a desire to expand your Masonic horizons. More importantly though, that you care about their Masonry, that you are interested in what they are doing and how they go about their business. There is always some variation in the ritual and it s always interesting to see. Beyond that it affords you the opportunity to rekindle old friendships and foster new ones. So, give it a try, you ll be glad you did! Below is the meeting schedule of all District Four Lodges: Occidental Lodge No. 72-3rd Thurs.* 2006 N.W. Market Street, Seattle 98107-4012 Doric Lodge No. 92 - First Tues. (if Hol. next day)* 619 N. 36th, Seattle 98103-8615 Green Lake Lodge No. 149-1st Thurs. (If Hol. 2nd Thurs.)* 307 N.E. Maple Leaf Pl., Seattle 98115-5315 Rainier Lodge No. 189-2nd Fri., except 3rd Fri. of June, (Dark July, Aug. & Dec.), Greenwood Masonic Center, 7910 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle. 98103-4636 Maritime Lodge No. 239-2nd Mon. each month except July, August, December, Greenwood Masonic Center, 7910 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle. 98103-4636 Greenwood Lodge No. 253-1st Wed. (If Hol. 2nd Wed.)* 7910 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle. 98103-4636 Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281-4th Thurs. Feb., Apr., June, Aug., Oct. (3rd Fri. Dec.), Happy Birthday Brother May Birthdays May Masonic Birthdays 5/22 Frank Follman 5/15 Theodore Hanse 5/24 James Hearn 5/7 Eduardo McPhearson 5/24 Matt Prasik 5/28 Harry Reynolds 5/31 Robert Wilson 5/7 Theodor Woodard 5/4/72 Charles Cadmus 5/21/38 Robert Clifton 5/6/06 Don Dimen 5/15/80 Carl Ek 5/13/68 Barry Fairfax 5/6/06 Jeff Flood 5/7/48 Frank Follman 5/22/78 Zachery Galbraith 5/20/87 Nils Haugen 5/28/87 Robert Hull 5/25/88 Ian Hyde 5/22/02 Alex LaBarba 5/10/65 Ian MacDonald 5/10/99 Daniel Miller 5/11/53 James Skar 5/22/82 John Tiland 5
Notice Notice Notice Until someone submits something else, you re going to have to endure this crap that I write. I would prefer that what we fill these pages with be your knowledge, wisdom, ideas, cares and concerns. So, do yourself and the rest a favor and submit an article to help fill this void. TC ATTENDANCE by WB Tony Corning Let s have a frank conversation about attendance. First let s discuss what we have to gain by attending lodge meetings and participating in lodge activities. Let s start with personal integrity - when we joined the lodge we vowed that we would conform to all established customs. Monthly meetings are just one of those established customs. When we accept a position in the line it s expected that we will fulfill that obligation by learning our work and attending the meetings. Next, there is the potential for personal growth. The statement that we take good men and make them better is not simply a jingle that was coined by some dude on a park bench, but was derived from seeing the reformation that Freemasonry can have on the common, less informed man. The truth of this is spread throughout the tenets and rituals of Freemasonry, if only we choose to look, listen and then practice them. Then there are the social aspects, the friendships that we form and the camaraderie that we enjoy, the charity work that we do, the community involvement and finally there s the personal satisfaction of knowing that we are doing our part in supporting our Lodge and carrying this great and wonderful fraternity forward. Now, what do we have to lose by not participating? All of the above! And if there is any man out there who says that he can t plan, set aside or somehow schedule 6 hours, once a month for a meeting at 7:30 at night, on a weekday night there s something wrong. Come on, we spend more time in the bathroom (which is a good place to practice your work)! 6
And now let s get down to business Please patronize and support the businesses of our members and those who support us... WB Jeff Flood - The Ravenna Ale House, 2687 NE 65th, Seattle. A neighborhood pub with great food and great fun. (206) 729-9083 Brother Andrew Leckie - BAR DOJO, 8404 Bowdoin Way, Edmonds, WA 98020 (425) 967-7267 Email: feedme@bardojo.com Shooby Doo Catering. NEW - Brother Andrew Leckie - Salt and Iron, 321 Main Street, Edmonds, WA. Steak and Oysters plus much, much more! 7 days, hours vary (425) 361-1112 VWB C. Blair Leckie - Keller Williams Realty, 1307 N. 45th Street, Seattle, WA 98103. (206) 963-6186 Email: bleckie@kw.com Georgia Leckie - Inspired Interiors, 10506 Robin Hood Drive, Edmonds, WA 98020. (206) 541-6163 Email: inspiredinteriors@mac.com Brother Tim Arnot- Tim's Tavern. 602 N 105th St. Seattle, WA 98133. 2-2 weekdays, noon - 2 am weekends. Live music 7 nights per week. Brother Ken Van-Cooten - Fahrenheit Steel, Relax to the soft ring of his tropical steel drums. Dinner, Dance and Entertainment music that is truly unique. (206) 551-9612 Your name and business can appear here! If you want your business to appear in the Slip Knot you must submit your updated business information to me by the 20th of the month. Email your business information to: tony.corning@maritimemasons239.com Disclaimer If there were to be such a thing as an editor, he would accept absolutely no responsibility for the content, accuracy or grammatical correctness of any article printed in this publication So, until someone else decides to take this up, forward those photos, ideas, opinions and business info, etc. to me at tony.corning@maritimemasons239.com and I ll include them in the next issue. The deadline for submittal will be the 20th of the month for the subsequent months issue. 7