Steilacoom Lodge #2 F. & A. M. of Washington

Welcome to Steilacoom Lodge # 2 Moonlighter Online!

Moonlighter for March 2004

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3

From the East

Brethren,
 
Once again the working tools are silent in the quarry, our dear Worshipful Brother Larry Hoffman went to the celestial Lodge above a couple of weeks ago.  As I sit here in silent contemplation a couple of things occur to me. First, I had planned to go see Larry, knowing well his condition was terminal. But, you know, I just didn't get around to it and now it is too late.  The lesson here, my Brothers, is the time is NOW to go visit a sick brother, the time is NOW to tend to the widow that needs a kind word, the time is NOW for all those things that we "mean to do" and just never seem to get around to.  Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, so do today what you have been putting off until tomorrow.

 

   Secondly, I think it is time for us to put together a funeral team.  I figure that if we have one, it will not get used! Oh, don't I wish.  But seriously, we have enough Brothers that are outstanding Ritualists that we should consider making a Steilacoom Lodge Funeral Team.  We should make ourselves available to those Masonic families that may have need of us.  Anyone interested, please contact me.

 

    On a more positive note, I would really like to get us out to the ball game!  If some Brother in the Shrine can inform me of upcoming events I will pick a couple of tentative dates for your consideration at our next stated meeting.

 

    Speaking of stated meetings, we had Forty-Seven Brothers at the last stated meeting!!! How cool is that!  Since we have so many visitors it is only right that we return the favor. WB Fred Owens, WB Bailey Green, Bro John Geier and myself visited Parkland/Lakewood Lodge last Wednesday and had a wonderful time.  Great brotherhood and they were superb hosts. So... where does the Steilacoom Lodge Masonic Visitation Train head next? Stay tuned!!
 
Fraternally yours,
 
Joe Fuller
WM

                                                                                    

History of Steilacoom Lodge #2     

   

As promised, another excerpt on the history our lodge from “A History of Steilacoom Lodge No. 2, F. & A.M.” written by Brother Christian A. Spreen, whom is VWB Alan Spreen’s father, with Very Worshipful Brother Spreen’s permission.  Thank you again VWB Spreen.

 

 

            “Steilacoom Lodge from the very beginning can claim pleasant relationships with members of the Armed Forces.  Lt Wm. A. Slaughter who demitted from Olympia Lodge to sign the petition of Steilacoom Lodge, was stationed at Ft. Steilacoom.  He Became Senior Warden in 1854 when the lodge was organized and upon removal of Wallace, became Master.  Slaughter brought his bride when he came to the Pacific Coast with 4th Infantry and was stationed at Ft Vancouver before coming to Ft Steilacoom.  Lt. Slaughter surveyed and drafted Bach’s Part of the Town of Steilacoom.  When the Indian War began in Sept 1855 he was an active and successful troop commander.  He was killed at Brennan’s Prairie near the site of the present city of Auburn, Dec 5, 1855.  Both Lt Slaughter and his wife were well liked and his death was a blow to the community as well as the lodge of which he was Master.  He was buried at Ft Steilacoom with Masonic and Military honors.  The body was later moved to the military cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco.”

 

I wonder how many of you knew that the town of Auburn was originally named after Lt. Slaughter in his honor, but was changed in 1894 because some felt that the name Slaughter gave the wrong impression.

 

WB Tom Kingsbury

Announcements

Kaffee Klatsch

Catch the 0900 ferry in Steilacoom, wander up the hill and be prepared for hot coffee and a fresh goodie. This happens on every Tuesday! Well, almost every Tuesday! I will send e-mail to most who come on Mondays!

I can promise you refreshments, you bring the friendship and fraternity and we all will have a fun morning. It seems that our discussions are getting increasingly interesting. Keep it up!!

Y'All Come, Y'A Hear!!!

Jer

Tressleboard for March:

March 5, 2004 Stated Pot Luck Dinner at 6:30 PM     (Corned Beef & Cabbage)
March 12, 2004   Special Spaghetti Dinner  Youth Programs Invited

An Article from our Junior Past Master:

 

My Mom sent this to me the other day.  It’s from their OES on-line news letter “Stars of Washington” and I wanted to share it with my you.  I don’t know who the author is, but it is a very good story.  Enjoy…

  

SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER

 

    It was a tale of Masonic men surrounding a campfire in the Old West, at night, discussing the Fraternity and its teachings. One old man listened patiently, and finally spoke up:

    "I can tell you more about Masonry in a little example than some of the great Masonic philosophers can in books. Everybody stand up, and gather in a circle around the campfire."

    They did that.

    "Now, everybody hold hands with the man next to him."

    They did that, too.

    "Now, what do you see, looking ahead?"

    "The face of a Brother Mason through the flames."

    "What do you feel in front of you?"

    "The warmth of the fire, and the comfort it brings on a cool night."

    "What do you feel at your side?"

    "The warm hand of a Brother."

    "OK. Now, drop the hands, and turn around."

    They did so.

    "Now, what do you see, looking ahead?"

    "Complete darkness."

    "What do you feel, looking ahead?"

    "A sense of loneliness, of being alienated."

    "What do you feel at your side?"

    "Nothing at all."

    "What do you feel on your backside?"

    "The warmth of the fire."

    "So it is with Masonry," said the old man.

"In Masonic gatherings, you can feel the warmth of Masonic interaction, you can see the face of a Brother through the light Masonry brings to you, and you can always feel the warm hand of a Brother. When you turn away from Masonry, and are out in the world, you see darkness, feel alienated and alone, and do not feel the warm hand of your Masonic Brother. But Masonry, and the warmth and light it brings, are just a turn away from you."

Submitted by WB Tom Kingsbury

We are a little thin on the input for this month! If you want more content, please e-mail or mail to me articles for next month by the 18th of April.  Thanks!  Yeah, I missed that Steilacoom Lodge Visitation Train on that Wednesday.  But I did make it to the train to Cedar Lodge #104 for two Second Degrees.  -- Editor

Steilacoom Lodge's History for the first 100 years was published in 1952.  It is therefore a challenge to all Past Masters and our long time members to provide something to add to this book so that we may publish a 150 years of Masonry for Steilacoom Lodge #2.  We need your history or your memories of the past 50 years to make it possible.  Yes, we have the Minutes of the Meetings, but that is not the full story; the funny things that happen in Lodge or at a Special gathering; the antidotes that come and go; the untold story of how the Moon Plaque was made and presented; anything that makes up our history as a Lodge!  Please send your stories, articles, and other memories to me, by e-mail to Mike.Smitson@Comcast.net.  Or by regular mail to my home at:  9826 Coral Dr SW Lakewood, WA  98498.  Or to the Worshipful Master, Joe Fuller.  Or to WB Tom Kingsbury.

 

Lets publish a great 150 years of Masonry of Steilacoom Lodge #2, of the Most Worshipful Free and Accepted Masons of Washington!  --  The Editor.

 

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