Steilacoom Lodge #2 F. & A. M.
Are we having fun yet? Past Grand Master Chuck McQuery sure knows how to have fun. After he opened grand lodge at Kennewick he asked for everyone to secure their cell phones. Woe unto him whose cell phone rings during Grand Session! And then suddenly Santy Luscanto’s cell phone rings. Oh my! Chuck sends the senior deacon to retrieve the phone and bring it to the East. With a huge gavel, Chuck smashed it into pieces—causing everyone (except Santy) to roar with laughter. Then of course, everyone checks their cell phones. Chuck stressed the importance of visual communication.
One of the highlights for me at Grand Lodge was to meet again with my old friend W.B. Larry Thompson. When I first came to Steilacoom Lodge, Larry and his lovely departed wife Millie were always there to greet me and share conversations. It was a pleasure to sit with him once more in Lodge. He now resides in Hermiston Oregon and is a member of Kennewick #153.
The annual Grand Lodge Golf Tournament is a very fun event. It allows old friends to reunite and new friends to meet.
Just by coincidence, my old friend M.W. Bro. James Wood and myself ended up on the same team. James and I were neighbors on the same road in Renton. He rode his horse up to visit and we started talking about Freemasonry. I asked him how to become a Mason and soon I was handed a signed petition. I thanked him once again for getting me started in Freemasonry at St. Andrews #35 in Renton.
Sunday August 5th is the date for our joint church service in DuPont. We share the day with our Prince Hall brothers meeting at 4:30 P.M. and marching together into the DuPont Community Church. The music performed last year was wonderful and our lodge showed a good turnout. We hope to see you again this year.
On August 12 at noon we are having our 11th annual lodge picnic at the Afifi Shrine. Let us know that you are coming. The South Tacoma Classic Car Show will be almost right in front of our lodge—Pacific Highway South from 56th will be closed off and full of classic cars all day. This year we will feature Fred Owens’ 1965 blue Falcon. We’ll sell pop and hand out Masonic literature. It will be fun.
On September 1st, we will be at the Anderson Island Street Fair and Parade, spreading the light of Freemasonry. Take the new Steilacoom 2 ferry and join us.
Sincerely, WM Will Tobin
Lodge Officers for 2008
The demands of your job, summer activities with the family and working on that “honey do” list, thoughtfully provided by your better half, probably doesn’t leave you much time to think about holding an office in the Lodge next year.
Our annual election of officers takes place just over four months
from now. Immediately after the 23 November election the Lodge’s elected
officers will determine the line up of appointed officers for 2008. The
principal criteria for election and appointment are a willingness to serve at
least one year, prior participation in Lodge degrees and other activities and a
completed proficiency as a Master Mason; which brings us to the main point.
With a little effort even a newly initiated Entered
Apprentice can be a
proficient Master Mason by 23 November.
Our proficiency study sessions are now being scheduled from 6 – 9 PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month. Additional assistance can be requested from one of the Lodges coaches. Once you can read the cipher memorizing the necessary work and completing the Alternate Proficiency Workbook is not as difficult as many Brothers lead themselves to believe.
The only difference
between the Brothers who do exemplary ritual work and you is they have made a
decision to excel and have put forth the
necessary effort. The Lodge’s ritualists and leaders are more than willing to
help you achieve proficiency and full participation in the Lodge’s degree work
and other activities.
Fraternally, WB Wayne Everett
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Jon Thralls Returning to Texas to support his spouse in her new job, Jon has been a fixture in Steilacoom Lodge as well as in the Scottish and York Rites. We wish him the best in his new adventure. (photo by M. Paulson)
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How many of us really use our cable tow’s length? This poem is from the Grand Lodge of India:
What is the length of my cable tow?
A Fellowcraft Mason wanted to know
An aged Mason, with snowy hair
Pointed and said from here to there
From the first bright rays of the rising sun
‘Till the last rays signal that day is done
Your cable tow reaches from morn till night
And from night ‘till morn if you’ve learnt it right
A time for refreshment and a time for sleep
A time for God, and Man’s service to keep
The ones you can help along the way
Sets the cable tows length, at the hour of the day
If you can help him, without damage to you
Your length is just, how much good you can do
Those who depend on you, must always come first.
Neglect of them and your cable will burst
If you remember this, and adjust it so
You will soon learn the length of your cable tow
Greetings brethren. You haven’t heard from me this year so I’m guessing you assume everything is going well. Your assumptions are fairly accurate.
The Lodge started this year with 232 members and we are currently
at 235. So far we’ve only had 3 deaths which is
remarkable considering our average age of almost 71.
We’ve completed 19 degrees so far this year but still have quite a few outstanding and there are petitions arriving at almost every meeting. I’ll leave the scheduling up to the degree team leaders.
The major problem is the collection of dues. We have about 30
members who have not paid their dues or their per capita. The total outstanding
is approximately $2500-$3000 which is about 8-10% of our annual budget. I will
be preparing letters to each of those who have not paid and will send them out
in mid to late July.
If there is a reason that you cannot pay your dues or per capita please inform
me or someone in the lodge and we will assist in whatever way is necessary.
Our budget currently stands at about 42.5% of the budgeted amount expended while we’ve received about 51% of our projected income. Hopefully with the receipt of our outstanding dues, we will be able to finish the remainder of the year at or below our projected expenditures.
In closing, remind your friends and acquaintances that “Old Masons never die, but you’ll have to join to find out why”.
Fraternally, Don Campbell, Secretary
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V.W. Bros Don Campbell, Alan Spreen, and Ken Kershner receive their 25 year pins from their spouses courtesy of WM Will Tobin
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The War on Terrorism has called several of our Brothers away from the comforts of home and lodge. Brothers Kamal Bush and Jeff Boggs are serving in Afghanistan. Brother Sean Diaz is serving in Iraq. We pray for their welfare and for the welfare of all of the men and women serving our country in harms way. We’re putting together care packages for Brothers Bush, Boggs, and Diaz. Contributions of comforting items like greeting cards, baby wipes, powdered drink mix (such as Crystal Light), books, and money to help with the shipping costs would all be appreciated. Please remember to bring your items to the next stated meeting on July 27th.
“May we, as Masons, stand ever ready to shield and protect it, as we should foster and promote the divine principle of which it is the symbol throughout the world”
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July 27 - Stated Meeting at 7:30 – Potluck dinner at 6:30—Main Dish: Hamburgers. A-I bring desserts, J-Q hot dish, R-Z free choice August 5—DuPont Joint Church
August 12– Annual Lodge Picnic at Noon at the Afifi Shrine picnic area. BBQ and games—bring the kids! August 18—South Tacoma Classic Car Show —56th and South Tacoma Way—set up at 8ish, show goes until 4. 300 Classic Cars! See page 1 for more details. August 24—Stated Meeting
at 7:30
in the Lodge – Potluck dinner at 6:30 Main Dish: Hawaiian Surprise. A-I—hot
dish, J-Q–free choice, R-Z dessert. Wear your Hawaiian Shirt, NO TIES.
This is due notice that we will be balloting on the recently
vacated office of Treasurer at this meeting. at 10:00 on the Island September 21st—Stated Meeting
at 7:30 – Potluck dinner at 6:30—Potluck—Ladies
and
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