A year ago, at my Installation as your Grand Master, I made a pledge to every one of you that I would work diligently to earn your trust every single day. I thank you all for your trust, confidence and continued support and encouragement. I pray now that I have lived up to my pledge to our beloved Masonic Family. The Almighty truly knows how hard I have tried.
My theme -- "We are one Masonic Family Living United" is on target today so much more than ever before as we are currently facing a dark period in our lives. But, there is a light to end the darkness if we as a Masonic Family do not lose sight of who we are. These events will pass and once again we will be able to meet in our lodges and share that face to face fellowship we all so yearn for.
My plan for the year charted a course for the Grand Lodge Team to crisscross our jurisdiction in all directions over a seven-month period while taking time off for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. My plan was designed to enable my attendance at as many District Meetings over any two-day period as possible, with, for example, one meeting occurring on a Friday evening followed by one on Saturday morning and finally another on Saturday afternoon. My idea was to maximize the effort while reducing travel time and travel related expenses.
So, what is the point that I am trying to make by telling you about this year’s Grand Lodge Team? It is very straight forward; I implemented the plan that was created prior to my installation as your Grand Master and then the Grand Lodge Team made necessary adjustments along the way like any well trained and educated team would do. There is an old saying in the military that when things get tough, the tough get going. If you do not plan for success with a plan that is flexible, then by default you are planning for failure. Does your Worshipful Master have a plan for the membership of your Lodge to follow? I asked a brother this question, why does the Grand Master or Worshipful Master sit in the East? His reply, because he was elected to do so. I asked him to please review the opening ritual and there he would find the answer to my question.
I would close by saying that this year was not about me but about we, If you take the “m” in me, turn it upside down, the word will now say we and we have the know-how, the will power, and the strength to get things accomplished. Ask not what Freemasonry can do for you but what can you do for Freemasonry, the greatest fraternity the Supreme Architect of the Universe ever created. Thank you for the great honor and privilege of allowing me to serve you…for your FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY every day. And thank you for your unending commitment to the oldest Fraternal organization known to mankind.
Fraternally,
MWB Charles Wood
Grand Master
Here is an update on the Grand Masters Challenge to raise $40,000.00 by contributing directly to Washington Masonic Charities: currently it stands at 91% or $ 36,200.94. This is an outstanding accomplishment.
Thank you one and all.
From the Desk of R.W. Clint M. Brown, Jr.
Grand Secretary
Brethren,
We are about to put another Masonic year into the history books. I thank each of you for the privilege of serving the Lodges of this Grand Jurisdiction as your Grand Secretary. During the past two years, we have successfully completed two long term projects. Last year, we completed the Apron Memorial in Rochester, Washington. This year, we completed the sale of the Masonic Retirement Center in Des Moines, WA. These are two major projects that I am proud to report we finally were able to get across the finish line.
This year has also been a trying year to say the least. We have suffered tremendous losses and ventured into uncharted territory as Brethren and as a Grand Lodge. But despite all the trials and tribulations that we have faced, we have faced them together, as Brothers, and will come out of this a better and stronger Fraternity.
The Grand Lodge team is preparing for what will be a historical Grand Lodge. We are planning to broadcast the Grand Master’s message, the Grand Secretary’s report and the installation of Grand Lodge Officers via Facebook live on Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Grand Master’s message should begin around 10:15 AM and we anticipate that the Installation of officers will begin at approximately 1 PM. Make sure to join us on Facebook at Freemasons of Washington.
I have held several successful Zoom meetings in which Brothers from all around the state joined in to ask questions. I plan to continue holding regular meetings via Zoom. My next Grand Secretary Forum meeting will be on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 7 PM. I will be sending out a Zoom invitation to attend this meeting shortly. Please mark your calendars. Additionally, I am planning to conduct some future trainings through Zoom. Not only will it cut down on expenses, but I hope that it will increase attendance. I hope to see some of you at the training next year.
When I was elected Grand Secretary, the Grand Lodge of Washington began using Zoom as our virtual meeting platform. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic barring our ability to meet together as Brothers, we have found out that this and other video conferencing platforms allow us the opportunity to conduct Masonic education and to interact with Brethren around the world. While we cannot conduct esoteric ritual, we have the option now of doing things through video conferencing that we previously have not done. We should continue to look at ways to use technology to our advantage to not only entice younger men to join our ranks, but to maintain Fraternal bonds with Brothers who are no longer able to come to Lodge either as a result of their age or geographic location.
Again, I thank you for the trust that you have shown in me. I strongly believe that the Grand Lodge office is here to serve you. We have faced many adversities this year. However, we will continue to grow and prosper as a Fraternity, together.
Fraternally,
Clint Brown
Grand Secretary
From The Desk of V.W. Clayton LaVigne Assistant Grand Secretary
Greetings, my Brothers!
It has been about two months now since I've last been at our main office in University Place. While we are still not holding stated meetings, I've been as busy as ever down in Centralia as your Assistant Grand Secretary. Some of our counties are moving into different “phases” under our current pandemic response plan, and as such, some of us can now go to restaurants, get our haircut, and other things that we hadn't been able to do since mid-March. But there are other areas in our state that are still under the same conditions as this month and last. It's been a real challenge for all of us.
Since my last article, we have held our last District meetings but my Lodges have remained active via teleconferencing, and the final two weeks of May have seen me busy with Masonic activities for every day except two. It's been great to keep up with the Brothers in my district but more importantly it's been great to assist those who don't have the “tech savvy” of the younger generations. One of my lodges was holding a meeting, and we knew of a couple of older members that wished to join, but couldn't figure out how to get Zoom to work on their computers. I called them and guided them to join the meeting through their landlines, with success. It was great to see the Lodge welcome the Brothers into the “meeting!”
This brings up my next idea. I suggest that your Lodge, or even your district, hold a teleconference meeting as a class to instruct your members on how the teleconferencing method works, as well as troubleshoot the problems some Brothers might have logging on or getting their computers to work correctly. This problem is not isolated to those who don't understand computers, they could even be employed in a job involving computers and have a specific problem with their own hardware in this situation. In this class, you can also instruct brothers on our Grandview database and its features. If there are Brothers at your meeting who aren't registered on Grandview, you have an excellent opportunity to get them signed in! And, of course, there are new features on Zoom, and likely on your own favorite teleconference platform, that you can try out during the meeting as well. It's a great time to be both a teacher and a student.
Again, this last month has not been a waste of time. It has been quite a memorable month, as was April. I'm sure that June will also be an interesting month! I hope you are taking advantage of this great weather and firing up your barbecues. And don't worry, it'll be only a matter of time before we'll be able to resume our in-person meetings. Remember – time, patience and perseverance. Again, an opportunity for a real-life example of one of the many lessons taught in our ritual. And it will be all the better when we get back!
Take it easy, and I'll see you on Zoom in the coming months!
Fraternally,
VWB Clayton M. M. La Vigne
Assistant Grand Secretary
Sickness & Distress – Masonic Outreach Services is Here to Assist
Do you know a Mason, Masonic widow, or member of our Masonic family who needs assistance due to age, illness, disability, or hardship? Maybe you could use a little help yourself? Masonic Outreach Services’ Care Coordinators and Certified Senior Advisors spend time visiting with our clients to tailor solutions that help them lead dignified and meaningful lives by remaining independent or finding the right solution for their daily needs.
Please, if you know someone who can use our assistance, help them connect with us by calling, toll free, (844) 288-3531 or outreach@masonscare.org
Grand Lodge Events
June 24, 2020 - 7:00 PM - Grand Secretary Forum - Via Zoom Teleconference
Details will be distributed over email by the Grand Secretary
The Grand Lodge Offices will remain closed
until further notice due to the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
