Now abideth Faith, Hope and Charity, these three, but the greatest of these is Charity. This scripture from the Fellowcraft degree is particularly fitting at the start of this Masonic year. While we cannot meet on the level as we would like, there are still charitable acts that we can do for the betterment of our Craft, our Brothers, and our Communities. This year I am emphasizing a few charitable endeavors that I hope the Brothers will embrace.
First, I am encouraging Brothers to donate $40 to Washington Masonic Charities sometime during the year. This is the same challenge that MWB Charles Wood made last year. The amounts received will be split between the On the Level, Student Success program and the Washington Masonic Charities’ endowment fund.
The “On the Level, Student Success” program helps with keeping homeless in high school. The cost to society of students who do not graduate from High School is tremendous. The percentage who end up in the criminal justice system is staggering. If we can in some small part help these children, who through no fault of their own are struggling to remain in school and put food in their mouths, then it is an investment that visualizes the future.
The Washington Masonic Charities endowment fund is another investment in the future. When you contribute to an endowment fund, the income from your gift and all the others is used to support the charity forever.
Second, this year we have ties, coins and pins. The profit from the ties and coins and any donations received from pins will be used to support the Shriner’s Hospital in Spokane and the Seattle King County Health Clinic’s Vision Program.
We are all aware of the great work done by the Shriner’s Hospitals and supporting the one located in our great state seems like a no-brainer.
Many of you are unfamiliar with The Seattle King County Health Clinic’s Vision Program which is an annual event. My late wife, Lynn, was the coordinator for this project for several years. The February 2020 vision program was dedicated to her memory. This year’s clinic provided free eye exams and prescription eyeglasses to almost 1,100 patients. The free vision services were valued at over $550,000. These patients came from areas far and wide, not just King County. Some of these patients had not had an eye examination in several years.
Third, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many of our Brothers and their families. Some have been laid off or furloughed, others have become ill. The federal CARES act provided some assistance through the stimulus payments and extended unemployment benefits. There has been a prohibition on evictions for renters. But these forms of assistance only go so far and when they end, the need will still be there. Following the lead of the Grand Lodges of California and Oregon, Washington Masonic Charities has created a new fund to help these Brothers and their families. To donate to this very worthy cause go to https://www.wa-masoniccharities.org/ and click on the donate button and select COVID-19 Relief Fund. Any amount you can donate will help. If you are in need of assistance contact Washington Masonic Charities at (844) 288-3531.
Remember the Past, Visualize the Future.
Chris Coffman
Grand Master
From the Desk of R.W. Clinton M. Brown, Jr.
Grand Secretary
Bretheren,
The issues that many people are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic are serious and heartbreaking. Many people have been forced out of work and are facing very difficult times. Most of the people who contact our Masonic Lodges and Brethren are legitimately in need of assistance. However, it has been brought to my attention that there are a small minority of individuals who are claiming to either be Masons or have Masonic ties, either through family or one of the many Masonic bodies, who are simply trying to steal money from the Masonic Lodges and Brethren. My office received a call on Friday from a man who claimed to be a Mason from Florida, living in Washington and asking for assistance. The Grand Lodge of Florida has no record of him ever being a Mason in Florida. I also received a message from Idaho over the weekend about a woman, known to the Lodges in Idaho, who may be in the greater Spokane area requesting assistance and claiming that her father was a Mason. She spoke with the Secretary of the Lodge in Idaho who also is a police detective and is familiar with this individual. According to Idaho, she has no Masonic association.
This article is not meant to discourage Brethren from giving to those in need. It is important that we remember our Masonic obligations during these difficult times. It is to remind Brethren to be cautious when approached by someone requesting assistance. Every human being has a claim on your kind offices. However, there are people who know the rich history of Masons and our generosity and will try to take advantage of that generosity. If you are approached by someone who is seeking assistance, please ensure that they are legitimate and are not trying to scam either you or your Lodge. Feel free to call either my office or Washington Masonic Charities (Byron Cregeur 253-442-2505 ext. 110 or byron@wa-masoniccharities.org) if you have questions or concerns. We will be more than happy to assist you.
Additionally, there are numerous fraud schemes that are being perpetrated on many groups and individual associated with COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Justice recently put out a partial list of some of the ongoing scams that have been reported with attached links with more information. Here are some examples that were provided:
Be on the lookout for antibody testing fraud schemes. Never share your personal or health information to anyone other than known and trusted medical professionals. Learn more about what to avoid.
Be cautious of unsolicited healthcare fraud schemes through emails, phone calls, or in person contact. The United States has medical professionals and scientists working hard to find a cure, approved treatment, and vaccine for COVID-19. Learn more about what to avoid.
Be on the lookout for an increase in cryptocurrency fraud schemes including but not limited to blackmail attempts, work from home scams, paying for non-existent treatments or equipment, or investment scams. Read more on how to report these scams.
Be wary of unsolicited telephone calls and e-mails from individuals claiming to be IRS and Treasury employees. Remember IRS’s first form of communication is by mail - not by phone. Learn more about fraudulent schemes related to the IRS.
Be aware of unsolicited requests for your Medicare information, even if they are accompanied by offers of “free” COVID-19 tests or supplies, or an email or call by someone claiming to be a representative from Medicare or the Department of Health and Human Services. Scammers may use your Medicare information to submit false medical claims for unrelated, unnecessary, or fictitious services. Learn more about fraudulent health care schemes .
Law enforcement has seen an increase in social media scams and telephone calls fraudulently seeking donations for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations requesting you to enter your bank account information. Emails and texts may claim to be from a charity or use the current crisis to get you to click on a link or download a file. It could be an attempt to infect your computer with malicious software that could steal your personal information, including but not limited to your credit card number or bank password. FBI Sees Rise in the Fraud Schemes Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
Be on the lookout for telephone calls by individuals posing as government officials or payment facilitators promising CARES Act stimulus payments and asking for personal identifying information (PII). Also be aware of mass-mailing, spam email, or text-message campaigns to perpetrate government-imposter schemes. These forms of communication provide a website, a phone number, or an email address for consumers to contact to arrange for stimulus payments upon payment of an advanced fee or threatening adverse consequences for failure to cooperate with the alleged stimulus-related transaction.
Be wary of calls claiming you received an overpayment of the stimulus money and demanding a “refund” of the difference. Consumers may be threatened with adverse consequences such as fines, forfeiture, or arrest if they refuse to refund the money. Callers may demand payments by stored value cards, such as iTunes, Google play, or Steam cards, or by money transmission such as Western Union or MoneyGram.
Law enforcement has seen fraud schemes using smartphone apps or websites that claim to be a government office associated with CARES Act programs. These fake sites are requesting PII, including banking information to deposit stimulus payments. Perpetrators then will use this information to debit money from the consumers’ bank accounts.
Be on the lookout for efforts to divert payments, such as last-minute changes to banking information, through fake emails that appear to come from a trusted source. Be cautious of hackers stealing money, PII and some fraud elements through fake business emails. Read FBI Sees Rise in the Fraud Schemes Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
There’s no question, contact tracing plays a vital role in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. But scammers, pretending to be contact tracers and taking advantage of how the process works, are also sending text messages. Learn more
Avoid scams related to economic payments, COVID-19 Learn more
Fraternally,
Clinton M. Brown, Jr.
Grand Secretary
From The Desk of V.W. Clayton LaVigne Assistant Grand Secretary
Bretheren,
At the conclusion of my previous article, I mentioned a plan to share some of the interesting things I’ve run across that promise a great future for our craft. But I also base many of my articles on conversations that I have with the Brethren while up here at the Grand Lodge office. Since I’ve had several conversations on a particular topic over the last several weeks, it will be the topic of this month’s article.
As you well know, we haven’t been able to hold Stated Communications in our Lodge halls since the middle of March of this year. The ways that our Lodges have handled this shutdown are as varied as the Lodges themselves. And while many of the Lodges and districts have had success in engaging their Brothers via phone calls, teleconferencing, and other means, unfortunately I’ve received phone calls and emails expressing concern that their membership, particularly their newest members, are losing interest and switching their focus to other organizations. In one case, the concerned Brother was concerned about the members of his Lodge who are not yet Master Masons. I asked him if he or his Lodge has engaged them through electronic means, and he mentioned he hasn’t, that they are looking to complete their degrees, and since that can’t happen until the Lodges meet again, that there’s nothing for them to do. I asked the Brother how the newest Master Masons are doing, and he reported that they’re doing great. I asked if he or his Lodge have communicated with them since March, and he said “no” on that, too, indicating they already have achieved their Master Mason degrees.
My Brothers, most of our Lodges have outstanding degree work, inquiries, and new members who are excited to begin their labors as members of our great Fraternity. Just because our Lodges cannot meet in person does not mean our Lodges, or our Fraternity, are completely shut down. I have been in communication with the Brethren of all three of my Lodges, and in fact, my home Lodge in Tenino even took up collection and purchased bicycles for the local school’s Bikes 4 Books Program, and they were awarded at the end of the school year. The school thanked us for keeping up what is now considered, to them, a tradition. My Lodge in Centralia had a recent Zoom meeting towards the end of July that had 20 Brothers in attendance. And my Lodge in Chehalis has also been meeting regularly. I know of at least two districts that are holding district-wide Zoom meetings with featured speakers and education, and there’s undoubtedly more. And, of course, there are Zoom meetings that cover a much wider area that can be attended by Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts, as well as Master Masons. When you come to think about it, we actually have more opportunity to visit with Brothers from long distances, attend educational meetings, and stay busy than we did before our Lodges ceased in-person meetings!
While I join you in looking forward to returning to our in-person Stated Communications, I’m also enjoying seeing what we have in store for us in the years to come. It’s pretty exciting!
See you at the next Grand Lodge zoom meeting, and if you see me, fire off a chat and say hi!
Fraternally,
Clayton LaVigne
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
September 11, 2020 - 6:00 PM - District No. 23 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference Links to the meeting are posted on the Seminar page on GrandView.
September 12, 2020 - 11:30 AM - District No. 26 - Zoom Teleconference Links to the meeting are posted on the Seminar page on GrandView.
September 12, 2020 - 5:00 PM - District No. 27 - Zoom Teleconference Links to the meeting are posted on the Seminar page on GrandView.
September 25, 2020 - 6:30 PM - District No. 17 - Zoom Teleconference Links to the meeting are posted on the Seminar page on GrandView.
September 26, 2020 - 12:00 PM - District No. 18 - Zoom Teleconference Links to the meeting are posted on the Seminar page on GrandView.
September 26, 2020 - 5:00 PM - District No. 19 - Zoom Teleconference Links to the meeting are posted on the Seminar page on GrandView.
October 3, 2020 - 2:30 PM - District No. 30 - Zoom Teleconference Links to the meeting are posted on the Seminar page on GrandView.
The Grand Lodge Offices will be closed on September 7, 2020 in observance of Labor Day.
Statements of Availability are due to the Grand Lodge Office No later than September 1, 2020.
The Grand Lodge Offices are open but
will remain closed to visitors due to the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
