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Greetings from the Grand Secretary

 
The Grand Lodge Messenger
 
March 2021
 
Message From M.W. Chris J. Coffman
Grand Master


 
My Brothers,
 
We have now completed more than two thirds of my term as your Grand Master.  As was done by my predecessors, I have three recommendations that will be considered at the Annual Communication. 

They are:

First, this year one of our Lodges has started the process of surrendering its Charter.  This is something that has not been done in many years.  The Washington Masonic Code addresses the procedure for a Lodge to follow, what happens to the Lodge assets, and how Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts are treated.  However, the Washington Masonic Code does not address what happens to Master Masons whose only Lodge is the one surrendering its Charter or who may have been dropped for Nonpayment of Dues.   In the case of the Lodge in question, there are seven Brothers who are only members of that Lodge.  With the assistance of the Jurisprudence Committee, I am proposing to grant these Brothers a dimit and they can then apply for membership in another Lodge. 

The second recommendation concerns a part of our Installation ceremony.  I have always thought that our obligations and the duties that we undertake as Masons apply to all our activities at all times.  For example, in the Closing Charge we are reminded to be diligent, prudent, temperate, and discrete.  These traits apply at all times.   Further, they apply not only to our relationships with our Brothers, but every human being has a claim on our kind offices.  Therefore, when the Worshipful Master is installed, he agrees to several charges including one that says: “You promise a regular attendance on the committees and communications of the Grand Lodge, on receiving proper notice, and to pay attention to all the duties of Masonry on convenient occasions.”   I have always thought this statement is wrong, because we must pay attention to the duties of Masonry at all times.  Therefore, I am proposing that the words “on convenient occasions” be deleted,

The third recommendation concerns Brothers who have been dropped for nonpayment of dues for more than two years.  It has always seemed to me that it is easier for a Brother to be reinstated from an expulsion than it is from being suspended for nonpayment of dues.  If the Brother was expelled, he committed a serious Masonic offense and a Lodge can vote to allow him back by a two-thirds vote.  However, the Lodge must vote unanimously to bring the Brother back in if he failed to pay dues, which is not a Masonic offense.  I am proposing to reduce the voting requirement to the same as for a Brother who was dropped for failure to advance, a simple majority.

All three of these proposals are eminently reasonable and I strongly urge you to support them. 

Remember the Past, Visualize the Future
 

Chris Coffman
Grand Master
From the Desk of R.W. Clinton M. Brown, Jr.
Grand Secretary



 
Dear Brethren,
 
The Grand Master recently put out a letter to all Lodges indicating that they will be allowed to hold virtual Stated Communications beginning in April.  Lodges will be allowed to hold elections and install officers and vote on certain issues such as changes to their bylaws.  By the time this article is published, the Grand Master will have issued instructions on what you can and cannot do during your Stated Meetings.  Even if you elect not to hold virtual stated Communications, please make sure that you have read and understand those instructions.
 
We are optimistic that we will be able to conduct our Annual Communication in person this year.  The Grand Master, in consultation with the Executive Committee and the Jurisprudence Committee, is working to determine how to move forward with the Annual Communication.  In June, we will likely still be under restrictions on meeting size and limitations on the programs that we will be able to have. We have been planning for all contingencies and will be putting out those plans soon.  Currently, we are scheduled to be in Wenatchee, WA this year. The Annual Communication is currently scheduled to occur on June 11th and June 12th.   Please stay tuned for more details!
 
One of my favorite Masonic passages comes from the “G” Lecture.  “The lapse of time, the ruthless hand of ignorance and devastations of war have laid waste and destroyed many valuable monuments of antiquity, on which the utmost exertions of human genius had been employed.  Even the Temple of Solomon, so spacious and magnificent, designed and constructed by so many celebrated artists, escaped not the unsparing ravages of barbarous force.  Freemasonry notwithstanding still survives”.
 
I have heard from many Brothers about how the restrictions that have been put upon us by state and local governments have destroyed Freemasonry.  Brethren, if this is true then perhaps we are not the oldest and greatest Fraternity that has ever existed.  Perhaps we are not made up of the great men.  Perhaps, if we cannot weather this small moment in time relative to the age of our Fraternity, we should close up our tent and join some other organization.  If we cannot survive this pandemic, then maybe we don’t deserve to call ourselves Freemasons.
 
But my Brethren, Freemasonry, notwithstanding still survives.  It survives in the place where we were first made Masons.  It survives in the Brethren who continue to find ways to assist their community.  It survives in each of you.  Not only does it survive, I submit to you that it is flourishing.  We have been forced to find new ways to get our business done.  To use technology to our advantage.  Perhaps these changes have been a long time coming and are the future of Freemasonry.  I have met and talked to Brethren who I would have never met as a result of the pandemic.  Brothers who haven’t been to Lodge in years are coming back.  We continue to receive inquiries everyday from people who want to be part of our Brotherhood.  They are ready for us.  The question is are we ready for them? 
 
Now is the time to start planning.  Reach out to your members and make sure that you have degree teams ready to welcome our new Brothers. Make sure that you can perform the degree ritual so that it will be meaningful and memorable to the candidates.  Make sure that you have mentors identified who know how to keep the candidate engaged and are able to help them through their Masonic journey. 
 
Brethren, I look forward to the day (hopefully very soon) when we will be able to enjoy the fellowship of Brotherly love and friendship in person and get back to the business of our great Fraternity.



Fraternally,
Clinton M. Brown, Jr.
Grand Secretary
From The Desk of V.W. Clayton LaVigne
Assistant Grand Secretary

 

 

Greetings again!
 

It appears that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel, in regards to this year-long shutdown. It's hard to believe the last time I attended a Stated Communication is March 11, 2020. It was Chehalis Lodge, No. 28. I haven't attended a degree since the end of February of last year. It has been indeed a long year.

Starting next month, we will once again be holding Stated Communications, but they'll still be via teleconferencing. I had been on the phone with officers of a few Lodges who are concerned about their Lodge being able to do this, since many of their members aren't computer-savvy, or have solid internet access. Indeed, I was at a meeting last night where one of the members was continuously dropping in and out, due to his satellite internet. Another at the meeting was having difficulty listening. There's no mistaking that the transition into a new era of technology isn't necessarily a smooth one. However, it doesn't mean that your lodge has to be totally in the dark. The Brother who was having difficulty listening wasn't even going to the meetings at all at first, until I stopped by his house one day and assisted him with setting up his desktop computer, and then making suggestions as to what accessories he needed to complete his capability of attending teleconference meetings. A few weeks later, the components came in, and I assisted in installing them. He now is attending meetings of multiple Lodges, and if he can't hear well, he calls in on his telephone and listens that way. Which brings up the other situation: if your Lodge is meeting via Zoom, your members can join simply by calling in! It's quite simple; I've helped members of the local Eastern Star Chapter join by calling, and then many of them took the next step and learned how to join with their own, or a relative's computer. Some Brothers (and OES sisters) even have brought their laptops down to my business in downtown Centralia and had me guide them through setting up a Zoom account, scheduling, and running a Zoom meeting. It's been fun! And the members are getting more comfortable “getting their feet wet” with the new experiences.

If you have the knowledge of how to run a Lodge via teleconferencing, even if your Lodge is working well, you might have a neighboring Lodge that is struggling. I encourage you to make a few phone calls and appointments and help them out. Don't let them tell you “it's no use” or “We can't get anybody to get on board and hold a meeting this way.” You have to get inventive. Let them know of the several options they have to participate. It's quite likely one of the methods available to participate is already in their capability, and they might not realize it. Just imagine the smile on your face when a Brother tells you, “I'm computer illiterate – I can't figure this new-fangled stuff out, and I don't even have the latest gizmos you youngsters have!” then you have them hand you the phone in their pocket, and show them how to join a teleconference meeting with it. Trust me, I'm smiling right now as I'm typing this!

Like I've said before, while this is a temporary bump in the road, let's take advantage of the alternate method of meeting, and train our Brothers in the new ways of our Technology. In so doing, they'll be able to use that new-found skill and communicate better not only with their Lodge Brothers, but perhaps also with family members in other parts of the country, or even the World! Imagine one of our Brothers seeing his Grandchildren for the first time via Skype or another teleconference platform, who are in another area of the country.

And he learned that new skill from his Brothers in Freemasonry.
That's what we're all about, my Brothers.



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



March 5, 2021 - 6:30 PM - District 20 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


March 6, 2021 - 9:00 AM - Lodge Treasurer Training - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.



March 6, 2021 - 10:30 AM - Temple Board Training - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


March 6, 2021 - 3:00 PM - District 21 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


March 12, 2021 - 6:30 PM - District 24 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.



March 13, 2021 - 11:00 AM - District 29 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


March 20, 2021 - 10:00 AM - Ritual & Masonic Education - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.



March 20, 2021 - 12:00 PM - District 22 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


March 27, 2021 - 11:00 AM - District 12 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


March 27, 2021 - 4:00 PM - District 13 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


April 2, 2021 - 6:30 PM - District 6 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


April 9, 2021 - 6:30 PM - District 11 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


April 10, 2021 - 3:00 PM - District 17 Meeting - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.


April 17, 2021 - 10:00 AM - The Elephant in the Room - Zoom Teleconference
Links to the meeting are on the Seminar page on GrandView.



 


The Grand Lodge will be closed for business on April 2, 2021 in observance of Good Friday.


The Grand Lodge Office is closed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Grand Lodge staff remain available by email during normal business hours.
 
Lodge Secretary Corner



Grand Lodge Fees - Please remember your Grand Lodge Fees are due on or before April 15, 2021.  Thank you to all of the Lodges that have paid their invoice.


2020 End of Year Report
 
Thank you to all of the Secretaries who have submitted their End of Year Report!  Per Sec. 14.11 B.L., the end of the year return must be submitted (or postmarked) to the Grand Lodge office no later than February 1st to avoid the $5.00 per day late fee. 
 
Reports can be sent via email to lynneb@freemason-wa.org.
 
If you have not yet submitted your 2020 End of Year to the Grand Lodge office and need instruction on how to complete.  Instructions can be found on Grand View under User Resources, Secretary, 2020 Annual Return Instruction and Form
 


 
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