Editor: WB John Gebhart District7News@Gmail.com August 31, 2018

District 7 News

Dress Appropriately

Readers of this column might conclude that lately your

editor has been frustrated. There’s a very good reason

for that: I’m frustrated.

I’m frustrated by our body of rules. I believe we need

some rules, but I also believe we have many more than

we need. And I think this excess creates an unintended

result.

My thoughts about this crystallized a few months ago

when I read an article about General Motors’ CEO, Mary

Barra. First, kudos to the woman who shattered the

glass ceiling of the male-dominated world of the

automobile industry. I find it kind of amazing. Perhaps

even more amazing is that Ms. Barra rose to the corner

office through the HR organization.

HR departments often get a (much deserved) bad rap

for being the promulgators of excessively bureaucratic

and politically correct rules. However Ms. Barra

distinguished herself as a different kind of HR executive

when it came time to revise GM’s dress code.

Having thought carefully about how to codify the

standards that would apply to the manufacturing plant,

the sales floor, the corporate headquarters, and

everything else she came up with a new GM dress code.

Here it is:

Dress appropriately.

I’m not making this up. Read more here: GM Dress

Code. Ms. Barra trusted that the professionals she

employed could figure out what to wear. By doing so

she shredded pages of unnecessary rules and

empowered her workforce.

On what matters have we issued rules, and of those

matters on which ones can we reasonably trust

ourselves to act appropriately without being told.

WB John Gebhart

District 7 Month-at-a-Glance

August 27 Monday Renaissance #312 Stated

September 5 Wednesday Unity #198 Stated

September 6 Thursday Mercer Island #297 Stated

September 8 Saturday Falls City #66 Stated

September 10 Monday Lakeside #258 Stated

September 13 Thursday Kirkland #150 Stated

September 17 Monday West Gate #128 Stated

September 20 Thursday Myrtle #108 Stated

DDGM schedule at more-out-there.blogspot.com

Renaissance Lodge #312 By VWB Bill Werner

The Worshipful Master has directed me to remind

Brothers that our Stated Meeting is almost upon us:

Monday August 27th. Lodge starts at 6:30 p.m., Dinner at

7:30 p.m. Please RSVP to PayPal AND me at

bigwer1@hotmail.com and indicate if you’ll have Prime

Rib or Salmon.

RSVP by this Wednesday, August 22nd at 6:00 p.m.

Our dinner topic has not been totally resolved--though I

have heard from two members who believe an updated

discussion on Privacy vs Safety and Security would be

welcomed. Travel in the new world is changing ...

Remember--if you make an RSVP and do not attend-- you

are still obligated to fulfill the dinner cost ($25/pp). We

love the Eagles and they love us … and the count is

something they hold us to.

Bring an appetite and a Masonic friend or someone you

know who would benefit from our Trademarked

discussion, fellowship and conviviality.

Mercer Island Lodge #297

On Thursday, September 6th, Mercer Island Lodge turns on

the lights after a busy summer. The September stated

communication will feature a shrink-the-lodge discussion

that will examine elements of certain Masonic obligations

and charges that may be in conflict with each other. These

potential conflicts will be tested by applying vignettes

from real life and discussing what actions a Mason should

take based on these obligations and charges. This should

be an interesting and lively discussion. Member

attendance is encouraged and visitors are most welcome.

Happy Hour will start at 6:00 p.m. and Lodge opens at 7:30

p.m. with a catered dinner someplace in between. RSVP

for dinner ($20/pp – the Lodge’s cost) to Br. Carl

Bronkema at cbronkema@msn.com.

Myrtle Lodge #108 By WM Chad Reece

Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft Degrees

On a rare July Washington Saturday the sky was blue,

the temperature moderate and the flora and fauna

turning a shade of brown indicative of the dry state of

the Puget Sound in summer. With the Scottish Highland

Games, CoffeeCon Seattle, and Myrtle’s degrees

beginning that same morning, the Brothers of Myrtle

Lodge faced a competitive match for their time. Who

would win? Only time would tell. The day began with

your correspondent sleepily raising from his slumber

and began making his way to the historic building in

Issaquah. Soon that welcome morning elixir was in hand

blocks from home and his outlook was promising,

believing a fruitful day lay ahead. And then he spilt the

coffee on himself…no doubt the Grand Architect had

other plans. Clothes stained and still cerebrally impaired

he struggled to loose his cognitive captors that appear

at each nightly repose. Arriving at the Lodge he soon

was in the company of Brother’s exuberant for the

events to come. The small band of Brothers set up the

Lodge for the second degree and then, with the officers

at their stations, the Lodge was opened on the second

degree of Masonry. Myrtle had, for this degree, three

Entered Apprentices to pass to the Fellowcraft degree

and this adventure began with haste upon opening the

Lodge. The three brothers, Doug Friddell, Ian Freas, and

Ian Melendez entered our lodge on escort and traipsed

upon that very path all Fellowcraft masons have

followed since the inception of the degree. The

Brethren labored steadfast in their offices and soon we

had completed that which was intended and Myrtle

Lodge passed the three Brothers to the degree of

Fellow Craft. The Worshipful Master of Myrtle, your

correspondent, would like to thank Brothers Laurence

Lance, Gerry O’Brien, Michael Inman, Shane White,

Brian Thomas for your excellent work as the Fellowcraft

Degree team.

This story, dear reader, is not at its end for the Brothers

of Myrtle had more work before them, which would

begin after an hour’s respite. This time was utilized by

some to nourish their bodies with drink and sustenance

while others worked to transform the lodge from the

Fellowcraft hovel to that of a vestibule dark at one end

and light at the other. The raiding party returned and

with them joined the Brothers who remained to hold

down the fort and they all entered the Lodge room

again to call down to the Entered Apprentice degree

and call forth our newest candidate Randy Adams for

the degrees of Masonry.

The degree began by the standard warning that the

candidate was ready and he, along with his watchful

conductor, entered the Lodge and thus began our

transformation from individual Masons in a room to

individual Masons in a room with a purpose. A

combination of events that is a delight to see. The

candidate was taken through the various stages of the

degree and was readily assimilated into the Craft having

finished his work as a Brother of Myrtle and a Mason.

The Worshipful Master would like to thank the

following Brothers for a degree well done: Laurence

Lance, Gerry O’Brien, Brian Thomas, Michael Inman and

Ian Melendez.

Master Mason Degree

Pursuant to the obligations incumbent upon a Lodge

following a Brother’s successful prove up, six Brothers

of Myrtle Lodge convened in the waning side of

Wednesday August 8th at six-o’clock post meridiem to

provide the next degree. The Lodge being opened on

the Master Mason degree by Myrtle’s Worshipful

Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden, then went

off session to prepare for the raising of two Brothers.

Shortly after the top of the six-o’clock hour,

commencement of the degree requisitioned our

attention with the typical directive of the Worshipful

Master. Ian Freas and Ian Melendez were soon on their

journey and the degree team labored to make their

experience a memorable one. Brother Michael Inman

took the reins of Senior Deacon with Brother Tom

Monds conducting our second candidate. Brother

Matthew Stull assumed the parts of Junior Deacon and

Senior Steward, Brother Gerry O’Brien was our Junior

Warden, Brother Laurence Lance our Senior Warden,

and WB Chad Reece our Worshipful Master. Soon the

cadence of the degree became a unified orchestration

of movement and sound which found us completing

certain measurement milestones well ahead of our

estimates. The Lodge Brothers continued their labors in

the hot Lodge room with the Worshipful Master

suspending work periodically that refreshment may be

had to fend off dehydration. As the waning evening

transitioned to twilight the Fraternity of Masons far and

wide gained in its ranks two Master Masons.

The Worshipful Master would like to heartily thank

Brothers Laurence Lance, Gerry O’Brien, Michael Inman,

Matthew Stull and Tom Monds for not only rearranging

their schedules to accommodate this event, but for also

undertaking multiple parts and distinguishing each of

their parts well from one another. He would also like to

thank each Brother who stepped in quickly to assist

where another Brother was stuck. Such teamwork is

invaluable and shows dedication to the Masonic tenant

of taking care of and supporting one another.

We hope the experience of the brother’s Ian was a

memorable one. It is hoped now that the third wing of

the Masonic library, that intangible mental construct, is

open to them that they shall find their journey not

extinguished, rather, that their sojourn of discovery and

enlightenment has just begun. Like an enlightened soul,

traverse boldly in the vicinity of illuminated lighthouses

for they will safely guide you. Like an unenlightened

soul, traverse cautiously in the vicinity of darkened

lighthouses for their blindness may obfuscate a painful

trap at its base.

Seahawks Viewing Parties

This fall Myrtle Lodge will be hosting viewing parties of

select Seahawks games. Brothers, their families, and

friends are welcome. Bring your favorite game day

beverages and food for a potluck and win prizes by playing

football squares.

This is a Masonic event so please remember your actions

and words reflect upon yourself and the fraternity. Be civil

and kind even to those who root for the other team.

Event Dates and Times:

Sep 9 - Noon – 6:00 p.m. (1:25 p.m. kickoff)

Sep 23 - Noon – 6:00 p.m. (1:25 p.m. kickoff)

Oct 30 - Noon – 6:00 p.m. (1:05 p.m. kickoff)

Oct 14 - 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. kickoff)

Oct 28 - 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. kickoff)

Event Location:

Myrtle lodge 108

57 West Sunset Way

Issaquah, WA

Attire:

Casual preferably in Seahawks colors. Please keep t-shirts

with sayings family friendly.

D7 Road Trip!

The Wednesday November 7th visit to United Peninsula

Lodge on Vancouver Island is taking shape. United

Peninsula will hold its military recognition ceremony

that night and members who are active or retired

military are asked to attend in uniform. So far at least

two District 7 Brothers plan to attend. Side trips to the

BC Museum in Victoria have been mentioned. United

Peninsula will hold its military recognition ceremony

that night and members who are active or retired

military are asked to attend in uniform.

Sannich, BC is on Vancouver Island, so you’ll need a

passport (or enhanced driver’s license) and a ferry

crossing will be required. The Lodge is situated about

25 miles north of Victoria so a case can be made for

arriving a day or two before or staying a few days after

the Lodge meeting.

Here’s what is included in the D7 Road Trip:

The address of the Lodge

A list of the D7 Brothers who will be attending

Hotel suggestions and investigation of possible

group discounts

NEW! A free PDF of the words to “God Save the

Queen” and “Oh Canada” (They’re going to sing

the Star Spangled Banner for us so it would be

only polite for us to show up prepared to sing

their anthems. We can practice in the car.)

Here’s what’s NOT included:

Everything else. But if you want to organize

(and manage) a meal or some other group

activity the District 7 News will promote your

event at a generously discounted rate.

If you are interested in joining the road trip please email

me at john.e.gebhart@gmail.com.

And remember, if we’re going to go all the way to

Canada to visit a Lodge on the first Wednesday of

November then we really ought to pick another first

Wednesday and go the much shorter distance to North

Bend and visit Unity Lodge.

Deadline

Submissions for the September 15th issue of the

District 7 News are due Saturday, September 8, 2018.

Early submission is encouraged.

Letters to the Editor

Trivial Pursuit (July 31, 2018)

WB John,

Well put. Thanks!

~WB Helmuth Swobo

WB John:

Man is basically an egotist so is capable of not thinking

Masonry or similar may make one better! But ask his

wife, or family members, or friends, or co-members, or

co-workers! Little things of Masonry, like aprons, ritual,

signs of recognition, passwords and many other items

do make a difference or the millions of other

organizations of the WORLD would not have based their

operations on it - from just a little to a whole lot. I

remember the day when one of our Past Masters told

me, immediately after having just completed the VFW

long form for joining that organization; he did not know

whether to greet me as a "Brother" or a "Comrade"

because the ritual was so close!

It appears that I and others have not performed our

duties of teaching the new Masons properly. In days of

yore, we had every Thursday night on the VFW calendar

for Masonic use. We did use most of them and did a lot

of Masonry teaching on those days. Current living

requirements prevent such a schedule these days and

we have not yet determined ways to do so. Means we

have!

May the future help us find ways to do so.

With BLAF,

~VWB Dean Quigley

VWB Dean,

Thank you for your response; my response to yours is a

preamble to a longer conversation. For my part I believe

Masonry has made me better, maybe even much

better. And I don’t consider myself “done”.

My concern is the preponderance of rules, pins, slogans,

and other habits that I believe lack substance. I worry

that too many of our Brothers who say they want to

become better are not willing to look beyond the

comfort of what they can read in the Masonic Code.

Further, I see the whole Grand Lodge thing as a wasteful

mix of idol worship and bureaucracy, which is more

likely to erode the otherwise good qualities in a man.

A full command of the rules and rote memory of the

ritual relieves one of having to think. And knowledge of

our extensive rules becomes a source of power to those

who fixate on them. Not a good combination.

I don't even remotely think it's a case of you and others

not doing a good enough job. If Masonry has indeed

made me better I give you a lot of credit for that.

~Editor

WB John,

I absolutely agree that knowing and following the

technical details of dress and ceremony are not among

the reasons most of us joined the fraternity. But I find

much beauty in our code and bylaws that don’t relate to

being made a better man.

Freemasonry is, first and foremost, a mature fraternity:

one with rules for governing a lodge, how we

communicate among ourselves, recognize each other

and other jurisdictions, rules of order, discipline, etc.

The questions in the PILM exam may have little

relevance to Brothers in their pursuit of a well-spent

life, but a lot of what’s in the code, etc., found their way

into the code because Grand Lodge found good reason

to at the time. As a mature fraternity, we’ll continue to

evolve and change the code. That “system of morality”

stuff may be the reason we exist, but the minutiae are

what allow us to exist the way we do. We do like to

have fun in our district though, so let’s not let the

minutiae get in the way of having fun in lodge or get in

the way of making ourselves better men. We can do

without the grumbling in the sidelines in open lodge,

and we can probably wait until after lodge closes to

correct each other.

It’s been often debated in our district, and I remember

discussing with you, the value of delivering ritual from

memory incorrectly versus reading the ritual correctly.

You also mentioned that ritual is read instead of recited

in foreign lodges you’ve visited. While I think it would

be nice for everyone to know their own lines, I wouldn’t

want the wrong lines delivered when it matters most,

i.e. any time lodge is open, especially with a candidate

present during a degree. Maybe we can find a way to

make ritual education more fun and relevant to being

better men too.

On a side note, I think the PILM exam is a good way to

make someone who’s never read the Standard Work,

Code, or Lodge Officers Handbook, actually read and

learn a lot about how the fraternity works, even if it’s

just in pursuit of looking up a specific answer, no matter

how uninteresting the answer really is. Even if you get

all the answers in the exam wrong, that exercise alone

is quite valuable.

Fraternally,

~ Bro Phu Huynh

Brother Phu,

Always a great pleasure to hear from you and thank you

for your well considered response. You and I might be

more aligned than you think. However I encourage you,

and everyone, to struggle through a cover-to-cover read

of the Washington Masonic Code. Then place every rule

into one of three categories: 1) Necessary; 2) Remove

from the Code and reposition as a guideline, the

application of which to be left entirely to the Worshipful

Master; and, 3) Silly.

We miss you. When are you coming back?

~Editor

John,

Something I wrote recently …

"Many people find happiness through service to others.

Notice how some animals, especially dogs and horses,

cater to humans and serve us. They seem happy doing

it. We can take their example and find similar happiness

by being helpful and respectful not only to other

humans but to plants and animals, really to the whole

planet, the universe. Now on top of being helpful if we

add prayer as a practice we soon lose much self-

absorption and start to sense many things we didn't

before, e.g., fragrances, colors, sounds, other beings."

Forget self and focus on others! But how to do that as a

habit?

Love, hugs,

~Dad

Making Smart Men Smarter

Square Meals

Myrtle #108 welcomes Masons and friends to breakfast

at the Gas Lamp in Issaquah every Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

Goose and Gridiron, Nest 0 meets Mondays for lunch at

the Longhorn restaurant in Auburn.

Falls City #66 Sticks & Stones meets on the last

Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Lit Cigar

Bar in Snoqualmie Casino. Consumption of solid food at

this “meal” is not customary.

Fern Hill #80 Past Masters welcome Masons and friends

in South King and Pierce counties to breakfast

at Angleas Restaurant just south of E. 72nd St on S.

Portland Avenue (behind Safeway), Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.

District 7 Stated Communications

Lodge Address Meeting Times Contacts

Falls City #66 4304 337th Place Southeast

Fall City, WA 98024

www.fallcitylodge.com

2nd Saturday, 1st Saturday June; dark July & August.

7:30 p.m. except January, 7:00 p.m.

WM: David Hisel davidhisel@outlook.com

Sec: Nick Michaud nickalan@comcast.net

Myrtle #108

Street Address: 57 West Sunset Way

Issaquah, WA 98027

Mailing Address: PO Box 766

Issaquah, WA 98027 www.myrtlelodge108.org

3rd

Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (The lights stay on in the

Summer months)

WM: Chad Reece damnthings@gmail.com

Sec: Brian Thomas bjt19@comcast.net

West Gate #128 8561 Willows Road NE

Redmond, WA 98052

westgatelodge.org

3rd Monday except July, August. 7:30 p.m. WM: Earl Lara earllara@westgatelodge.org Sec: Donn Castro - donncastro@yahoo.com

Kirkland #150 702 1/2 Market St.

Kirkland, WA 98033 www.kirklandmasons.org

2nd Thursday (3rd Thursday June) except July, August.

7:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:30 p.m.

WM: Brian Clubb bclubb@Outlook.com

Sec: Bill Reynar wjreynar@gmail.com

Unity #198 119 North Bend Way

North Bend, WA 98045

www.unity198.org

1st Wednesday. If Holiday, 2nd Wednesday except

July, August. 7:30 p.m.

WM: Matt Roalkvam webmattr@hotmail.com

Sec : Dean Markley wdeanm@gmail.com

Lakeside #258

8561 Willows Road NE

Redmond, WA 98052

www.lakeside258.org

2nd Monday, except July & August.

7:30 p.m.

WM: Vincenzo Sainato vsainato@me.com Sec: Dean Markley wdeanm@gmail.com

Mercer Island #297 1836 72nd Avenue Southeast

Mercer Island, WA 98040

www.mercerislandmasons.org

1st Thursday; 2nd Thursday if Holiday or Grand Lodge, dark July & August

Open bar 6:00 p.m., catered dinner at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7:30 p.m. RSVP for dinner, $20.

WM: Dan Taylor dantaylor@msn.com

Sec: Scott Anderson papabear120@hotmail.com

Renaissance #312

11440 Avondale Road Northeast

Redmond, WA 98052

www.renaissance312.org

Last Monday of February, April, June, August, October

and December; if holiday, next available Monday that

is not a holiday.

Meeting at 6:30 p.m., Table Lodge at 7:30 p.m. RSVP

for dinner, $25.

WM: Joe Oates joates_48323@yahoo.com

Sec: Bill Werner bigwer1@hotmail.com

District 7 Officers District Deputy of the Grand Master: VWB Doug Stamper dstamper@outlook.com, @dstamper

Falls City

#66

Myrtle

#108

West Gate

#128

Kirkland

#150

Unity

#198

Lakeside

#258

Mercer Island

#297*

Renaissance

#312**

WM WB David Hisel WB Chad Reece WB Earl Lara WB Brian Clubb WB Matt

Roalkvam

WB Vincenzo

Sainato WB Dan Taylor WB Joe Oates, Jr.

SW Br Joshua

Bushman Br Laurence Lance VWB Ray Lavidia

Br Bryan

DeNosky

WB Jonathan

Seaton WB Jim Groves

WB Thomas

Aquino WB Todd Pike.

JW Br Robert Coats Br Gerry O’Brien VWB Henry

Fletcher Br Steve Preston WB Ernest Jenner

WB Mike

Campbell Br Carl Bronkema VWB Gene Ulrich

Sec WB Nick Michaud WB Brian Thomas WB Donn Castro WB Bill Reynar WB Dean Markley WB Dean Markley WB Scott

Anderson VWB Bill Werner

Treas VWB Henry

Fletcher WB Brian Thomas WB Donn Castro WB Bill Reynar Br David Bach VWB Gene Ulrich WB Paul Hoeffer VWB Bill Werner

SD Br Noah Phillips Br. Brett Meyer Br Arjay Protacio Br Ron Quartel Br Dirk Benisch Br Brent Fleckner Br. Sheraz Malik

JD WB Goeff Joosten Br Karl Egts Br Rod Beacham Br David Bach WB Todd Pike Br Dane Shaffer WB Brian

Wheeler

Chp WB Matt

Roalkvam WB Jeff Craig

VWB Mark

Williams WB Dan Chadrow Br Max Box

VWB Roger

Barnstead

Br Mihai

Manolache

Mrsh Br Thomas Monds WB Jim Nash Br Gary Weber VWB Henry

Fletcher Br Stephen Burns

Mu Br Bert Bertram WB John Gebhart

SS Br Jorge Coronel Br Kevin Ward

JS Br Zach Carpenter

T WB Frank

Schumacher WB Henry Castro

* VWB Dean Quigley is Mentor

** Br Andy Precious is Master of Ceremonies for the Festive Board