The Communicator May/June 2016

Volume 63, No. 03

May - June 2016

Summer Solstice

- pg 8

C.T.C.

Int. News

7 Mistakes

pg 7

pg 10

pg 11

2 Seattle Scottish Rite

Scottish Rite Communicator

Scottish Rite Facts

Valley of Seattle

www.seattle-scottishrite.org

SCOTTISH RITE OFFICERS Ill. Ronald A. Seale, 33° Sovereign Grand Commander Ill. Alvin W. Jorgensen, 33° S:.G:.I:.G:., Orient of Washington Ill. Sat Tashiro, 33° Personal Rep. of S:.G:.I:.G:. pr@seattle-scottishrite.org Ill. Greg Goodrich, 33° General Secretary Communicator Editor secretary@seattle-scottishrite.org Ill. Brian Thomas, 33° Treasurer Tom Lamb, 32° KCCH Almoner

PRESIDING OFFICERS Ill. E. Jeff Craig, 33° Master of Kadosh, Consistory Bryan Bechler, 32° Commander, Council of Kadosh Richard Brzustowicz, 32° KCCH Wise Master, Chapter of Rose Croix Steve Dazey, 32° Venerable Master, Lodge of Perfection

Did you know?

Valley of Seattle Membership Statistics (As of Feb 2016) Age range

Num. of members

75 + 449 50-74 228 18-49 45 Total membership:

722

Further breakdown..

95 + 37 90-94 74 80-89 227 70-79 198 60-69 85 50-59 56 40-49 27

Seattle Scottish Rite Center 1207 N 152nd St Seattle, WA 98133-6213 206 324-3330 voice 206 324-3332 fax The Communicator (USPS 485-660) is published by the Valley of Seattle, A&A Scottish Rite, 1207 N 152nd St., Seattle, WA 98133-6213, for the benefit of its members, bimonthly and is mailed as a non-profit publication to all members of the Valley of Seattle and to specified other interested parties. $2.00 per member is assessed for the publication of The Communicator. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, Washington and at additional mailing offices.

The material contained within this publication is intended for the education and enjoyment of the members of the Masonic Fraternity and all material published becomes the property of Seattle Valley of Scottish Rite. Postmaster: Send address changes to — The Communicator at 1207 N 152nd St., Seattle, WA 98133-6213.

30-39 17 18-29 1

Seattle Scottish Rite 3

News from the Personal Representative A

s you open this issue of the Communicator, the class of 2016 will have completed the terminal degrees of the 4th and 14th degree of the Lodge of Perfection and the 18th degree of the Rose Croix. The 30th degree will be scheduled in early September. Be sure to access our webpage for up-to-date information on the schedule of upcoming degree, terminal or nonterminal. We are also in the planning cycle of many non-terminal degrees this year. Three specific degrees being explored for presentation are the 13° – Royal Arch of Solomon; 17°– Knight of the East and West; and the 29° – Scottish Knight of Saint Andrew.

We have a class of eight (8) enthusiastic candidates this year, who are now eligible to participate in our Lodge of Perfection activities. We are fortunate to have so many brethren from the classes of 2014 and 2015, who have become active and are now appointed officers in our bodies.

They have eagerly assumed roles in our degrees.

The March stated meeting was the evening of our Remembrance and Renewal, remembering the services of those many Seattle members. Wise Master Richard Brustowicz, 32° KCCH, and his team did an outstanding job during the ceremony.

The highlight of our April meeting was Jay Kinney, well-known Masonic author, who addressed the gathered brethren on the Higher Degrees of Masonry.

W

e are looking forward to our May meeting, which will be hosted by the Council of the Kadosh, with Grand Master, Donald Munks, presenting comments about his year as it comes to a close at the upcoming Grand Lodge sessions in Wenatchee.

With the coming visit of Brother Bob Cooper, of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, who will be our featured speaker in the fall.

The venue for this special evening is being developed. Current plans are to host him in August.

In April your PR, General Secretary and our 2016 Fellow attended the Scottish Rite Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Representatives from many of the valleys in the Orient were also present. The focus was on the current status of VMAP (Valley Membership Achievement Project) and the next steps. The 2016 Fellow of the Valley is Todd Pike, who is the 2nd Lieutenant Commander of the Kadosh and chairman of our VMAP. An organizational meeting of the Knights of St. Andrew was held in March. Those in attendance agree that its growth is necessary for the growth of our Valley. I would like to encourage all recent black hats to consider joining this ‘black hat’ body, which serves the needs of the Valley in its degrees and supporting committees.

The meetings of our two new clubs, one in the South-end of King County meeting at Verity Lodge, and the other in the Eastside meeting at Bellevue Masonic Center.

All Scottish Rite members, who wish to maintain contact on happenings within the Seattle Valley and difficult-travel-miles from our Shoreline building, to attend one of the clubs in their area. Your attendance at the club meetings is equivalent to attending our stated meetings.

If you are interested in joining these clubs, please contact the Valley office for more information.

Fraternally, Sat Tashiro, 33° Personal Representative of the S:.G:.I:.G:.

4 Seattle Scottish Rite

W

e are off to a great start with eight new members of the Valley of Seattle. The 2016 class received the degrees of the Lodge of Perfection on Saturday April 16th. I had the great pleasure of being the Marshall for the class and I took the opportunity to use the new Members Handbook I just put together for incoming members. I will be adding to it as time goes on, but it is a great start and a great way for new guys to gain a better understanding of how Scottish Rite is organized and how we practice Scottish Rite Masonry. If any member would like a copy please feel free to ask and it will be available for pick up in the office.

I

just returned from the Scottish Rite Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Arizona where we had two days of great workshop discussions on how we can make Scottish Rite Masonry an even better experience with the implementation of the VMAP program. We are one of the few Valleys that were able to meet last year’s VMAP goal and we hope to do the same this year. If you are interested in participating please get in touch with me, our PR or our new Scottish Rite Fellow (Todd Pike) and we will be glad to assist.

M

ay is our last stated meeting before we go dark for the summer months and we have a special guest coming for the Feast of Kadosh. Our Most Worshipful Grand Master, Donald G. Munks will be present to tell us about his year and allow our Valley to honor him for his dedication and service to Freemasonry. This is always a great meeting and we look forward to seeing you there.

See you soon!

Fraternally, Greg Goodrich, 33° General Secretary

Seattle Scottish Rite 5

House of The Temple medallion

T

his past year, the House of the Temple celebrated it’s 100th anniversary. In honor of this occasion the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J., produced a medallion that is an exact replica that was issued at the Grand Opening of the new House of the Temple in 1915.

Made of Bronze with an Antique finish, these unique medallions are numbered 001-333. As only 333 of these medallions were made, only those in attendance at the Scottish Rite Friends Banquet at the House of the Temple on August 22, 2015 received them as a special gift for their presence at this auspicious occasion.

B

rother Todd Pike, 32° was one such Brother that was present at this august event. He has generously donated his medallion to our Valley to be displayed for all brethren to enjoy. The next time you are in the temple, please take a look in our display case and admire this beautiful medallion and don’t forget to thank Todd for this historic gift.

6 Seattle Scottish Rite

NEWS

E

ach year, more than 950,000 adult Americans die from cardiovascular disease, making it the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. At least 250,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) before they reach a hospital. SCA strikes people of all ages and all degrees of fitness.

It usually strikes without warning. Many of these lives can be saved if bystanders quickly phone 911, begin CPR, and defibrillation within minutes.

In our commitment to saving lives and to improve the Chain of Survival, Seattle Scottish Rite has chosen to implement an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) device at our facility (located in the Banquet room).

AED’s are incredibly simple to use and essentially “fool proof”. It has been widely stated that “If you can understand English and you have vision, you can operate an AED”. The AED machine will verbally tell you how to operate it with only three steps: (1) Pull the Green handle. (2) Place the pads. (3) Press the shock button.

Our AED is located in the banquet room in the SW corner. If you have any further question or would like further information please do not hesitate to ask the next time you come in. We would be glad to assist!

Seattle Scottish Rite 7

Seattle Scottish Rite

Saturday, May 21st 3:00 - 6:00 pm

C

ome and be part of the Celebration! The House of the Temple will host the 5th-annual Celebrating the Craft (CTC) on Saturday, May 21, to raise money for the Rebuilding the Temple Campaign and RiteCare and we are hosting our very own viewing party and celebration.

This year Seattle Scottish Rite will be broadcasting the event live. We will have BBQ, food, beverages and a several giveaways. This event is open to the entire family so be sure to put it on your calendar now. Music, comedy, celebrities, never-before-seen video content from the House of the Temple and Valleys across the country, and so much more will be included in the webcast.

The George Washington Banquet Hall at the House of the Temple will be converted into a television studio and serve as ground zero for this Masonic extravaganza. During the evening, viewers will learn more about the Scottish Rite and the importance of the House of the Temple, its artifacts, museum, and library. Last year the CTC featured musical artist, stage performers, Masonic scholars like Ill. Bros. Arturo de Hoyos, 33째, GC, and Brent Morris, 33째, GC, and many others who educated and entertained throughout the event. We will be building upon our previous successes to make CTC 2016 our most exciting event yet.

There is no cost to attend and we hope to see you there!

8 Seattle Scottish Rite

Summer Solstice

Each year on the 21st June visitors from around the world gather at Stonehenge overnight to mark the summer solstice and to see the sunrise above the stones. At dawn the central Altar stone aligns with the Slaughter stone, Heel stone and the rising sun to the northeast.

The white cloaked and hooded druids gather among the standing stones to celebrate the summer solstice at dawn. They joyously welcome the first rays of the sunlight by tapping the heel stone while chanting “ARISES “O” SUN”, amidst the early morning dawn chorus of the birds. The Stonehenge Summer Solstice is a very popular event to attend and people from all over the world gather at this ancient site to witness and be part of an age-old ritual. Try the ‘Stonehenge Tour Company’ who provide transport to the events every year English Heritage provides Managed Open Access to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice and works closely with the many agencies, and people from all sectors of the community, in order to create a peaceful occasion - ensuring an event that can be safely enjoyed by all and protects Stonehenge and its surrounding Monuments.

Further details on the entry conditions are available from English Heritage.

What is the Summer Solstice?

Solstice derives from an ancient Latin word meaning “stop,” or “to stand still.” According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, it refers to one of two points when the sun is furthest from the celestial equator. In astronomy, either of the two points on the ecliptic that lie midway between the equinoxes (separated from them by an angular distance of 90°).

At the solstices the sun’s apparent position on the celestial sphere reaches its greatest distance above or below the celestial equator, about 23 1/2° of arc. At the time of summer solstice, about June 22, the sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer.

In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day and shortest night of the year occur on this date, marking the beginning of summer. At winter solstice, about December 22, the sun is overhead at noon at the Tropic of Capricorn; this marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

For several days before and after each solstice the sun appears to stand still in the sky, i.e., its noontime elevation does not seem to change from day to day.

The Summer Solstice With the warmth of the season caressing the land, the celebration of the Summer Solstice brings forth a truly joyous recognition that we can now enjoy the fruits of our labors in the past season.

Seattle Scottish Rite 9

It is not surprising that this same spirit of pleasure and fun had carried over into our modern-day recognition of this, the longest day of the year.

Falling on June 21st or 22nd, the Summer Solstice is a time of light and of fire. It is a time to reflect upon the growth of the season: the seeds that were planted in the earth and the seeds planted in our souls. It is a time of cleansing and renewal. It is a time of love and growth as well.

The First Harvest - This is the time of the first harvest, which usually consisted of the herbs planted during the Vernal Equinox. Used for food, medicines and ritual, these gifts of the land clearly denote the importance of the harvest and the cycle of growth to the body, mind and soul.

Reason for the Seasons The reason for the different seasons at opposite times of the year in the two hemispheres is that while the earth rotates about the sun, it also spins on its axis, which is tilted some 23.5 degrees towards the plane of its rotation. Because of this tilt, the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight (creating winter) while the Southern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight (creating summer). As the Earth continues its orbit the hemisphere that is angled closest to the sun changes and the seasons are reversed.

What is the difference between Midsummer Day and the summer solstice?

Midsummer Day is June 24 (each year) and is one of the four Quarter Days in the Legal Calendar.

The other Quarter Days are Lady Day (March 25), Michaelmas (29 September) and Christmas Day (25 December). The Summer Solstice is explained above.

Solstice Watching When watching a solstice you need to be very careful you do not hurt your eyes. Obviously the sun is not as bright as if you were looking at an eclipse but no matter what you need to be careful.

Your first concern when looking anywhere near the sun should always be eye safety. Serious eye damage can result from even a brief glimpse of our sun. Don’t just assume you can go out and purchase glasses for solstice viewing or some other type of solstice eyewear. You may view the Sun directly only through a special filter made for safe solar viewing.

10 S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e

International News English Freemasons give £72,000 ($102,000) in charity donations Freemasons in Bedfordshire, England recently presented 49 different charities with donations totalling £72,061 ($102,000) Lodge members from across Bedfordshire raised the funds over the past 12 months and gave it to charities and good causes such as Diabetes UK, Cancer Research UK, Bedfordshire Games, Keech Hospice Care, Help for Heroes, Autism Bedfordshire, Alzheimer’s UK, Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Bedford Hospital, Midshires Search and Rescue Organisation, Bedfordshire Scouts and Sue Ryder.

The event was held on 26th February at the Luton Masonic Centre with around 160 people in attendance. Each of the charities were presented with their cheques by the representatives from the supporting lodges or the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Bedfordshire, Michael Sawyer, who said: ‘All the money that we raise comes from Freemasons themselves and it gives them great pleasure to be able to contribute to these charities and the wonderful work that they do.’

Each charity representative present at the event responded with expressions of their gratitude and how important the Bedfordshire Freemasons donations are in helping them reach their targets for support.

Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Freemasons donate $6,500 for tropical storm Erika District help for Dominica storm relief.

Last August the small Caribbean island of Dominica was hit by tropical storm Erika. Five hours of the storm’s intense wind and rain provoked flooding and landslides, destroying hundreds of homes in the process.

St George Lodge, No. 3421, which has worked on the island for over 100 years, enlisted the help of brethren in the District of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, and took immediate steps to assist. The Freemasons’ Association of Jamaica, through District Grand Master Walter Scott and District Grand Secretary Robert Forbes, donated JMD 800,000 ($6,500) to The Salvation Army as its contribution to the Dominica Relief Fund. The presentation was received by the territorial commander, Commissioner Gerrit Marseille, and property officer Major Stanley Griffin.

S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 11

Seven Great Mistakes in Freemasonry (author unknown)

1. Ritual Without Meaning Too many times, we are more concerned about performing the ritual perfectly without understanding what it means.

Ritual for the sake of tradition is worthless. Ritual for the sake of enlightenment is valuable. An understanding of the ritual’s meaning is far more important than just memorizing it.

2. Fellowship without Frivolity Whenever Masons decide to hold a function for fellowship, a discussion typically ensues about how to make the function have the smallest impact on the lodge’s finances and the wallets of the members. This results in paper plates, meager meals, boring and less well attended events. To spend money wisely in order to make fellowship a grand time is wise for the lodge that wants to be successful. Also we do not have to be slaves to form, endlessly repeating the same toasts and replies – we should reward individuality and creativity in order to keep our meetings alive and fun!

3. Quantity without Quality A lodge with seven great men that believe in the Masonic ideals and actively strive to improve themselves—and therefore the lodge—is far better off than a lodge with one hundred men that show up to lodge just to be seen.

4. Education without Philosophy Many times, we think of Masonic education as being a lesson on the local lodge’s history, a famous Mason, the history of the world wide fraternity, or how to do the ritual properly. But if no philosophy is covered in Masonic education, then little self improvement is accomplished. Discussing Masonic lessons in terms of philosophy, ideas, and a man’s conduct is what truly transforms men into Masons.

It is important to share & discuss topics that are foreign to a lodge’s membership and it is sometimes even necessary to challenge our preconceived ideologies through Masonic education.

5. Charity without Connection Big charities often require that fund raisers be conducted and large checks written to the people that actually perform the charity. This type of charity offers no self improvement because it has no real connection to us or our life. If we extend our hands to our needed Brethren and devote our own skills and time to their problems, then we are engaging in true, meaningful charity.

6. Frugality without Discretion Frugality is not a tenet of Freemasonry, a cardinal virtue, or a Landmark. It is acceptable for the lodge to spend its funds on worthwhile activities that will enhance the Masonic experience of its Brethren. Not everything should be done in the cheapest way, a habit to which we have become accustomed.

7. Leadership without Competence A man does not deserve to be master of the lodge, solely because he has spent a certain amount of years attending meetings or because he is next in line. We, on occasion, elect our leaders without any regard for the skills that they possess in order to function in that capacity. We should only elect competent and qualified men to preside over us.

12 S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e

R

iteCare of Washington‌soon to be Early Life Speech & Language is a Scottish Rite charity that enables children with speech delays to communicate. The highest quality of therapy for children is provided in a family-centered, collaborative care environment. In addition to the customized treatment plans, RiteCare of Washington therapists specialize in parent education to ensure that speech and language therapy extends into a child’s home and classroom. These life-changing therapies are provided at no cost to the families, thanks to the generous support of donors.

T

here are free standing clinics in Seattle and Spokane and selected services in Everett, Tacoma, Kennewick, Olympia, Vancouver, Wenatchee and Yakima through local agencies. Through the financial support of the Scottish Rite Masons, private donors, and dedicated volunteers, more than 1170 RiteCare centers across the United States serve more than 28,500 children each year.

The Washington RiteCare program will soon change their name to Early Life Speech & Language. It’s an exciting time and will be a wonderful way to get noticed in the community so that more kids can be served. Stay tuned for more information!

New Name and Logo (coming soon..)

S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 13

SCOTTISH RITE RESEARCH SOCIETY The Scottish Rite Research Society® (SRRS) was formed on May 8, 1991, when fourteen Scottish Rite Freemasons were granted a charter by the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J. The administrative offices of the SRRS are at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., under the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite. Activities and publications of the Society are governed by a Board of Directors, who are all Life Members of the Society, representing Scottish Rite valleys across the country.

Since its formation in 1991, the Society has become one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary Masonic research, pursuing a publication program that emphasizes quality—both in content and in physical form. The Society has grown to over 4,000 members worldwide since inception. Its publications have redefined the standards of Masonic scholarship. Anyone who is interested in deepening his or her understanding of Freemasonry would benefit from Society membership. One need not be a member of the Scottish Rite, or even be a Mason, to join the SRRS. Life Memberships are available.

The benefits of membership in the Scottish Rite Research Society are many. Some are intangibles, such as the potential for interaction and discussions with the brightest minds in contemporary Masonic philosophy and debate. The most important benefit is the availability of what we all came here for, which is more light in Masonry. This is manifest most particularly in SRRS publications and Masonic conferences.

The tangible benefits of membership in the SRRS include: • access to some of the most thought-provoking ideas in contemporary Masonic research • a 10% discount on Society books & items bought at the on-line store • Annual hardback volume of Heredom®, the preeminent publication of Masonic research • the Society’s quarterly research journal, The Plumbline® • early notice for upcoming conferences and meetings on issues of Masonic importance • SRRS membership card and lapel pin SRRS Members also receive: • special discounted offers on advanced sales throughout the year • a bonus book or other item The SRRS is open to everyone; please visit their web site for a membership application.

14 S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e

Messages Happy Birthday!

Congratulations from all your Scottish Rite brethren to our members over 90 who have reached a very important birthday!

May

June

Jerome C Wachsmuth

Raymond E Barclay

Douglas M Crosby

Donald L Manion

James O Stansell

Richard D Margerum

Martin W Grossmann

Kenneth Thompson

Harry A Reynolds

Joe S Peha

Robert D Lowe

Douglas G Edlich

John W Kraft

John L Swafford II

Samuel R Boren

Alfred C Bartol Jr

Donald W Bartholomew

Robert T Maag

Rudy Pastori

Arthur Phelps David C Campbell

Lodge of Sorrow Our brethren lie before us, overtaken by that relentless fate which, sooner or later, is to overtake us all..

Virtus Junxit Mors Non Separabit

Paul Boschee Harold E Cone James Farrington Robert Freimund Charles German John F. Kelly John M. Moe Peter Nilles

02-04-2016 Roy Stringer 12-29-2015 01-20-2015 Randal Dahl Unknown 01-09-2016 03-23-2016 03-22-2016 12-13-2015 04-08-2016 02-15-2016

S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 15

C a l e n d a r

www.seattle-scottishrite.org

MONTH

TIME

EVENT

May

Saturday May 7th

9:00 am

Executive Council.

6:30 pm

Dinner & Stated Meeting (Feast of Kadosh).

11:00 am

17° & 18°

Tuesday May 17th

June Saturday June 18th

* All events subject to change.

Scottish Rite Members Lounge (Great friends. Great Chats. Great Drinks.)

After all stated meetings stop in the membership lounge for further fellowship. Have a glass of wine or a pint of fresh poured draught.

Come in and see what’s on tap!

This is a great place to catch up with members after meetings, discuss ritual and enjoy the fellowship and all that the Seattle Scottish Rite has to offer.

Scottish Rite of Freemasonry 1207 N 152nd St. Shoreline, WA 98133-6247

Periodicals Postage Paid USPS 485-660

Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things which exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the contexture of the web.

- Marcvs Avrelivs