Volume 68 No. 05
September-October 2021
Spirit of Masonry - pg 8
Membership
Shipbuilders
Tolerance
pg 5
pg 7
pg 2
2 Seattle Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite Communicator Valley of Seattle
www.seattle-scottishrite.org
SCOTTISH RITE OFFICERS
A Short Lesson in Tolarence Ralph Parks is currently employed as a teacher at Wailalak University in Thailand. He has studied both Eastern and Westem mysteries for over 30 years, induding Westem Kabbalah, Sikhism, Spiritualism, and subtle body work. He is the Sword Bearer for the Knights Templar of Japan (Not the Masonic KT)
Ill. Alvin W. Jorgensen, 33° S:.G:.I:.G:, Orient of Washington
On April 14, 1996, Japan was visited by His Grace, Archbishop Lufti Laham, Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem. He was here at the invitation of the Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem, the Grand Priory of Japan. This is the first time anyone of his stature from his church has visited Japan, and the members of the order considered it a great honor.
Ill. Sat Tashiro, 33° Personal Rep. of S:.G:.I:.G:. pr@seattle-scottishrite.org
After other conversations and having prepared myself, I said, “Sir, I have a question I must ask. Where do you stand on homosexuality?”
Daniel Southerland, 32° KCCH General Secretary Communicator Editor secretary@seattle-scottishrite.org
“Are you a Christian?” was his reply. Continuing, he said “If you mean by that, do I believe in the principles of love, compassion, and understanding put forward in the teachings of Jesus?, the answer is yes. If you mean, do I believe Christ is the one way, the only way, and that those who do not know of or believe in Christ do not have continuity of life after death?, the answer is no. I believe paths are many, truth is one, and all religions lead to God. Some just take longer and require more trips through life.
Ill. James D. Cole, 33° Sovereign Grand Commander
Gene Ulrich, 32° KCCH Treasurer Ill. Tom Lamb, 33° Almoner PRESIDING OFFICERS Bob Gunther 32°KCCH Master of Kadosh, Consistory Arturo Ortiz 32° Commander, Council of Kadosh Gerry O’Brien 32° KCCH Wise Master, Chapter of Rose Croix Richard Brzustowicz 32° Venerable Master, Lodge of Perfection 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., Shoreline, WA 98133-6213.
I live in Jerusalem. It is the center of the world. It is a land of Arabs who are Muslims, Arabs who are Jews, Arabs who are Christians, and people from all over the world. I am a Christian. One of about 130,000 among millions. This is my faith. I am lucky. I know this, so I don’t have to explain my answer to the question as you do. This is my path and I choose to live it. The only reason to be different from others is to be of service to others. I run a hospital and a school, not for Christians, but for those who need a hospital and a school. I try to keep Christians in the Holy Land so we can be of service to those who live there. Religion does not belong to us, we belong to it. That is why I am a Christian. That is why I serve. And that is why it is not for me to judge the path of others. I live my path and others must live theirs. I am not a homosexual. It is not my path. But I do not judge the path of others. My faith is to serve.” Sometimes to stand in the shadow is to stand in the light.— Ralph Parks
Seattle Scottish Rite 3
News from the Personal Representative
Normalcy is elusive as we enter the fall of 2021 as the effects of covid continues to stubbornly be active As this Communicator is being prepared in the last days of September, we have heard from our Grand Master Cameron Bailey that the restrictions imposed by Past Grand Master Coffman will not be continued. The health of our members is our primary concern. We continue to hear conflicting statements of national and state health official relaxing the use of masks and social distancing. We will continue to be cautious in the valley. We must conform to the restrictions of the state as a building open to public meetings. As we approach biennial Honors Ceremony of 2021 in September 25 at the Tacoma Scottish Rite, it is a distinct privilege to re-announce that Brother Ian Hyde, KCCH, has been elected to 33° for 2021 and that Brothers W. Dean Markley and Adam Creighton have been chosen to be KCCH for the year in the Seattle Valley. Since our virtual degree reunion in April where we raised two brothers to the 32nd degree, we also recently had four brothers who joined the class of 2021 in the past month. In mid-August they received the 4th and 14th degree and in mid-September they will receive the 18th degree The remaining terminal degrees will be held in October and November concluding with the Cap and Ring ceremony in December for all the brethren who received their Masters of the Royal Secret since March 2020. We recently installed six brethren as Knights of St. Andrew from the recent black hat class. In particular an initiative has been initiated by a number of black hats of recent years and with the leadership of the Knights of St. Andrew, plans are underway to develop their involvement in the many events of the Seattle Valley. In coming months the black hats have agreed to present many of the nonterminal degrees. They have also agreed to annually be responsible for the 29th degree, Knight of the St. Andrew. Details will be in an upcoming issue of the Communicator We will be attempting to schedule for the remainder of the 2021 year with hybrid monthly meetings. The meetings will be opened & closed in a secure manner, with the business and program open to those brothers joining virtually. Our first meeting since the onset of COVID will be our September with our speaker RW Clint Brown, Grand Secretary, who will relive the challenges created by COVID and also new initiatives surfaced which will impact our future in the Masonic fraternity In addition, the meeting of the Eastside Scottish Rite Club (ESRC) has been focusing on the lessons of the degrees of the Scottish Rite and future meetings must also be scheduled through virtual meetings. Please contact Dean Markley, at wdeanm@gmail.com for additional information. Do not forget about our DVD Club on the last Wednesday of the month. All Scottish Rite members of the Seattle Valley receive the Communicator, but may miss the fellowship with their fellow members within the valley and find the difficult-travel-miles to-and-from our Shoreline building a major problem. Please attend these club meetings through the virtual meetings of ZOOM as they are scheduled. Our steps to create a non-for-profit charity continue on its course though the IRS and development of its bylaws. When completed in the coming weeks and months it will form our mission to help those less fortunate. As a 501c3, contribution will be tax deductible and will be called Rite Way. Do not forget that on September 26, Sunday services for Bob Dearborn, KCCH, 1-3 pm, in the building. The Seattle Valley will be performing the Rose Croix Service. Military services will also be held. Brother Bob served in Vietnam as an officer in the Marines.
Fraternally, Sat Tashiro 33° Personal Representative of the S:.G:.I:.G:.
4 Seattle Scottish Rite
Greetings All, Looks like fall is definitely upon us and with that comes the lodge opening back up. We will be having our stated on September 21st at 7:30 with dinner being at 6:30pm. Our very special guest speaker for the evening is RW Clint Brown, Grand Secretary of Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington. Come hear his words of wisdom For those newer members that have just received their degrees dinner is on us for the next year. This includes the members who received your degrees virtually. We ask that you remember to RSVP your dinner reservations two days in advance of the dinner. The price is still $15.00 in advance or $20.00 at the door without reservation. A yearly meal ticket is $100.00. You can go on our website to buy your dinner or pay at the door. Just email, or call the office to RSVP We look forward to seeing you all here and in person. We have some nice swag for all who come as a welcome back to Seattle Valley so get them while they last. Just remember state covid guild lines will be followed. So many things have been happening during the summer here at the Valley. We have had the parking lot redone along with updating the landscaping around the property so you will se some fresh new surroundings as you arrive. We are also looking to the future to see how we can best serve all who enter. The ideas of what to do with the unused portion of the building is in gear and we look forward to our members giving us input on what they would like to see the future hold as we expand on the space we have. We seem to be attracting quite a few concordant bodies to Seattle Valley as we have several new tenants to go with the existing ones,so we also want to see how we can best help them in their new surroundings as well. I would also like to give special congratulations to all of the Orients recipients for this years Honors. Especially to Seattle Valley’s Brother Ian Hyde for being elected to 33° and Brothers Dean Markley and Adam Crieghton for their investiture to KCCH. These brother and all are so worthy and well deserving. When you see them next congratulate them all in their honors. They will receive these honors on September 25th at the Tacoma Valley Scottish Rite. There are many events going on at your valley so I just wanted to mention a few. We will be conferring the 18° on September 18th at 9:00am so if you would like to come e see a great team do the degree along with lunch being provided.. Also coming in October we will be hosting the Ship Builders degree with Ill. Tom Lamb and his team. This will be a great time so you wont want to miss this one as its been awhile since it has been done. See the flyer for more and how to get your tickets. It is open to all Masons from Entered Apprentice on up. So make your reservation now. We have already started our degrees for the immediate season but are always looking for new brothers to join our great fraternity so I have enclosed the Seattle Valley petition in this issue. If you are a member why have you not invited them to join? We all enjoy the great degrees and meanings so we should be wanting to share what Scottish Rite has to offer. We will be having events to invite our masonic brothers in to see what we have to offer so be looking for those as they are always open to all. I would like to take these last few lines first to apologize for the late issue, life sometimes gets in the way of our plans, that’s certain. And next to say with deep humility Thank You to all who have reached out with thoughts and prayers over the last week for my wife and myself . You will all be happy to know she is back home and resting well. Look like she will make a full recovery and get back to her ole sassy self . Thank you to all as we appreciate you all and know we are so lucky to have you all as friends and family. To my nasonic brothers, life is so better because you are all my brothers. You cannot imagine how great this fraternity is until you see the brothers and their families reach out to each other. So if there are any of you that ever need help be sure to reach out to us all. We are all family so never think you are alone in what ever you are facing.
Fraternally, Daniel J. Southerland, 32° KCCH General Secretary
Seattle Scottish Rite 5
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Valley of Seattle
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America 1207 N 152nd St. Shoreline, WA 98133 Telephone (206) 324-3330 ___________________________, 20______ Today's Date
TO THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF: SEATTLE LODGE OF PERFECTION
SEATTLE CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX
SEATTLE COUNCIL OF KADOSH
SEATTLE CONSISTORY
I THE UNDERSIGNED, DO CERTIFY THE FOLLOWING TO BE TRUE AND CORRECT: MY FULL NAME IS ____________________________________________________________. MY AGE IS ______ YEARS. MY DATE OF BIRTH IS ________ ________ ________. I WAS BORN AT ________________________________________. STATE OF _____. I CURRENTLY RESIDE AT _______________________________________________________________. Address, City and State I HAVE RESIDED THERE FOR ____________ YEARS. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS _________________________________________________________________________________. MY MAILING ADDRESS IS_______________________________________________________________________________. Street address or Post Office Box City, State, & ZIP MY CURRENT TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (____)_______________________. SPOUSE NAME_______________________. Area Code MY OCCUPATION IS _____________________________. I AM EMPLOYED BY __________________________________. If retired, state previous occupation If retired, enter “Retired” I AM A MASTER MASON IN GOOD STANDING IN _________________________ LODGE NO. ___________ LOCATED AT ___________________________________ , UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF____________. I WAS RAISED TO THE DEGREE OF MASTER MASON ON __________________________________________________. Date you received third degree PLEASE ENTER YOUR CAP SIZE (IF KNOWN) __________. PLEASE ENTER YOUR RING SIZE (IF KNOWN) __________.
Continued on other side
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6 Seattle Scottish Rite What motivated you to join the Scottish Rite?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please indicate your interest in the following subjects.
Scottish Rite Education
Scottish Rite Ritual
Esoteric Research & Education
Participation is Scottish Rite Degrees
Participation as an officer in one of the four bodies
Participation in Scottish Rite Committees, i.e. Finance, Building, etc.
Americanism (ROTC, JROTC)
Craft Lodge Education
Craft Lodge Ritual
Other ___________________________________________________
THE SUPREME COUNCIL REQUIRES ACCEPTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES: THE INCULCATION OF PATRIOTISM, RESPECT FOR LAW AND ORDER, UNDYING LOYALTY TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. DO YOU APPROVE OF THESE PRINCIPLES? ________ YES ________ NO I HAVE NEVER PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR ANY OF THE SCOTTISH RITE DEGREES NOR FOR ANY MEMBERSHIP IN ANY BODY OF SCOTTISH RITE MASONS. (IF PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR MEMBERSHIP HERE OR ELSEWHERE, USE THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS APPLICATION TO PROVIDE FULL DETAILS OF SAID APPLICATION, SPECIFICALLY INCLUDING THE SCOTTISH RITE BODIES TO WHICH APPLICATION WAS MADE, DATES THEREOF, AND RESULTS OF SAID APPLICATION ) I NOW RESPECTFULLY MAKE THIS APPLICATION TO RECEIVE THE DEGREES OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY, PROMISING ALWAYS TO BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE THIRTY-THIRD DEGREE OF THE SOUTHERN JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATED OF AMERICA. ________________________________________________________________________ (Signature)
PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF YOUR CURRENT CRAFT LODGE DUES CARD PLEASE FILL IN ALL PROCEEDING BLANKS ================================================================================== RECOMMENDED BY: (TWO SCOTTISH RITE SPONSORS ARE NECESSARY) 1.____________________________________________________________________________________________ Printed Name Signature Address 2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Printed Name Signature Address RECEIVED _________________________ REFERRED ____________________________ ELECTED __________________ Please include the $200.00 fee for the degrees plus $100.00 dues for the current year with your petition: Total of $300.00 *for petitioners under 31 years of age the fees are $125.00 plus $100.00 dues for the current year: Total of $225.00 The total fees for the 4°-32° degrees of the Scottish Rite include your 14° ring, 32° Scottish Rite hat, Master Craftsman book and materials, and A Bridge to Light: A study in Masonic Ritual & Philosophy.
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Seattle Scottish Rite 7
8 Seattle Scottish Rite
Spirit of Masonry Outside of the home and the House of God there is nothing in this world more beautiful than the Spirit of Masonry. Gentle, gracious, and wise; its mission is to form mankind into a great redemptive brotherhood, a league of noble and free men enlisted in the radiant enterprise of working out in time the love and will of the Eternal. Who is sufficient to describe a spirit so benign? With what words may one ever hope to capture and detain that which belongs of right to the genius of poetry and song, by whose magic those elusive and impalpable realities find embodiment and voice? With picture, parable, and stately drama; Masonry appeals to lovers of beauty bringing poetry and symbol to the aid of philosophy and are to the service of character. Broad and tolerant in its teachings it appeals to men of intellect, equally by the depths of its faith and its pleas for liberty of thought - helping them to think things through to a more satisfying and hopeful vision of the meaning of life and the mystery of the world. But its profoundest appeal, more eloquent than all others, is to the deep heart of man out of which are the issues of life and destiny. When all is said, it is as a man thinketh in his heart whether life be worth while or not, and whether he is a help or a curse to his race. Here Lies the tragedy of our race: Not that men are poor; All men know something of poverty. Not that men are wicked; Who can claim to be good? Not that all men are ignorant; Who can boast that he is wise? But that men are strangers!
Masonry if Friendship - friendship, first, with the great Companion, of whom our own hearts tell us, who is always nearer to us than we are to ourselves, and whose inspiration and help is the greatest fact of human experience. To be in harmony with his purposes, to be open to His suggestions, to be conscious of fellowship with Him - this is Masonry on its God-ward side. Then ,turning man-ward, friendship sums it all up. To be friends with all men, however they may differ from us in creed, color, or condition; to fill every human relation with the spirit of friendship; is there anything more or better than this that the wisest and best men can hope to do? Such is the Spirit of Masonry; such is its ideal, and if to realize it all at once is denied us, surely it means much to see it, love it, and labor to make it come true. Nor is the spirit of friendship a mere sentiment held by a sympathetic, and therefore unstable, fraternity, which would dissolve the concrete features of humanity into a vague blur of misty emotion. No; it has its roots in a profound philosophy which sees that the universe is friendly, and that men must learn to be friends if they would live as befits the world in which they live, as well as their own origin and destiny. For, since God is the life of all that was, is, and is to be; and since we are all born into the world by one high wisdom and one vast love, we are brothers to the last man of us, forever! For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and even after death us do part, all men are held together by ties of spiritual kinship, sons of one eternal friend. Upon this fact human fraternity rests, and it is the basis of the plea of Masonry, not only for freedom, but for friendship among men.
Seattle Scottish Rite 9
Thus friendship, so far from being a mush of concessions, is in fact the constructive genius of the universe. Love is ever the Builder, and those who have done most to establish the City of God on earth have been the men who loved their fellow men. Once you let this spirit prevail, the wrangling sects will be lost in the great league of those who love in the service of those who suffer. No man will then revile the faith in which his neighbor finds help for today and hope for the morrow; pity will smite him mute, and love will teach him that God is found in many ways, by those who seek him with honest hearts. Once you let this spirit rule in the realm of trade the law of the jungle will cease, and men will strive to build a social order in which all men may have the opportunity "To Live, and to Live Well," as Aristotle defined the purpose of society. Here is the basis of that magical stability aimed at by the earliest artists when they sought to build for eternity, by imitating on earth the House of God. Our human history, saturated with blood and blistered with tears, is the story of man making friends with man. Society has evolved from a feud into a friendship by the slow growth of love and the welding of man, first to his kin, and then to his kind. The first man who walked in the red dawn of time lived every man for himself, his heart a sanctuary of suspicions, every man feeling that every other man was his foe, and therefore his prey. So there was war, strife and bloodshed. Slowly there came to the savage a gleam of the truth that it is better to help than to hurt, and he organized clans and tribes. But the tribes were divided by rivers and mountains, and the men on one side of the river felt that the men on the other side were their enemies. Again there was war, pillage, and sorrow. Great empires arose and met in the shock of conflict, leaving trails of skeletons across the earth. Then came the great roads, reaching out with their stony clutch and bringing the ends of the earth together. Men met, mingled, passed and repassed; and learned that human nature is much the same everywhere, with hopes and fears in common. Still there were many things to divide and estrange men from each other, and the earth was full of bitterness. Not satisfied with natural barriers, men erected high walls of sect and caste, to exclude their fellows, and the men of one sect were sure that the men of all other sects were wrong - and doomed to be lost. Thus, when real mountains no longer separated man from man, mountains were made out of molehills - mountains of immemorial misunderstanding not yet moved into the sea! Barriers of race, of creed, of caste, of training and interest separate men today, as if some malign genius were bent on keeping man from his fellows; begetting suspicion, uncharitableness, and hate. Still there is war, waste, and woe! Yet all the while men have been unfriendly, and, therefore unjust and cruel, only because they are unacquainted. Amidst feud, faction, and folly; Masonry, the oldest and most widely spread order, toils in behalf of friendship; uniting men upon the only basis upon which they can ever meet with dignity. Each lodge is an oasis of equality and goodwill in a desert of strife, working to weld mankind into a great league of sympathy and service, which, by the terms of our definition seeks to exhibit even now on a small scale. At its Altar men meet as man to man, without vanity and without pretense, without fear and without reproach; as tourists crossing the Alps tie themselves together so that if one slips, all may hold him up. No tongue can tell the meaning of such a ministry, no pen can trace the influence in melting the hardness of the world into pity and gladness. The Spirit of Masonry! He who would describe that spirit must be a poet, a musician, and a seer - a master of melodies, echoes, and long far-sounding cadences. Now, as always, it toils to make man better, to refine his thought and purify his sympathy, to broaden his outlook, to lift his altitude, to establish in amplitude and resoluteness his life in all its relations. All its great history, its vast accumulations of tradition, its simple faith and its solemn rites, its freedom and its friendship are dedicated to the high moral ideal, seeking to tame the tiger in man, and bring his wild passions into obedience to the will of God. It has no other mission than to exalt and ennoble humanity, to bring light out of darkness, beauty out of angularity; to make every hard-won inheritance more secure, every sanctuary more sacred, every hope more radiant!
10 S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e
The Spirit of Masonry! Aye, when that spirit has its way upon earth, as at last it surely will, society will be a vast communion of kindness and justice, business a system of human service, law a rule of beneficence; home will be more holy, the laughter of childhood more joyous, and the temple of prayer mortised and tendoned in a simple faith. Evil, injustice, bigotry, greed, and every vile and slimy thing that defiles and defames humanity will skulk into the dark, unable to bear the light of a juste, wiser, more merciful order. Industry will be upright, education prophetic, and religion not a shadow, but a real Presence, when man has become acquainted with man and has learned to worship God by serving his fellows. When Masonry is victorious every tyranny will fall, every bastille crumble, and man will be not only unfettered in mind and hand, but free of heart to walk erect in the light and liberty of the truth. Toward a great friendship, long foreseen by Masonic faith, the world is slowly moving, amid difficulties and delays, reactions and reconstructions. Though long deferred, of the day, which will surely arrive, when nations will be reverent in the use of freedom, just in the exercise of power, humane in the practice of wisdom; when no man will ride over the rights of his fellows; when no woman will be made forlorn, no little child wretched by bigotry or greed, Masonry has ever been a prophet. Nor will she ever be content until all the threads of human fellowship are woven into one mystic cord of friendship, encircling the earth and holding the race in unity of spirit and the bonds of peace; as in the will of God it is one in the origin and end. Having outlived empires and philosophies, having seen generations appear and vanish, it will yet live to see the travail of its soul, and be satisfied - When the War Drum throbs no longer, And the Battle Flags are furled; In the Parliament of man, The Federation of the World. Manifestly, since love is the law of life, if men are to be won from hate to love, if those who doubt and deny are to be wooed to faith, if the race is ever to be led and lifted into a life of service, it must be by the fine art of Friendship. Inasmuch as this is the purpose of Masonry, its mission determines the method not less than the spirit of its labor. Earnestly it endeavors to bring men - first the individual man, and then, so far as is possible, those who are united with him - to love one another, while holding aloft, in picture and dream, that Temple of character which is the noblest labor of life to build in the midst of the years, and which will outlast time and death. Thus it seeks to reach the lonely inner life of man where the real battles are fought, and where the issues of destiny are decided, now with shouts of victory, now with sobs of defeat. What a ministry to a young man who enters its Temple in the morning of life, when the dew of heaven is upon his days and the birds are singing in his heart! From the wise lore of the East Max Muller translated a parable which tells how the Gods, having stolen from man his divinity, met in council to discuss where they should hide it. One suggested that it be carried to the other side of the earth and buried; but, it was pointed out that man is a great wanderer, and that he might find the lost treasure on the other side of the earth. Another proposed that it be dropped into the depths of the sea; but, the same fear was expressed - that man, in his insatiable curiosity, might dive deep enough to find even there. Finally, after a space of silence, the oldest and wisest of the Gods said: "Hide it in man himself, as that is the last place he will ever think to look for it." And so it was agreed, all seeing at once the subtle and wise strategy. Man did wander the earth, for ages, seeking in all places high and low, far and near, before he thought to look within himself for the divinity he sought. At last, slowly, dimly, he began to realize that what he thought was far off, hidden in the "The Pathos of Distance, is nearer than the breath he breathes, even in his own heart. Here lies the great secret of Masonry - that it makes a man aware of that divinity within him, wherefrom his whole life takes its beauty and meaning, and inspires him to follow and obey it. Once a man learns this deep secret, life is new, and the old world is a valley all dewy to the dawn with a lark song over it. There never was a truer saying than, the religion of a man is the chief fact concerning him. By religion is meant not the creed to which a man will subscribe, or otherwise give his assent; not that necessarily; often not that at all - since we see men of all degrees of worth and worthlessness signing all kinds of creeds. No; the religion of a man is that which he practically believes, lays to heart, acts upon, and thereby knows concerning this mysterious universe and his duty and destiny in it. That is in all cases the primary thing in him, and creatively determines all the rest; that is his religion. It is, then, of vital importance what faith, what vision, what conception of life a man lays to heart, and acts upon.
S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 11
At the bottom, a man is what his thinking is, thoughts being the artists who give color to our days. Optimists and pessimists live in the same world, walk under the same sky, and observe the same facts, Skeptics and believers look up at the same great stars - the stars that shone in Eden and will flash again in Paradise. Clearly the difference between them is a difference not of fact, but of faith - of insight, outlook, and point of view - a difference of inner attitude and habit of thought with regard to the worth and use of life. By the same taken, ant influence which reaches and alters that inner habit and bias of mind, and changes it from doubt to faith, from fear to courage, from despair to sunburst hope, has wrought the most benign ministry which a mortal may enjoy. Every man has a train of thought on which he rides when he is alone; and the worth of his life to himself and others, as well as its happiness, depend upon the direction in which that train is going, the baggage it carries, and the country through which it travels. If, then, Masonry can put that inner train of thought on the right track, freight it with precious treasure, and start it on the way to the City of God, what other or higher ministry can it render to a man? And that is what it dies for any man who will listen to it, love it, and lay its truth to heart. High, Fine, Ineffably rich and beautiful are the faith and vision which Masonry gives to those who foregather at its Altar, bringing to them in picture, parable, and symbol the lofty and pure truth wrought out through ages of experience, tested by time, and found to be valid for the conduct of life. By such teaching, if they have the heart to heed it, men become wise, learning how to be both brave and gentle, faithful, and free; how to renounce superstition and retain faith; how to keep a fine poise of reason between falsehood of extremes; how to accept the joys of life with glee, and endure its ills with patient valor; how to look upon the folly of man and not forget his nobility - in short, how to live cleanly, kindly, open-eyed and unafraid in a sane world, sweet of heart and full of hope. Who so lays this lucid and profound wisdom to heart, and lives by it, will have little regret, and nothing to fear, when the evening shadows fall. Happy the young man who in the morning of his years makes it his guide, philosopher, and friend. Such is the ideal of Masonry, and fidelity to all that is holy demands that we give ourselves to it, trusting the power of truth, the reality of love, and the sovereign worth of character. For only as we incarnate that ideal in real life and activity does it become real tangible, and effective. God works for man through man and seldom, if at all, in any other way. He asks for our voices to speak His Truth, for our hands to do his work here below - sweet voices and clean hands to make liberty and love prevail over injustice and hate. Not all of us can be learned or famous, but each of us can be loyal and true of heart, undefiled by evil, undaunted by error, faithful and helpful to our fellow souls. Life is a capacity for the highest - an eager incessant quest of truth; a noble utility, a lofty honor, a wise freedom, a genuine service - that through us the Spirit of Masonry may grow and be glorified. When is a man a Mason? When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage - which is the root of every virtue. When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself; and seeks to know, to forgive and to love his fellow man. When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sorrows, yea, even in their sins - knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds. When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them, and above all how to keep friends with himself. When he loves flowers, can hunt the birds without a gun, and feels the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child. When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudg-eries of life. When star-crowned trees, and the glint of sunlight on the flowing waters, subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead. When no voice of distress reaches his ears in vain, and no hands seeks his aid without response. When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of divine things and sees majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be. When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something beyond mud, and into the face of the most forlorn fellow mortal and see something beyond sin. When he knows how to pray, how to love, and how to hope. When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellow man, with his God; in his hand a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a song glad to live, but not afraid to die! Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry, and the one which it is trying to give to all the world.
12 S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e
GOLDEN SENTENCES THE CRAFTSMAN - 1866
From an address by De Witt Clinton, before Holland Lodge, the evening of his installation, Dec. 24, 1793
HIS DEFINITION OF FREEMASONRY. It is well known that our Order was at first composed of scientificand ingenious men who assembled to improve the arts and sciences, and cultivate a pure and sublime system of morality. Knowledge at that time, was restricted to a chosen few; but whenthe invention of printing had opened the means of instruction to all ranks of people, then the generous cultivators of Masonry communicated with cheerfulness to the world those secrets of the arts and sciences which had been transmitted and improved from the foundation of the institutions then our Fraternity bent their principal attention to the cultivation of morality. And Masonry may now be defined as a moral institution, intended to promote individual and social happiness.
THE EQUALITY OF MASONRY. Our institution asserts, in language not to be misunderstood, the natural equality of mankind. It declares that all brethren are upon a level, and it throws open its hospitable doors to all men of all nations. It admits of no rank, except the priority of merit, and its only aristocracy is the nobility of virtue.
THE ONEROUS CARES OF THE MASTER. Sensible I am that neither m age, experience nor abilities entitle me to fill this place. Sensible I am that it is surrounded with difficulties and embarassements; that it requires promptitude of expression, quickness of thought and presence of mind, and that it demands conciliatory manners and instantaneous perception of character, and a considerable knowledge of mankind.
THE BENEFICENT WORK OF MASONRY. How often has it showered down its golden gifts into the seemingly inaccessible dungeons of misery! How often has it radiated with its beneficent rays the glooms of affliction, and converted its horrors of despair into the meridian splendor of unexpected joy! How often has it, with its philanthropic voice, recalled the unhappy wanderer into the paths of felicity, and with its powerful arm, protected from the grasp of malice and oppression the forlorn outcast of society! Let the widow, the orphan, the prisoner, the debtor, the unfortunate, witness its beneficent deeds, and in a symphony of gratitude, declare that on the flight of all the other virtues, charity as well as hope remained to bless mankind.
S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 13
THE DUTIES OF A MASON TO HIS BROTHER. A Mason is bound to consult the happiness and to promote the interests of his brother; to avoid everything offensive to his feelings; to abstain from reproach censure and unjust suspicions; to warn him of tie machinations of his enemies; to advise him of his errors; to advance the welfare and reputation of his family; to protect the chastity of his house; to defend his life, his property, and what is dearer to a roan of honor, his character, against unjust attacks; to relieve his wants and his distress; to instill into his mind proper ideas of conduct in the department of life which he is called to fill; and, let me add, to foster his schemes of interest and promotion, if compatible with the paramount duties a man owes to the community. If such are the obligations which a man owes to brother, they are precisely the duties that one freemason ought to perform to another. Our Order enjoins them as rules from which nothing can justify a deviation, and considers their infraction a violation of honor; conscience and religion; a prostitution of all that is deemed sacred and venerable among men. But Masonry does not confine the benignity of her precepts to her followers; she rises higher in the scale of excellence, and enjoins the observance of honor, honesty and good faith to all men; she espouses the cause of universal benevolence and virtue; she declares as unworthy of her patronage those who violate the laws of rectitude, and her votaries exemplify in their lives the truth of the remark that, although there are vicious men in the fraternity, yet they are better, than if they were not Masons.
THE RELIGION OF MASONRY. As Christian Masons, acknowledging the divinity of Christ, we have introduced the Bible into our Lodges, to manifest our belief in the doctrines which it inculcates. In like manner the followers of Moses, Mahomet and Burmah may introduce into their Masonic assemblies their Pentateuch, their Alcoran, and their Vedan; and yet the unity of Masonry would remain - the essential principles on which she moves would be the same; she would still declare to her votaries, I regard not to what sect you attach yourselves; venerate the popular religion of your respective countries; follow the light of your understanding; forget not, however, the doctrines of the religion of nature; adore the Great Architect of the Universe, acknowledge the immortal soul, and look forward to a state of future retribution when the virtuous of all religions and countries shall meet together, and enjoy never fading bliss.
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!
September
October
Rodney Phillips 09/16/1925 Gomer Evans 09/18/1927 Robert Rosenquist 09/19/1929 Harry Arthur 0910/1930 John Chigaras 09/25/1930 Frank Maziarski 09/28/1930 Robert Duke 09/15/1931 William Boone 09/23/1931
Thomas Hikida 10/12/1922 Adel Mohsen 10/31/1925 Walter Lain 10/05/1926 Robert Johnson 10/08/1926 William Hartley 10/09/1927 Donald Wilson 10/07/1928 William White 10/27/1929 Lynn Samford 10/03/1930 Ronald Andrie 10/26/1931
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S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 15
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MONTH TIME EVENT September 18
10:00am
18th Degree
September 21
7:30 pm
Stated Meeting, dinner 6:30 pm.
September 25
all day
Honors Day, Tacoma Valley
October 2
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October 19
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