The Official Publication of the Audubon Park Lodge #272
June 2002
Volume 3, Number 8
From
the East...
Last month was a busy one for
Audubon Park! The “La Vie en Rose” Dance held May 3rd
was a great success. We had nearly 80 people there. Special thanks to WB Eric
Berman and Lady Anne, who decorated the dining room with flags, lights and
a miniature Eiffel Tower. Three-Cord
Dave provided many hours of dance music and there was plenty to eat. Karen and I danced ourselves silly. Plus, we made a little money for our Foundation.
My thanks to all who supported this special event.
We initiated Mr. Mark Anderson,
our newest Entered Apprentice, on May 22.
Bill is a teacher at one of District 81’s middle schools. This is a second career for him; he is also a retired Major in the
U.S. Army. Additionally, he’s an ardent
fly-fisherman, so Brothers Dick Hawley and Bill Wilson will soon have company
on the riverbank. This event was well
attended. I counted 24 Brethren, many of whom were from other lodges in the
area. Congratulations Brother Mark
and welcome to Audubon Park Lodge!
Then on Sunday May 19 we had
our Movie Discussion Group at our home. Seven
people participated. The movie Grand Canyon sparked much lively
discussion and the sharing of opinions. It
was definitely a thought-provoking movie! All in all, a most enjoyable afternoon.
The highlight of the month was
our “Kilts n’ Pipes” Night, on May 22. Our
Junior Warden Bob Good will have more to say on this in his column. I can only add, the event was a stellar success.
Some 50+ people came to enjoy an evening of Scottish food, fellowship, music
and entertainment.
On the 31st, students at Madison
Elementary School received their new books from Operation Outreach. There were lots of smiling faces and “thank
you’s” as some 40 books were distributed to two 4th grade classrooms. I was
on hand to take pictures and represent Audubon Park Lodge. Brethren, the kids really liked what we did!
This Operation Outreach program is a good thing we Masons do for children’s
literacy and character education.
Now my point in recounting all
these events is to suggest that Audubon Park Lodge is enjoying a kind of renaissance
in energy and vitality. Brethren, we’re doing things! We’re getting our families involved in wholesome
activities and we’re reaching out
to the community.
Further,
this revival is being recognized by Grand Lodge. At the Grand Lodge meeting with Districts
26 & 27 held on May 4, Audubon
Park 272 was presented with the “Eight Pillars of Progress” award. This is a new award. Eight are given out each year. A Lodge receives
it for best exemplifying one of the ‘eight pillars of progress’ described
in Grand Lodge’s Long Range Plan. This
year Audubon Park received it for being “Number 1” in the pillar of Family
Involvement.
There it is. Our monthly Family Night programs (dinner, speakers, fellowship),
started last year under WB Dick Hawley and continued this year, has become
a key element in the revitalization of our Lodge! Thank you Brethren for your continued support of our Family Night
dinners and congratulations to you all on receiving this Award.
Recall, that because Grand Lodge
meets in June, our stated communication falls on the 3rd Wednesday (on the
19th) of this month. The June stated
meeting will be Move-Up night for our Wardens and Senior Deacon. Brother John Smith will be sitting in the East, Bro. Bob moves to
the West, Bro. Chuck relocates in the South and I’ll be covering the Senior
Deacon’s post. Our speaker for Masonic
education will be WB Franz Adelquist who will talk to us on the topic: The
moon in Masonic history. I’m sure
you’ll find his remarks quite interesting.
Looking ahead to September,
please note our Family Night dinner on September 25, starting at 6:30. This will be our Awards and Recognition night.
There will be a guest speaker. Plan
to attend and help celebrate the close of my year in the East.
Paul J. Vielle
Worshipful Master
From
the West...
It is with mixed
emotions that I find myself writing this month’s article for The
Pillars. Sad, because we will be going dark for the
next two months and I will not have the pleasure of seeing and greeting my
brothers until the month of September. Elated,
because this past month has allow this Lodge and its members to showcase the
excellent floorwork that we have come to see as commonplace. With the initiation of Mr. Mark Anderson as
our newest Entered Apprentice, our floorwork has again inspired others with
envy. Worshipful Master Paul Vielle
conferred the degree, WB Floyd Morse delivered the lecture, and VWB Bill Willey
provided incidental music on his organ. Brethren from Oriental 74 and Temple
42 came by to help bring Bro. Anderson to light.
Refreshment followed. All said and done, it was a nice piece of ritual
work. Brother Mark, I bid you a warm
welcome!
John M.
Smith
Senior Warden
From
the South ...
As this year
comes to a close and we prepare for the joys of summer I reflect
upon the Family
Nights we’ve had, gift exchanges, Masonic history and of course, the “great
blizzard”. I’m glad the last two
are already taking care of. I look forward to hearing about this month’s picnic
in the park from our Senior Warden. The following is my synopsis of the Family
Night activity for May.
The full flair
of Scotland prevailed over Kilts ‘n Pipes night. On the 22nd
of last month we had a piper piping, a drummer
drumming and bonnie lasses dancing.
The cuisine, of course, was Scottish and included Scotch Eggs and Haggis.
All who attended were amply fed and pleasantly entertained.
After being served
this delicious repast by our own Bethel 64 Job’s Daughters, we were amazed
by several rounds of wonderful Bagpipe music by piper Dan Grimes and bedazzled
by two Highland Dancers from Shadle Park High School. Between the musical
numbers, Scottish orators regaled us with entertaining short-talks. WB Jack
Bishop spoke on the origins of the Haggis, (that uniquely Scottish dish).
He actually had one on-hand to show us. (I had no idea they were so hard to
catch.) Later, WB Jason Gordon presented a brief history of the Scottish Clans
and Kilts. For the grand musical finale, we had bagpipes,
dancers and a drummer. The hall lights
were dimmed and drummer Ian Travethan (from Oriental 74) performed in front
of a black-light. His twirling luminescent
drumsticks created a strangely haunting and altogether riveting performance.
I would like
to thank all who attended our Kilts n’ Pipes night. Most of all I wish to
thank the following individuals for their contributions in making this a most
entertaining evening: to Ruth Schudel and WB Floyd Morse for cooking the food;
to Sherry Nerger and the Bethel 64 Job’s Daughters for serving the
meals and helping with cleanup; to WB Paul Vielle and WB Jason Gordon for
organizing and arranging this event. I’m hoping we can make this an annual
affair.
Robert
K. Good
Junior Warden
Brethren, I wish to take this opportunity and forum to
publicly apologize to Worshipful Brother Richard Turner for my remarks in
the March issue of The Pillars;
remarks that may have been interpreted by some as an aspersion on his
performance or his record keeping while Secretary of our Lodge.
As one who understands and appreciates the enormous task of setting
up a computerized system for keeping lodge records while, at the same time,
performing the regular duties of Secretary, I commend Brother Turner for the
fine work he accomplished. This is
especially true, in light of the fact he was recovering from a stroke at the
time. Brother Dick, I hope that you will accept my apology in the spirit of
brotherly love and affection. Most sincerely, Brother Floyd
In
other News...
Special Award.
At the May Stated Communication,
VWB Kurt Sturzelbach, Deputy of the Grand Master in District 27, presented
our Worshipful Master, WB Paul J. Vielle with a “Proficiency In Lodge Management”
Certificate. This award is presented to a Master upon his
satisfactorily completion of a written examination on the Washington Masonic
Code and upon a demonstration of proficiency in opening and closing Lodge
in all three degrees. Congratulations Bro. Paul!
Bro. Bill Wilson informs us
the new Audubon Park 272 webpage is almost ready to go. We’ve had discussions with WB Bill McEwen (Oriental 74), who will
be hosting our page on his server. All
we’re waiting for is confirmation of the domain name. Soon we’ll be connected to the Internet! Thank you Bro. Bill for
all your hard work on this project.
This note from Bro. Chuck Young. El Katif Shrine is hosting its annual golf
tournament on Friday, August 23. He
is keen on forming our own Audubon Park Golf Team.
Interested golfers should contact him for more information.
Spring Clean-Up Day took place
on the 18th of May. Thanks to those
Brethren who showed-up to wield the broom and mop.
The Lodge never looked better. By
the way, we have engaged a person who will provide light custodial services,
starting in mid summer. More on that later.
Famous
Mason’s Corner
John Paul Jones (1742-1792). Often
called the “Father of the American Navy.” His body rests in the crypt of the Chapel of
the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. , placed there January 26, 1913. He was born in Scotland and made a Mason in
1780 in St. Bernard’s Lodge No. 122, Kirkcudbright. He died in France and was buried in a Protestant cemetery. His gravesite
was forgotten until 1905 when it was rediscovered and the remains shipped
to Annapolis.
Masonic
Quiz
Q: What is the symbolic meaning of the Two Pillars?
A: One signifies strength or power (which may
be used wisely or otherwise.) The other pillar signifies establishment, control
or choice. Hence, in Freemasonry the
brother passes between the two and the lesson learned is that strength, or
power, without control is dangerous, and control without power is futile. It is a complement of the two which will enable
him to climb the stairway of life by strength, but directed by control or
wisdom.
Q: What is the legend of the Winding Stairs?
A: See the September issue of the Pillars!
Calendar
of Events
June
4 Bethel 64 meeting of Job’s Daughters, 7:00 p.m.
13-15 Grand Lodge of Washington - Annual Communication in Spokane, WA
19 Stated Communication (Move-Up Night) 7:00p.m.
29 Picnic-in-the-Park, Saturday, (Audubon Park)11:00-1:00
July-August
Lodge is dark
September
3 Bethel 64 meeting of Job’s Daughters, 7:00
p.m.
11 11 Stated Communication,
7:00 p.m.
17 Bethel 64 meeting of Job’s Daughters, 7:00
p.m.
25 Family Night - Award & Recognition Dinner,
6:30 p.m.