The Official Publication of the Audubon Park Lodge #272

 

November 2002
Volume 4, Number 1

From the East...

October has come and gone. Now it is November and time for my first letter to you from the East. While I was tasked with writing letters from the West, it was my pleasure to report on the things that our worthy Brothers in the lodge had been doing that were found to be worth noting. It was with great pleasure that I undertook the responsibility of reporting to the Fraternity on those things and people that were to find themselves noteworthy during any month.

Now, from the East, it is my duty to offer direction to the Craft. We have successfully launched our Web site and are now officially part of the "Information and Technology" Pillar of Progress.

It is my aim to see that the craft continues to grow, and develop our members into responsive members of the City of Spokane and of the State of Washington. Sometimes, we forget that we are members of more than just our families and the Fraternity. We are also part of the make-up of this city and state and as a consequence we have a responsibility to be there for our city and state.

In the next few months I will be expanding on this theme and asking for input from the Brotherhood into the direction that our civic duties will lead us over the next year. How we are to respond to the needs of our city and state remains yours to discover. I cannot lead you where you do not wish to go, but heaven help the man who tries to stop us from going were we want to.

I look forward to seeing you all at our stated meeting on 13th of November. Until then, may God bless and keep you safe from all harm.

John M. Smith

Worshipful Master

From the West...

This issue of the Pillars has a new crop of staff writers. The new team of Officers for 2003 was installed on Saturday, October 19, 2002. Worshipful Master John M. Smith will now be writing from the East. I, as the new Senior Warden, will be writing from the West, and Bro. Chuck Young, our newest author, will be writing from the South. Also installed were WB Floyd Morse as Secretary, VWB Douglas E. Tucker as Treasurer, Bro. Bill Wilson as Senior Deacon, Bro. Bill Queen as Junior Steward and WB Paul J. Vielle as Tyler. (We'll be looking for people to pro-tem our unfilled positions, namely Chaplain, Marshall, and the Stewards.)

The Installation Team consisted of WB Floyd Morse as installing Officer, VWB Chester Echelbarger, installing Chaplain; WB Eric Berman, installing Secretary and WB Dean Whittier, installing Marshall. Since Brother Floyd is also Secretary of the lodge (and therefore needed to be installed himself), there was a brief pause in the action, and newly-installed Worshipful Master Smith stepped in to re-install WB Floyd as continuing Secretary. Sounds a bit complicated, but it all went off without a hitch.

The proceedings were enhanced by the musical accompaniment of VWB Bill Willie and his keyboard. In addition, the Job's Daughters of Bethel 64 were on hand to act as escorts for the new Officers. Outgoing Master WB Paul J. Vielle presented Worshipful Master John Smith with the Master-of-the-Lodge lapel pin. This pin is worn by the Master during his term of office and then passed to the next brother upon his installation as Master. John is the 6th successive Master to wear this pin.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice lunch provided by our new Master and his wife Patty. There was a LONG sandwich, salads, chips and such. The highlight was Patty Smith's cake which was decorated with our names and Masonic symbols. I want to thank everyone for their support and attendance at this Installation. We're off and running! We hope to live up to your expectations over the next year.

Robert K. Good

Senior Warden

From the South...

What a wonderful way to begin the "new year" at Audubon Park 272! On Wednesday, October 30 at our Family Night pot luck we had a great meal, provided by Chef Floyd Morse with all the trimmings provided by the brethren. The ladies were there as our special guests and the brethren were supposed to do the cooking. But as some of us know, if the Ladies don't do the cooking, it doesn't get done! Our newest candidate - Allan Jones - was there with his wife Irene. Allan and Irene were shown a very warm Audubon Park Welcome. They were assured this was a fairly typical Family Night. The nearly thirty Brethren, ladies and guests in attendance were treated to some toe tapping old time fiddling, courtesy of Mary Hayden, daughter of Doug and Maggie Crabtree, who were also in attendance as our guests. Mary played a wonderful variety of songs from blue grass to Irish and Scottish Jigs. She got everyone involved with her special rendition of Orange Blossom Special and ended the evening with the beautiful "Amazing Grace". If you were there I hope you had as much fun as I did. If you weren't you missed a very special evening. Please make plans to attend the next Family Night. We'll have to go some to top this one, -but we'll try!

Charles R. Young

Junior Warden

In Other News...

Our next stated meeting is November 13. We will be balloting on the petition of Mr. Allan Jones to receive the degrees of Masonry. Assuming his petition is sustained, he will receive his Entered Apprentice degree sometime later in the month. More information to follow. But do plan to attend on the 13th to cast your ballot.

Remember too, the November stated meeting occurs very close to Veterans Day (Nov 11). Let us remember and be grateful for the men and women of America, past and present, who serve (or served) in the military. Were it not for their dedication and service we would not enjoy the freedoms we do. Especially in these chaotic and dangerous times, may God protect and bless those who serve under arms. (Ed. note.)

Special Awards...

At the Grand Lodge District Meeting for Districts 25, 26 & 27 held at Spangle Lodge on November 2, 2002, our own WB Floyd A. Morse received the prestigious Grand Master's Achievement Award. On hand to present the award were Deputy Grand Master John D. McNab and VWB Douglas E. Tucker (Deputy of the Grandmaster for District 27). The citation credits WB Morse for his extraordinary skills as a degree lecturer & ritualist and his support for Masonic concordant bodies. In addition, Floyd was twice Master of Audubon Park Lodge and is currently doing a second stint as Lodge Secretary. Also noted were his tireless efforts to improve Temple Board finances by renting-out the lodge facility and his consummate service a chef for lodge dinners. For District 25, the Grand Master's Achievement Award went to WB Edward L. Barton. Brother Ed now lives in Uniontown, Washington so we don't see him anymore at Audubon Park 272, but he was Master of this Lodge in 1980. We all extend hearty congratulations to these worthy brethren as this year's recipients of this prestigious award!

But that's not all. At the same meeting, Audubon Park 272 was awarded the Pillar of Progress Award for "Information and Technology". Receiving the award on behalf of the Lodge was Worshipful Master John M. Smith. The Lodge received this award primarily because of our great new webpage, which was established over the summer of 2002. Audubon Park Lodge now proudly proclaims its presence on the Internet! The site features a Welcome page with the Master's Message, a page for our newsletter, The Pillars; another page for Lodge History, and another with information on the Audubon Park Foundation. There are other pages and links as well. If you haven't yet done so, check us out at www.audubonpark272.com. We want to thank Bro. Bill Wilson, WB Paul Vielle and WB Eric Berman for all their hard work in making this webpage a reality.

(Ed. note: For those who keep count, this makes two (2) Pillar of Progress Awards presented to Audubon Park 272! Last year we received it for "Family Involvement"; a credit to our excellent program of Family Night Dinners.)

Bethel 64 of Jobs Daughters continues to meet at Audubon Park Lodge on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. Their meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. Sherry Nerger, Bethel Guardian, tells me the girls have some interesting things planned for next year. Masons are always welcome to attend their meetings.

This note from the Secretary, WB Morse. Dues cards for 2003 have been mailed to members. Please remember that dues for 2003 are due by December 31, 2002.

Famous Mason's Corner:

General Sam Houston (1793-1863) Under his leadership, the Mexican Army was defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto and thus the Republic of Texas was born of which he was the first president. A native Virginian, but when his father died the family moved to Tennessee. He spent his early years living among various Indian tribes and was eventually adopted by one of them. He received his degrees in Cumberland Lodge No. 8, in Nashville, 1817. The proceedings of 1828 (page 236) list him as suspended for unMasonic conduct! He affiliated with Holland Lodge No. 36 in Louisiana in 1837, which later became Holland Lodge No. 1 of Texas. He presided over the meeting which established the Grand Lodge of Texas.

Masonic Quiz:

Q: What is a "lewis"?

A: An instrument used by Operative Masons to lift heavy stones and, symbolically, a symbol of strength. The more common meaning is the name applied to the son of a Mason who becomes a member of the Craft before he reaches the usual age. In the United States it is used mostly in Pennsylvania.

Q: Why is the Sprig of Acacia used as an emblem in Freemasonry?

A: See next month's Pillars!

Calendar of Events

November

5 Bethel 64 meeting of Job's Daughters, 7:00 p.m.

13 Stated Communication, 7:00 p.m.

19 Bethel 64 meeting of Job?s Daughters, 7:00 p.m.

December

3 Bethel 64 meeting of Job's Daughters, 7:00 p.m.

11 Stated Communication, 7:00 p.m.

17 Bethel 64 meeting of Job?s Daughters, 7:00 p.m.

 

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