Master’s Message – March 2020
Brethren,
The Hiram Award is the single highest honor a Master Mason may receive. It cannot be sought or applied for but is awarded at the request of the individual’s Lodge.
This month we will discuss and consider the possibility of selecting a deserving member for the award. I can think of several deserving brothers and I ‘m sure each of you will have a few in mind as well.
The Hiram Award is an award presented to a Master Mason who has served the Lodge and the Masonic Fraternity with devotion over and above the ordinary. It is the highest honor (other than being Master of the Lodge) that can be bestowed on a member of a Masonic Lodge.
The Hiram Award is not given for service as Master or any elected or appointed office or committee. The recipient is recognized by his brethren in Masonry for his service to the fraternity, because of his efforts to support one or more Masons, a Lodge or Lodges, a District, the Grand Lodge or the fraternity as a whole. It is a singular distinction, and indicates the esteem, respect and admiration of the members. An Oregon Lodge may present no more than one member per year to the Grand Master for approval. The selection process is by secret written ballot of the members present at a Stated meeting.
17 members of Washington Lodge have previously received the Hiram Award either from Washington Lodge or from another Oregon Lodge where they were a member. Those Brothers are:
- Richard Bangle
- Robert Keller
- Wilber Mars
- Mitri Obeid
- Donald Stapleton
- Larry Weaver
- Warren Gray
- Tom Kissinger
- Russell Michaels
- John Quiroz
- Raymond Table
- Robert Worthington
- Thomas Hardy
- Raymond Lanthrom
- Nathan Neff
- Robert Richardson
- Josh Tucker
Warren Burkholder
WM, Washington 46
