July 1st, 6:30 pm Willamette Lodge #2 Stated Communication

July 6th, 7:30 pm Council of Cryptic Masons #3

July 8th, 6:00 pm Washington Lodge #46 Stated Communication

July 11th, 10:00 am The Sunnyside Brunch

July 13th, 7:30 pm Royal Arch Chapter #18

July 18th, 6:30 pm White Shrine of Jerusalem

July 20th, 7:30 pm Commandery

July 29th, 6:30 pm Washington Lodge #46 Officers Meeting

Greetings from the West,

As we slide into July it is great to have a whole month of summer to wear our shorts and short sleeve shirts. So many plants are growing, blooming and fruiting. I enjoy walking through the garden in the cool mornings to see new blooms and taste a yummy tomato right off the vine. Find a reason to spend time in a garden or park on a fine summer morning.

This month, 250 years ago was the time that 56 men put ink to paper on a masterpiece declaring freedom for people of these United States. Of the 56 signers, nine of them were verified as Freemasons and maybe more signers were Masons too. I truly love the connection of freedom, freemen and Freemasons. Please join me this year in celebrating Independence Day this July fourth on our country’s 250th anniversary and fly your flag high.

The second Friday in July (10th) is the annual golf tournament at Rose City golf Course that is the major fund raiser for the Oregon Masonic Charitable Foundation. Information and registration can be found on the Grandview website. We are looking for golfers for our Washington 46 team and if there is enough interest we can look at putting together a second team. You don’t have to be good, but you must desire to have fun. If you don’t golf, please consider donating to the tournament or volunteering. The funds collected will go toward children, communities and charitable giving by Lodges across Oregon.

As summer gets busy many Oregon Lodges will go dark for a few months. Here at Washington 46, we keep the momentum going and continue our stated meeting (starting at 7:00 pm) but in a more relaxed atmosphere with our dress code being business causal and many Brothers wearing barongs (a Filipino shirt of thin material) that look classy but are very comfortable. The meetings are designed to be brief, but we take care of business and share fellowship afterwards and still make it home before dark. Please join us for our various summer activities. See you in Lodge.

Harmoniously,

Jim Munson

As we strive for enlightenment and growth, make an effort advancing our Masonic knowledge. Make an effort to learn, read, listen, and teach. By working together, we can elevate Freemasonry in our Lodge. Take time to delve into our principles and teachings, and apply them to our daily life. Seek out opportunities to learn and grow, whether by attending other lodges and host enriching educational events or participate in transformative gatherings.

Events like these are invaluable for strengthening the bonds between us and fostering a culture of learning and support.

Together, through dedication and shared effort, we can ensure the timeless light of Freemasonry continues to shine brightly.

This month we can’t forget all that surrounds the masonic fraternity and the nation as we celebrate 250 years of the Declaration of Independence. The Grand Lodge of Oregon celebrates 175 years since inception, 1851, and Washington Lodge #46 just celebrated 157 years of service to the brotherhood and the community. Our 143 members must be extremely proud of that longevity. I know the brethren may not think about the lodge in these terms but back in 1869 it was a different ball game. The lodge became the first lodge on the east side of Portland - crossing the Willamette River was a real chore! It moved several times in the southeast part of town and even took out a loan for $250.00 to meet expenses and spruce up the lodge room. Our very first meeting, under dispensation, was held on March 6, 1869. Eventually the area grew and Washington Lodge had to move to a new building in 1907. In 1915 the membership of the lodge totaled 800 members.  

Yes, times have changed, but the philosophy of our fraternity has stayed the same: making good men better. The family of Masonic bodies has brought good to many, including all the charities that we have available to us. Our building is here to stay; it is being improved inside and out for all that meet and visit here. Our meetings for the next three months began at 7PM with dinner at 6PM. Why not take time to visit and spend some time with us? You have a great team of officers that have spent considerable time working on current programs and planning for new ones.

I wish you and your family a very happy 4th of July.  Have a very safe and happy summer and God Bless!

Fraternally,

Don Stapleton, PGM, Secretary