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Washington Masonic Center Calendar
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May 2nd, 6:30 pm Valiant-Sellwood OES
May 3rd, 10:00 am VanPort York Rite
May 4th, 12:00 pm Willamette River Lodge #3 Royal Ark Mariners
May 5th, 7:30 pm Council of Cryptic Masons #3
May 7th, 6:30 pm Willamette Lodge #2 Stated Communication
May 10th, 10:00 am The Sunnyside Brunch
May 12th, 7:30 pm Royal Arch Chapter #18
May 14th, 6:30 pm Washington Lodge #46 Stated Communication
May 15th, 6:30 pm Willamette Lodge #2 Officers Meeting
May 17th, 6:30 pm White Shrine of Jerusalem
May 19th, 7:30 pm Commandry #15
May 20th, 10:00 am Friendship Rose OES
May 21st, 7:00 pm Washington Lodge #46 Ritual Practice
May 28th, 6:30 pm Washington Lodge #46 Officers Meeting
To have your event added to the calendar, please contact WB Matthew Cox. |
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Brethren,
I want to express my sincere gratitude for our SW Jesse in facilitating our officers meeting during my vacation. His willingness to step in and ensure our lodge business continued smoothly demonstrates his dedication and commitment to our fraternity. His support allows me to enjoy much-needed time away knowing our lodge is in capable hands. I deeply appreciate our SW Jesse’s service.
Join us next month on Saturday June 21st as we celebrate our Lodge Anniversary with a community service focus! We're organizing a food drive benefiting St. Mark's Lutheran Church and will distribute door hangers throughout the neighborhood to promote this important event. We're also developing an exciting local business scavenger hunt with raffle prizes to strengthen community connections. Success depends on member participation – we need volunteers for door hanger distribution, food collection, and business coordination. Please sign up at our next meeting to help make this anniversary celebration meaningful for both our Lodge and community.
We are implementing a "trial" program for our Stated Meetings during the SUMMER months of July, August, and September. To increase accessibility and participation, especially for members who find night driving challenging, we will now temporarily host our Stated Meetings only on the second Saturday of July, August, and September, starting at 10:00 AM, followed by a lunch gathering. These 3 months that I have mentioned, we will not meet on our usual second Wednesdays.Key Details:
- Dates: Second Saturday in July, August, and September
- Time: 10:00 AM Stated Meeting
- Attire: Business Casual or Barong
- Followed by: Lunch instead of the usual Brunch
- Purpose: Improve member attendance and convenience
We encourage all brothers to join us, particularly those who have found evening meetings difficult to attend. This new schedule aims to make our gatherings more inclusive and accessible. Please mark your calendars and spread the word to fellow brothers who might benefit from this schedule change.
Sincerely & Fraternally,WM Aaron E.
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Brethren,
As we move through the season of spring, nature itself offers a quiet lesson—one of renewal, of growth, and of the passing nature of all things. The rains return, the days lengthen, and the trees—once bare—begin to leaf out once again. It is a season of beginnings, yes, but also a reminder that all life moves in cycles. Nothing lasts forever, and that truth, rather than diminish life, gives it its meaning.
In Masonry, we speak often of the Cardinal Virtues: Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice. These are not abstract ideals—they are principles meant to guide our daily walk, our relationships, and our service. And if we’re paying attention, we can find them echoed in the natural world around us.
Temperance is found in the quiet patience of the soil, waiting all winter to bring forth life again. Spring does not rush. It comes in its time, reminding us that balance, restraint, and right timing are essential in all things.
Fortitude is in the seed that pushes up through the hardened ground, undeterred by struggle. It is the courage to emerge anew, even after loss or difficulty. Nature does not give up—it endures.
Prudence shows itself in the delicate timing of growth: the daffodils know when to bloom, the migratory birds when to return. There is wisdom in this order, a kind of silent discernment that speaks to us—if we listen.
Justice is in the even distribution of the sun and rain, which fall on all without prejudice. The natural world plays no favorites, and in that impartiality, we glimpse the fairness and equity we are called to practice among one another.
As Masons, we are builders—not only of temples, but of character. Let us take this season as an invitation to renew ourselves inwardly, to examine what must be let go, what must be planted, and where we might grow. Let us remember that our time is brief—and that truth is not a burden, but a charge: to act with virtue while we can.
Fraternally from the West,
Jesse McCann
Senior Warden |
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Click on the image above to learn more. |
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Greetings from the South,
May is the month when we honor our mothers and fallen military warriors. Many pay tribute to their mothers with cards, flowers, and brunch. Mothers do like those gifts, but their main pleasure is spending time with the kids and grandkids. We will spend Memorial Day paying tribute to those who passed during war. The sacrifice of those heroes is why we have the freedom we enjoy today. Fly your flag and honor them.
The April stated meeting was the official visit from the Grand Master, Tim Best, and his entourage. Washington 46 put our best foot forward with younger Lodge officers stepping into new positions and executing to a high degree. We had elections and brought two new Brothers into our Lodge. Overall, we had a very good meeting, and the Grand Master was pleased. The message he delivered was freeform and powerful, leaving the listeners with strong motivation to become better Masons.
May will be another busy month for the Lodge. We have our brunch on Saturday, May 10th, and a visitation to Accacia Prince Hall #6 on May 17th. Our ritual practice will be on the 21st, and the officers' meeting will be on the 28th. Our stated meeting on May 14th will feature Right Worshipful Brother Adam Bayer providing us with the Masonic education portion for the night. You don’t want to miss that.
See you in Lodge. |
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From The Secretary's Desk
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My special thanks to all who attended our stated meeting in April for the official visit of our Grand Master, MWB Tim Best. We had 31 members and visitors present, and it turned out to be a meeting that all Washington Lodge members should be very proud of. For those members who moved up in position, you did a fabulous job. The Grand Master remarked how the year has flown by, and yes, his year is about to end, and for us, the year is almost half over. Aaron is doing a superb job of leading his team, and your participation is very much appreciated.
The summer is rapidly approaching, and we have some very good news for you. Our stated meetings for the months of July, August & September will be moved from the familiar time of the second Wednesdays of the month, to the second Saturdays at 10AM. If you recall before the consolidation with Sunnyside Lodge, their meetings were held on that second Saturday, so we will see how that change effects our attendance. After our meeting we will have that special brunch with our ladies. Dress will be our summer barongs or business casual.
Please pay special attention to our upcoming Trestleboards as we have other special events planned. Always a special event in May is Mother’s Day. At our May stated meeting we will honor our mothers, so please plan on attending. Your lodge officers are gearing up for Grand Lodge to be held at the Chinook Winds Casino in early June. There is a lot of business to discuss, and I know that our lodge will be well represented.
Please take note of our new dishwasher and upgrades to our kitchen. This project, under the watchful hands of WB Dennis Harris will start a few projects that the lodge will plan on in the months ahead. Our lodge building, one of the finest in the Portland area strives to make its environment a welcome home to all the tenants that meet here. We look forward to a great summer with lots of fun and fellowship. Plan on attending our open house as we celebrate Washington Lodge’s 156th Anniversary on June 21st.
Respectively submitted,
Don Stapleton, PGM, Secretary
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Grand Master Official Visit to Washington Lodge #46
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