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Washington Masonic Center Calendar
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June 2nd, 7:30 pm Council of Cryptic Masons #3
June 3rd, 6:30 pm Willamette Lodge #2 Stated Communication
June 6th, 12:00 pm Valiant-Sellwood OES
June 9th, 7:30 pm Royal Arch Chapter #18
June 10th, 12:30 pm Friendship Rose OES
June 11th, 6:30 pm Washington Lodge #46 Stated Communication
June 13th, 7:30 pm Willamette Lodge #2 Ritual Practice
June 14th, 10:00 am The Sunnyside Brunch
June 16th, 7:30 pm Commandry #15
June 18th, 6:30 pm Washington Lodge #46 Ritual Practice/Social Night (To Be Confirmed)
June 19th, 6:30 pm Willamette Lodge #2 Officers Meeting
June 21st, 11:00 am Washington Lodge #46 Open House and Anniversary Party
June 21st, 6:00 pm White Shrine of Jerusalem
June 24th, 7:00 pm Friendship Rose OES Installation
June 25th, 6:30 pm Washington Lodge #46 Officers Meeting
June 27th, 7:00 pm Willamette Lodge #2 Ritual Practice
To have your event added to the calendar, please contact WB Matthew Cox. |
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Brethren,
Our lodge celebrated a significant milestone last month with the successful completion of our visitations to some lodges. After months of planning and coordination, we visited three lodges from three different jurisdictions, strengthening fraternal bonds and learning about our ritual differences.
This June, our lodge will be proudly represented at the Annual Communication in Lincoln City, and we will accept well-deserved recognitions for our lodge's outstanding achievements from the previous year. This prestigious honor reflects the dedicated service and exceptional leadership demonstrated throughout our lodge's various initiatives, from community outreach programs to membership growth and fraternal excellence. The opportunity to stand before the assembled delegates and receive formal acknowledgment of our collective efforts serves not only as validation of our hard work but also as inspiration to continue our commitment to the principles and traditions that define our fraternal organization. We look forward to this momentous occasion and the chance to represent our lodge with pride on such a distinguished platform.
Join us this coming Saturday, June 21st, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM to celebrate our lodge's anniversary with a special community service focus! This milestone celebration combines our fraternal traditions with our commitment to serving others, offering multiple volunteer opportunities throughout the day alongside fellowship and refreshments. Whether you're a longtime member or friend of the lodge, we invite you to be part of this meaningful day as we honor our past achievements while actively contributing to our community's well-being. Come help us mark this special anniversary by giving back together – because true celebration is found in service to others. Light lunch will be provided, and all hands are welcome to join in making a positive difference in our neighborhood while commemorating this important milestone in our lodge's history.
Please note our adjusted meeting schedule for the summer months ahead. From July through September, our Stated Meetings will be held on the second Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM, followed by a fellowship luncheon for all attendees. This is to increase accessibility and participation, especially for members who find night driving challenging. 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. During this three-month period, we will suspend our regular second Wednesday meetings. Mark your calendars for these Saturday meetings and plan to stay for the meal and camaraderie that follows. We'll resume our normal meeting schedule in October. Sincerely & Fraternally,
Worshipful Master Aaron E.
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Brethren,
As we approach the summer months and a new season of activity within our Lodge, I’ve been reflecting on the nature of change—a force that shapes not only the world around us but the very foundations of our Craft.
Freemasonry teaches us through symbols—through the Square and Compasses, the rough and perfect ashlar, the plumb, level, and square. These working tools remind us that we are always in a state of becoming, always refining, always building. The ashlar is not made perfect in a single stroke, nor is a Lodge made strong without the shaping force of time, effort, and yes—change.
Even our most cherished traditions are not immune to impermanence. Officers rise through the stations, the seasons turn, and the needs of our brethren and our community shift with time. It is tempting to resist this change, to hold fast to the familiar, but just as the setting sun in the West reminds us of the day’s inevitable close, so too must we accept that transformation is not only natural—it is necessary.
Change can be difficult. It asks us to let go of certainty, to reexamine what we’ve known, and to move forward with trust and faith. But as Masons, we are not strangers to such work. Our obligation is not to stagnation but to betterment, not to comfort but to truth.
Let us then embrace the changes before us—not as endings, but as opportunities. Opportunities to renew, to rebuild, and to recommit ourselves to the values that endure: Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
So mote it be.
Fraternally,
Jesse McCann
Senior Warden |
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Greetings from the South,
June is the month we transition from spring to summer. We see our gardens move towards longer-lasting summer flowers, vegetables and fruit. June-bearing strawberries are a special treat we can enjoy locally, and one of my favorites. Come check out the dessert prior to our stated meeting on Wednesday, June 11th, which will feature local berries.
June 24th is when Masons celebrate St. John the Baptist’s birthday. The day commemorates St. John the Baptist's life and is a time for Masons to reflect on the values and principles of their fraternity. It's a day for formal events, feasts and self-evaluation. St. John represents the ideals to be emulated by Masons, including the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and brotherly love.
The May stated meeting featured a fantastic presentation from R.W.B. Adam Bayer on the lesser lights and the symbolism they bring. Masonic education will continue to be highlighted throughout the summer months and the rest of the year. If you have an educational topic you would like to bring to our meeting, please let me know, as there are slots to fill.
Join us during this busy Masonic month of June. On the 5th and 6th is the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Oregon. June 11th is our stated meeting, and Saturday, the 14th, is our wonderful brunch. Check out the celebration of the anniversary of Washington Lodge number 46 on Saturday, the 21st, starting at 11 am to 4 pm. So many reasons to gather with the Brothers and enjoy some fellowship, and you are invited.
See you in Lodge. |
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Click on the image above to learn more. |
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From The Secretary's Desk
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This is a month of celebration, but let's not forget those recent celebrations that have shaped the freedoms that we have today. Veterans Day has spoken loudly to all of us as we honor and celebrate all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we enjoy today. As a veteran of the Air Force and a frequent attendee of services at Willamette National Cemetery and parades throughout the state, my sincere thanks to all the veterans for their continuous support and service.
Other celebrations are coming up, like the 250th Anniversary of the Army and one very close to our hearts, the charter Anniversary of Washington Lodge, as we celebrate 156 Years. On the 21st of June, we will host an open house, inviting the community to join us. There will also be a community food drive, tours of our building, and plenty of fellowship, and I know, some refreshments. Please plan on attending from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Coming up for the months of July, August and September, our stated meeting dates and time will change. Stated meeting, 2nd Saturday at 10 AM. This was the Sunnyside schedule for many years, and so, for the summer, we will give this a try. A brunch or lunch will be held after the meeting so it will be a super Saturday meeting. Dress code---wear that barong or that special Washington Lodge shirt. Come relaxed and have a good time.
With the summer approaching, we want everyone to be safe. Enjoy that summer activity, whether at the park or on the highway, be aware of your surroundings. For those attending Grand Lodge, have a super time and promote Washington Lodge in all your activities. Take care and God Bless!
Fraternally,
Don Stapleton, PGM, Secretary
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