March 2011 • trestle board
KennEwick Lodge #153 F&AM Of Washington
Kennewick Lodge No. 153 F. & A. M. of Washington
Kennewick, Washington99336
509-586-3520
March 2011 • trestle board
NEwsletter/trestleboard
March 2011
A.:L.: 6011
From The East
Greetings Brethren!
Each year in March the Wardens, and Senior Deacons, are invited to the Grand Lodge Wardens conference. There are two reasons for the conference. First, to provide the upcoming officers with training that will help them succeed in the years leading up to and including their year in the East. This training includes conflict resolution, program planning, mentoring, installation and grand lodge resources. Since line officers are so often the youngest Masons this is an excellent opportunity to get the experience they will need to succeed. Second, and I feel most important, the men we send to the conference will make friends and contacts outside our district. Friendships with their peers who are having the same experiences and facing the same challenges, and since they are outside our district they are exposed to many new ideas on how to solve challenges that have been tried elsewhere. It’s a time of cross pollination that can be extraordinary productive.
As we send our Wardens and Deacon off, let’s wish them well and give them all our support. They are our future!
Speaking of cross pollination, this month Richland and Kennewick performed its first officer exchange. Officers from Richland came to Kennewick March 2nd and acted as my officers, and on the 7th we returned the favor at Richland for WB Jeff Short. We had a great turnout at both events, and Officers and Brothers from other Lodges were in attendance to share in the experience. It was wonderful to see the Brethren from these two Lodges labor together, in peace and harmony!!
On March 23rd at 7:00 we will host our Past Masters Recognition Dinner. We will honor all our past masters with an evening of remembrance. Please plan on attending, and help us get the word out to all past masters! Let Brother Paul Tunnel know if you are coming, RSVPs are very helpful for planning. This event is open to all members and their families.
WB Mike Priddy
Worshipful Master, Kennewick 153
From the West
Brethren,
We are taught from the moment of our first introduction to Freemasonry that it is an organization where constant learning is revered. As members, we are expected to learn our way through the degrees and we are encouraged to continue to expand our knowledge throughout our lives. The Craft offers us many opportunities to continuegatheringknowledge. The concordant bodies, such as the Scottish Rite and York Rite, are dedicated to furthering Masonic knowledge. I think many of us, even the computer nerds, of which group I am a proud member, sometimes forget what an incredible learning tool for Freemasonry we have in the Internet. Typically, when the WM prods me for my contribution to the Trestleboard, I try to think back about things I have wondered about and I go looking for answers. Often, my search reveals information I hadn’t been looking for but that seems much more interesting than my original question. This month is no exception. I often wonder about the origin of words or phrases and one such phrase in Freemasonry is “Due Guard.” I decided to see what I could find on the Internet so I “Googled” the phrase. As is usual when I search for Masonic information, I was amazed at the number of results, 108 MILLION.
One of the most surprising things I learned is that not every Masonic jurisdiction uses Due Guards, and for those that do, the Due Guards used vary widely. Another interesting fact is that there is not a universally accepted explanation for the origin of the phrase. As is typical for many, if not all, of our Masonic symbols, there is evidence that Due Guards were being used long before there was any evidence of the Masonic fraternity. One interesting hypothesis was offered by Bro. Wildey E. Atchison of Kansas in 1922. He proposed that the phrase was a translation of the name of a French town, "Dieu le garde," which means "God Guard It," and was used for the watermarks employed by paper manufacturers before the Reformation in Europe. For the complete story, go to this web page:
I encourage every Brother to explore the fascinating world of Freemasonry and its many stories, interpretations and history available to you on the Internet. You don’t even have to know where to start, just Google “Masonic” and see where it takes you.
Bro. Larry Smith
Senior Warden, Kennewick 153
From the South
Brethren,
I just returned home tonight from conferring a Fellowcraft degree, the first I’ve ever conferred of any of the degrees, and I’ve never felt better about Freemasonry. I taught Hazmat classes at the HAMMER facility in Richland for several years, and I can attest that you don’t really know a subject until you teach it. That same thinking applies to the degrees of Masonry; you don’t really know the degree until you confer it.
I thought I knew this degree, but it has a wealth of ideas that I evidently didn’t examine while I was proving up as a Fellowcraft. There are several beautiful concepts here that I missed. The jewels of the degree are exquisite.” The Attentive ear receives the sound from the Instructive tongue, and the secrets of Freemasonry remain safely lodged in the repository of the Faithful breasts.” These are inspired words. The “G” lecture alone introduces several topics of Masonic ideas that deserve serious study.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Brethren that stepped up beyond their normal roles and contributed to the degree; WM Mike Priddy sat as Junior Warden, WB Ray Schulz sat as Senior Deacon, VWB Bruce Vesper did the Middle chamber lecture, WB Iman Wintz did the charge, and Brother David Husted did the tools lecture. I wish to thank the Brethren for your contributions to a successful degree. I also want to thank WM Mike Priddy and our Senior Warden Brother Larry Smith for giving me the opportunity to confer the degree.
Fraternally,
Brother Paul Tunnell
Junior Warden, Kennewick 153
Education
Brethren,
This week I will again have the great privilege of traveling the streets of our nation’s capital as well as Philadelphia. I am reminded of the great vision of great men who’s quest was to create a “New Atlantis” in the virgin western lands. As Masons and citizens we are to uphold our nation’s values through our individual actions squaring them with the square of virtue and circumscribing our passions within due bounds and by both example and interaction, prepare a people worthy of that great Quest. Our forefathers, well versed in the great Masonic truths, created a firm foundation for us to learn and grow as new citizens of very new and radical idea, a government by the people and for the people. Some weeks back Brother Jay White brought to my attention what I consider to be the best characterization of masonry I have seen on a video. It was produced in Spain and lasts about 8 minutes. It is done as if Masonry and our great Quest was explained by Benjamin Franklin. I will attach the link but also have the video available and offer it up to the lodge to be shown at some date to be determined for those without access. I know you will find it particularly rewarding and fill you with pride! As the video says in conclusion…”Prepare for Greatness”
Fraternally,
Brother John Lawson
Sickness and Death
WB Holt Hensley was in Lodge recently and looked GREAT! It was a real treat to sit in Lodge with our good Brother again!
Upcoming programs
Here is the Lodge Schedule for the rest of my year in the East:
March 16Program Review of Wardens Conference by attendees
March 23Past Masters Dinner. All are welcome!
April 6Rainbow Girls presentation
April 133rd Degree
April 20Program on Astronomy
April 29-30 Temple Board Yard sale WB Dan Dickey coordinating
May 4Past Masters run the Lodge
May 18Step Up night
June 1Grand Lodge Resolution Review
June 152011-12 Officer Elections
July 162011-12 Installation of Officers
Special events at our and other Lodges and Concordant bodies.
Masonic Lunch 3rd Thursday each month, 11:30 Old Country Buffet, Kennewick
Masonic Breakfast 1st Friday each month 8:00 AM Country Gentleman, Kennewick
Temple Board Meeting 1st Wed each month at 6:30. All are encouraged to attend.
Past Masters Night March 23rd 7:00 PM RSVP Bro. Paul Tunnell
April 13 7:00 PM 3rd Degree, contact Brother Larry Smith if you want to help.
Officer Exchange
Richland 283 and Kennewick 153
Happy Birthday WB Iman and Brother Paul!!
Kennewick Lodge #153 Officers
Kennewick Lodge No. 153 F. & A. M. of Washington
Kennewick, Washington99336
509-586-3520
March 2011 • trestle board
Worshipful MasterWBro. Mike Priddy
Senior WardenBro. Larry Smith
Junior WardenBro. Paul Tunnell
TreasurerVWBro. Allen Smith
SecretaryWBro. Steve Williams
Senior DeaconBro. Larry Brisbois
Junior DeaconBro. John Lawson
Senior StewardBro. Dave Husted
Junior StewardBro. Bob Baxter
MarshallBro. Rick Corson
ChaplainBro. Jim Door
TylerVWB Gene Spaulding
Kennewick Lodge No. 153 F. & A. M. of Washington
Kennewick, Washington99336
509-586-3520
March 2011 • trestle board
District 23 Lodges
Euclid Lodge #1251229 Bennett Ave,Prosser2nd & 4th Thursday, 7:00 PM (509) 786-4010
Sunnyside Lodge #138 6th & Harrison,Sunnyside4th Tuesday, 7:30 PM(509) 839-0241
Pasco Lodge #173 1811 West Sylvester, Pasco1st & 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 PM(509) 547-4506
Grandview Lodge #191207 Ash Ave,Grandview1st & 3rd Monday, 7:00 PM(509) 882-6432
Benton Lodge #2772ndAlma,BentonCity1st & 3rdThursdays, 7:30 PM(509) 588-3358
Richland Lodge #283412 Thayer Drive, Richland1st & 3rd Monday, 7:30 PM(509) 627-2918
Other Lodges in the Area
Pioneer Lodge #391811 West Sylvester, Pasco2nd & 4th Saturday, 8:00 AM(509) 547-4506
Tuscan Lodge #136720 7th Street, Umatilla OR2nd Monday, 7:00 PM(541) 922-5091
Hermiston Lodge #138 200 West Orchard Ave, Hermiston , OR1st 3rd Tuesday, 8:00 PM(541) 567-5857
Umatilla Lodge #4020 South DuPont St, Echo, OR2ndTuesday,7:00 PM(541) 567-5930
Concordant Bodies
Valley of Kennewick, Scottish Rite2nd & 4th Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Alma Chapter #100, Order of Eastern Star1st Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Kennewick Court of Amaranth #78 4th Saturday, 2nd Saturday, November & December, 5:00 PM
Youth Groups
Kennewick Assembly #66, Rainbow for Girls1st & 3rd Monday, 7:00 PM
Kennewick Bethel #46, Job’s Daughters2nd & 4th Monday, 7:00 PM
V.S. Bayne Chapter, Order of DeMolayRichland Lodge1st & 3rd Tuesday, 7:00 PM
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KennEwick Lodge #153 F&AM Of Washington
Kennewick Lodge No. 153 F. & A. M. of Washington
KennewickWA99336
(509) 586-3520