Page 9 - 2017 Summer

Gr and Lodg e of W ashingt on and jewelry to help define and express who we are. These
Grand Lodge of Washington
Masonic Tribune brands allow us to hold a mirror up to ourselves and lo and
Masonic Tribune
Volume XCII No.1 - Summer Issue - Page 3
Volume XCVIII No. 4 - Summer 2017 Issue - Page 9 behold: it is seemingly clear, we like what we see, a hallmark
of a glamour reflection....but are we for real?
Though we have demonstrated our steady attachment
Pardon My Words to the principles of our institution, we still apparently
have created problems for our Craft that slowly trans-
late into the avoided avalanche that represent the ele-
While nearly every Mason knows how our Frater- ments in which our Fraternity stands. The malaise has
nity can make “a good man better,” what is actually spread, which is precipitated by ongoing struggles to
occurring, in terms of the relationship between the connect and inspire our members, even as outside in-
man and the Craft, can still be poorly understood terest grows stronger and marches higher.
without a strong commitment from both sides of the Finally, “Be the Difference” are merely words un-
coin. til somebody comes along and provokes action and
When we took our oath as Masons we made several prom- change. It has been a great pleasure to serve as the Grand
ises that were pure, outright, and perfect. We were admon- Orator and for the wonderful opportunities it has provided.
ished to meet our obligations within the length of our cable
tow, that we should embrace our talents and abilities and be MWB Jim, you are the difference.
cognizant of the extent of our responsibilities and the limits
of our capabilities.
My previous travels indicated a fresh round of distress sig- Respectfully Submitted,
WB George M. Franco
naled by familiar Lodges that were once the bastions of Grand Orator - 2017
strong Masonic experience fortified by superior rituals, fel-
lowship, and attendance.
While some tried to move aggressively to recalibrate their
Lodges, others have let their standards slip away in recent
years leading to inescapable damage and a declining energy
to seek solutions. Greetings Brothers and Friends all,
This inaction epitomizes the long-standing animosity among
Brothers who struggle to come up with a collective solution This article is a mixed bag of thank you’s,
from the fear of encroaching on each other’s comfort zone. thoughts and direction from the Members
and Advisors of DeMolay in Washington.
Now the old guards have to worry in finding new ways in
branching into catered six-step approach to Masonry while We have just completed our State Term of
forcing them to re-think if they are still capable or just too old Officers for the 2016-17 year and survived
to guard. our non-stop four day Annual Statewide
Convention held at Great Wolf Lodge in
We’ve had all those moments when we thought about adopt- Grand Mound. Out-going State Master Councilor Luke Walk-
ing successful innovations and practice from other Lodges, er (and member of King Solomon Lodge, No. 60) and his Of-
only to be voted down “just because.” ficers provided an excitement filled, top-notch activities, and
Masonry can be seen as an old family recipe passed down awesome ritual performance extravaganza. From Food-Eat-
to new generations with the intent of altering it to appease ing competitions, to Sword Fights, from Elections of Officers,
our children’s taste buds. With time persisting, beneficial al- Ritual Completions, and Bunco/Casino Night, to great Food,
terations have occurred, adding to the depth of the recipe, late night Ping Pong, and celebration Banquet there was not
shifting the original concoction into one that not only appeals much time to rest or sleep. Thank you to Luke for a superior
to the senses, but tempts the beholder. As our Craft evolves year of enthusiasm and always being willing to say YES, we
through these changes, the original foundation remains con- can Level-Up DeMolay.
sistent and strong, sustaining the overall process. The members elected new State Master Councilor John Ja-
As previous Masons add their contributions to the recipe and cobson from Bellevue Chapter. He has a fun filled term pro-
pass it along to others in the process, we suddenly find our- gram with ambitious goals for 2017-18 and is ready to put our
selves with a kitchen pantry overflowing with various spices leaders in motion with Animated Leadership. John plans to
and influences. Today, we encounter Brothers who quickly grow upon the strides taken last year and focus on increased
close the pantry door to avoid the avalanche of effort be- communications, leadership education, visitations between
stowed from the past, and leave it for the next person to deal Chapters, and quality growth in membership. Sign up today
with. on your smart phone for the “DeMolay Update” App from
Though we impressed upon our members the principle of the Apple App Store for iPhone users. Android users can go
to: http://www.wademolay.org/demolay-update-app.html to
responsibility, when asked to participate in any given work, download the apk file. It is the place Where Brothers Con-
some of us falter whether it entails memory work, floor work, nect!
or just the mere presence in supporting a worthy endeavor -
we always find excuses. As we move toward the Annual Communication for Grand
This attitude tends to close the door in improving ourselves in Lodge we wish to extend a huge Thank You to MWB Jim
Mendoza for being an awesome Grand Master and Senior
Masonry because we subdue our passion to learn the wide DeMolay by always remembering where he began his lead-
range of opportunities our Fraternity has to offer. ership journey. He has been a wonderful role model to our
We wear our Masonic brands like pins, decals, shirts, rings, (Continued in page 22)
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