Page 87 - PGM Compendium
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Freemasonry and the more I learned about it, the greater was my conviction that the principles and ideals
of Scouting are not only compatible with those of Masonry, but they are identical."
Bud’s community activity was not limited to Scouting. As president of Kiwanis, a twelve-year member
of the board of the Mount Vernon YMCA, chairman of the YMCA fund drive which culminated in the
construction of a new Olympic-size swimming pool, elder and trustee of the Mount Vernon Presbyterian
Church, he has fulfilled the duties of a citizen, enjoined by the Entered Apprentice Charge, in a most
exemplary fashion.
Most Worshipful Brother Gilbert was initiated, passed and raised in Mount Baker Lodge No. 36 in 1948,
served in all the chairs and was installed as the Worshipful Master in 1962 by his father. His year as Master
is remembered with pleasure by all who were associated with the Lodge at that time. It was marked by
especially pleasant relations and many enjoyable, fraternal visits with a sister Canadian Lodge, Fellowship
No. 137 of Vancouver, B.C. In recognition of the high regard with which the Brethren of Fellowship
Lodge held Brother Bud, they elected him an Honorary Past Master and presented him with the apron
formerly worn by the late V. W. Brother Ray Micheau. In 1966, Brother Bud petitioned Garfield Lodge
No. 41 for dual membership and had the unusual distinction of being elected to membership and to the
office of Worshipful Master on the same night.
Most Worshipful Brother Bud came to the exalted position of Grand Master well prepared by many years
of devoted service to the Fraternity, both in the two Lodges which he served as Master and in the Grand
Lodge offices he filled with distinction. He was named Grand Orator in 1970 by Most Worshipful Wayne
J. Deming, labored for two years on the Code Commission, one year on the By-Laws Committee and one
year on the Jurisprudence Committee.
Bud served as Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 9 in the years 1979-1981. This period of his
service to the Craft was distinguished by three very innovative and successful seminars and two district
meetings. One of the most memorable seminars was held at United Lodge No. 93 in Sedro Woolley. The
Past Masters of all the Lodges in the District were especially invited to take part in the seminar, and they
responded generously giving the meeting the benefit of their experience and providing much valuable
insight. One seminar was put on by the Masters and Wardens and the third seminar was put on by the
junior lodge officers. One of his goals was to secure the greatest possible participation of all the members,
especially the Past Masters, and these meetings proved the value of the effort. Masonry in District No. 9
prospered during his term as Deputy and has continued to prosper as the Deputies who succeeded Bud
have pursued the same goals, each in his own way.
In June of 1982, the brethren of this jurisdiction elected Warren J Gilbert Jr as Junior Grand Warden. He
would advance regularly until his elevation to the Oriental Chair in June of 1985. In his address to the
Craft, our Most Worshipful Grand Master reminded the brethren of their responsibilities to the Craft:
“Our Fraternity has survived and prospered in the past, more because of its workers than its reformers,
although we should always be open minded regarding improvements. Our goal should be that future
generations will characterize us as builders and not as caretakers. Our challenge as Americans and
Freemasons should be to do for those who follow us what has been done for us by our progenitors. It
would be a desecration of our heritage to allow the difficulties that face us — which pale when compared
to those faced by our ancestors — to produce a level of citizenship that does not prosper the soul of our
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