Greetings from the Secretary's Desk...
You are hereby notified of your Annual Dues and Grand Lodge Assessment as set forth by the By-Laws of Genesis Lodge #305 F & AM and the Washington Masonic Code.
*Please submit your check payable to “Genesis #305” and send it to the Lodge Secretary:
Genesis Lodge #305 F & AM
c/o Dennis C. Norton PM, Secretary
4636 228th Street SW
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-4427
Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
2011 Dues are as follows -
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Lodge Dues |
$50.00 |
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Grand Lodge Assessment |
$15.00* |
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Total Due |
*$65.00
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*Life Members are asked that they consider donating the Grand Lodge Per-capita of $15.00 to the Lodge!
Per Washington Masonic Code dues are payable before the first of the year,
so your attention to this matter is most appreciated.
Fraternally,
Dennis Norton
Secretary
Se[t 1 2010
From the Archives of the Secretary's Desk...
Brethren take this following Message to heart...
What Freemasonry Means To Me
The Reverend Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, 33°
I recently received a letter in which the writer asked: "Why are you a
Freemason?" The question caused me to think and reaffirm my feelings
about Masonry.
At first I thought about my own forebears. My grandfather was a Mason
for 50 years, my father for 50 years, and I have been a Mason for 60
years. This means that my tie with Freemasonry extends back to 1869 when
my grandfather joined the Masons.
My feelings on my first entrance into a Masonic Lodge are very clear in
memory. I was a young man and it was a great thrill to kneel before the
altar of the Lodge to become a Freemason. This must have been the same
feeling my father and grandfather experienced before me. And it must
also have been identical to the one that many great leaders of America
and the world felt as they became Masons. Prominent among this select
group are George Washington, Harry Truman, and 12 other Presidents as
well as countless statesmen and benefactors of humanity.
So I found myself thinking: "What does Freemasonry mean to me?" Of
course Masons say that Freemasonry actually begins in each individual
Mason's heart. I take this to mean a response to brotherhood and the
highest ideals. I recall the story of a man who came to me once and
said: "I see that you are a Freemason. So am I." As we talked, he told
me of an experience he had years ago. It seems that he joined the
Masonic Fraternity shortly after he became 21 years old. When he was
stationed in the military, he decided to attend various Lodge meetings.
On his first visit to a Lodge in a strange city, he was a bit nervous.
One thought was constantly in his mind; could he pass the examination to
show that he was a Mason? As the committee was carefully examining his
credentials, one of the members looked him squarely in the eye and said:
"Obviously you know the Ritual, so you can enter our Lodge as a Brother
Mason. But I have one more question. Where were you made a Mason?" With
that he told the young visitor to think about it because when he knew
the answer the examiner would not have to hear it. He would see it in
his eyes. My friend told me that after a couple of minutes a big smile
came to his face and he looked at the examiner, who said: "That's right,
in your heart."
"Through Masonic teachings, good men practice love and charity. As a
Fraternity they spend millions of dollars..."
Freemasonry is not a religion though, in my experience, Masons have
predominately been religious men and, for the most part, of the
Christian faith. Through Freemasonry, however, I have had opportunity to
break bread with good men of other than my own Christian faith.
Freemasonry does not promote any one religious creed. All Masons believe
in the Deity without reservation. However, Masonry makes no demands as
to how a member thinks of the Great Architect of the Universe.
Freemasonry is, for all its members, a supplement to good living which
has enhanced the lives of millions who have entered its doors. Though it
is not a religion, as such, it supplements faith in God the Creator. It
is supporting of morality and virtue.
Freemasonry has no dogma or theology. It offers no sacraments. It
teaches that it is important for every man to have a religion of his own
choice and to be faithful to it in thought and action. As a result, men
of different religions meet in fellowship and brotherhood under the
fatherhood of God. I think that a good Mason is made even more faithful
to the tenets of his faith by his membership in the Lodge.
Freemasonry is much more than a social organization. Through Masonic
teachings, good men practice love and charity. As a Fraternity they
spend millions of dollars to support hospitals, childhood language
disorders clinics, and research into problems that plague man's physical
and mental being. Whenever I visit a Masonic hospital, of which there
are many, my eyes fill with tears. As I see a youngster, who could not
walk, now able to get from one end of the corridor to the other with the
aid of an artificial leg, I am thrilled. For a young person to have the
opportunity to become whole and productive is to me exciting and
wonderful. And this opportunity is given at no cost to his or her family
or the state. Living is beautiful but sometimes life can be harsh and
cruel. Whenever or wherever people are in need Masons are there to help.
>From large undertakings to the smallest of needs, Masons are always
there, caring and serving.
I have always been interested as to why Masons devote so much time to
their Fraternity. A good answer to this question came from a Grand
Master who once told me that he enjoys his involvement because it gives
him another dimension to living. The same answer is echoed by Brethren
as they meet in Lodge rooms from one end of our Country to the other and
around the world. Many of my best friends, associates, and fellow
Christians are Freemasons and good churchmen as well.
In my travels at home and abroad a goodly number of Freemasons notice my
Masonic ring, which I always wear. With pride they say: "I, too, am a
Freemason."
To me, Freemasonry is one form of dedication to God and service to
humanity. I too was a Freemason in my heart and so I will remain. I am
proud of my involvement. I am proud to walk in fraternal fellowship with
my Brethren. Why am I a Freemason? Simply because I am proud to be a man
who wants to keep the moral standards of life at high level and leave
something behind so others will benefit. Only as I, personally, become
better, can I help others to do the same.
BCNU in Lodge...Frats, Denny GenesisSec:)
June, 2010
Brethren...
Do you remember the time when you first entered the Lodge?
Most of us felt some apprehension... what were we getting into?
...who were these men? We struggled to learn the work sure that
we were the least promising candidates the Lodge had ever seen...
But we were not ...and we learned - finally - that it did not matter
whether we were great ritualists or had trouble remembering our name.
These fellows actually like us just for what and who we were.
We discovered that we were always trying to become better...
better at what? Better at living...our friendships helped us to see our
family's needs in a clearer way. We learned to be more tolerant of
others and to work in our community quietly to make life easier for
others. That recurring phrase about building our spiritual temple took
on new meaning. We did not become angels, but we did become
better men...better Masons!
No Lodge is perfect, because perfection is not given man on Earth...
If in the past we have erred, and all of us have erred at sometime or
other...Masonry has taught us that we can begin again...we seek
forgiveness and we forgive others, because it is the right thing to do.
When we err, we feel badly because that is how we have acted...badly,
but we can change... we can continue to grow as human beings, but we
cannot do anything alone...
We need your advice, we need your counsel, we need your presence...
for those Brethren that haven't attended their "Blue Lodge" in awhile...
your Brothers miss you and need your fellowship...please come to Lodge! You
have much to offer: Wisdom, Experience, and the example of a well-lived life!
BCNU soon, Frats... WB Denny Norton - GenesisSec :)
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Feb 2010
Brethren...we all know a Mason who has not attended lodge for a long time,
because he is afraid that he cannot pass an examination or some other reason... The "Rusty Trowel Ceremony" provides Sojourners in our Jurisdiction an opprotunity to renew their Masonic connections. The program also re-opens the door of Masonry to Brothers who do not attend Lodge regularly and may be "Rusty" in their work...
· he Ceremony includes a review of:
· All Signs, Tokens, Words and how to give each.
· A review of opening and closing on each Degree.
· The proper manner in which to address the Master. -
· Entering and retiring from an open Lodge.
· A proper reminder of attitude of Prayer and response, the caution about
not crossing between the Bible and the East, also proper Balloting procedure.
WHAT ABOUT THE BLUE LODGE?
Ever stop to think that if you had not been honored by some Blue Lodge,
you would never have received any of the Degrees of Free-Masonry?
Ever stop to think of those three obligations you received in the Blue Lodge
and the duties they imposed? Ever think back to the time when, as an Entered Apprentice and as a Fellowcraft, you were fitting yourself for better work in this world? Remember the fellows who sat with you on the sidelines? Perhaps you have been keeping pace in this fast moving world and have drifted from your Blue Lodge association. Many of the Brothers of your time were able to keep up the pace and will still be found there... they probably wonder why you haven't dropped
around to visit. Stop in at the next Stated Meeting( 3rd Wed. 6:30 supper/ 7:30 Mtg. - at the EMC 515 Dayton in Edmonds - they'll be glad to see you! Attend your Blue Lodge...it is a better Lodge when you do!
Also I might add as Promoter of Fraternal Relations for Jobie Bethel 5, right here at the Edmonds Masonic Center - They meet on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 pm and next month (February) is WM Nick Nichols' "Jobs Daughters" Month and has scheduled a Genesis Visitation on Tuesday, February 23rd...I'll be there, how 'bout you? (Jobies are members of their organization, because they are related to a MM!)
Frats, Denny GenesisSec:)
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Dear Bro. Kurt.
I want to thank you for your recent donations to Genesis Lodge - in particular the Grand Lodge Per-capita ($15.00) and your $15.00
donation to the Lodge...which I will drop into the Scholarship Fund!
Genesis has raised the bar on our Scholarship Award to a Mountlake
Terrace Senior High Student who has applied and been accepted to a
College or University...to a $1000.00 Award!
Genesis just had their Installation of Officers for 2010 last night
at the Edmonds Masonic Center...WB Ellis "Nick" Nichols was installed
into the East and one of his goals this term is to become more active in
our original chartered city of Mt. Lk. Terrace...we are also beginning a
new incentive for our involvement at Mountlake Terrace Elementary in our
Literacy Outreach, called "Bikes for Books" where students are awarded a
bike for there active participation in the Literacy Program!
Your donation help us in this endeavor with Educational Outreach in the
Community!
Thanks again
Denny Norton Genesis Secretary
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Bretheren;
The October and November mailing of our Trestleboard has pretty much validated our mailing list. I only received two address corrections last month. You can still help validate our records by accessing our website at www.genesis305.com and clicking on the Members Only tab located on the left side of the Home page. The user name and password is included in my article in the December Trestleboard that was mailed only to Genesis members. If you didn?t receive your copy by the next stated meeting, please let me know. Go to the Membership tab and verify that your personal information is correct including your email address.
If you find an error, please notify me by phone at 425-776-0019, or by email genesissec@juno.com, or by snail mail at our PO Box in Mountlake Terrace. I?ll make the correction and forward the info to our website and grand lodge as may be required.
Lynn and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Joyful New Year.
Fraternally,
WB Denny Norton, Secretary
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