fidalgo lodge #77 anacortes washington february …o em roberts: in the care center in oak harbor,...

FIDALGO LODGE #77 ANACORTES WASHINGTON FEBRUARY 2017

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Fidalgo Lodge #77

Trestleboard

Guidance From the East Brethren,

Let me start with a genuine Thank you to

all the Brethren who showed up for the Third De-

gree on Jan. 28th, and Congratulations to Brother

Dylan Lee. I may sound like a broken record this

year, I can’t convey enough how important it is for

all the Brothers of Fidalgo #77 to support the other

Lodges in District 9 by attending meetings and de-

grees. Everyone’s cable tow is different, but speak-

ing for myself, I know they can be more flexible

than we care to admit sometimes. We all are tired

after a long day of work, but think of the joy of fel-

lowship with your Brothers, it can be invigorating.

I would also like to add a quick reminder

on some basic Lodge room etiquette. When the

Lodge is open do not cross between the WM and

the Great Lights. When addressed or when speak-

ing, stand and address your comments to the WM.

When leaving the Lodge room, after saluting the

WM, wait for the Junior Deacon to signal the Ty-

ler and open the door for you.

I was reading tonight, that Freemasonry is

not a charity, it is not a religion, it is not just an-

other club, it is an organization where a man can

better himself. He can improve his inner character,

and in doing that, his outward appearance will

begin to shine light on the world. Let us continue

to improve our inner selves and light the way for

our fellow creatures.

Fraternally,

WB Kevin Magill

Worshipful Master, Fidalgo #77



Brethren,

The other day I was staring out my window at the snow fall. Everything blanketed in

white. Without stain. Without exception.

The snow reminded me of my apron. Pure white. Without stain. Without exception. I

recall when I first became a mason. I was just as mesmerized by brothers' aprons as I

was the snow fall. I saw many different colors, different symbols, different ornaments. I

remember telling my dad (a Mason of 48 years) that I wanted to buy one. I spent hours

searching on-line for just the right one for me. As new as I was, I told him I didn't want

to buy one that would be inappropriate for my status in the lodge nor one containing

symbols I had yet to understand. His advice to me, "Bobby you don't need to buy an

apron. Besides, maybe one day you'll be wearing a past master's apron."

I read recently, "When the aprons had been presented to the workmen, Hiram is re-

ported to have said: "Masonic authority makes this, the snow-white lambskin apron,

its first tangible gift to you and ordains that all Masons in all ages, wherever they may

be throughout the world, shall ever receive it and always wear it." The apron is an em-

blem of innocence. Innocent life has gone out of the world: for every man an apron -

for every apron a life"

My apron was presented to me the day I began a journey that will last a lifetime.

What does your apron mean to you?

Fraternally,

Bro. Bob Belli

The apron shown is one worn by George Washington PM, Alexandria Lodge #22.

Wisdom From the West

January District #9 Stated Meetings

Wednesday February 1st – San Juan #157 Stated at 7:30PM with a meal at 6:30Pm.

Thursday February 2nd – Burlington/United #93 stated at 7:30PM with a meal at 6:30PM.

Tuesday February 7th — Mt. Baker #36 stated at 7:30PM with a meal at 6:30PM.

Thursday February 9th — Camanio #19 stated at 7:30PM with a meal at 6:30PM.

Tuesday February 14th —Fidalgo #77 stated at 7:30PM.

Thursday February 16th — Garfield #41 stated at 7:30PM with a meal at 6:30PM.

Tuesday February 21 — Whidbey Island #15 stated at 7:30PM with a meal at 6:30PM.

Tuesday February 28 — Langley #218 stated at 7:30PM with a meal at 6:30PM



Refreshment From the South

Greetings from the South.

Sumerians looked to the heavens as they invented our system of time.

A Mason might find it curious that we divide a minute into 60 seconds and the hour

into 60 minutes. Why not a multiple of 10 or 12? The answer is because the inventors

of time did not operate on a decimal (base-10) or duodecimal (base-12) system but a

sexagesimal (base-60) system. For the ancient Sumerians who first divided the move-

ments of the heavens into countable intervals, 60 was the perfect number. The number

60 can be divided by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 30 equal parts. Moreover, an-

cient astronomers believed there were 360 days in a year, a number which 60 fits neatly

into six times.

The decimal system is today’s the most widely used numerical base. It is a readily

available system of counting, given humans have 10 fingers on which to count plus easy

to multiply or divide with in modern times. There are several claimants to the inven-

tion of the decimal system, notably the Greeks (circa 300 BC), the Chinese (100 BC),

and the Indians (circa 100 AD). Less well known are the origins of the duodecimal

system, although it appears to have arisen independently in ancient Nigerian, Chinese,

and Babylonian languages, markedly due to the 12 signs of the zodiac. However, all of

these were preceded by the ancient Sumerians who crafted their sexagesimal system far

earlier in the 3rd millennium BC.

With Greek and Islamic innovations in geometry, it was discovered 360 was not only

the length of time of the Earth’s ideal orbit but also the perfect measurement of a cir-

cle. The sexagesimal system thus began to solidify its place in history by becoming es-

sential for mathematics and navigation; the earth being divided into degrees of longi-

tude and latitude. Finally, with the invention of the timepiece in the 14th century, the

circular clock face was divided into neat, sexagesimal quadrants that gave each minute

60 seconds.

The Sumerian Empire did not last. However, for more than 5,000 years the world has

remained committed to their delineation of time.

Fraternally,

Bro. Andy McLaughlin

February Masonic Birthdays Raised to the degree of a Master Mason

Kenneth Arthurs.…………………………..2/8/2002

Floyd Brady…………………………………..2/17/1979 Stephen R. Ellis……………………………...2/4/2015 Gregory Gross………………………………..2/9/1999 Howard Livingston………………………….2/21/2015 David Ramirez………………………………..2/28/2006

Calendar of

Events

2/14/17 (Tuesday) Temple Board (6:30 PM) Stated Meeting (7:30 PM)

2/18/17 (Saturday) Sweet Heart’s Luncheon at Fidalgo # 77 Lodge (12:00 noon)

2/22/17 (Wednesday) District #9 LOA stated at Fidalgo (7:30PM)



Secretary’s Minutes of the 10 Jan 2017 Stated Meeting (Redacted)

Posting Lecture & Installation:

Brother Daniel Brown gave the 3rd Proficiency Lecture given in a masterful way and was subsequently installed as Junior

Steward by WM Kevin Magill

Communications

Grand Lodge regarding firearms in Lodge: referred to the Tempe Board, See separate article

Grand Lodge regarding the Lodge Leadership Retreat.

o March 17th through March 19th, 2017, Red Lion Hotel Pasco; $350 single; $450 with spouse

Old Business

Mel Critchely’s past master’s jewel: The members unanimously approved a proposal by MWB Don Munks, who brought a

past master’s jewel donated by WB Mel Critchley, a jeweler of note; MWB Munks is contemplating holding a multi-District-

wide drawing at $5 per ticket in order to raise funds for our Scholarship program

New Business.

Discussion regarding the manifold benefits of obtaining Proficiency in Lodge Management (PILM)

a. The Standard Work (TSW), Washington Masonic Code (WMC) and Lodge Officers Handbook (LOH)

Secretary/Treasurer/Temple Board Training: Bremerton Lodge, Sat. 28 Jan

Committee Reports

Audit Committee

o Brothers Belli and McLaughlin selected as the Audit Committee with a report in February

Temple Association

o The Anacortes Fire Marshall inspected our building; the shortcomings discovered therein will be corrected by a work

party on 21 Jan.

Special thanks to Bro. Chuck Manning for dealing with fire code issues and Bro. Dylan Lee for his electrical renova-

tion work

o We have a number of nice items in the basement (for free)

o Temple Board Officers were elected:

Bro Howard Livingston - President

Bro S. Ellis – VP

Bro Daniel Brown – Secretary

WB Eric Johnson – Treasurer

o The new Lodge sign goes up this month! Thanks to Bro. Corey Stout for making this happen!

Scholarship Committee.

o VWB Gerald Myers will investigate the possibility of doing scholarships for trade school, which seems to be roundly sup-

ported by the members

Circle of Concern

o Em Roberts: in the care center in Oak Harbor, near daughter

o Don Baldwin’s wife died on Sunday, 8 January.

o W.B. Dale Fluaitt just underwent cancer surgery; chemo is slated next

o Bro. Ralph Corbin’s wife died on Christmas Eve

o MWB Don’s Mother-in-Law now at San Juan recovering from bronchitis and heart attack

o Mike Matson lives in Anacortes and wants to get back into lodge

Good of the Order:

Anacortes Cold WX Shelter open when the temperature = 30° or below. Volunteers needed.

PGM Munks:

VWB Red spoke on the Masonic Widows and Orphans Fund: VWB Bell and WB Guthrie are the Trustees for Fidalgo

#77

DDGM Conti & the District 9 gathering

Leftover $$ goes to the GM for the charity of his choice

The brethren unanimously approved donating an engraved belt buckle to the GM; Bro Bell Isle will see to the

engraving.

VWB Conti encouraged visits to other lodges: do it

Garfield Lodge will be the new home for Mt. Baker Lodge



The Fidalgo Trestle board is edited and published

by Bro. Daniel Brown. For any submissions or

comments, please e-mail at

[email protected]

Meet our Newest Master

Mason

Bro Dylan Lee

Fidalgo’s New Sign

Saturday February 18th

Sweet Heart’s Luncheon at 12:00 noon. Bring your significant other and a

Masonic Widow if you know one. RSVP to the Secretary 360-840-5415.

fidalgo lodge #77 anacortes washington february …o em roberts: in the care center in oak harbor,...

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