fidalgo lodge #77 trestleboard · mum so that reason didn’t seem like a likely cause. what i...

FIDALGO LODGE #77 ANACORTES WASHINGTON July 2018

http://www.AnacortesMasons.org E-Mail [email protected] PAGE 1

Fidalgo Lodge #77

Trestleboard

Guidance From the East Brethren,

Conventions are the rules which society makes for itself, without the force of law, by which its members live together with the least friction. It is not a crime to eat with

one’s knife or to keep one’s hat on in the house; but these are not good form, or good manners. Masonry has developed its own conventions. Not to proceed according to

their dictates is not a Masonic offense; it is merely a lack of Masonic manners. Brethren do not pass between the alter and the East in a Lodge that is open. It is a con-

vention and there is no penalty for the infraction. It is a courtesy offered the Master. It is rooted in the theory that, as the Great Lights are necessary to shed their eternal lights

and wisdom upon the Master to govern the Lodge with wisdom, this light should never be interrupted at any time, except during degree work, even for an instant.

A good Mason does not talk during a degree. The Lodge room is then a temple to the

Great Architect of the Universe, with the Brethren working therein doing their humble best to make better stones for his spiritual temple. Good manners and reverence dictate silence and attention during the work. Officers and degree workers cannot do their very

best if distracted by conversation, and the irreverence cannot help but be distressing to the candidates.

Failure to obey the gavel at once is a grave discourtesy.

The Master is all powerful in the Lodge. He can put or refuse to put any motion. He can rule any Brother out of order on any subject at any time. He can say what he will or

will not permit to be discussed. In the Lodge, the gavel, the emblem of authority is supreme. When a Brother is rapped down, he should obey at once, without further dis-

cussion. It is very bad manners to do otherwise. It is indeed close to the line between bad manners and Masonic offense.

It is illegal to enter or leave the room during a ballot. It is discourteous to leave during

a speech or during a degree except when one section ends and another begins. Lodge courtesies are founded wholly on the Golden Rule. They oil the Masonic wheels

and enable them to revolve without creaking. They smooth the path of all in the Lodge, and prove to all the truth of the ritualis-

tic explanation of that “More noble and glorious purpose” to which we are are taught to put the trowel.

Most Fraternally, WB Bob Belli



Wisdom From the West

Greetings from the West Brethren! As most know, many Lodges “Go Dark” in summer months. Fidalgo Lodge does not, we have Stated Communications all year round and in-vite any Brother from the Lodge or traveling to visit at our normal bat time and channel. Just to know more and share with you all what I found, I looked into why Lodges go “Dark” in the first place? I always assumed it started for farming reasons or for members to enjoy summer with their loved ones…though Masonry only requires one night per month at a mini-mum so that reason didn’t seem like a likely cause. What I found was a rabbit hole seemingly going all the way back to the Egyptians. It seems to be related to the star Sirius, constellation Canis Major, and the “Dog Days of Summer”. Fascinating stuff and way too much information for me to compress into a couple of paragraphs for this Tresleboard. A topic which deserves more investigation and contempla-tion. Maybe we can discuss at the Masonic Study Group held at the Lodge on 3rd Wednesday’s at 7:00? Come on over if you are interested. For now, I would like to thank all of the Brethren from Fidalgo Lodge and Brethren visiting including MWB Warren Schoeben, VWB Dino Conti. their families, and other Brethren who’s names escape me at the moment for walking with us and representing Freemasonry at the Anacortes 4th of July Parade! We had an excellent showing and were right up in front of the parade behind the Mayor. Many thanks to those bring vintage vehi-cles and the ladies, without whom many of us would be lost. Next year I trust and expect we can do even better and I for one am willing to be trained to shoot off the starting cannon to continue the tradition. Please show me were to sign up for that Brother Secretary. I look forward to seeing what fun things you all think up to make the 4th of July event more fun for those participating and enjoyable for the crowd! Warmest fraternal regards, Andrew McLaughlin, 32° SW Fidalgo Lodge # 77

July Masonic Birthdays

Raised to the degree of a

Master Mason

Bud Noble……...………….7/28/1987

Cesar Tallorin….………….7/22/2015



Refreshment From the South Dear Brothers:

A bit about Símon Bolivar and our Craft in South America. Centauries before European

settlers sailed east to colonize Australia and later New Zealand, Portuguese and Span-

iards had sailed west to the New World, at first after gold and later after land for cattle

raising and human settlements for the glory of God and Catholicism. As such, and on

instructions from papal authorities, these governments did much to suppress The Craft in

their native countries as well as in their colonial lands.

When the Latin American colonies were liberated from rule by Lisbon and Madrid,

Freemasonry began to flourish. Indeed, the man who liberated much of South America

from European dominance was Símon Bolivar, a Freemason. He joined The Craft when

he was living in Cadiz, Spain during the early years of the nineteenth century, and in

1807 he entered the Scottish Rite when he was staying in Paris. France, Germany and

England in those first years of the new century were awash in new thoughts on the inher-

ent rights of thinking men and the kind of governance that would uphold these rights as

well as religious freedom – the time of enlightenment or Aufklärung in German speaking

lands.

In 1811 rebels in Venezuela, Bolivar among them, declared themselves as independent

or independentistas. The revolt failed and Bolivar and his rebel followers, the inde-

pendistas, retreated to New Grenada (Colombia today). A couple of years later he reor-

ganized his men and went back into Venezuela where he declared war to the death on

Spanish rulers and himself dictator of the region. In 1814, however, his rebel army was

defeated by Royalists and Bolivar escaped to the West Indies where he re-formed his

army of independence, returned to Venezuela, and fought the Royalists and Spanish

troops until 1821 where at the battle of Carabobo the rebels threw the Spaniards out of a

large part of South America. Bolivar was called the Great Liberator and elected presi-

dent of the Republic of Colombia which then included Venezuela, and Colombia. After

additional wars of freedom-from-Spain he conquered Perú and Ecuador and aided in

successful struggles for independence in the rest of Latin America. Because he became

an autocratic and unpopular leader of the fledgling nation of La Gran Colombia

(Venezuela and northern Perú) he left Grand Colombia but returned in 1828 and re-

sumed his role as supreme leader. His continued issuing of unpopular decrees caused

Venezuela to separate from the Grand Republic, Bolivar died next year.

It can be said that Símon Bolivar’s life embodied key principles of Freemasonry, free-

dom of religion, the rights of man and personal strength through free thought. The Craft was to prove popular throughout the region of which he ruled or influenced. Several

subsequent presidents of Venezuela, Colombia and Perú were Freemasons, as have other South American countries including Uruguay, El Salvador and Chile. Now as then, even though South and Central America are predominantly

and strongly Catholic, Freemasonry continues to at-tract members and their lodges throughout each Latin

Country – all loyal to the virtues and ideals of The Craft.

Fraternally, Robert Gara JW Fidalgo Lodge # 77

Simon Bolivar as victor in battle of Carabobo, 1821



Secretary’s Desk

WB Eric Johnson, P.M.

Meeting Highlights for June

Fidalgo Lodge welcomed:

- VWB Tony Gill in his new role as Deputy to the Grand Master,

- Bro Jonathan Hogue upon his return, after seven years on overseas and Stateside tours, to NAS Whidbey,

- VWB Mike Tando, as the new Special Deputy to the Grand Master.

- Brother Jeremy Carter upon his first visit following his affiliation to Fidalgo Lodge.

VWB Paul Steinsiek noted his appreciation to Fidalgo Lodge for the support given him during his tour as Deputy to the Grand Master. Fidalgo Lodge was the first and last lodge he visited during his time in office.

Brother Corey Stout was presented with his Life Membership certificate by VWB Tony.

The Lodge voted so send their annual financial support to Job’s Daughter Bethel #25 and Coupeville Rainbow Assembly #67. (I’m still in search of good ad-dresses for the advisors.)

Brother Scott Anderson was passed to the FCM° on 15 June.

The New and Improved Chairlift to the 2nd floor has been installed.

The Southeast corner of the Lodge was tagged by a spray painter.

Thanks to VVB Red Bell and WB Steve Ellis for cleaning out the garden shed and hauling the rubbish to the dump.

VWB Red Bell recommended the April 2018 Short Talk Bulletin for everyone.

VWB Tony Gill noted his pride in the in the work this district does in looking after its members and families; he encouraged all to learn the ritual as a guide to our self-improvement as men and Masons; he particularly pointed out the Phrase in the FCM degree about “learning to subdue our passions;” this will be the focus of future edicts from the Grand Master, particularly about what we can publish on so-cial media and the passions those postings can engender.

Scam Alert

Grand Secretary Clint Brown reports that Grand Lodge has received infor-mation that Brothers are once again receiving phone calls from Mount Olympus Lodge. THIS IS A SCAM CALL. If you receive a call asking for money, you should just hang up.

The Grand Master’s Message

See http://bit.ly/2NdNYB0 for MWB James Kendall’s message about his goals for the year.

http://bit.ly/2NdNYB0



The Fidalgo Trestle board is edited and published

by Bro. Daniel Brown. For any submissions or

comments, please e-mail at

[email protected]

Fidalgo 77

July’s Calendar of Events

7/4/18 (Wednesday)

Anacortes Independence Day Parade -

March of Famous Masons

7/10/17 (Tuesday)

Temple Board (5:30 PM)

Dinner (6:30 PM)

Stated Meeting (7:30 PM)

7/18/17 (Tuesday)

Masonic Education Evening (7:00 PM)

7/29/17 (Tuesday)

District 9 BBQ at MWB Don and

Cathy’s Farm (4:00 PM) Bring a Side

Dish and your Whole Family

fidalgo lodge #77 trestleboard · mum so that reason didn’t seem like a likely cause. what i...

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