By the time you read this most of our summer will be over.  It has been an interesting summer for me, getting some major work done on my home, attending a number of degrees at our Lodges, the Granite Falls Open Air Degree, and the First Degree at Brinnon.  I have also met with each of the lodges and members in District Four to go over Grand Lodge programs, offer suggestions and get opinions on what the six lodges want to have me and Grand Lodge do this coming year.

The consensus seems to be to hold some workshops on various subjects that will benefit the lodges, to continue my monthly flyer on "What's Happening in District Four" and to keep doing what I have been doing this past year.  More will be discussed on these items at the next District Four monthly meeting.  All members are invited to attend.  See article elsewhere for details.

This last Grand Lodge in June was most interesting and the final availability of the printed in full ritual had me feeling that we could accomplish great things, using this new tool.  Unfortunately the number of errors is discouraging, but they are being corrected and the many members who have looked at the ritual are finding words they had wrong, incorrect phrases, etc, all of which will greatly improve our ritual as time goes by.  I will have the ritual with me at all events and please come look at it at any time.  I also will make it available at my home, if you will call and arrange a time and date.  Coffee and cookies will be available and you can take all the time you need to study it.

This second year as Deputy will also involve finding Brothers who are interested in serving as Deputy, appointed officers, and committee members for our Deputy Grand Master, John McNab next year when he is Grand Master.  If you are interested in any position, please let me know in September and I will make recommendations to him.

The many programs of our present Grand Master, James N. Reid Jr. should help all our Lodges and I hope you will participate and help not only your Lodge, but other Lodges in the District.  You may have just the expertise they need in some project and all of our Lodges can use help in one or more fields of endeavor, no matter how well we are doing overall.

A reminder about the Pillar of Progress Awards which will be presented at our District Four and Five Joint Reception for the Grand Master on February 1st at Occidental Lodge.  Each Lodge should be working on a particular phase of the Pillars to be eligible for an award.  Whatever I can do to help you and your Lodge, please let me know.

I was pleasantly surprised by the 15 emails, numerous letters and phone calls, a book, plus several personal conversations at meetings about my July- August Monitor article on religion.  All those responding were favorable and many said they had felt the same way for years, but had not wanted to say so.  Perhaps those opposed just did not bother to respond, but I felt good that no tar and feathers appeared at my front door last month.  Enough said on that subject.  

Let's get busy this fall with our Lodge activities and degrees and work hard to make all the Lodges in District Four even greater than they are now.  Try to get out and visit other lodges, take part in degrees, and help the Worshipful Masters fulfill their plans for this year.  Their time is short, but much can still be accomplished if we all try hard.  I hope to see you soon at Lodge.