 |
VWB Bob Jensen Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for 2001-2003 Mailto: bjjcmj@aol.com 23313 94th Place
West |
Time Flies When You Are Having Fun (June 2003)
My Brothers, it hardly seems possible that two years have passed since I became a Deputy of Grand Master Robert Van Zee and then Grand Master Jimmie Reid. This will be the last article I write for the Monitor as Deputy. The Monitor has given me a great opportunity to express my ideas, to promote the Lodges and activities in our District and to sometimes vent my feelings about various subjects. I have appreciated the many Brothers who have told me they enjoyed the articles and those who have given support to some of my ideas that may have not been generally popular. I will not be as visible in the future, but I will not just fade away. I intend to attend some of the meetings in District Four in the future. I want to see how some of the fine young men and Officers of the District do in future years and I expect that they will outperform some of us of the past. Their ideas are not limited by traditions, as many of ours were, although they are holding to many Lodge traditions. They have the ability as young men to think outside the box and to come up with ideas that we older Masons probably never would have even imagined. I think the future is bright in our District and I hope you will get out and support them in their endeavors for Masonry.
Over the past two years I have tried to help in whatever way possible and the Lodges and members have been most kind and friendly to me. I have been very happy to see the great response and interest in the printed ritual and I believe that it has helped make improvements in the ritual in our Lodges. Your new Deputy in District Four will be WB F. Greg Stewart, Master last year of Doric No. 92. Greg is a young man with talent, interest and ideas and I hope you will be as kind and courteous to him as you have been to me. If I can help him or you in any manner, please feel free to use the numbers above and call.
One of my greatest joys has been watching the members of a Lodge when visiting. Sometimes they come away so excited about something that it inspires them to think up new ideas for their Lodge. Visiting another Lodge is fun when the ritual and business is done correctly and sometimes drags when those are poorly done. We cannot expect Brothers to come visiting if we do not do the work well and if we do not have interesting programs. We also need to visit and invite others to our meetings. Sometimes the simplest program can be a great success. I remember WB Jack Strechenbach with his Masonic watch collection at Green Lake, WB Kirk Ballard's idea for a Doric Masonic Park in a little patch of dirt in front of their Lodge, Occidental having the principal of the school where they sponsor a tutoring program talk about the school, WB Bud Zahler with his monthly raffle which I particularly enjoyed having won a beautiful knife, WM Steven Ellis's interesting Masonic speakers at each meeting, and there were dozens of other little events, dinners, and meetings that were so much fun for all those present. Why are there not dozens more at these meetings? The next time you read the Monitor, find something that looks interesting to you and attend. The Brotherly Love and Affection that you will find at most Lodges makes every minute spent there worthwhile.
I also want to thank the two Grand Masters who appointed me to this position. It has been interesting and educational for me to watch them at work. VW Gale Kenney of District Five and I have enjoyed working on some joint projects this year and I think these should be continued. All in all, I have really enjoyed myself these past two years. It will be nice to sit home some nights and read. I also intend to write some articles for Walter F. Meier that were put on hold these past two years and I am sure that my wife will find some little projects at home for me to do. It truly has been a great experience and I hope that it was also a good two years for you and your Lodge.
With all my love and affection for you and your Lodge See you soon.
Thanks to both the Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4, and the Masonic Monitor which publishes his articles for allowing us to reprint them. The Masonic Monitor is published monthly (except August) under approval of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. The Masonic Monitor can be contacted at: 6619 132nd Avenue NE, PMB 237, Kirkland, WA, 98033-8627, USA. Phone: (425) 822-4605 - FAX: (425) 822-2535 - Email: masonicmonitor@earthlink.net.