VWB Brian B. Hardy Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for 2007-2009 Mailto: Brian B. Hardy

Brethren of District 4.  It is my distinct honor to bring you fraternal greetings on behalf of our Grand Master, MWB Douglas E. Tucker for the last time in this newspaper as your Deputy.

Reflect on how a good relay race is won.  It involves good teamwork, depends on good handoffs, and when executed properly, results in a faster time than any individual can do alone.  Such is the nature of our institution.  It depends on using the strength of many individuals to carry the baton, and before their strength is depleted, to make good handoffs to ensure that enthusiasm and new energy is brought to the race and to the team’s goals.  Now is the time for another handoff.

As we near the Annual Communications of our Grand Lodge in Spokane, it is the perfect time to reflect on the accomplishments of our Grand Lodge and our Grand Master under his leadership.  It is also a time to reflect on what he has inspired us to do in our own lodges, and in our own professions as ambassadors of Freemasonry in this state.  We have entered into the second 150 years of our history, and we have reconstituted the first historical lodge in our state.  I encourage you to attend the 152nd Annual Communication, and study the six Grand Master’s recommendations he would like you to consider passing.  In my opinion, all of them will help improve our situation.

I would also like to reflect on an encouraging state of our lodges.  All our lodges have managed to attract new members in the past year.  This is a very good thing.  At the same time, all our lodges have lost good brothers to the Celestial Lodge above.  All of those lost brothers have been our friends, and some of them have inspired us to commit ourselves to the principles of our Craft by their actions.  Use their memory and the inspiration given to you, in the same positive manner when you are working with our new members and candidates.  Don’t lose sight of them.  And in the same token as expressed by our Grand Master, remember to “pass it on.”

I wish to thank all of you for the support and encouragement you have shown me during the past two years.  It has been a real pleasure to serve you and our District in this capacity.  In reflecting back, it is easy for me to say that I have undoubtedly gained and grown more from you than has been reciprocated.  It has been a moving experience.  My sincerest and deepest thanks are to MWBs Wayne Smith and Douglas Tucker for allowing me the privilege of serving in this capacity, and putting their trust in me to perform the duties they have asked me to do.  I also wish to thank VWBs Jim Maher and Michael Cuadra from District 5.  They were invaluable in helping coordinate the joint District Meetings we were asked to do on behalf of the Grand Masters we served.

Finally, I ask for your continued support to WB Marv Pearson, who will be our new Deputy in another week, and to RWB Gale Kenney who will be our new Grand Master.  They will continue in leading us in both tradition and planned progress for the betterment of Freemasonry in this state.

I will bring a warm greeting and a smile of friendship on my face when I next see each of you in Lodge.

Thanks to both the District 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.