RICHLAND LODGE # 283 www.richlandlodge283.org MARCH 2014

I have had the privilege of being a member of many organizations, but none outside of my church has meant more to me than Masonry....

All Masons obligate themselves to help, aid and assist the poor, the distressed, the widows and orphans. We also are not charity restricted to fellow Masons only, but extended to all. We share the common bonds of race as children of one great Creator, and seeks to unite men of every race, color, sect and opinion. Masonry practices the Golden Rule and seeks always to eliminate divisive forces which build walls between people.

"It is no secret that Masons love and revere the Bible. Nor is it a secret that Masonry helped to preserve it in the darkest age of the church when infidelity sought to destroy it. The Bible meets Masons with its sacred message at every step of progress in its various degrees.

May Brotherly Love Prevail,

Luis Ojeda Worshipful Master and Proud Member

Richland Lodge #283

412 Thayer Drive

Richland, WA 99352

509-946-7313

WM Luis A. Ojeda

Monday March 3rd

7:30 PM Stated Meeting

Monday March 17th

6:30 PM Dinner & Stated

Meeting

Monday April 7th 7:30 PM

Stated Meeting

Monday April 21st 6:30 PM

Dinner & Stated Meeting

Monday May 5th 7:30 PM

Stated Meeting

Monday May 19th

6:00 PM-9:00 MWGM Bruce E. Vesper visits for Bikes for Books Fundraiser BBQ

RICHLAND LODGE # 283 www.richlandlodge283.org MARCH 2014

Greetings brothers of Richland Lodge 283,

As Senior Warden of Kennewick Lodge 153, I was asked to step in for our good brother

Bruce Slade as he faces some health challenges this month and I am very happy to have the honor to

do so.

My topic: The modern Mason standing at the banks of the underground stream: Do we need to tile our

doors?

Thousands of years ago, there were schools which taught morality through degree using architecture

and symbol and other forms of Mnemonics or memory prompts to help the initiate recall these

sometimes lengthy and complex concepts in a day when written communications were not available. Of

that we are certain because of a great deal of imperial as well as circumstantial historical

evidence. These schools of all manner were designed to create a priestly class of leaders that

would be fit to lead civil society. They varied in symbols and in mythologies but at the root,

they carried similar ideals and principles that could be passed down through history undetected by

being hidden in plain sight.

West met east during the crusades and ideas merged into philosophic systems as the ruling church

state of that day found disfavor with many of these new idea that filtered in and an underground

stream of knowledge, complete with hidden allegories, languages, grips, words, phrases, and symbol

were more universally created to identify these philosophical ideals that would have been

otherwise vanquished without them. As enlightenment established itself across Europe and science

contradicted many of the commonly accepted ideas of God and nature, even more complex symbols were

produced to explain these additional enlightenments. Some prefer to believe that our handshakes

and signs and words were to protect the building trade secrets but I contend that is only

partially true because the very architecture was a language that carried in its structure these

hidden teachings, i.e., the 5 principle types of columns, orientation of buildings, cardinal

stations, and sacred geometries. These were no ordinary brick layers.

Today, Freemasonry claims its history from 1717 but our own history shows conception much earlier

and associated ties to these more ancient mystery schools of which many of the degrees have

adopted into the ritual. The origins of some of the various rituals adopted and embraced by our

masonic mythologies and allegories therefore come from a variety of sources, we may even consider

strange bedfellows. Certainly enough to confound those outside of the craft to draw some unfounded

conclusions about who we are and why we are here. These misconceptions have even infected our own

members as to what masonry really is and what it may represent. To some it is a philanthropic

organization going about doing good, to others a fraternity of fellowship amongst brothers, still

to others it represents the great repository of ancient knowledge and so forth.

As we continue into the stainless steel and glass, sterile world of science and technology of the

21st century, newer challenges face freemasonry. Do we as members embrace our heritage here in

Southeast Washington and continue the underground stream of universal philosophic principles of

brotherly love relief and truth? Do we have a since of purpose and mission? Do we make a

difference to our community that can be measured? These questions and others I leave with you for

your own personal contemplation this month. At the last Scottish Rite "Dinner and a Movie" night

the question during discussion was, "do we have the need to tile our doors?" Are we forcing

ourselves to answer the tough questions? Do we take on the hard issues of the day and make

ourselves weigh carefully those ancient ideals against modern interpretations of morality and

creeping compromise of popular society? Do we make a difference? Do YOU make a difference? At the

end of Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike, he warns us as Masons who wear the elaborate regalia and

refer to ourselves as Princes among men, sons of light, that great responsibility accompanies

those lofty titles. We have been set apart to battle despotism, and vanquish the three great

enemies, fear, superstition and ignorance. I contend to you that so long as we consume ourselves

with the distractions of petty politics and money survival games instead of our more noble and

glorious purpose we are guilty of blocking the underground stream that so many before us depend

on our continuing.

Most fraternally,

Brother John Lawson

Senior Warden

Kennewick Lodge 153

RICHLAND LODGE # 283 www.richlandlodge283.org MARCH 2014

Washington Masonic Code

In last month’s article, I mentioned that one of the things that sets the Masonic Fraternity apart from

all the rest is the law which governs its operation and members. That law is titled the Washington

Masonic Code. In that same article I also stated that the Worshipful Master is obligated to ensure the

members of his Lodge our knowledgeable of its contents.

The Code is our foundation. Like any structure built on a foundation, if the foundation is weak, the

structure will fall. If the foundation is strong, the structure will stand forever. For a Lodge and the

Fraternity to stand strong, it needs its members to understand the foundation on which it is built, the

Code.

One of the ways to gain a better understanding of the Code is to take the Proficiency in Lodge

Management course. This course is divided into two parts. One part deals with the Code and the

other deals with the procedure for opening and closing the Lodge on all three degrees. If you are

interested in taking this course, let me know and I will help you. Take an active role in helping our

Fraternity and our Lodge stand the test of time.

Fraternally,

WB John A. Kimbrough Junior Warden

Message from the Deputy of the Grand Master in District #23

The Foundation of which all it is built on. Freemasons built beautiful Cathedrals and structures all a crossed

Europe. Most often the attention of the public’s eye is drawn to and focuses on the amazing edifices, archways

and architecture, not on the foundation in which it was built, always square and true. Our Blue lodges are the

foundation of which all other masonic organizations are built. They often get overlooked by the public because

the focus is mostly on the more public and visible bodies of Masonry such as the Shriners, Scottish Rite and

York Rite. Just as any great edifice if the foundation is not tended to and sound it will fail and all above it will

come tumbling down.

As I travel through our wonderful district, visiting our lodges, fellowshipping with our brothers. I have come to

notice how busy we have all become. We are involved in all sorts of other concordant bodies of Freemasonry. I

know that there are only so many hours in the day, days in the weeks and weeks in the month but some of the

foundations in our district are starting to weaken and I fear may fail. I call out to the Brethren of Richland

#283 and district #23 to pick up our trowels and lets travel to some of our outlying smaller lodges. Help sure

up the foundations of some of these lodges by attending their meetings, becoming duel members and helping

out when needed.

Let us refocus our attention on the foundation of Freemasonry “the Blue Lodges” so all may stand for eternity.

Thank you Brethren of Richland #283 it has been a great honor to be your deputy for District #23.

V.W.B Garry Randles

With the Trowel and by the Square

RICHLAND LODGE # 283 www.richlandlodge283.org MARCH 2014

2014 Richland Masonic Lodge #283

Pocket Calendars are now available -

$5.00 each

Please see VWB Charles Davis

Richland Masonic Lodge #283 Cordially Invites All Masonic Bodies to:

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration March 17, 2014

6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

412 Thayer Drive Richland, WA

Join Us for a Wonderful Night of Irish Music, Corn Beef & Cabbage,

Corn Beef & White Rice, Green Beer and Green Wine!

With special entertainment guest – Gary Key & Caleb Knutsen

$15 per person (Widows and Ladies are always free)

Please R.S.V.P. by March 10th with Ron Galpin at 521-8760

Harold Galpin at 531-0531 Rides are available for widows

Most Worshipful Grand Master

Bruce E. Vespers

Will be visiting Richland Lodge

on May 19th, 2014 for our

“Bikes for Books” Fundraiser

BBQ.

Life Line Screening - Thursday, April 10, 2014 @ Richland Masonic Lodge

1-888-653-6441