“You all are too stupid to understand this lecture!”, Brother Alex B. said to the audience, but that’s not how the evening started. While Masonry involves a significant amount of memorization, one key thing to remember for the meeting was the keys to the Grange. Unfortunately, the WM forgot them. By the time the space was unlocked at approximately 5:20 PM, several cars had already filled the parking lot.
However, after opening a few locks and flipping a few light switches, the Grange came to life with activity. One individual, Mr. Josh C., who is interested in joining our Fraternity, wasted no time and eagerly joined some of the Brothers in preparing the hall for the evening. As they readied the stations, hung posters, and set the jewels in place, OES Henry Wentworth was hard at work putting the final touches on the meal for the night.
As the clock neared 6:30, the building was alive with the sound of laughter and lively conversations, accompanied by delightful melodies from WB Dale V. on the piano. When the dinner gavel was struck, everyone made their way to the dining hall and took their seats. Br. Connor G. led the grace, and then all in attendance sat down to enjoy a delectable meal. Baked chicken, potato salad, macaroni salad, and green beans were on the menu, with a mouth-watering strawberry shortcake for dessert.
As dinner started, Br. Alex B began his lecture with a strong accusation to the audience, “You all are too stupid to understand this lecture!”, which was used an example of the mindset of Heraclitus, our philosopher to be profiled that evening. Known as the “Weeping Philosopher” because of his apparent melancholy and seen as an elitist, Heraclitus called Pythagoras a fraud, criticized Homer and Hesiod explicitly, and often discussed the blindness of humans. He refused to teach his philosophy to students grounded on his belief that no one will understand. Heraclitus stayed independent of any schools of thought and instead chose to write a book which formed a collection of Proverbs and begins by warning his readers that most of them will not understand his writing.
Heraclitus rejected the idea of gathering information as his belief was that gathering information does not teach understanding. He saw the world in constant flux and believed that for things to remain constant, change happens continuously. Without change, there would be no world. Change, in fact, was the very essence of nature. He believed that harmony can be found in the balance or unity of opposites. The conflicting power of opposites made possible the world and its variety.
Heraclitus, however, was not wholly pessimistic about human cognitive abilities: “All men have a share in self-knowledge and sound thinking”. What is needed is not simply more sense experience or more information, but an improved way of comprehending the message (logos) that the world offers, he believes.
After the presentation, a TEDx talk was shown which highlighted the differences and motivations in Communication among the different generations. There was overwhelming praise given for the video and helped fuel the discussion held later in Lodge.
Once the meal was finished, the Brethren entered the Lodge room where Br. David H. had filled with the sweet sounds of smooth jazz. As the meeting got underway, a warm welcome was given to our visiting brethren, and WB Dale V., the Grand Tyler of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, was introduced and given Public Grand Honors.
The Lodge immediately jumped into our discussion about the different Generations in Masonry to share their experiences and perspectives. VW Dave E. kicked off the conversation by emphasizing the familial nature of Masonry and the love shared among its members. WB John T. and WB Keith C. shared how their family ties to Masonry influenced their decision to join. Br. Sage B. pointed out how the ritual of Masonry has endured across generations, serving as a timeline of its rich history. WB Todd E. shared an interesting anecdote about how Lodge members used to bring their unique talents to share, including a story about a car being disassembled and reassembled in the Lodge. WB John C. added some insights from his own experiences in Masonry in Hawaii, while WB Don T. brought some humor to the discussion by joking about relating to all generations, depending on which “inner child” he brought out. Overall, the discussion was engaging, insightful, and educational for all involved.
For Communications, Mt. Hood Lodge received an additional letter from the Masonic Medical Research Institute expressing gratitude for our recent donation. The Treasurer’s report was presented briefly and received a vote of approval. Going forward, the Lodge will no longer report on individual bills that have been budgeted for, unless they are unusual or noteworthy. A petition for plural membership from Brother Kyle W. of Woodland-Kalama was then read in Lodge. Br. Kyle has been a strong supporter of previous Mt. Hood events and the Lodge looks forward to voting on his petition during the upcoming April stated communication.
Many Brothers shared during Joy, Sickness, and Distress. VW Gordon J. spoke about his parents’ medical issues, and although they were handling them well, they were keeping him busy with support. He also reported that WB Ron B. was in hospice care at home and would appreciate visitors. Those interested in visiting can reach out to VW Gordon J. for contact information. Br. David H. reported that Br. Ian R., Mt. Hood’s newest Entered Apprentice, was unable to attend the meeting due to the unexpected death of a family pet. On a more positive note, Br. Justin G. shared that he was preparing to celebrate his son’s 11th birthday that Friday and WB Todd E. arrived late to the meeting because he was enjoying his daughter’s flute recital, and he proudly reported that she played beautifully.
Br. Connor G. delivered the RAK Report for the evening. He shared how a friend, and more especially a Brother, had taken in three young boys during an emergency situation. Br. Connor G. had provided the RAK funds to assist in purchasing school supplies and clothes for the children. It was heartwarming to hear how the Lodge’s donations had helped to enhance the kindness already being offered by a fellow Brother. The meeting then quickly moved on to our recurring ‘Ritual Rhetoric’ segment.
The Dunning-Kruger effect. This cognitive bias describes how individuals with low expertise in a particular field tend to overestimate their knowledge or abilities. It’s a common phenomenon, and the dip in confidence during this process is often referred to as the ‘valley of despair.’ However, with gained experience, individuals typically become more confident and competent. In a Masonic context, this principle was discussed in relation to the journey through the three degrees, which help individuals gain experience in Officer Proficiency, Ritual Proficiency, and personal Masonic Education.
The meeting continued with a discussion on Section 13, part 11 of the Code, titled “Objection to Visitor,” which explains how members can object to a Brother sitting in Lodge. To test our Junior Deacon’s ability to spot anything suspicious, VW Gordon was asked to leave the Lodge room temporarily. However, as soon as VW Gordon left, the Lodge got down to business. A slide suddenly appeared on the projector with the word “Alert!” in huge letters that filled the entire screen.
While the Worshipful Master began recounting a story about a past Lodge visitation, he signaled to the Senior Deacon to pick up the ballot box and discreetly make his way around the room for the secret vote. Meanwhile, several slides were displayed outlining the requirements of Section 17, part 12 of the Code, which deals with Honorary Membership. To be in compliance with the code, we needed to announce the upcoming vote at our February meeting. At that meeting, VW Gordon was asked to leave the Lodge and report to (then) Mr. Ian the result of his ballot where we then made the announcement. True ‘4 S’ work indeed!
After the vote concluded and was found bright in the East, VW Gordon was invited back into the Lodge where he was met at the alter by the WM. VW Gordon has been instrumental in supporting Mt. Hood over the past several years and often filled in various Officer positions for meetings, Degree conferrals, and other events. Further, many of the Mt. Hood members in the room benefited from his participation in their Degrees. With this background, the WM was happy to report the unanimous approval of his Honorary Membership and, when invited to the East, VW Gordon was given Public Grand Honors.
VW Gordon was then presented with the first of the ‘new’ Mt. Hood Lodge No. 32 Lapel pins. Br. Sage was called to the East and handed a velvet-lined jewelry box filled with two dozen bright red lapel pins with gold trim. These new lapel pins were then distributed to the members of Mt. Hood Lodge No. 32 who had successfully completed their proficiency as a Master Mason.
Moving on, there was only one item of New Business. The Lodge recently received word that Br. Raymond J. had passed away with an outstanding dues balance. The Lodge voted unanimously to waive the dues to keep him in good standing and therefore maintain the dignity to be afforded Masonic funeral rites. We will be planning an appropriate in-Lodge remembrance at an upcoming communication.
In the West, VW Dave E. led our Proficiency Reports. Br. Connor is ready to prove up, which we will do at our upcoming Past Master’s night. Br. Will C. and Br. David H. are reading the MM catechism well and continuing to work on committing it to memory. Br. Justin G. is ready to present his in-Lodge education on the Fellowcraft degree which will be presented at our April stated meeting. Brother Mark P. is able to read most of the posting lecture and Br. Ian is making quick work of the Working Tools.
Our District had an exciting February as previous events were covered in our In Case You Missed It segment. North Bank conferred yet another two EA’s as the District welcomed Brother Kyle K. and Tim W. into our Fraternity as well as hosted a very successful ‘Washougal Wrestling Federation Dinner’ enjoying over 140 attendees! The Gateway Shrine Club’s “Gateway to the Heart” Valentine’s Dinner was a great success, with the fine dining at the Hilton proving to be an excellent choice to host the attendees and MW Ridge G’s band. Washington Lodge provided an amazing Lady’s Night with delightful chocolates from around the world.
Finally, our Grand Master’s visit to District 19 was discussed, highlighting VW Ric B’s excellent refereeing and congratulations to WB Jon G for receiving the Grand Master’s Achievement Award. Last but not least was a recap of Will and Tim’s Excellent Adventure!
The George Washington Masonic Monument celebrated the 100th anniversary of its cornerstone laying by holding a reenactment on Presidents Day. Several Masons from Washington State made the trip out, including MW Ridge G., VW Gordon J., and VW Mike C. from District 19, as did many more from all across the country.
Several photos were shared of Will and Tim’s many adventures while in the District of Columbia, including cigars and an eventful bike trip around the capital with VW Gordon J., and VW Mike C., a visit to the National Library of Congress, the remains of the Albert Pike monument, and the House of the Temple. Highlights included touching a copy of the 1723 Anderson’s Constitutions (which is enjoying its own 300-year anniversary) and attending a stated meeting and fellowship afterward with Washington DC’s Lodge 32.
Good of the Order included many upcoming events, listed below. Prior to closing, our Marshall, WB Todd E., presented information about the after-meeting beverage. There was a bit of concern as he had left the bottle with our Tyler, WB Keith C., who reported that he thought the bottle was for him. Thankfully, the bottle was unopened and ready for our enjoyment after the meeting! WB Todd then explained the Masonic significance of the evening’s beverage sneaking a little piece of Masonic Education before the Lodge was closed, peace and harmony prevailing.