Yesterday I arrived at the Westin Hotel in Downtown Seattle for the 2024 Conference of Grand Masters of North America. Now if you don’t know the Westin, it is composed of two round towers and the entire front of each room is glass.
So, I check into my room, open the curtains, and what do I see, but directly across from me, our Assistant Grand Secretary, his room a complete mirror of my own in the next tower. Ever wanting to be helpful, I assured him that I’d do my best to run around naked in my room all week, with the curtains open. He muttered something about the ‘Stay Fresh Marshmallow Man,’ but I assured him that my abs are rock solid!
On a serious note though, the Conference was having some kind of welcome reception last night, so I skipped that and visited one of our Seattle Lodges, Occidental. Attending alongside me was MW Bob Davis from Oklahoma, a superb Mason, and a truly great Masonic author. If you haven’t read his books, please accept my recommendation that you do.
It was a truly fantastic meal, and a great meeting. The highlight of the meeting was the program, which consisted of one of the longest serving Lodge members getting up and talking about why he joined Masonry, why he has remained active for so many decades, and what value he has found in it. They then asked their most recent member to do the same.
It was an excellent program, I might suggest that other Lodges emulate it, I think members everywhere would enjoy it.
The only trouble with going to Occidental is that they have an awful lot of young guys there. So, we decided to visit the local bar after the meeting. Those whippersnappers can drink! We visited the local bar, Olaf’s in Ballard, and then on our way back to the hotel, we visited a really famous Seattle bar, The 5 Spot. It was all good, but when one gets to his hotel at 2:30 AM or so, that 8:00 AM Western Conference of Grand Masters comes awfully early! I imagine that the whippersnappers can recover a lot quicker than me!
It’s all great though. I’ve had the feeling for quite awhile now that Seattle Masonry is undergoing a really positive change. Lodges are working together better now I think, and truly strong bonds of fellowship are growing between men, not just of one Lodge, but across Lodges. It’s wonderful to see this strengthening of Freemasonry in this city.
MW Davis did mention yesterday evening that he sure would like to smoke a cigar while in town, so we decided to open my Lodge’s lounge up this evening. We do have a truly spectacular cigar lounge, and it is quite close to where we are all staying downtown.
Unfortunately, other Conference responsibilities will prevent me from attending this evening, but I was talking with our DDGM this morning, I think we just might open up our Lodge for fellowship each night of the Conference.
Going to bars, hanging out in cigar lounges, these things don’t seem as if they directly relate to Freemasonry. And, in a lot of ways they don’t. But, in other ways, they certainly do.
The renaissance we are seeing in Seattle Masonry is at least partially because of things like this. Truly strong bonds between Masons can’t grow if the only interaction we have with each other is inside of Stated Meetings. We have to work together, spend time together, and play together. That is what builds true bonds between men. Those are the kinds of things that are strengthening Seattle Masonry. And they can work just as well everywhere.
One final thing I would like to touch upon is Security. It was a topic at Occidental Lodge last night, and it was a topic at the Western Conference of Grand Master’s this morning. We must protect ourselves in a society suffering from increased senseless violence.
With that in mind, here are some actionable ideas, from an expert, that will help your Lodge:
I’m sorry our delegation is came in too late to enjoy last night’s program.
I know Brad Phillips (our GS on the recognition committee, and Dick Browning (General Grand Chapter RAM Secretary) appreciate a cigar. Our GM ( Darrell Gifford) doesn’t smoke anymore but he’d appreciate thenhecknoutnofnyournguys’ lounge!
Also in addition to those guys our SGIG (C. James Graham) is in town for the Supreme Council meeting, so make sure you drag him along too if you can!
One correction:
That’s Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man, although we all appreciate your perspectives staying fresh.
And you didn’t mention GPS in your update. That’s okay, but rest assured that it’s another story I’ll be telling 30 years from now.
Occidental Lodge No. 72, F&AM of Washington is a Lodge that meets the same nights as my home Lodge, 90 minutes north of where I live, so this was a rare opportunity for me to visit this Lodge. I’m glad I seized the opportunity. Excellent Lodge, excellent fellowship. But 4.5 hours of sleep afterwards, like Cameron said, is for the young crowd.
It was quite an honor to be able to sit and watch the Western Conference of Grand Masters and the Presentations of those Jurisdictions. Met many Masonic Dignitaries for the first time in person that I’ve corresponded with over the phone or via E-mail for a few years. I’m looking forward to meeting more Brothers!