Special Meeting July 13

A situation has developed over the past several months that requires official action on the part of our lodge. On March 11, 2020, Beallsville Lodge 237 approved its intent to merge with Sunset Lodge 623. They established a merger committee at that time. Our Worshipful Master following that meeting also established a merger committee for Sunset Lodge 623. The committee consists of Brothers James C. Erlinger, P.M., Jon L. DePoe, P.M., George E. Silvers, P.M., Jacob W, Beabout and Matthew A. Boice, P.M. as chairman. Circumstances caused by the pandemic have stifled actions of these two committees until June 11^th when they met together for the first time.

Sunset Lodge must now hold a meeting to  the proposed merger before going forward with the actual documentation required to establish a new lodge which would be named Sunset Lodge No 237. The new lodge would continue to meet in Washington. Beallsville Lodge would sell their property with the proceeds going into the new lodge.

In order to facilitate this merger so it can occur on December 27, 2020, Sunset Lodge needs to move quickly, and with fear that a recurrence of the pandemic may occur locally it was decided that rather than wait until our Stated Meeting in September, we will hold the merger approval meeting as soon as possible. July 13, 2020 is the date set for that meeting. This will be a Special Meeting where the only business to be transacted will be for the proposed merger. The meeting will be held at 7:00 pm in Washington. All mandated safety procedures will be strictly adhered to and enforced i.e.: masks, social distancing, and hand sanitizing…. These procedures can be found on the district web site or by following this link. The dress code for this meeting is casual, dress pants, and collared shirt. There will not be a social time following the meeting.

Notification from the lodge for this meeting will be done by Facebook, mail, email and the all-call system.

Battened Down!

The Lodge building is secured from possible damage during June 6th protest march being held in the City of Washington. A team of our members of the MTPA board and other volunteers decided in the interest of safety to board up al the windows in our building on Friday evening  to avoid potential damage by protesters on Saturday morning. One of the march routes is on W. Wheeling St. Another on W. Beau and another on W. Chestnut all culminating at the Washington High School.

Meet Our New Master Mason

We are pleased to welcome Brother Mark A. Long as our newest Master Mason in Sunset Lodge. Brother Long received his degree at our extra meeting on January Friday, January 24th.

Mark is shown front row 2nd from the left pictured with all the degree team officers. He is a veteran of the US Navy and currently holds a position as a senior technical instructor in defense contracting. He was recommended by Brother Jason Slider and Matthew A. Boice, P.M.

Brother Mark currently resides in the Muse, PA area. We hope that you will take the opportunity to meet and greet Brother Mark at one of our upcoming meeting during the year.

NEWS & NOTES

>> 6-1-2019 New Online Calendar with the building schedule.

>> 7-26-19 A security camera system is now installed throughout the building. Three cameras cover the back entrance door, the emergency exit, and parking lot. A camera covers the kitchen. A camera covers the social hall. Cameras cover the first floor hallway and stairway, the front door and hallway. A camera covers the side entrance. All of these cameras are high definition and have night vision and are on 24/7. Those coming in and out of the building will be recorded.

>> Pictures of Center basement renovation project.. click to view slideshow.

>> Pictures of the closed 3rd and 4th floors of the Masonic Center taken 8/3/14.. you must login here to view pictures

>> The Masonic Center has a low power information radio transmitter installed and operating on 1620 AM for passerby's to tune in. The radio gives out information about who meets in the building and other pertinent facts about the Fraternity.

>> CBS Sunday Morning presents an inside look at Freemasonry click here to view the video.

FREE & ACCEPTED - the origin of this Masonic phrase

The origin of these terms, descriptive of Speculative Freemasons, goes back into the very beginnings of the history of the Order; indeed, behind the history of the building Craft in Europe.

But it is only in keeping with the antiquity of the teachings of Freemasonry. Many of our symbols and their meanings go back to the very childhood of the race. Through these a direct relationship may be traced in mind, heart and ideal; if not in written document, to such diverse ages and places as China four thousand years ago, the priesthood of ancient Egypt and the Jews of the Captivity.

Read more: FREE & ACCEPTED - the origin of this Masonic phrase

When is a man a true Mason?

Answer: When he can look out over the rivers, the hills and the far horizons with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, charity and courage. When he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgive and to love his fellowmen.

Read more: When is a man a true Mason?