Message from the Worshipful Master
Hello and Welcome to Esoterika Lodge~
Summer is just around the corner and that means there is plenty activity at Esoterika. To keep track, be sure to check out the new Esoterika Calendar. Thanks to the long hours of Bros. Letarte and Marll, Esoterika now has a dynamic calendar. You can download the iCal file here, and save it to your electronic or mobile calendar (e.g. Outlook or a cell phone). Regardless of how you add the calendar, check it frequently as it will always offer up-to-the-minute information about every upcoming Esoterika event.
A special congratulation goes out to Bros. Brad Greco and Matt LaCroix who recently completed their proficiency in Lodge Management!
Speaking of events, remember -
On Friday, May 11th at 6:30 PM, we will have a brief officers’ meeting and then a Lodge Ritual Instruction night at the Seattle Valley Scottish Rite Center. This ritual instruction night will focus on ritual work for the Entered Apprentice Degree as well as general Lodge floor work and decorum. Our Degree Master, Bro. Heston has requested that Degree participants attend this meeting and there will be fellowship to follow.
On Saturday, May 19th we will have the honor of initiating Mr. Richard Drews, Mr. Josef deGodoi, Mr. Jim Krantz and Mr. Josh Metz as members of Esoterika Lodge. All Degree participants are to arrive at the Seattle Valley Scottish Rite by 9:00 AM, with the Entered Apprentice Degree beginning promptly at 11:00 AM – fellowship to follow. Look for additional reminders and information from Bro. Rick Heston.
On Saturday, June 2nd at 7:00 PM, we will have our second Fellowship night at The Harmon Tap Room located at 204 St. Helens Tacoma, Washington 98402. This is a great opportunity to join together in fellowship, celebrate our new Entered Apprentices and meet potential candidates. This is an open event so friends, significant others and those interested in Esoterika are encouraged to attend.
June 8th through the 10th is the Annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Washington in Vancouver Washington. Esoterika Lodge will be hosting the first ever Grand Lodge Scotch Hospitality Suite. If you are interested in attending, but have not yet made reservations, please contact me for details.
On Saturday, June 16th, we will take a trip down to visit our Brothers at Esoterika Lodge Portland for their Stated Communication. If you plan on making the trip please email WB Nick Mitchell or WB Ken Lane Jr. This will be a great opportunity to not only enjoy fellowship with our Brothers to the South, but also to support our Brother WB Steve Osborn, who is the featured speaker for the evening. To RSVP directly, please email esoterika227@gmail.com.
On Saturday, June 23rd, Masonic author Michael Halleran will be speaking at the Seattle Valley Scottish Rite. This event is co-sponsored by the Seattle Valley Scottish Rite and Esoterika Lodge. Brother Michael A. Halleran will be visiting us on June 23rd for a dinner, special presentation and book signing. Michael’s book: The Better Angels of Our Nature: Freemasonry in the American Civil War has received many rave reviews as the first in-depth study of Freemasons during the Civil War. This promises to be an excellent event and one that should not be missed. The cost for the dinner and presentation is only $25.00 and there will be books available for purchase. Note: Due to the nature of the subject Brother Halleran will speak about, this event is only open to Masons (EA and above). You can purchase the book in the Esoterika Bookstore. Contact the Scottish Rite if you would like to RSVP.
On Wednesday, July 11, at 6:30 PM, we will have a call in Officers Meeting. Officers, please look for information from WB Nick.
On Tuesday, July 24, Esoterika will have its July Stated Communication. While it is still a way off, please RSVP as soon as you can – our chief needs a head count and we need to do all to save Bro. LaCroix’s hair. Social hour starts at 5:00 PM and dinner commences promptly at 6:00 PM with Lodge opening on the First Degree of Freemasonry at 7:30 PM.
Our education for the evening will be lead by our WB and Author Laureate, Stephen Osborn. WB Steve will be presenting his newest paper: Integration or Disintegration, a thesis based around the hermetic principles of wholeness and balance "as above, so below," versus what Toynbee called the deification of the technician. Since Bacon, we have been taking things apart, specializing in ever more minutiae, while losing sight of how it all works together. As a result, it seems that we may have specialists who know left from right handed quarks and how to manipulate them, but have no knowledge of the result of deforestation on planetary survival.
As always, our caterer has put together a wonderful menu for dinner:
Ribs
Beef Brisket (or BBQ chicken)
Hotlinks (buns, relish, mustard, ketchup)
Grilled Onions
Corn on the Cob
Fruit Salad
Baked Salmon
Baked Beans
Chips / Salsa
As a special treat, 2 time homebrew medalist, Bro. Matt LaCroix, will be providing a special refreshment for the Lodge. This will be a night not to be missed! Be true to your commitments, and attend this meeting to help shape the future of Esoterika. As always, if you are unable to attend, contact the Master of the Lodge and request dispensation, otherwise, please RSVP either through PayPal or by emailing Bro. Matt LaCroix or before Friday, July 20th. Remember, dinner and educational programs are open events. Guests, family, friends and potential candidates are always welcome.
On Saturday, August 4, we have our Fellowcraft Degree. Degree participants are to arrive at the Seattle Valley Scottish Rite by 9:00 AM, with the Fellowship Degree beginning promptly at 11:00 AM – fellowship to follow. If you would like to participate, please contact Bro. Matt LaCroix.
And our final event of the summer will be the Second Annual Esoterika Camping trip on Saturday, August 18. As with last year, we will be staying at the Masonic camp grounds in Granite Falls. This event is open to all Brothers and potential candidates. If you plan on attending, please RSVP with WB Nick Mitchell. Space is limited so be sure to RSVP early!
Sincerely & Fraternally,
WB Nicholas J. Mitchell
Aestimatio Sibi Honosque Fraternitati
Summer Events
Wednesday, April 18, 6:30 PM - Officers Meeting (Phone Conference)
Friday, May 11, 6:30 PM - Esoterika Ritual Instruction and Officers' Meeting – SVSRC
Saturday, May 19, 9:00 AM (participants), 11:00 AM Start time EA Degree - SVSRC
Saturday, June 2, 7:00 PM – Fellowship Night at The Harmon Tap Room (Tacoma)
Friday June 8 through June 9 – Grand Lodge – Vancouver, WA
Saturday, June 16 – Esoterika Oregon Lodge Visit (Portland, OR)
Wednesday, July 11, 6:30 PM - Officers Meeting (Phone Conference)
Tuesday, July 24, 5:00 PM - July Stated Communication - SVSRC
Saturday, August 4, 9:00 AM (participants), 11:00 AM Start time FC Degree - SVSRC
Saturday, August 18, Esoterika Camping Trip (Masonic Camp Grounds)
hanks to St. John's Lodge, seattlemasons, seattlemason, freemasons, masons, mason, Seattle Mason, Seattle masons, Seattle Freemasons, Seattlemasons.org, Metropolitan lodge, Esoteric, Western esoteric tradition, Free mason, Free Masonic, Freemason, Freemasonic, Initiation