News and Highlights

March 15, 2005 was our annual Past Masters Night. We had a fine dinner prepared by W. Russ Campbell. We were very fortunate to have the 10th Avenue Singers from Pasco High School entertain us. March 19, 2005 The District 23 Meeting was held at Kennewick Lodge. The most important item of discussion was the financing of the Masonic Retirement Center, now called Landmark on the Sound. Mason who are interested in the progress of this project should consult the Grand Lodge Website.

Dates and Events

From the East

Let me suggest that a different view may be warranted, one strikingly Masonic for its fair-mindedness, as well as its pragmatism in reassuring ourselves that the wall is not about to crumble, nor is the foundation of our faiths threatened if we prevent it. We begin with the words of George Santayana, the famed Harvard philosopher, "to attempt to be religious without practicing a specific religion is as possible as attempting to speak without a specific language."

This thought should have been found in the 9th Circuit Court decision regarding the phrase "under God" in our Pledge of Allegiance, which stands for our "profession of a religious belief, name a belief in monotheism" which is tantamount to affirming that "we are a nation 'under Jesus,' a nation 'under Vishnum'," etc.

According to this strange dogma we are to take sides. We must either support the official, tax-subsidized imprimatur of some religions or we must forgo all religions altogether. Clearly this is absurd and unacceptable to most reasonable-minded men, and especially Masons, who understand that it is more accurate to speak of Religions and The State, or more precisely of sectarianism and the state, as a proxy for religion and state.

What's more the term 'religion' is claimed to be ambiguous. As an apology, Wilfred Cantwell Smith, an expert on comparative religion asserted that it would be better to drop the word altogether. We pray he doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

So it was reassuring to hear one of national leaders say that "the constitutional separation of church and states... promises freedom of religion, not freedom from religion." But we should be careful to avoid extending that argument to justify spending one's tax dollars in support of another's religious traditions.

In the end, there is no more good reason for the government to invoke this nation's foundation on faith as a justification to spend public money on displays of a religious nature than there is good reason to forbid public displays of faith which have not been subsidized by public funds. The term public is not synonymous with official or governmental. What's more, the antonym of 'religious' is neither 'non-religious' nor 'anti-religious' but it is 'a-religious', something which Masons most certainly cannot be, but the government absolutely can and should be. That is why this discussion should not focus on whether our government centers its life on faith, but on how it can assure that all citizens can freely center theirs on whatever faith they choose.

In the end, it is from our enemies' plans that we come to understand those of our weaknesses which we must guard against. Sayyid Qutb, the 20th century Egyptian intellectual hero of contemporary radical Islam and dubbed the "philosopher of terror" put it best:

The truly dangerous element in American life is not capitalism, or women's independence. The truly dangerous element lays in America's separation of church and state–the modern political legacy of Christianity's ancient division between the sacred and the secular.

How can we believe then that breaching the wall is essential for our precious freedom of religion, if our arch-enemies believe it is the one true thing that separate us from them? The more stones are removed from the wall, the more homage we pay to the 'spiritual godfather' 9/11 and the more Mason should feel ill-at-ease. Masons understand the need to keep clearly defined lines of separation. It is by respecting these lines that we learn to respect each others' faiths.

As Masons, prior to pledging our allegiance that the Flag, we are reminded that we are to shield and protect it as we should foster and promote the divine principles of which it is a symbol throughout the world. And as Masons, we know that the Flag is an emblem of the nation that guarantees to its citizens among other things the right of free worship. It is fitting that in the defense of our freedoms we should call upon our faiths to give us the strength to ensure that we never yield to anyone the power to tell us which faith we may call upon.

From the Secretary's Desk

Anniversaries

Visitation

To find out more, please contact W. Russ Campbell at 735-1966.

Communications

It looks like the net savings to the Lodge for the switchover is about $1400/yr. This includes the cost of mailing paper Trestleboards to those who asked for them.

If you would like to receive a monthly notice electronically, please send an e-mail to B. Dan Walsh at tradepst@bossig.com. You will be added to the electronic mailing list.

We are always interested in news from brethren who have been out of touch for while. Please send us the latest about you and your family so that we can keep the brethren up to date.

History

We recently updated the list of Past Masters. See past_masters.htm.

Education

WB Terry Crabb continues to work on our new Music Scholarship program, now named the 'Al Butterfield Memorial Scholarship'. A number of students who are candidates for this scholarship performed at the Pasco High School Big Band Radio Show March 25-27. The word from the brethren who attended the show was that it was very excellent and our candidates are very worthy.

Transportation

Proficiency

Youth Groups

We have created a spot for them to publish information on this website. Keep an eye out for their postings in the Youth section.

Sickness and Distress

Low Twelve