February is the best time of year for Masons to travel! Friendship Lodge started the month off with a visit to Beaverton Lodge to retrieve a gavel they claimed from us last year. WB Don Martin (the Master of Beaverton) graciously offered WB Lee of Friendship the opportunity to close his Lodge. Not one week later however, did Kenton 145 travel en masse to Friendship – stealing away our hard-won gavel again! It seems we needn’t put away our road gear just yet. In addition to their delightful company, Kenton presented Friendship with an artifact from our past – a cigar ashtray commemorating the cornerstone laying of an addition to our former building.
That wasn’t the only excitement at our February Stated Communication either! You can read the details of that brilliant night here. The Worshipful Master and Junior Warden proudly represented Friendship 160 at an Occasional Grand Lodge on the 24th, participating in a round robin discussion of successes and challenges in the fraternity today. Worshipful Brothers Lee and Casey also made time to visit Research Lodge of Oregon’s February Stated Meeting, where the Grand Lecturer of Oregon presented some of his fantastic research into one area of the esoterics of the Master Mason degree.
I had the wonderful opportunity to send out my first set of birthday cards to our members. Since as far back as anyone can remember it has been the tradition in Friendship to have the Master of the Lodge send out personalized notes to each brother on his birthday. It was such a delight to be reminded of names I don’t see very often any more, to know that these men are still around to share their light and life with the world, and give them a token of our esteem.
Due to unexpectedly wintry weather Friendship had to reschedule its first philosophy discussion night of the year for March 21st. But we made up for it by attending one of WB Thomas Pierce’s now-famed Masonic Lunches at the Raven & Rose. Illustrious Brethren from throughout Portland and abroad came together to enjoy great conversation, dining and a rare reprieve from the rigors of their work days.
Friendship closed the month with a visit to Tiagard-Orenomah Lodge for their homecoming celebration for RWB Dan Bush. This was a truly delightful and heartwarming event. A celebration of this dear Brother’s life and family for all the Masonic community to enjoy and take part in.
As I near the close of this post I realized that February was so busy that I couldn’t even make time to write about it until March! And the fun is just beginning. With our Stated Meeting, a grand fellowship night, and an Entered Apprentice degree just around the corner I’m sure the Brethren of Friendship are going to keep busy for some time still.
Hope to see you there!
