Phoenix Lodge Awarded "Pillar of Progress" award

Phoenix Lodge has again received the "Pillar of Progress" award for the year 2012 for community involvement. I was the recipiant of the placque which I will announce to the Lodge at the stated meeting of May 9. So congratulations to Phoenix Lodge for a job well done in supporting the schools within the Sumner school district.

I, along with several Brothers, attended the Region 5 communication at Thorton F. McElroy Lodge #302 on Saturday, May 5, with the Most Worshipful Michael L. Sanders, Grand Master and the attendant Grand Lodge Officers. This communication consisted of districts 13, 14, and 15.

It was a good day to be together with all of the Worshipful Masters and elected officers of the district lodges.

Thank you
WB Bill Hart

From our Worshipful Master

From the East

The Junior Achievement awards were presented on April 18, 2012 to 3 juniors from the high schools of Sumner and Bonney Lake. We had 17 students in attendance along with their parents or guardians. Two of the school administrators and several of the teachers were present to support the students. We had 5 Masons as well as Worshipful Brother David Arnold, who was the Master of Ceremonies and Worshipful Brother Bill Hart as Master of Phoenix Lodge. Barbara Skinner was introduced as a guest speaker.

Two 2011 award winners, Andrew Cunningham from Bonney Lake and Jarron Petcovic from Sumner High were also invited to speak. Lauren Ode from Sumner High and Lauren Ode and Conner Mott each received a $500.00 certificate and from Bonney Lake also received a $500.00 certificate. Congratulations to all of the students for their hard work and special congratulations to the scholarship award winners.

Andrew Cunningham from Bonney Lake won the Grand Lodge's $1000.00 certificate. This was the second year in a row that a student from one of our schools won this award. This represents a very good example of our work with the students in our area. Congratulations, Andrew.

Also a special thanks to all of the Masons in our Lodge for their support of the school awards programs in all of the schools. We had a good turnout for this award ceremony and a special thanks to the Phoenix Ladies for their setting up and presenting refreshments to all who attended the award ceremony. This gave all to have a few moments to get around and shake hands as well as get to know all in attendance. A good time was had by all.

WB Bill Hart

Newest Master Mason at Phoenix Lodge

Our newest Master Mason, Bro Jim Sandy

On Friday, January 27th, Brother Jim Sandy was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason with WB Vaughn Schmitz conferring. After the degree, VWB Garry Gerking presented Brother Jim with a slightly different apron. As a Master Mason, Brother Jim was able to determine the apron's uses with only minor prompting from the brethren. Congratulations to Brother Jim Sandy

Newest Mason at Phoenix Lodge

Left to right, Worshipful Master Bill Hart and , Brother Mark Peterson,

On Wednesday, January 4th, Phoenix Lodge welcomed its newest brother, Mark Peterson. The degree was conferred by WM Bill Hart with the assistance of the officers of the Lodge. We welcome you, Brother Mark and look forward to you becoming an active member of Phoenix Lodge.

2011 Bikes For Books Program

The Free and Accepted Mason's of Washington have implemented the "Bikes for Books" Program throughout the State of Washington. Phoenix Masonic Lodge 154 has implemented the program in all the Sumner Elementary Schools, . This is a reading incentive program. Bicycles are presented as gifts to one boy and one girl from each school. The Schools determine and control the entire reading program The Masons contribute the bicycles. The bikes were awarded during assembly programs at all of the schools prior to the end of the school year..

The Masonic Lodge in Sumner, (Phoenix Lodge # 154) presented the bicycles, (one girls' and one boys') to each of the eight Elementary Schools. Support for the Sumner Public Schools has been a long standing tradition with the Masons, having provided scholarships for Juniors at the High School for the past 50+ years. This now includes Bonney Lake High School. (See story below)

The members of Phoenix Lodge hope to motivate our Primary School students to higher achievemen with the Bikes for Books program.

A book of the Law

By W.B. David R. Nease

With the anniversary of September 11th and the world media focusing on a small congregation in Florida and it’s controversial threats I found myself reflecting on lessons taught to us through our fraternal brotherhood.

Freemasonry provides its members the unique ability to join with others in a fraternal brotherhood based on that upon which men of moral fortitude agree without the diversions and divisions that come through our various religious denominations, organizations and sects. This is because while many Masons are Christians, Freemasonry is not a Christian organization but rather an organization that welcomes all men who believe in a supreme being.

This association with men of faith but not necessarily of our specific faith is a precious gift of Freemasonry. Through our bond we truly appreciate each other and we recognize that there are far more similarities between men of faith than differences. In every Masonic lodge, a book of the law is placed before us so that none may claim ignorance, and that book may be the Bible, Koran, Torah or any other tome that our members as men of faith recognize as the word of God.

Through Freemasonry we see that most men of faith are just like us. We recognize extremism in any form as a force of division among men. We know that blaming a whole religion for the actions of a few is wrong and that burning the Holy book of any religion is abhorrent. Through our associations we more fully appreciate our fellow man, we see faith as something we agree on and therefore we form a true bond of brotherhood based on belief in God.

I see this as one of the greatest strengths of our Fraternity. The idea that men of faith can become brothers regardless of the specifics of their beliefs is a notion that can truly unite men that might always be separated by their differences. It’s the cornerstone that Masons build their brotherhood on and it is the foundation upon which our American forefathers built a nation.

Web Site

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